Wallpaper Steamer?

Humble Abode

Is it worth it to buy a commercial grade wallpaper steamer or should I stick with scoring and DIF?

We don't do a whole lot of wallpaper removal but I simply hate renting equiptment, seems like renting something three times over the course of a lifetime and you may as well have bought one...

__________________
Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe. Kurt Vonnegut, (1922 - 2007) from the Novel 'Hocus Pocus'
The NAPP
Milwaukee Painting Contractor

ProWallGuy

Steamers suck. I never use them.
Soak, score, etc. is best style IMO.
Steamers worked well on plaster, but aren't near fast enough for me.
They will also wreck a drywall wall fairly quick if not careful.

__________________
Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Teetorbilt

I do like Pro only don't score, my hangers object. I have never found DIF to be of any great value either. Warm water in a garden sprayer, keep the surface damp and just peel off the same way that it went up works in most cases.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

paintr56

I agree with Teeterbilt. I start wetting the next section while I am cleaning the first section this gives the water time to work. I have found no product that works any better then warm water. The main factor is patients let the water soak through before you start trying to remove. Of coarse see if it will peel off dry first some times you get lucky, and many vinyls will sepperate leaving just the paper backing.

Jim Bunton

ProWallGuy

I agree with Teetor in not scoring. A papertiger in inexperienced hand will bring a wall to fubar condition. I use a home-made scorer that puts 100's of pinpricks across the surface, but wont penetrate the wall surface.

For removal solution, I use regular tap water, not hot, just room temp. Add a squirt of dish detergent in it to make it a better surfactant. hot water tends to evaporate faster, unless in a small, enclosed area. Tepid water will work for you longer before evaporating.

__________________
Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation