How to remove paper wallpaper from walls. How to remove old paper wallpaper without problems. Dismantling wallpaper by hand

09.05.2020

With any repair, the first point is getting rid of traces of the old, including boring wallpaper. It is extremely important to remove the old coating from the walls, because it is possible only on a completely cleaned and leveled surface, ready for a “new life”. And if it’s not so difficult to remove heavy vinyl or voluminous interlining, then how to peel off the old paper wallpaper- the task is more difficult, and in order to solve it, clear instructions are needed.

Those who have had to rip off a vinyl or non-woven coating from the walls know that it is not so difficult - you just need to wet the canvas using a special technology, and the wallpaper will be removed quickly and easily entirely.

There are many ways to clean the walls of the old coating for a new finish.

With paper coating, the situation is more complicated - it is very thin, easily torn, and it will take a lot of time, effort and nerves to remove the wallpaper from the walls. The main thing is not to succumb to the temptation and not leave pieces of the old coating - this can nullify all further repair efforts.

Why can't you leave old wallpaper on the walls?

If you glue a fresh coating without removing the old one and without cleaning the surface, the wall will be covered with ugly bumps and pits. Especially strongly such a dubious relief will appear under a thin paper sheet, plain non-woven or vinyl “for painting”, silk-screen printing.

Important!
When you stick new wallpapers over the old ones, the weight of the coating increases, the old glue dissolves under the influence of moisture, and there is a big risk that beautiful wallpaper come off the wall along with everything that was on it, including plaster. The risk is especially great if during the previous repair the logic of the owners was similar, and several layers of paper have already settled on the walls.

When pasting wallpaper over existing ones, under the influence of wet glue, fungi and mold can form under the old paper. Not only are they seriously harmful to health, they are also capable of significantly spoiling appearance walls.

What you need to remove old wallpaper

Before clearing the wall of paper wallpaper, some preparation is needed. For "destructive" work you will need:

bucket with warm water or ready-made store liquid for getting rid of old wallpaper;
a rag, sponge or foam roller (from 20 cm wide);
a pair of spatulas of different sizes, always with sharp edges, or a special scraper;
construction needle roller or wallpaper tiger - for perforating (piercing) a paper surface;
steam generator, steam mop or powerful iron with hot steam function;
masking tape and a large piece of polyethylene.

The process of peeling off the already obsolete paper coating is very dirty, so you need to protect the floor and sockets from pieces of wet paper and plaster. To do this, it is necessary to attach the film with adhesive tape to the skirting boards around the perimeter, seal the sockets with masking tape, and ideally also de-energize the room so that water does not accidentally splash onto the bare wires.

After all the preparations, you can proceed directly to peeling the wallpaper. There are several basic techniques, depending on the condition of the walls, your time, and the resources available.

You can remove old wallpaper with a spatula

Method One: Manual

To do this, simply take the corner of the old piece from below with your hand and remove the entire wallpaper. Remove the remaining pieces on the walls with a spatula or scraper. With this technology, there is one danger: the old canvas can be torn off along with the plaster, so cover your head with a cap or scarf and protect your nose and mouth from building dust with a mask.

Method two: plain water

Ordinary warm water is the most popular and effective way to remove the old paper wallpaper in the apartment. To enhance the effect, you can add vinegar, the cheapest fabric softener or liquid dishwashing detergent to a bucket of water.

Then, with a roller, rag or sponge, we apply the liquid to small sections of the wall, wait 5-10 minutes for everything to be absorbed, and scrape off the paper with a spatula (scraper). Do not immediately pour water over the entire piece of the old roll - while you peel off one section, the thin paper will dry out and you will have to start all over again. If separate (small!) areas do not absorb liquid, you can try ironing them through a damp cloth with a hot iron - this will enhance the effect.

You should not overdo it either - if you flood the wall with water, this can soften the plaster and putty, and then the surface will have to be leveled and cleaned for a long time.

Method three: chemicals

If you want to know how to peel off old paper wallpaper the fastest and easiest way, you can take the advice of repair specialists and purchase a special liquid for removing old paper covering from walls.

Half a liter of such a product, depending on the brand, will cost about 200-300 rubles, and enough for 2-3 rooms, depending on the area. It is very simple to use: dilute in accordance with the instructions (for a greater effect, you can pour wallpaper glue), apply it to the walls and wait until it dries. Wallpaper liquid penetrates the paper and dissolves the glue, while the canvas itself remains intact. After drying, the pieces of the old roll move away from the surface entirely.

The use of such a tool will significantly save time - it will be possible to clean paper wallpaper from the walls with a scraper and a spatula in just a couple of hours. The only drawback is an unpleasant chemical smell, but it quickly disappears, and the “drug” itself is harmless to both people and pets.

On sale there are many chemicals that will facilitate the process of removing old wallpaper from the walls.

