Wallpaper Removal Chemicals

paintbydesign

Hey All,

I just got my first request for wallpaper removal, and I'm trying to find the most efficient and effective way to remove it. I've noticed there are some chemicals you can buy to help remove the paper, but is there one that's better than the rest? Also, is there really a difference btw using a chemical and using plain old hot water and a sponge?

Thanks in advance!

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In Him,

Nicole Roane,
Paint by Design

jackrabbit5

I'll answer your second question first. Yes, there is a difference between using the chemicals vs. plain water. The chemicals reduce the surface tension of the water in effect making it wetter. It then penetrates and dissolves the paste better and faster. It also helps if the water is hot because hot water is wetter than cold. BTW, don't use a sponge. A pump up garden sprayer works really well for laying the solution on the wall.

As for the product to use, there are lots of them. Some people swear by fabric softener or dish soap. There are also a lot of products on the market that are made for the purpose but I prefer Safe and Simple.

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Stacy

S B Bolson & Sons

daArch

Nicole,

I agree with the praises heaped on Safe and Simple.

If, however, you do not have the time nor inclination to wait for the three day or so delivery, and you just gotta buy something now, I have found that DIF does almost and equally good job. But pay attention to the warning on the label and wear a respirator, the fumes are not healthy. Another off the shelf product I found very good was STRIP+ by Roman Decorating - haven't see it in years though. My personal least favorite of the commercial brands is Fast. I'll use ammonia before that.

S&S is no odor, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Funny story about the company owner, Mike Zekich, mistakingly thinking the gallon of undiluted was lemonade and taking a BIG swig. He's still alive and joking about it.

BTW, what kind of paper are you stripping. We might be able to give you some hints on how to make it easier. Is it paper-paper? Acrylic or vinyl coated paper? Paper backed vinyl? Fabric backed vinyl? We are some fine strippers here and can give you lots of hints on how to take it off, take it ALL off.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

paintbydesign

Thanks so much for the tips, guys! I got to briefly examine the paper the other day, and it looks like it's paper-paper. I have no idea what's underneath yet -- work starts next Mon.

__________________
In Him,

Nicole Roane,
Paint by Design

paintbydesign

BTW, daArch, I just looked at your site, and you do incredible work!!

__________________
In Him,

Nicole Roane,
Paint by Design

daArch

Well thank-you, m'am. I do have to update my portfolio and show some more recent stuff.

But anyway, I wanted to add some stripping tips for the paper-paper

As Stacy says, use a garden type sprayer and fill with HOT water (and stripping solution of choice).

Spray the walls - I like to spray the whole room. If you hit them first with a fine mist and allow the paper to absorb it, you will reduce the run off. Keep the walls wet and LET THE STRIPPER DO THE WORK. Allow enough time for the paste to re-wet and dissolve. When ready, use your favorite stripping tool - I like the four inch razor type stripper, but I do not like an exceptionally sharp blade, my preference.

Remove one or two panels at a time and then WASH paste residue off before paste re-dries. Use a teflon scrub pad on a handle:



Wipe clean with sponge, micro fiber towel ("miftie"), or even a floor mop.

Remember to take a break and re-mist the walls ahead of you. Do not let them dry.

Depending on the paste used and level of prep work of the walls prior to installation, you could have the easiest time in your life where the paper just about falls off on its own, or you will be dead tired at the end of the day .... or somewhere in between.

Good luck.

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

paintbydesign

So then, once I give the walls a once over with the solution, how long before I can begin removal? Should I let it sit only a few minutes?

Also, what if I'm wrong and the wallpaper is not paper-paper? What if it's a different material with a paper back? Will this same method work?

Thanks so much, you're really helping me quite a bit!

__________________
In Him,

Nicole Roane,
Paint by Design

neolitic

Arch--
What's wrong with a steamer?
I've always had good luck with them.
Shoot, I thought the "scrunge" thingy with the handle was my idea

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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

daArch

First a quick answer to neolitic - IHO steamers are not only unsafe and costly, but you can only loosen a small amount at a time. I used one once on a room with multiple coats of wallpaper. Steamers are probably more effective for multiple coats than single coats. I was REAL nervous the whole day as it was propane fired, not electric.
And YAH, I thought I FIRST THOUGHT of using the scrub pad, but then when Mike Zekich had it in his DIY instruction booklet, I realized we all have the same good ideas.

Now, Nicole.
Timing is something that is never the same. Last week I had two similar papers in different rooms. The papers were both pre-pasteds. One had clay added to it, the other just dipped and hung. The one with clay needed an hour or more before it was only DIFFICULT to strip. The other was sprayed once, and after fifteen minutes, I pulled the sheets off by hand. Testing is the only way to know. I usually work on one area even though it's not ready waiting for the rest of the room to soak. This saves some time instead of twiddling your thumbs waiting for the paste to soften on all the walls.

If it's not paper-paper, the other most common choices of wallcovering would be vinyl or acrylic coated, and paper backed vinyl. Recent experiences showed that some lightly coated papers will allow the stripper to migrate through the surface and soften the paste - usually takes about 30 minutes.

If NOTHING will penetrate the coated surface, you have to perforate it. Many like the Paper-Tiger or other scoring tools. My feeling is that these are only good for increasing the sales of patching compound. Instead, take a palm sander and put a piece of 36 grit in it and quickly buzz the walls. Wipe/vacuum the dust you just made and start spraying.

-Bill

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA