Repairing Drywall after Wallpaper Removal

Wallpapers become old and faded after a certain period of time. Hence, the need to replace them arises. Before pasting the new wallpaper, the old one has to be removed. After removing the old wallpaper, holes, cracks, etc., tend to develop on the wall which gives an unpleasant look to it. It might also cause damage to the walls and hence repairing drywall after removing wallpaper is a must.

If the procedure of removal or drywall repair tips are not followed properly, then it can get quite messy. If the damage is to a large extent, then it is better to replace the drywall entirely. Initially it may not seem to be a very feasible option. But, it is cheap and quick than the process of repairing drywall after wallpaper removal.

Wallpaper Removal Procedure and Repair

Before you start with the actual procedure, make sure that you have the materials required for the repair handy. Materials like utility knife, joint compound, sandpaper, oil paint, dry wall sealer, etc., are required for the process. The knife should be of length 6 inch or 12 inch and should consist of a comfortable handle.

Removal of wallpaper leads to the tearing of the paper surface of the drywall. This gives rise to rough surface which will peel if wet. With the help of drywall knives, remove all the loose pieces. But make sure that you remove only the loose pieces and not the other ones else it will give rise to cracks and repairing drywall cracks will again consume more time. Each time you scrape, more and more wallpaper will tend to loosen which must be avoided. You can also use sandpaper for the same purpose. In fact it is a better method as it will only remove or twist the loose pieces and will not remove the other.

Now, you can apply a coat of oil based paint or special drywall sealer to the roughened paper. This will help in re-adhering the bits of paper to the wall and also in repairing drywall holes. The fumes of oil based paint are dangerous. Hence, take care while using it in places which have poor ventilation.

After removing the loose wallpaper and applying a coat of oil based paint, coat the surface of the wall with joint compound. Allow it to dry thoroughly. After it has dried, check the surface for the presence of bubbles. Make sure that you remove the bubbles else, they will be visible through the paint. They can be cut out with the help of a utility knife. After you have cut it, do not forget to re-coat the surface. Do this till all the bubbles are removed.

The last step is to sand the wall surface with sandpapers. If the surface is still pitted or rough, apply another coat of joint compound. Keep repeating this process till the wall is smooth completely and is in a ready to paint condition. The above mentioned procedure can also be used for repairing drywall ceiling.

Repairing drywall after wallpaper removal is very necessary. If left unnoticed, the problem may resurface after painting or pasting the new wallpaper. Hence, make sure that you repair and give a clean look to the walls. This procedure will surely complete the fixing process, including repairing drywall corners. Repair the drywall and paste new wallpapers to give your house a completely new look!