It would be easy to say definitively if removing wallpaper was easy or extremely difficult, but it really depends on the situation. It can also depend on how parts of the process go. This includes the stripping of the wallpaper. If this goes easily, and there are no holes in the wall, then this will go very easily. However, if there are a lot of holes and the wallpaper will not come off the wall, then this could be a huge problem, and make the process last longer than expected. Let’s take a look at the process of removing wallpaper, and prepping it for painting.
Removing Old Paper
Removing the old wallpaper can be a bit of a process when it comes to time. The first step is to create a wallpaper stripper solution. This is created by diluting a few ounces of a wallpaper stripper. Once this is sprayed onto the walls, you may want to wait a few minutes, and then scrape walls with a wide scraper knife. This will help to take off more wallpaper, faster.
Clean the Wall
The next step is to rinse and clean the walls. This is done by spraying the walls with water and then using a wet sponge to remove any residue. After this, you will want to wait a few days for the walls to dry in order to continue to the next step.
Sand & Seal
Using a sanding block covered in 120 grit sandpaper, you will want to make sure the surface is sanded down. This helps to ensure the wall will be smooth once you get to the final step. After this, applying an oil-based paint with a roller will act as a sealant. This will lock in grease spots, stains, and water-based adhesive so that it does not affect the smoothness of the surface. Going through after this has dried, and sanding down any loose/flaking bits, and then applying another bit of paint will be beneficial so that any future paint will go on evenly.
Smooth out Surface
The last and final step to removing wallpaper and prepping for painting is to make sure that the surface is smoothed out. This includes filling in any holes with joint compound so that there are no holes in the finished product.
If you are interested in learning more about our painting services, such as interior painting and removing wallpaper, contact us today or call us directly at (978) 265-1567.