Method four: hot steam

If you don’t want to spend money on a cleaning agent, but you have a steam generator or a powerful iron at home, it will be much easier to tear off the wallpaper.

First, provide access to the outlet: if you have de-energized the room and closed the sockets, you can bring an extension cord from the next room. Then we process the wallpaper pieces one by one with hot steam and wait 3-5 minutes. Paper and old glue swell quickly when exposed to hot, moist air, and it is not difficult to remove the old coating.

Method five: special tools

If several layers of paper have accumulated on your walls or a two-layer wallpaper coating (duplex) was pasted during the last repair, it will be very problematic to remove the wallpaper. Too old wallpaper glue, PVA or bustilat can complicate the process even more. Dissolving such a mixture is quite difficult, and you will probably have to scrape everything by hand.

For these works, you will need a roller with needles or a more gentle tool - wallpaper tiger. The tool must be walked over the entire surface to make holes, moisten the wallpaper hot water: the liquid in this case penetrates under the paper faster. Pieces of the old canvas are torn off with a sharp spatula or scraper, but you have to be careful: the sharp edges of the tool easily leave grooves and dents on the wall, and then you have to further level it.

If liquid and perforating tools are powerless against the wall covering, you can use more serious equipment: a drill with a wallpaper stripping nozzle (round brush) or a grinder with a coarse-grained brush. Such work is very dusty, and the wall can be significantly damaged - leveling the surface with putty is inevitable.

You can clean the walls of the old coating with a drill with a special nozzle

How to get rid of paper wallpaper on drywall

If you need to remove the paper cover not from ordinary wall, and with drywall, you need to go to business delicately. Drywall is covered with a thin paper layer that cannot be torn or scratched.

Most best option in this case, use a chemical remover for old wallpaper pieces or hot steam. Experts do not recommend using water here. If the old wallpaper is very thin, smooth and stuck to the drywall tightly, you can prime and glue new ones on top. It is better to use embossed foam vinyl for this, which will hide possible irregularities.

There are a lot of ways to peel off old paper wallpapers from the walls, and choosing the right one will not be difficult. But if you got a very problematic apartment, and the old coating just merged with the wall, you can use the services of professionals. Today, craftsmen have many special tools, and they can easily remove all the former beauty from the walls without damaging the surface.

If you want to completely transform the look of a room, you don't have to overhaul- just change the wall decoration. After all, even the most stylish and your favorite wallpapers can get pretty fed up with time. It doesn't matter what material you choose during the repair processes. It can be painting, new wallpaper, 3D panels or even laminate. In any case, work should be done to prepare the foundation and completely get rid of the old finishing material on the wall. Below we will help you understand the main nuances in the process of dismantling the wallpaper.

Preparing the room and wall surfaces

How to quickly peel off old wallpaper? We will talk about this a little later. To begin with, you will have to prepare the room for repairs in it. This will facilitate further work and will allow you to cope with the dismantling of the old canvas as quickly as possible:

Move sofas, wardrobes, chests of drawers, etc. to another room. If you cannot take some pieces of furniture into the next room, try to cover them tightly with a thick film. Of course, if you don't feel sorry for the furniture, you can leave everything as it is.
Cover the floors in the room with newspapers or the same film. Afraid of falling from slipping while moving around the room? Just place sheets of old newspaper or pieces of cardboard on top.
If you plan to dismantle the wallpaper using a clean hot water, you must first turn off the electricity in the entire apartment. Alternatively, you can simply cover all the sockets on the wall surface with a film. Otherwise, when the wiring comes into contact with water, a short circuit may occur.
Put a clean rag (which you don’t mind throwing away later) when you leave the room, so as not to transfer repair dust throughout the apartment.
Prepare the tools (which we will talk about a little below) in advance so that all items are near you at any time. Otherwise, you will have to look for this or that object during dismantling.

Preparation of tools and materials

Do you want to know how to remove old wallpaper quickly and easily? It is important to prepare certain tools:

good (sharp) spatulas (2-3 different sizes);
sharp knife;
a container (basin or bucket) filled with heated water;
any good detergent;
a clean foam roller or rag;
ladder, chair or stool;
scotch;
iron;
rubber seals (when using special equipment - a mask to protect the respiratory tract).

Wallpaper removal tool

Do you want to learn how to remove wallpaper from the walls at home if time is running out? After all, sometimes deadlines are burning, and finishing should be done in a matter of days. In such processes, conventional tools are not enough - it is advisable to stock up on professional tools (which are in stock at any building materials store) and special equipment. In this case, you will be helped:

Important! The steam generator is not cheap. Therefore, you should not buy it just to remove a boring canvas once. Ask if there is a rental of such devices in your city.

