How difficult is it to remove wallpaper?
I want to remove the wallpaper in my guest bathroom and then paint. I do not know whether to hire it done or if I might be able to do it myself. Any suggestions?
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In my experience I found that if you put fabric softner in a spray bottle and spray it on the wallpaper it make the removal much easier than just using the plain water.
I took the wallpaper in out hallway down by spraying it thoroughly with a spray bottle, letting it soak in and then it just peeled right off. I did this in sections. The stubborn spots and glue can be scraped off. I have to add that this wallpaper was pretty old and that may have helped.
I hate taking down wall paper, it’s do able but it’s not fun at all. The last time i took wall paper down i threw a apint party & had all my friends come over & help. Nothing some good music & good friends cant make a little more fun.
First of all let me say that who ever invented wallpaper should be shot! Secondly I went threw this same dilemma 2 years ago and removed it myself. It’s a pain, time consuming, and difficult but the end result is so rewarding!
I first learned that spending a ton of money on wallpaper remover products is a total waste. However the tool (forget the name) that’s round and puts tiny puncture marks in the paper was a huge help. So I used that then wet the walls w/a huge sponge soaked in vinegar and water. Some spots were stubborn and needed scraped with a putty knife but it worked. Afterwards I had to fill in any holes w/spackle then I sanded over it w/a handheld sandblock. Finally I was ready to paint and after 2 coats and a lot of hard work my dining room was perfect!
I found it very expensive to hire a professional and it was difficult doing it myself so the next room I did I just used a primer then 2 coats of paint over the wallpaper and it was fine w/out the hassle of removing the wallpaper first. I tried one spot w/out the primer and the wet paint made the wallpaper peel which I had to remove, spackle, sand, and repaint. I don’t suggest doing this if you plan to re-paint them in the future as the next time you go to paint the dampness will set in and cause the layers to peel which will cause a huge mess, bigger than the one of removing the wallpaper and starting from scratch.
If the wall paper is in good shape and has no flaws (bumps or creases), I suggest skipping all the nightmare and paint over it! I did that with my guest room and you can’t even tell there’s wall paper underneath the paint.
The person who paints over old wall paper should be shot twice!!! Go with the long answer, it’s really hard to do, but well worth the effort.