Home Improvement and Removing Wallpaper

When you get tired of that old wallpaper or it starts to peel and fade, it is time to remove it.  The good news, however, is that this is a home improvement project that you can easily tackle on your own.  If you are looking to get rid of unsightly wallpaper, these home improvement tips can help you get the job done quickly and properly.

One thing that must be noted when removing wallpaper in an older home or apartment is to have someone test your walls for lead.  Lead based paint can put harmful particles into the air when disturbed and should only be exposed by professionals and not as a home improvement project.

The first thing you will want to check in this home improvement project is whether or not your wallpaper is strippable.  The easiest way to do this is to use a utility knife to peel the paper at the corner and peel in the direction of the paper.  If it pulls smoothly, then the entire home improvement job is as simple as this.

For most wallpaper, however, you will have to use a soaking method.  The best option here is to make slits in each strip of wallpaper with a razor or utility knife.  The slits should span the entire strip horizontally and should be about eight inches apart.  Soak the paper with wallpaper remover or with soapy water and allow to sit for a few minutes.  Using a wall scraper, wait until the paper is fully saturated and gently peel it away.  Gently scrape off any leftover adhesive.

Removing wallpaper can be a tedious home improvement project, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

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