Wallpaper removal methods

There is a myth that supposedly new wallpapers can be glued on the previous ones. However, this is not at all the case. Even if the wall surface does not have any defects, bright color and the three-dimensional pattern of the previous canvas can be seen through the new finishing material.

In addition, not all old wallpaper material can bear the weight of new ones. So there is a risk that the canvases will quickly disappear, and the entire repair process will have to be started over again a few weeks after it is completed. Do not forget that over time, various harmful microorganisms accumulate on any surface. So a quality repair should include as much cleaning as possible from stains, dust, mold, bacteria and other things.

Well, earlier you collected all the tools and tools, as well as pre-processing. And now below we will talk about how to remove old wallpaper from the wall. Options for removing the finishing material will depend mainly on the base of the canvas.

All dismantling methods are usually divided into three main categories:

traditional - water and a sharp spatula;
high quality solutions;
steaming the fabric with a special device.

Below we will describe the entire process of removing the old finishing wallpaper material of all main types and talk about the features of a particular method.

How to remove non-woven wallpaper

This type of finishing material is quite heavy, which is an advantage while working on its removal. Indeed, under its weight, the canvas quickly breaks away from the base. The most popular method of how to rip off vinyl wallpapers with a non-woven base, includes the use of a roller with small needles. The whole dismantling process is as simple as possible:

How to remove paper wallpaper

Decorating the walls of the house with paper wallpaper is an interior classic that will not go out of fashion soon. Especially today in stores you can find a huge number of colors, textures and patterns of the canvas. Of course, even the most original models over time, they begin to lose their original appearance. How to tear off old paper wallpaper? Here are some pretty simple solutions for you to choose from:

traditional method

Perhaps the simplest and a budget option which you can do at home on your own. Wet the paper with clean water, wait a few minutes and pry it off with a knife or spatulas.

special means

Buy special products at the building materials store that allow you to shoot wallpaper in one piece. How to use this or that product will be indicated on the packaging. The main thing is to choose a quality product from a trusted manufacturer.

Steam puller

Most fast way how to remove old wallpaper is to use a steam generator. The main advantage of the device is the delicacy in relation to the walls. That is, you can remove the entire canvas, but at the same time avoid the appearance of defects on the basis of the wall and save the plaster. Just turn on the device filled with water, wait for the steam to appear and treat the old canvas with it. After a few minutes, the paper itself will move away from the walls.

How to remove vinyl wallpaper

A feature of vinyl wallpapers is that they usually consist of two layers: a base made of paper and an outer layer of polyvinyl chloride. This provides many benefits, including:

ease of sticking;
high strength;
moisture resistance;
long service life.

The main problem comes when you want to know how to remove old vinyl wallpaper from the wall. The fact is that this finishing material is not as easy to remove from the surface as, for example, paper counterparts. To speed up the process, we recommend that you pay attention to such a device as a wallpaper tiger. This is a special roller that has needles all over its surface.

The whole process of removing old wallpapers is as follows:

Take a roller with needles and walk it over the entire surface of the wallpaper.
Dampen the first canvas. Wait 5 minutes and moisten the second. After another 5 minutes - the third and so on.
Take a spatula and pry a strip of canvas that was moistened in the first place on top.
Pull down a little to remove the old wallpaper. Remove the other strips in the same way.

Advice: Do not dampen all strips of wallpaper on the wall at once. The process of removing the canvases is so long that by the time you get to the last strip, it has already had time to dry.

How to remove liquid wallpaper from walls

A fairly new finishing material that is considered a beautiful and budgetary way to decorate the walls in a room. Among their shortcomings, a low degree of moisture resistance is distinguished. It is for this reason that liquid canvases are strictly forbidden to be glued in rooms with high humidity(kitchen, bathroom). In the process of removing old wallpaper, this disadvantage turns into a very attractive advantage. Warm clean water and no special equipment! And besides, it will take a little time to dismantle the wallpaper - such material is very afraid of water and quickly amenable to soaking.

Advice: Do you want to know how to remove liquid wallpaper much faster than the above method? Add some primer to a container of water. Spread the resulting mixture evenly over the canvas and leave for 10-15 minutes. After the time has elapsed, you can dismantle with a spatula.

How to remove old wallpaper glued to PVA? In this situation, you will need to stock up on strength and time. After all, you will have to wield a spatula on a completely dry surface. First, check how tightly the wallpaper adheres to the surface. This point will affect how much time you spend removing the old finishing material. Also use a grinder. It will allow you to remove large pieces of the canvas and easily get rid of the remnants that are firmly stuck to the wall. However, it should be borne in mind that the use of a grinding machine has not only advantages, but also disadvantages:

Various defects may remain on the surface of the wall, which will subsequently have to be leveled.
A lot of dust is released during the grinding process. Therefore, it is important to protect the respiratory tract and use a face mask.
The dust that appears during the operation of the machine settles on the surface of the furniture and floor covering. Therefore, you should tightly cover the floor, sofa, cabinets and lighting before starting the repair.

