de-papering

[Connemmara]

I am about to take old paper of my bedroom walls and as you know the decorator likes the room to be clear of paper so he can start papering right away.

I haven't stripped paper for a very long time and I did one time use electrict paper stripper which was a disaster. What is the best way to take paper off - is it the same - just old damp paper with a sponge and then the tedious stripper

[ummmm]

A steamer is best imo.....

[rowanwitch]

put some vinegar in the water helps break the glue down faster

[ummmm]

I've also found that the older the paper the easier it comes off....

[stewey]

Put about half a cup of fabric softner into a pail of hot water. Score the paper with a sharp knife, and then thoroughly soak it with the solution. Wait about 15-20 minutes, soak again and start stripping it with a scraoer.

[stewey]

scraper, that is.

[Clanad]

I agree with stewey except, rather than a blade to score the wallpaper (which can damage the underlying wall) see if you can find one of these:

http://www.rustoleum....ter.asp?sn=pro&pid=36

They're common here in the U.S. and cost about $5.00 (US).

Keep a warmed spray bottle of 50-50 water and fabric softener near and work about 1 foot ahead... that is keep about 12 inches of wallpaper damp with the fabric softner ahead of your stripping...

[bigfoot3000]

I agree with stewey and ummm, first you score the wall lightly so that the steam can penetrate deeper especially if it's that really old wallpaper that's like chipboard and then you steam and scrape using a wallpapering steamer device.This sort of thing.
http://www.amazon.co....eativeASIN=B0001P16YS

[pastafreak]

I would recommend a steamer also......really helps to get the job done quickly.

[coccinelle]

The most essential thing is leaving the solution to sink in, if it doesn't come away in a full sheet apply more solution and wait again.

[wildwood]

If it is vinyl paper the whole front layer is easily peeled off in one whole sheet. Then removing the backing with wallpaper remover is a cinch.

[AlBags]

One of those square steamers from Argos.
I just did about 10 layers on an old farmhouse kitchen with one.
Good result.

[Connemmara]

Well onto second wall and unfortunately my last paperer has put lining paper on so I am pulling off the vinyl, its backing and lining paper - God I am done and I only quarter way there. Every time I soak the paper (somebody said let it soak) when I go back it has dried up

[digger]

Best way to soak wallpaper so it doesnt dry out too fast is to use a thin mixture of wallpaper paste, If it is vinyl the vinyl face should peel off easy enough first . Apply the paste and leave to soak in to the paper, Keep touching up dry spots. Most people use water which evaporates too quickly in a warm room and then try to strip the paper off too soon.

[digger]

The simplest way to remove wallpaper is to peel off the face, { if it is vinyl } soak the paper with a thin mix of wallpaper paste. using a large brush or roller, and leave to soak in. Keep touching up dry spots as you wait. Water evaporates too quickly in a warm room and is not a good stripping agent but if you do use it, it will work better if you add washing up liquid.

[woofgang]

the guy who does the decorating for us does the stripping too :-)