Stripping Solid Vinyl Wallpaper

This pre-pasted, paper-backed, solid vinyl wallpaper is one of my least favorite types due to its poor performance in humid areas. However, when it comes to stripping it off the wall, it’s one of my favorites. 🙂

Getting this paper off the wall is a matter of peeling off the top, printed, vinyl layer. This usually comes off in large pieces. The paper substrate layer will be left on the wall. That’s the light tan you see in the photo.

That layer gets soaked with a wet sponge and warm water. The backing will turn darker tan when it’s good and wet, as shown in the photo. It usually takes several applications of water, over a period of time, to reactivate the adhesive enough that the paper can be removed.

Sometimes that backing will simply and cooperatively come away from the wall. Other times you will need to use a stiff 3″ putty knife to gently scrape it off the wall, taking care to not gouge the wall or tear the drywall.

If the previous installer primed the walls, all this should go fairly easily and with minimal damage to the walls. But if no primer was used, it may take more care, time, and a little repair work to fix any damage to the walls.

See the page to the right on “How to Strip Wallpaper” for more information.

The ” Paper Tiger ” – A Horrible Tool !

Photo #1 – top view.

Photo #2 – bottom or inside view

People who go on-line to research “how to strip wallpaper” might be duped into buying this gadget. And I even know paperhangers who use it. But, folks, it is HORRIBLE. It will wreak severe damage on your walls. It will make your removal project much more difficult and time-consuming. STAY AWAY!

The concept is sound. If you perforate the surface of the wallpaper, water can penetrate it more easily and then soften the paste on the back, allowing you to remove the wallpaper.

The main problem, though, is that virtually everyone presses too hard, and then the tool’s teeth dig into not just the wallpaper, but into the drywall, causing severe damage that will require difficult and time-consuming repairs.

The other problem is that this gadget will cut your wallpaper into tiny pieces. That means that when you go to remove the paper from the wall, you will be scraping off, and then picking up off the floor, a gazillion 1/2″ micro-bits of wallpaper.

It would be much preferable to follow the easy steps listed on my page (to the left) entitled, “How To Strip Wallpaper.”

Basically, all that’s needed to strip off old wallpaper is to remove the top, inked layer, which will leave a backing layer on the wall. Then all you do is use a sponge to apply clean water to the backing. Over and over again. Until the paste underneath has been sufficiently softened that you can either pull it away from the wall, or gently scrape it away.

No damage to the wall, no muss, and nice big pieces of paper that are easy to collect and put in the trash.

Grateful Client

A few months back, a friend asked for info on how to strip wallpaper. I sent her my write-up on that, and she went to work.

Today I opened my e-mail and read this message: “Hi Julles!

Just thought that I had never thanked you and let you know that we got the project done. I know one thing……I will never be a professional wallpaper remover. Oh my lands, that is tedious, time consuming work. I am happy with the results, but I won’t be removing anymore anytime soon.

Take care and thanks again. Karen”

I always say these kinds of people make my best customers – they have done it themselves, they know how hard it is, and are very happy to pay someone else next time it comes to wallpaperl! : )

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