Video: how to remove old wallpaper

Can the removal of old wallpapers be easy and without problems? Yes, yes, and yes again! Above, we described many ways to remove canvases from the wall, taking into account the type of finishing material and the basis of the walls. Fortunately, this process does not require any special knowledge or experience in such work. With a little getting used to, you can remove the wallpaper in 7-8 hours. Proper dismantling of the canvas will allow you to clean the surface of the wall as much as possible, which will prepare it for applying a new finishing material.

Previously, people did not particularly bother and, if they wanted to update the interior, they simply glued new wallpapers on top of the old ones. The canvases were paper, so during this installation no bubbles, bumps and spots formed. As a result, in some apartments you can find from 2-3 to 8 or more layers of old wallpaper. To apply a modern coating, you will have to get rid of all this, and here many difficulties await. We have put together some effective ways to remove old wallpaper from walls quickly and easily, whether it is paper, vinyl or washable canvases.

Why is it better not to glue new wallpaper on old ones?

In the old days, when the wallpaper was entirely paper without any protective films and coatings, it was possible to glue new wallpaper on an old, even, undeformed, but simply boring coating with a clear conscience. Sometimes there are so many layers of old wallpaper that, like the rings of trees, you can determine the number of repairs and remember different periods in the life of the owners. If you are going to glue paper wallpapers over the old Soviet and miraculously surviving paper wallpapers, then you can take a chance and do without the dismantling procedure. In all other cases, it is better not to do this.

Firstly, if you plan to finish the walls with plaster, photo wallpaper, paint or any other finish, then the layer of old wallpaper must be removed without fail. Secondly, even if you are going to glue the wallpaper again, then when applying one layer to another, you can get lagging new layer, wrinkles, blisters and other defects. This is due to the fact that the old layer may no longer hold very well, and there is also an increased load. What's more, the glue you'll be using will soften the old wallpaper layer. As a result, the drying process will be delayed, and if the wallpaper is of different quality in two layers, then lagging behind the walls cannot be avoided.

It's great if you still have labels from rolls that indicate the type of dismantling, for example, "remove wet" or "delaminate when removed."
Before you start removing old wallpaper, remember how they were pasted. If it was ordinary wallpaper paste that was applied to primed walls, then most likely the whole dismantling process would not be very difficult.
Problems can arise if the wallpaper was glued with non-standard glue, for example, PVA, or if it was mounted on an unsuitable surface. The most difficult surface is considered to be non-putty drywall.
Some difficulties may arise if the top layer does not absorb moisture (vinyl and washable wallpapers), but even in this case, effective methods have been devised.

In any case, remember that nothing is impossible. There are many ways to remove old wallpaper from the walls, it just might take a little more effort than planned.

How to prepare for wallpaper removal?

The process of dismantling old wallpaper is often a messy process. Stucco will crumble, water splashes will fly and some special means, so it is better to prepare the room in advance:

The last point is the most interesting. What tools may be needed in the process of removing wallpaper? Here is the list:

two sharp spatulas of different sizes;
bucket, water, detergent;
sponges, roller, rags;
garbage bags;
gloves;
ladder;
perforation roller, wallpaper tiger, knife;
special means for dismantling wallpaper / steam iron and a piece of fabric.

The set of tools can be reduced or expanded depending on the chosen method.

No. 1. Removing wallpaper with bare hands

This is an option for those lucky ones who have old wallpaper is already moving away from the walls. To remove the old canvases, it is enough to pull the upper edge, and if some parts do not lend themselves, then pry them with a spatula or knife. Stripes of wallpaper can depart entirely. Old wallpaper, most likely, has already lost its strength, so you should not pull so that the canvas does not crumble. Shoot carefully. If in some place the wallpaper is securely attached, then pry them with a knife or spatula. If this does not help, then use one of the following methods.

No. 2. The traditional way: removing wallpaper with water

The wet method works in most cases. Moreover, it is more hygienic compared to the previous option, since less dust will be generated in the process. The procedure is as follows:

This method is ideal for paper wallpapers: single-layer ones are soaked in literally 5-7 minutes and are perfectly removed from top to bottom, two-layer ones will take 10-15 minutes, and only the top layer can be removed. If you are going to glue the wallpaper, then the bottom layer of the old ones can be left. If not, then the procedure will have to be repeated. In the case of paper wallpaper covered with a protective moisture-resistant film, as well as in the case of vinyl, non-woven and washable wallpaper, you will have to try a little more. At a minimum, perforate, and as a maximum, use special compounds and other tricks.

No. 3. We use a special liquid for removing wallpaper

If the wallpaper is glued tightly, or you just don’t want to waste time and effort soaking it with water, then you can take a special composition for removing wallpaper. Such products are inexpensive, non-toxic, absorbed into the structure of the wallpaper much better than just water or soap and water.

