Professional Wallpaper Removal Guide for Scottsdale Homes
Posted on April 8, 2022
Did you just move into a new home in Scottsdale, AZ, adorned with old-fashioned wallpaper? Pull it down using our professional-tested wallpaper removal techniques! These tried and true methods will have your Scottsdale walls stripped and ready for a fresh coat of paint in no time. Before you start, remember to tidy up the area.
Wallpaper removal in Scottsdale can be a messy endeavor depending on the methods used. Start by moving any furniture away from the walls—either to the center of the room or completely out of the space, depending on the size. Once furniture is handled, protect your Scottsdale home’s flooring by laying down a barrier. Amateurs might opt for flattened cardboard, while the pros often choose plastic drop cloths. Either way, safeguard your home before beginning the five-step wallpaper removal process.
5 – Pull
If your Scottsdale home’s wallpaper is peeling, use this to your advantage. Begin by pulling down any loose pieces, utilizing a taping knife for stubborn edges. Try not to damage the underlying wall. If you do, it’s okay—CertaPro Painters of North Scottsdale specialize in interior drywall repair services. To minimize the need for repairs, handle the taping knife with care.
4 – Wet
Time to get messy! Use a spray bottle to dampen the wallpaper. This simulates what is accomplished by professionals using a steamer. In simple terms, a steamer functions similar to how you iron clothes. Except instead of producing pure heat, a steamer’s purpose is to heat up water to dampen the wallpaper. This is less about pressure and more about moisture. Of course, steamer rentals can be expensive, so just use a spray bottle if you’re doing this at home.
3 – Scrape
After the water has soaked into the paper, you should be looking at a sticky and wet mess. These are the perfect conditions to begin scraping the wallpaper off the walls. Generally, pros work from left to right. But a good rule of thumb is to begin scraping where the wallpaper feels the loosest. If it was peeling at the bottom or top, you may be better off scraping up and down. Remember to periodically wet the surface to keep the wallpaper loosened.
2 – Wash
Once you’ve pulled down the paper, wash away the remaining paste, primer and/or flecks of paper. For this step, you don’t need any fancy equipment. Just use a sponge and a bucket of water to dampen it down. To get the desired results, you may need to repeat this several times.
1 – Smooth
Finally, inspect your Scottsdale home’s walls for smoothness. If there’s any residual glue or paper, now’s the time to address it. Any remaining debris can interfere with a new paint job. If the walls were scraped too aggressively, consider hiring a professional to refinish the drywall.
Contact CertaPro Painters for a Wallpaper Removal Estimate
Your walls may be free of wallpaper, but its more than likely they’ve been neglected over time. Rather than apply a new wallpaper, you should get a new paintjob! Our paints come in a wide variety of format from the standard primer and finish to the unique brands like antimicrobial paint and crack-resistant paint jobs. While wallpaper can rip and tear, a good paint job can last a lifetime. Interested in a wallpaper removal or paintjob? Get a free estimate only at CertaPro Painters® of North Scottsdale, AZ.
