Removing Wallpaper from Drywall

Removing wallpaper from drywall is not so easy, as we assumed it to be. You might also be thinking, what is so difficult in simply wetting the walls and stripping wallpaper from a drywall? Indeed, it sounds very simple to soften the glue first and remove the wall paper in large patches. But, it is not always the case when we actually proceed with the process of wallpaper removal from a drywall. Rather, I will say it is a tricky task and requires a lot of patience to successfully strip old wall coverings.

How to Remove Wallpaper from Drywall

It is always better to strip down old papers, instead of covering new wallpapers over them. So, you have finally decided to strip down the old wallpaper and furnish it with a stylish wall decoration. Based on the quality of paper and the condition of wall it's on, you can use different methods for removing wallpapers from drywall. You can refer to the following simple instructions for wallpaper removal from drywall:

Required Supplies
Prior to starting the project of removing wallpaper from drywall, gather the necessary supplies. You will require a scoring tool (to mark the wallpaper), wallpaper removal product, sponge, spray bottle and a utility knife. Once you are ready with these materials, you can proceed with the steps for removing wallpaper.

Room Preparation
Removing wallpaper from a drywall can be a mess, hence prepare the room, for which you are going to remove the wallpaper. You can lay pieces of cloth near the wall and remove the furniture from the room or shift them to the center. If necessary, nail the pieces of drop cloth to the walls by using small nails. Also, do not forget to switch off the circuit breakers before starting the procedure.

Procedure
Using a scoring tool or scraper, score the wallpaper in a circular motion. This will help the remover solution penetrate through for to ease removal. You can use a sturdy ladder to reach the upper areas of the wall. While doing so, ensure that you do not dig the tool deeper into the wall.

Apply the wallpaper removal solution as per the directions provided in the kit. For a liquid product, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the solution over the wallpaper. In case you're using a gel, you can apply it evenly with the help of a paint roller. Leave the product in the wallpaper for the stipulated time period (10-30 minutes).

Try stripping the treated wallpaper from one corner. If only the top layer comes out, wait for another few minutes and allow the mixture to penetrate deeper. Starting from a corner, strip off the wallpaper gently in one direction. Make sure you are removing only the wallpaper (not the drywall layers).

Cover a small area at a time and continue until the entire wallpaper is removed. Clean the wall with water by using a sponge. This will aid in removing papers stuck to the drywall. Also, you can use a utility knife to get rid of tough paper bits. Leave the wall to dry completely and use a filler to fill wall cracks and fissures (if any).

The last step in stripping wallpaper from drywall is to smoothen the wall by sanding. You can use medium-fine sandpaper to remove any remaining pieces of papers. So, these are some of the easy tips for removing wallpaper from drywall. Prior to re-papering the wall, check for any paper bits and smoothen them. Once you are sure that the surface is smooth enough, you can repaper the wall with the latest wallpaper design.