Procedure:

No. 4. steam method

The most common iron, steam iron or steam generator can help you deal with old wallpaper:

No. 5. "Mole" against wallpaper

In construction, the following method is often used. He is a variation traditional method removing wallpaper by soaking. If the wallpaper is glued firmly, then the Mole pipe cleaner should be dissolved in warm water. For 1 part Mole, add 2 parts water. Using a roller, this solution is applied to the wallpaper, and after 5-10 minutes the wallpaper should come off in whole canvases. The effectiveness of this method is on top, only moisten the wallpaper will have to be very careful and act with gloves.

No. 6. How to remove wallpaper pasted on PVA

PVA glue is a water-insoluble composition, so traditional methods do not take it well. You can try adding laundry soap or vinegar to the water, or both, or you can do it in a slightly different way.

Work with a spatula and grinder. Using a spatula, they try to carefully remove those parts of the wallpaper that lend themselves. Remains and large pieces can be removed with a grinder, but in this case it is worth remembering that you run the risk of damaging the main surface. Most likely, after completion of the work, the walls will have to be leveled.

Also, don't forget about the effective method- steaming.

No. 7. How to remove vinyl wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper is a layer of polyvinyl chloride film pasted on paper, less often on interlining. Suitable for removing such wallpaper traditional way but there are a few things to keep in mind:

No. 8. How to remove non-woven wallpaper?

Non-woven wallpaper can be made purely from non-woven fabric, or from non-woven fabric and a layer of other material. In the latter case, paper, textiles or vinyl are attached to the non-woven base. The tactics of dismantling non-woven wallpaper is not much different from the traditional method described above.

The non-woven base is much stronger than paper, although it is also natural. She will be filmed in full canvases. It is most convenient to act with a spatula; if necessary, the wallpaper can be moistened.

If there is an external vinyl layer, it is first perforated, then moistened, and after 15-20 minutes they begin to remove the wallpaper with a spatula. If the non-woven bottom layer has remained intact and has not been removed, you can leave it - it strengthens the surface of the wall and will be an excellent basis for new wallpaper.

No. 9. How to remove washable wallpaper?

Washable wallpapers are chosen for those places where water can get in, or where there are constant sources of pollution. Such a coating can be washed with a damp sponge, and nothing will happen to it. Cool, right? But this advantage becomes the main problem when trying to remove washable wallpaper. Experts advise to act as follows:

For starters, you should try layering the wallpaper. Make notches, wet the surface, wait. The top layer is removed elementarily, and the bottom one will have to be removed with a scraper. Be prepared that you may need to moisten the surface several times with water, because such wallpapers are protected from such exposure, and it will not be easy to break such protection;
if the water has not soaked the wallpaper well, it is better to use a steam generator. Often, old washable wallpapers do not lend themselves to water or a special liquid, so only steam remains.

No. 10. How to remove liquid wallpaper?

In terms of composition and method of application, liquid wallpaper is more reminiscent of decorative plaster. They consist of cellulose fibers, silk, cotton, adhesives, dyes and specific additives such as fungicides. The surface of such wallpapers is strong and durable, and if you are tired of its color, you can change it using acrylic and water-based paint desired shade.

If you decide to completely get rid of liquid wallpaper and change them to another type of coating, then it will not be difficult to remove them. It is enough to soak the coating with warm water, and when it begins to swell, remove the mass with a spatula. Experts say that liquid wallpaper can be reused.

If it so happened that under the influence warm water the wallpaper has not softened, then you can prepare a weak primer solution.

No. 11. How to remove wallpaper from drywall?

Drywall allows you to quickly level the surface of the walls. For this convenience, the material has become ubiquitous. However, removing wallpaper from drywall is more difficult than removing wallpaper from brick and concrete. The material cannot be wetted with water, and it is necessary to act as carefully as possible so as not to damage the top paper layer.

You can remove wallpaper from drywall like this:

via special means, which dissolve the glue, but this is an option in case there is putty under the wallpaper. However, gluing wallpaper on drywall without prior putty is a very reckless decision;
can be applied over wallpaper cheapest wallpaper paste, it will dry very slowly, and during this time it will have time to saturate the wallpaper with moisture, which will swell and move away from the wall themselves. It remains only to pick them up with a spatula;
in rare cases, when none of the methods above helped, you will have to take on abrasive materials and machines, but this is a very dangerous option, as drywall can be damaged;
if to rough manual way I don’t want to resort to dismantling, then you can try steam wallpaper.

