Hard To Remove Vinyl Wallpaper

Some types of wallpaper are more soluble than others.

Hard to remove vinyl wallpaper. Professionally installed wallpaper frequently is tougher to remove than homeowner hung paper. Once the paper is soaked you can scrape it away from the wall. Removing vinyl wallpaper can be a very difficult job if you don t take it off in the correct way. Vinyl wallpaper can definitely be difficult to remove.

Thick vinyl wallcoverings are tear resistant so you can usually pull them off in sheets. Rent a steamer instead of purchasing one since this is not a job you will do very often. For the majority of wallpaper removal projects you ll need to apply a hot water solution to the paper and adhesive backing in order to reactivate the adhesive and allow the paper to come off of the wall. Next spray liquid wallpaper remover onto the remaining paper then use a trowel to spread the liquid over the paper so it soaks in thoroughly.

Start by peeling off the vinyl from the paper backing. It may come away in small strips or the vinyl may become soft making it harder to strip off of the wall. A steamer uses boiling water to soften the glue between the wallpaper and the wall. Washable vinyl wallpaper is a durable and easy to clean wall covering found in many homes.

Removing it to paint or repaper however is not so easy. If you are removing vinyl coated wallpaper with a steamer you still have to use a scoring tool to punch holes in the paper so the steam can reach the glue. Wallpaper steamers can be used on any wallpaper and may be the only recourse with old stubborn wallpapers that are hard to remove. Vinyl papers like the ones used in bathrooms and kitchens may even repel water.

Instead of using solution or a steamer it is best to take the time to remove the wallpaper slowly in sections. If you decide using chemicals or steam is the best way to remove wallpaper in your home always wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear. It s not hard but be prepared for a mess. Use a scoring tool to create little holes in the paper and begin from the bottom of the wall.

The first step in removing this tough wallpaper is peeling off the actual vinyl which is the outermost layer. Buying or renting a steamer may be more expensive than other methods. This method though messy is simple and effective. Using either a putty knife or a specially designed wallpaper scraping tool try to lift off the wallpaper in one of the top corners of a wall.

Hgtv expert steve watson shows how to remove vinyl wallpaper. Removing washable vinyl wallpaper.