Removing your old wallpaper can be a chore, but the process is worth it when you know that you’ll be replacing it with a beautiful new paint job. As you get ready to take on your new big project, you’re probably wondering how to make the process as quick and painless as possible.

Here are some pro tips from our painters in Palm Beach to help you tackle the chore of removing old wallpaper to prepare for a new paint job.

Tips for Removing Your Old Wallpaper

Before you can start stripping your wall of its old wallpaper, you should prepare the room. Removing old wallpaper can be a messy process, so you’ll want to plan ahead accordingly.

  1. Clear the Room & Walls

Make sure you get all frames and hanging décor off the walls before you begin. You should also clear the floor so that you have plenty of space to work in. Additionally, you should cover any carpeting or furniture that you don’t want to get wet or dirty.

  1. Determine Your Wall Type

You must know what type of wall you have underneath the wallpaper. Drywall can be easily damaged if you use too much water. On the other hand, plaster walls will be fine with the use of hot water or steam. Once you’ve determined what type of wall you have, you can safely remove the wallpaper.

  1. Determine What Type of Wallpaper You Have

There are different types of wallpaper, just like there are different types of walls. Some wallpaper can be stripped easily. Traditional wallpaper, however, is more difficult to remove. Peelable wallpaper is also relatively easy to take care of.

If you can’t seem to get the wallpaper off, you may have to do it the difficult way: with a steamer. Only resort to steam removing your wallpaper if you’ve exhausted your ability to scrape and pull. This is a challenging process as you’ll have to steam and strip the wallpaper simultaneously so either get some extra help or, better yet, call in the professionals.

  1. Clean the Walls Afterwards

After you’ve finally removed your old wallpaper, make sure to clean the walls. Get all the remaining residue off so that the walls are clean and ready for paint. Make sure the walls are patted dry afterward as well.

Preparing the Wall For a New Paint Job After Removing Wallpaper

Once you’ve successfully removed the old wallpaper, you’re ready to start preparing the wall for a new paint job. To make sure your wall is completely prepped and in good condition for painting, here is how we recommend you prepare.

  1. Scrape Away Remaining Glue

Even though you already cleaned the wall, it’s good to scrape away all remaining glue residue. A putty knife works really well for this. Use it to remove all the little pieces of remaining wallpaper and glue residue.

  1. Repair the Wall Surface

Some wallpaper can leave small holes in your wall. Once you’ve removed the glue and remaining wallpaper bits, look over your wall for any dents or holes. Drywall mud works fine for this, but you can also find special hole repair products that will do the trick.

You can easily use your putty knife to help smooth it out.

  1. Smooth and Prime

Your wall likely feels a little rough. To help even it out, use sandpaper to make your wall smooth again. Be aware that this only works on non-textured wall surfaces.

Once you’ve smoothed out your wall again, it’s time to prime it. You’ll want to invest in a really good primer since wallpaper tends to leave your walls lacking. You’ll want to make sure your wall is evenly primed to get an even paint layer.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve removed your old wallpaper and prepped your wall, it’s time to go get your paint and get started. Whether you’re using a paintbrush or roller, your new paint should go on smoothly and come out looking fresh and new. 

Removing old wallpaper isn’t easy and if you don’t do it properly, your paint job will be affected. Give us a call and leave this task to the experts. We’ll get your wallpaper removed properly and give your wall a fresh coat of paint.