Gluing paper wallpaper on drywall without prior puttying means dooming yourself to the eternal contemplation of the same wallpaper, or gluing other paper wallpaper over them, or demolishing walls, but this is cardinal. The paper is glued to the paper tightly, and it will be almost impossible to break the layers. If you save on putty, then use non-woven wallpaper. In this case, when removing the top layer, a strong layer of non-woven fabric remains, on top of which you can even putty.

Many complain that the old Soviet paper wallpaper has literally eaten into the walls and cannot be removed with water or steam. If all methods have been tried, and some of the wallpaper has remained tightly glued to the walls, then such a half-prepared wall can be puttied to level the surface for subsequent finishing. If the remnants of the old wallpaper hold tightly, tightly, then there will be nothing under the putty, and they will not affect the new coating in any way.

It is not difficult to remove the old finish, planted on ordinary wallpaper paste, from the plastered surface. It is more difficult to cope with thin paper wallpaper glued to PVA or paste. So that the removal of old wallpaper from the walls does not give you trouble, we will consider the options for dismantling the main types of finishes on paper, non-woven, liquid-based, as well as vinyl-coated.

Getting rid of Soviet wallpaper - water and special tools

The most difficult thing is to remove old wallpaper from the walls of the Soviet type, and everyone who has tried to do this at least once will agree with this statement. There are several reasons for this. The structure of the wallpaper, the use of durable CMC, Bustilat, PVA wood glue, which "tightly" glue the rolls. It is impossible to tear off the wallpaper with a whole layer, they peel off in small areas. Complicate the process of dismantling old wallpaper, pasted on top of each other in several layers and on a newspaper. This finish has to be removed in layers.

To quickly remove old wallpaper from the walls, prepare the following set of materials and tools:

dishwashing detergent or liquid soap;
sprayer or bucket of water;
foam sponges;
wallpaper tiger;
needle roller;
spatula with a sharp blade;
masking tape;
polyethylene film.

Before you remove the wallpaper, take care of the safety rules. Turn off the electricity in the apartment, seal the sockets and switches with masking tape to prevent water from entering. Also insulate protruding wires. To make it easier for you to clean, glue plastic bags at least 0.5 m wide along the baseboard, which are usually used for packing things and furniture. Cleaning after dismantling will be faster, the floor will not be splashed with water.

Take a sprayer or bucket of water, add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid or soap. Dampen a small area of the wall and wait 10-20 minutes for the water and degreaser to soak into the base and soften the adhesive. To make the wallpaper swell faster, it is better to use hot, and not cold water. Soak the area gradually. Repeat wetting as it dries, do not try to moisten the wall abundantly at once. For better penetration water inside the layer, use a knife. Make several longitudinal notches.

In hard-to-reach places and on the ceiling, use a needle roller to make slits. Alternative option for making scratches will be a wallpaper tiger. This tool allows you to process a large layer of wallpaper without damaging concrete pavement and plaster, thanks to soft rollers.

We begin to tear off the wallpaper from the corner of the room, from top to bottom. We clean the finish with a sharp spatula, preferably with a long handle. We act carefully around sockets, switches and other electronic devices, using a narrow spatula.

Washing and steaming - the fight against complex wallpaper

Modern manufacturers have come up with tools that make it easy to remove old wallpaper - chemical washes. Among famous brands QUELYD DISSOUCOL, Zinsser, ATLAS ALPAN are popular on the market. They penetrate deep into the structure of the wallpaper and destroy the adhesive layer. The use of a wash is not difficult. We dilute the composition according to the manufacturer's recommendations, distribute the liquid evenly with a sponge or through a spray bottle. After swelling of the finish, it is easily removed along with all the remnants from the wall.

Another effective option for dealing with difficult wallpaper is steaming. For these purposes, you can use a steam mop or steam cleaner, and if they are not at hand, a regular iron and a wet cloth will do. We turn on the steaming mode, lean a wet cloth against the problem area of the wall and direct steam from the iron through it. Under the influence of steam, the glue will collapse, and you can quickly tear off the old wallpaper from the walls. You just need to do this while they are still hot. We clean the small pieces left after steaming with sandpaper, a metal scraper or a grinder.

Finishing on a non-woven backing - how to deal with it?

The main advantage of non-woven wallpaper is the substrate, which can not be torn off the wall, dismantling only the top layer. It reinforces the wall and ensures a good fit of the new finish. If you still want to completely clean the walls of old wallpaper, follow the instructions below.

We take a wide sharp spatula, hook the edge of the canvas and pull it from top to bottom. The remaining pieces in hard-to-reach places are removed with a narrow spatula. If the canvas does not fit well, tear off the wallpaper, wetting the area with thermal water. In order for the water to penetrate deeper into the base, we use a wallpaper tiger. After 15–20 minutes, the non-woven wallpaper will swell. Soaked finish is simply removed with a scraper or spatula. If this is not enough, add a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent to the water and re-moisten the remaining area with water.

