| We have put together a list of what we think are the | | | | still be on the wall after you have removed all your |
| essential tools that you will need when stripping or | | | | wallpaper. It can also be used for those small tough |
| removing your wallpaper. | | | | patches of wallpaper that the scrapper that just cant |
| As you may be aware, there are a huge array of | | | | 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 the | | | | small holes in your wallpaper so that removing agents |
| wall", and your neighbor could offer the advice of "just | | | | or steam can loosen the wallpaper adhesive. It's a |
| rub a little fabric softener on it". While these may be | | | | very useful tool and one you should have on hand if |
| useful techniques for some, they don't fit for most | | | | you need to use a steamer or removing agent. |
| 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 wallpaper | | | | made by this company but we have found the gel to |
| will be either extremely easy to remove because it's | | | | be less messy. That is to say, it has less a tendency |
| old and the adhesive brittle or it could be potentially | | | | to drip off the wall onto the floor. It is a good one to |
| very difficult as it may have been applied directly to | | | | use if your wallpaper is NOT applied directly onto the |
| 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 is |
| most valuable tools to your project: | | | | also a good product for wallpaper that is coming off |
| Safety glasses or goggles: often over looked but an | | | | but not in large sections. |
| essential safety item. | | | | To apply the product, the best method that we have |
| Gloves: these can be dishwashing gloves or something | | | | found is to score the wallpaper with the orbital scorer |
| to protect your hands from liquid and/or slips of the | | | | and then use a paint roller to spread the gel out evenly |
| hand. | | | | over the surface you are working on. Of course, we |
| Plastic Sheet: Called and branded by a number of | | | | 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" than |
| improvement retailer. Removing wallpaper usually | | | | a single product. This product is great for removing |
| creates a mess; therefore, use the sheet to not only | | | | wallpaper that HAS been applied directly to sheetrock. |
| cover the floor but any surrounding features. To keep | | | | It's also great for grass or fiber based wallpapers. It's |
| it in place, use masking tape. And, when you are done | | | | also great for those wallpapers that nothing else |
| with your project, just roll the whole thing up (wallpaper | | | | seems to work. The downside to this product is it |
| and all) and throw it away. | | | | requires several steps to make it work. And since it's a |
| Zinsser Wallpaper Scraper: this tool does the same | | | | product pack, you really need to purchase the pack to |
| thing as a normal flat blade scrapper with the | | | | make it work. That is to say everything but the scoring |
| exception of one very important feature, its scraping | | | | tool, I still prefer the orbital scorer. |
| blade is set to an optimal angle. This means that you | | | | Once your wallpaper has been removed and the |
| won't have to worry about gouging the wall or | | | | remaining adhesive is removed, you are now ready to |
| damaging the sheetrock or drywall when scrapping. It | | | | proceed with your project. For some, this will be |
| may be a little more expensive to purchase than a | | | | applying a coat of paint, for others this will be hanging |
| normal scrapper but it will save you a lot of time. We | | | | new wallpaper. |
| are not brand promoting here, so if you find another | | | | In either case, there is a great site that offers free |
| manufacture that produces a tool that does the same | | | | instructions on wallpapering and what to do after |
| thing, go with it. You should be able to find it at any of | | | | you've removed it: |
| the larger home improvement retailers. | | | | Additionally, if you are looking to change the entire look |
| Drywall Screen: this is a metal "screen" that acts like | | | | of a room another great resource for overall interior |
| sandpaper. It is designed to remove excess spackle or | | | | design ideas is: |
| joint compound from drywall but it's extremely useful | | | | ©simplehomeimprovement. |
| for removing the small areas of dry adhesive that may | | | | |