| We have put together a list of what we think are | | | | that may still be on the wall after you have removed |
| the essential tools that you will need when stripping | | | | all your wallpaper. It can also be used for those small |
| or removing your wallpaper. | | | | tough patches of wallpaper that the scrapper that |
| As you may be aware, there are a huge array of | | | | just cant get to. |
| techniques and tools that are recommended when | | | | Orbital Scorer: this tool is sometimes called a "paper |
| stripping wallpaper. Your local home improvement | | | | tiger" or a "wallpaper scorer". Its function is to place |
| retailer might tell you "just peal the wallpaper from | | | | small holes in your wallpaper so that removing agents |
| the wall", and your neighbor could offer the advice of | | | | or steam can loosen the wallpaper adhesive. It's a |
| "just rub a little fabric softener on it". While these | | | | very useful tool and one you should have on hand if |
| may be useful techniques for some, they don't fit for | | | | you need to use a steamer or removing agent. |
| most situations. | | | | Ok, here is where we, depending upon the wallpaper, |
| A recent study indicates that wallpaper most people | | | | use the following: |
| want to remove is between 5 to 15 years old. From | | | | DIF Gel: there are many wallpaper removing agents |
| our personal experience, this means that the | | | | made by this company but we have found the gel to |
| wallpaper will be either extremely easy to remove | | | | be less messy. That is to say, it has less a tendency |
| because it's old and the adhesive brittle or it could be | | | | to drip off the wall onto the floor. It is a good one to |
| potentially very difficult as it may have been applied | | | | use if your wallpaper is NOT applied directly onto the |
| directly to the sheetrock. | | | | sheetrock (this means that when the wallpaper was |
| In either case, here are what we believe to be the | | | | installed, there was no undercoat of paint applied). It |
| most valuable tools to your project: | | | | is also a good product for wallpaper that is coming |
| Safety glasses or goggles: often over looked but an | | | | off but not in large sections. |
| essential safety item. | | | | To apply the product, the best method that we |
| Gloves: these can be dishwashing gloves or | | | | have found is to score the wallpaper with the orbital |
| something to protect your hands from liquid and/or | | | | scorer and then use a paint roller to spread the gel |
| slips of the hand. | | | | out evenly over the surface you are working on. Of |
| Plastic Sheet: Called and branded by a number of | | | | course, we advise that you read the manufactures |
| names, this is nothing more than a thin plastic sheet | | | | recommendations and safety warnings first. |
| that can be found in the paint section of any home | | | | Wallwik: This product is more of a "product pack" |
| improvement retailer. Removing wallpaper usually | | | | than a single product. This product is great for |
| creates a mess; therefore, use the sheet to not only | | | | removing wallpaper that HAS been applied directly to |
| cover the floor but any surrounding features. To | | | | sheetrock. It's also great for grass or fiber based |
| keep it in place, use masking tape. And, when you | | | | wallpapers. It's also great for those wallpapers that |
| are done with your project, just roll the whole thing | | | | nothing else seems to work. The downside to this |
| up (wallpaper and all) and throw it away. | | | | product is it requires several steps to make it work. |
| Zinsser Wallpaper Scraper: this tool does the same | | | | And since it's a product pack, you really need to |
| thing as a normal flat blade scrapper with the | | | | purchase the pack to make it work. That is to say |
| exception of one very important feature, its scraping | | | | everything but the scoring tool, I still prefer the |
| blade is set to an optimal angle. This means that you | | | | orbital scorer. |
| won't have to worry about gouging the wall or | | | | Once your wallpaper has been removed and the |
| damaging the sheetrock or drywall when scrapping. It | | | | remaining adhesive is removed, you are now ready |
| may be a little more expensive to purchase than a | | | | to proceed with your project. For some, this will be |
| normal scrapper but it will save you a lot of time. We | | | | applying a coat of paint, for others this will be |
| are not brand promoting here, so if you find another | | | | hanging new wallpaper. |
| manufacture that produces a tool that does the | | | | In either case, there is a great site that offers free |
| same thing, go with it. You should be able to find it at | | | | instructions on wallpapering and what to do after |
| any of the larger home improvement retailers. | | | | you've removed it: |
| Drywall Screen: this is a metal "screen" that acts like | | | | Additionally, if you are looking to change the entire |
| sandpaper. It is designed to remove excess spackle | | | | look of a room another great resource for overall |
| or joint compound from drywall but it's extremely | | | | interior design ideas is: |
| useful for removing the small areas of dry adhesive | | | | ©simplehomeimprovement. |