Features of dismantling the washable coating

Vinyl or washable two-layer wallpaper. They consist of a paper or non-woven base, which is attached to the wall covering, and covered with vinyl on top. It prevents moisture from getting under the wallpaper, allows you to wash the finish when dirty. It is not necessary to completely remove washable non-woven wallpaper, it is enough to dismantle only the outer vinyl layer. However, if the base began to lag behind, play it safe and remove the entire finish.

Remove washable wallpaper, using only wetting the surface with water, will not work. The vinyl coating is resistant to moisture, and in order to remove it, notches must be made on the surface of the material using a needle roller or scraper. Only after that we wet the area. When the water has penetrated well into the base, the finish will begin to bubble and it will not be difficult to remove the washable wallpaper from the wall. If some area does not peel off well, use a steam mop or iron. After steaming one section, we move on to another, prying off the remnants of the finish with a spatula until they have cooled.

We remove liquid wallpaper and reuse

It's easy from the walls. They quickly soak under the action of moisture, leaving no marks on the surface. If you do not paint and other decorative coatings, dry them after dismantling and use them for decoration in another room. Liquid wallpaper with varnish impurities and paint are completely recycled and not reused. Depending on the final finish, such a coating is removed in several ways. If you covered the surface of liquid wallpaper with varnish or paint, then use a building hair dryer or a grinder with a nozzle to remove it from the surface. In the absence of a building hair dryer, use a regular household hair dryer. True, with him the work will be delayed. Steam iron will also be effective when removed.

Standard uncoated liquid wallpaper is removed in a familiar way using warm water, a metal scraper and a sharp spatula. To increase the efficiency of work, we recommend adding a couple of caps of Ceresit ST-17 primer to the water. After wetting the surface, leave the composition to soak for 10 minutes, open windows and doors to create a draft in the room and speed up the process. The layer is swollen and softened, we rip it off. We clean the small remnants of liquid wallpaper with a scraper, grind the surface with sandpaper.

We dismantle the finish from drywall

Drywall partitions are increasingly found on construction sites and residential buildings. The peculiarity of removing the old coating from drywall is the careful handling of the coating. If the top paper layer is damaged, drywall loses its quality characteristics. To easily peel off the wallpaper, we recommend chemical washes that penetrate deep into the structure of the adhesive, allowing the base of the finish to quickly lag behind the surface. This method is especially useful if the drywall is plastered and you do not want to damage the leveling layer with sharp movements of the spatula. In the absence of a primer on the walls, the use of a chemical wash is also the best option. To quickly strip old wallpaper from drywall, scratch the surface with a spiked roller or wallpaper tiger before applying chemicals.

An alternative and budget option for removing wallpaper from a drywall partition is to apply cheap wallpaper glue to the finish. Due to the fact that such glue dries for a long time, the wallpaper swells, begins to bubble, stretch and lag behind the surface. Carefully pry off the torn layer with a sharp spatula, use a paint knife to work in hard-to-reach places.

A primer is also suitable for impregnating wallpaper. Compared to water, it evaporates more slowly, therefore, it acts on the material longer and penetrates deeper into the structure. After soaking, remove the finish with a metal scraper or spatula. Having finished dismantling, we check the walls for irregularities. If necessary, remove small residues with sandpaper, putty and prime the surface.

It's no secret that before you start repairing the walls, you need to completely remove the old finish. But how easy is it to remove old wallpaper from the walls - quickly and effortlessly? After all, often they have to be scraped off literally centimeter by centimeter. Of course, it is most hygienic to remove paper wallpaper with a wet method. But what if they are waterproof or vinyl? Let's find out all the tricks of professionals.

Preparatory work

Before you remove the old wallpaper, the room must be carefully prepared. Then the process will be quick and easy. So what should be done?

Completely empty the room of furniture. If some elements could not be taken out, they must be covered with a film or rags.
It is also necessary to cover the floors. To prevent the film from slipping, you can lay cardboard or thick sheets of paper on it.
If you plan to remove old wallpaper with water, the electricity must be turned off. Or you can simply cover the switches and sockets with plastic wrap, carefully securing it with tape. This must be done, otherwise a short circuit may lead to an accident.
To prevent debris and dust from spreading further around the house, a damp cloth should be placed on the threshold.
In addition, all tools must be assembled in advance so that in the process of work you do not waste time looking for the right one.

What accessories might be needed?

Whether it's vinyl or paper wallpaper, you can't pick it up with your bare hands. Therefore, you need to make sure that the following tools are at hand:

ladder;
gloves;
packages, garbage bags;
sharp spatulas of various widths;
stationery knife;
sponges, rags, roller;
container with warm water.

In addition, if you need to quickly and easily remove old vinyl wallpaper, it is advisable to acquire additional tools: a steam generator, a wallpaper tiger (a roller with needles) and a special liquid wall covering remover.

