Techniques for stripping wallpaper without damaging plaster

[Participant]

I recently tried to remove wallpaper from our bedroom wall. I didn't like it and have been meaning to do it for ages. The previous owners put it on the back wall of the master bedroom.

But anyway...can anyone recommend some effective ways to remove this sort of thing from a wall please:

Looks horrific obviously so I want rid! The decorative layer came away from the paper and left a load of paper on the wall, which I want to remove safely without further damaging the plaster (already took a small chip out of it).

Many thanks.

P.S. when we bought it, it looked like this:

 

[Nightglow]

All I use is hot water with a few spots of washing up liquid, plus a scraper either plastic or metal depending on wallpaper type, & have done for the last 30 years.

As you have remove top layer, just wet & let it soak in for a few minuter & it will come off easily.

And switch off the electric for those sockets before you wet the walls, I know someone who got electrocuted stripping wallpaper.

 

[ash_scotland88]

Soak the paper with a sponge, or hire/borrow a steamer for the day.

 

[Nightglow]

Soak the paper with a sponge, or hire/borrow a steamer for the day.

Good things steamer, but if old plaster, be very careful, because all the plaster may fall off.

 

[Insomniak]

Steamer or try some Zinserr DIF.

 

[Nightglow]

I could strip that wall with hot water in a hour or less.

 

[Maccapacca]

Pull as much as you can off
Get a pump up garden sprayer
Spray the wall
Wait
Spray the wall
Wait
Use a good scraper and start at the wet edges
Don't force it
If it won't come off like wet toilet paper then wet and wait
You may need to score the paper if it's glossy
The key is to work on the wet areas and keep spraying the areas you're not working on

Finally get some green scourers and wash the wall and keep washing till the water runs clear otherwise the old adhesive could react with the new adhesive or paint.

Buy some polythene dust sheets and stick them down with masking tape then roll it all up and throw it.

 

[Maccapacca]

Decorating is about preparation and process

90/10 prep/paint

 

[arknor]

sponge + scraper

you shouldn't even need to wait.

if all of it doesn't come off completely and tiny bits end up stuck get some sandpaper

 

[Executive Beef]

If you're really struggling you can get sprays with wallpaper paste dissolver which help, most of the time you won't need them but I've found they help in tough cases.

We had the nightmare combination of old-style crumbly black plaster and multiple layers of woodchip in our living room. Got some of the Polycell spray and it became much easier to remove and left the plaster looking fine.

 

[Participant]

Cheers guys, I'll have at it over the weekend.

 

[Tummy]

Cheers guys, I'll have at it over the weekend.

Can not recommend a steamer enough Participant. If you're looking at decorating more and will be removing a lot of wallpaper, you might want to consider buying one and selling it afterwards, however if not try and rent if possible.

Before the extension at my parents house, and after, there was a lot of redecorating and that involved stripping tonnes of wallpaper, some more successful than others , however could not imagine doing it without a steamer.

A steamer, a scraper and a bit of patience will sort that out, do not be too over zealous and do not feel the need to try and rush. The only tip is to leave the steamer on for a little bit longer than you think it needs, it will get the paper wet (and hot so be careful, there will probably be water leaking out of the bottom too) and should peel off, the only thing I can compare it to is the sensation of peeling skin off a tomato after you've plunged it momentarily in to very hot water. The only other bit of advice is it might be worth putting a old sheet down on the carpet / floor, so that it's easier to collect the paper and will go a way to making cleaning the floor / carpet a bit easier afterwards too!

At least it is not woodchip! Hope that helps.

 

[covenantuk]

Buy or hire a steamer - they're pretty cheap now, we bought one for under £40

 

[WillyNelson]

Chance are you'll know someone with a steamer. Pop a request up on Facebook or something.

That said, as it's such a small area you may be better off with a sponge.

 

[AHarvey]

it doesn't matter if you make small chips in the plaster anyway, either put a backing paper on first going horizontally across the wall then normal paper on top vertically OR go to homebase, by a small fill in plaster (comes ready mixed in a tub) and just top up the holes.

My box room was terrible when I stripped it back for the nursery, old owner was a **** DIYer and there was over 300 holes/chips in a room that is probably 2x3m

And as sad as it may sound, when the top layer of paper comes off and leaves the underside of it its the best bit Use a normal water spray container and spray the wall, watch the paper change colour as the water soaks in and scrape Use a nice clean sponge afterwards to get any excess paste off

 

[Participant]

Yeah the in-laws have got a wallpaper streamer, only think is I don't want to damage the plaster so I'll try spraying it first.

Filling is no problem, I've got a sack of my beloved Gyproc 20 in the garage. I just don't want to create loads of craters.

Cheers again. Will post back with results!

 

[Tummy]

Yeah the in-laws have got a wallpaper streamer, only think is I don't want to damage the plaster so I'll try spraying it first.

Filling is no problem, I've got a sack of my beloved Gyproc 20 in the garage. I just don't want to create loads of craters.

Cheers again. Will post back with results!

Really can't see the steamer being a problem at all, but if you're at all nervous doing what you have said is a good course of action.

If you find the water working, definitely try the steamer as it will make it much easier.

 

[Wh00pS]

Really can't see the steamer being a problem at all, but if you're at all nervous doing what you have said is a good course of action.

If you find the water working, definitely try the steamer as it will make it much easier.

He's asking how to do it without damage. Steamers are notorious for damaging plaster.
If you have any small air gaps behind the plaster (which most will have especially in older houses) then the steamer causes the air in that pocket to expand, hence popping the plaster. Seen in many times and had to repair the damage from enthusiastic steamer users.

 

[Participant]

All done. Was a lot easier than I expected, don't know why I waited so long it was dead easy. Just used a spray bottle with hot water and some washing up liquid:

Thanks for the tips. Now to tackle this:

My scraper isn't very good, so I'm going to order one of these:

£1.85 incl. delivery?!