Wallpaper removal?

We just closed yesterday, and the only thing we have to do is get rid of wallpaper--in every room! ugh. How hard is it, and should we bother to do it ourselves, or hire people?

Re: Wallpaper removal?

I had the same thing. Over 10 rooms (bathrooms too) with wallpaper, on the ceilings and outlets too!!!

I hired a company. WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY. If you don't do it right it will look like crap and will take forever too.

Can't rec them enough. I have rec them many times. Everyone is always happy with them.

FM me if you want the info.

Message edited 6/30/2010 9:53:48 PM.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

We are having the same debate now. Our new house (not closed yet) is covered in wallpaper and DH thinks we can do it ourselves. I would rather hire somebody since we have twins due to arrive like the same exact time we are supposed to close. If you try it yourself let m know what works!

Re: Wallpaper removal?

Re: Wallpaper removal?

i chose to do it my self... most of it was pretty simple and some was awful but i couldnt afford to have a company do it... i have alot of tricks if you choose to do it yourself!

Re: Wallpaper removal?

Put vinegar & water in a spray bottle, spray the wall it will peel right off. We have done 2 rooms so far and it was very simple.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

My whole house is filled with wallpaper and it does not come off especially the fabric ones. I think in my case it was not put up correctly and it has been up for 50 years. We got and estimate of $4000 to remove, patch walls and paint. He said it might be cheaper just to demo walls and sheetrock.

I have tried everything and what works the best is steam.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

We used Diff to remove wallpaper and it works...My neighbor told me the trick with vinegar n water..but i believe she said to add soap too

Re: Wallpaper removal?

are they sheetrock walls underneath or plaster? we had a lot of wallpaper in our last home and my stepdad who is a contractor that specializes in painting and wallpapering came in to help us remove it. he said the same thing that the previous poster suggested, throw up some drywall over it. but we couldnt because we rented (were planning on renting to own the house but kitchen ceiling fell down due to a months long leak from behind the shower and reveled soooo much mold) so he painted over it instead because we tried to take it down ourselves and plaster chunks were coming down with it.
if you plan on going this route of painting over although not recommended, use an oil based primer so that the paint sticks to the wallpaper, or else you will have peeling and seams

Re: Wallpaper removal?

We had a covered house and probably removed 50+% ourselves.

I would test it out - depending what type of glue was used, it can be really easy or really awful. Pull off the top paper layer (design) and see how hard it is to get the bottom layer off by wetting a section.

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I'm definitely not going to paint over them. I know that's a worse look. And I've thought of sheetrocking over it, but don't want to lose wall space, and taking down the entire walls and doing over I think its more of a hassle and messier, not sure. At this point I think we're going to hire pros. It's ALOT of walls. The house is over 2000sq ft and every room except the bathroom have wallpaper. I don't have that kind of patience to do it myself, and dh less lol

Re: Wallpaper removal?

Definitely hire people! We just purchased our house and there was a LOT of wallpapers and borders. My husband wound up knocking most of the walls down because of this. It was floor to ceiling in our bedroom full of wallpaper and it took me forever to finish even with lots of people helping.

I say definitely worth the money to hire people if you can afford it.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

I did it myslef. It was only on one wall in the kitchen. It was a PITA!!!

I used hot water and fabric softner in a spray bottle. It worked. It helps the glue lift.

I scraped it off with a drywall knife spakle thing.

It took about 7 hours to do just ONE wall.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

It depends. When we had to remove the wallpaper the one in the kitchen would come off if small pieces. The one in the bedroom came off in full sheets. If I had the money I would get it removed. It was such a PITA, but it can be done.

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Re: Wallpaper removal?

If you can afford it hire professionals. We tried to remove it when we bought our house and it was a huge PITA!

We got money back at our closing and finally just hired someone to remove the paper & paint the house. The same company also redid the hardwood floors. Soooo worth it.

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HIRE PEOPLE!!

It took me 2 days to take down 1 wall in my kitchen and it was a small wall. After using homemade solutions and then buying the tools and other stuff it was the biggest PITA! The adhesive that was used was such a nightmare to get off. My hands were so sore and practically crippled, I threw in the towel and hired people to finish what I started and to paint.

Re: Wallpaper removal?

Our home was floor to ceiling wallpaper in every room but the office & kitchen when we closed on our home. I would defiitely hire someone if it's in more than one room. And if it's the cheaper paper that comes off in strings & pieces instead of sheets. Also, usually there is damage to the walls beneath once removing so they will need repair as well even if you get the paper off yourself.

If you want a recommendation of who we used feel free to FM me. Good luck!