Paper wallpapers come in several types: single-layer, double-layer (duplex), with a moisture-resistant front surface (washable). Let's find out how best to remove old wallpaper from the walls of each type.

Single layer paper wallpaper.

This is the simplest coating that can be easily removed with plain warm water. Old wallpapers are moistened with a wet cloth and after 5-7 minutes are removed from top to bottom.

Two-layer paper wallpaper.

Duplex takes longer to get wet, so after moisturizing, you need to wait 10 minutes. Also, when removed, they can delaminate, but if the walls are even and do not need repair, the bottom layer can be left (new materials will stick better to it). If the coating needs to be removed completely, then the procedure for moistening the walls should be repeated again.

Washable paper wallpaper.

The moisture-resistant surface does not allow water to pass through, therefore, in order for water to penetrate inside, the top layer must be destroyed. The easiest way to do this is with a special tool - a wallpaper tiger. However, if it was not at hand, you can simply gently scratch the washable layer with a knife, steel wool or any other sharp tool. In addition, it is better to repeat moisturizing several times with an interval of 15 minutes, then the old paper wallpaper will be removed quickly and easily.

Vinyl wallpapers in most cases consist of a paper base and a polymer layer (polyvinyl chloride). Thanks to this combination, they are easy to glue, they are durable and well protected from moisture. In addition, the top coating may have various additional characteristics. There are vinyl wallpapers with silk thread, washable, foamed. Some of them are even adapted to cleaning with a solvent or alcohol. That is why old vinyl wallpapers are not as easy to remove as paper ones. In most cases, a special roller with needles is indispensable. So what should be done?

Walk with a wallpaper tiger over the entire surface of the walls.
Using a rag or roller, moisten the first canvas, after 5 minutes the second and after the same period of time the third.
Pry off with a spatula upper part wallpaper strip, which was moistened first, and then gently pull down.
Re-moisten all remaining small pieces and proceed to the second canvas.
After removing the 3rd canvas, return to the beginning of work and clean the scraps with a spatula.
Process the next three in the same way.

It is this method that allows you to remove old wallpaper from the walls very quickly and easily, on average, it takes from 30 to 45 minutes to remove 3 paintings.

There is no need to moisten too large a surface: by the time you reach it, it will already be completely dry.

Difficult cases

Very often, difficulties arise when, instead of a special water-soluble glue, vinyl wallpapers are “planted” on PVA, bustilat, or any other compound that is not afraid of water exposure. In this case, you can remove them from the walls only with a grinder with a coarse-grained sandpaper or a drill with a round brush head. However, it is advisable to use the tool only to remove traces of glue, as well as small pieces of wallpaper. The rest of the wall surface will have to be processed manually with a spatula.

Still very often the question arises: how to remove old wallpaper from walls covered with drywall? In most cases, this is not possible, it remains only to glue the new coating on top. The fact is that the top cardboard layer is firmly connected to the paper and the use of a wet method or special means can simply damage it. If the drywall was puttied, then, as a rule, there are no difficulties. You can use water, a spatula or specially designed products.

In order for the new wallpaper to last for a long time, it is important to let the walls dry, plaster or putty if necessary, and finally cover with a primer.

Special funds

In the case when the deadlines are very tight, you can use a special tool (steam stripper) or purchase a wallpaper remover. The last folk craftsmen learned to make from improvised means. Let's look at each option in more detail.

Steam extractor. A technical device that consists of a perforated steam sole and a vessel of water. Powered by electricity or heated by bottled gas. Steam penetrates the material much faster than water, so the steam stripper saves a lot of valuable time. It is better and more efficient than other devices, removes old wallpaper along with glue, does not spoil plaster and putty. Some even try to replace it household iron by stroking the walls through a damp cloth. However, this is a rather laborious process, and it is not easy to cope with it alone.
Wall paper remover. The most commonly used tools are Zinsser, Atlas Alpan, Quelyd Dissoucol. They quickly penetrate the structure of the wallpaper, which helps to remove them better and more efficiently. Such products do not contain hazardous substances and can be used indoors in the presence of people. The solution is being prepared strictly according to the instructions, but if there is a desire to enhance the effect, you can mix the liquid with wallpaper paste. The resulting jelly is applied in a dense layer on the surface of the walls, and after about 3 hours the wallpaper falls behind in whole pieces.
Folk recipes. For greater efficiency of the wet method of removing old wallpaper, vinegar, detergent or can be added to the water. For preparation, it is necessary to dissolve 2 tablespoons of any of the products in boiling water, and then apply to the wallpaper.

As you can see, you can remove old wallpaper from the walls different methods. However, so that the process does not take much time, it is important to take into account all the subtleties and know the little tricks. This will avoid many mistakes, reduce repair time and, most importantly, keep your nerves healthy.