DIY Supermarket

It is amazing what a little money, time, and loving effort-spent can do to a home. It can turn a bog-standard room into an architect’s dream. And, more importantly, it can add to the value of your home. One of the best ways to update and refresh a home is to get rid of old wallpaper. Because wallpaper can be difficult to remove, you may be tempted to paint over it; but if it’s a designer finish you’re after, the wallpaper must go.

Using a Scraper

A scraper is a must, but when using one, remember to hold it at the appropriate angle – otherwise you end up with damaged plaster and more DIY for your list of things to do.

Loosening agents

One of the best ways to loosen wallpaper’s grip is with a mixture of warm water, washing-up liquid and just a little bit of wallpaper paste (for thickening). Apply the mixture to the wall starting at the top. Let it soak in for about 20 minutes and then test. If the paper doesn’t remove easily, repeat the process until it does.

Steam strippers

Steam strippers help make wallpaper removal easier by dissolving the wallpaper paste. A spiked roller or other tool is useful in this process to help penetrate the layers and allow the steam to reach the paste. The downside to steam strippers is that they use a lot of electricity. They also generate a lot of heat; making it not only uncomfortable working, but it’s easy to get burned.