What is the easiest way to remove 30 year old wall paper that is stuck and won't give at all?

Answer 1

All of the suggestions on how to remove wallpaper work. But the key word is "WORK", and lots of it. Some might work better than others, it just depends on your wall, the wallpaper, the old glue, etc. You may have to use a combination of methods, steam, scraping, soaking, etc.

When the wallpaper is really stuck on good, why remove it?

Leaving old wallpaper on is a common trick for re-finishers. If it will not come off, treat it like plain sheet-rock, a paper finish, and leave it.

You can apply a primer-sealer over the old paper to prepare the surface. Then, texture or re-paper over it.

You can easily have the new wall finished before the time it will take to remove the paper from the old wall, and with much less work and aggravation.

Also, after you remove the old paper, you will have to repair the damage done to the wall surface from the paper removal process.

Answer 2

Im a contractor, heres my tip. Get a wall paper tractor, Thats a roller with a bunch of sharp spikes on it. Run it over the wall paper. This will make 1000`s of little holes in the paper. Next spray it with wall paper remover, and let it soak for about 10 minutes. The moisture will get into the holes and help release the glue. If you have a hand held pressure sprayer (garden type) Mix the paper remover with hot water, It works better. Then use a putty knife to scrape it off...HAVE FUN

Answer 3

Buy this ball contraption that will put small holes in the wall paper. Do that all over the wall. Then they have a solution you can spray on the wall and it will peel right off.

And actually with all the little holes in the paper water will work fine also. It just softens the paper so it can peel right off. But you have to get the thing that puts the holes in the paper. It is palm size and looks like half a ball with roller teeth. horrible description but can't think of the name. Maybe someone else knows.

Answer 4

First, score the paper with a utility knife.(don't score deep, just enough so the water will get under the paper.)
Warm water with a little vinegar in a bucket.
Put on walls with paint brush or roller; get it pretty wet; let it sit for a few minutes and scrape off with a wide putty knife. Some will come off real easy and some will need more work.
If it's coming off in strips, go slow as you're pulling it and you'll get more off that way..
I tried the steamer and found the warm water w/vinegar much, much easier.
It is a messy job so cover anything that may get dirty.

Answer 5

I had some wallpaper which was difficult to remove. i took a sprayer bottle and sprayed the wallpaper(try to get a little underneath paper-by crack in paper or at the top of the wallpaper) and let it soak for a few minutes. Use a rag or a scraper to get paper off. As paper is removed, continue squirting water .The key is to try to get a little bit of water behind the paper. Remove paper when it is wet.

Answer 6

There are several options. One is to use a steamer, two is to buy some wallpaper remover. Also you can try just spraying it with water, letting that soak in and try removing it. Good luck with the project.

Answer 7

We had old wallpaper up, not quite 30 years but it was stuck pretty good... what I did was use plain old water but I rolled it on with a paint roller.... making the roller extremely wet... then let it sit for a lil.... not too long for you don't want it to dry.... then used a wide putty knife.... it all came off... but mind you we had one heck of a mess to clean up... but it did get the job done lol... best of luck to you!

Answer 8

you might get it off if you use a soaked wet rag and let it get really wet and peel it off...but if it is that old it is probably applies with wall paper paste... then you need to rent a wall paper steamer to have it peel off.. it works like a hot damn and you can rent them at any rental place... takes no time at all to do it

Answer 9

You can rent a steamer at most any tool rental store. It's made just for your problem. Still takes some scraping though. Good luck!

Answer 10

Had the same problem a few years back. I tryed windex, soap, oil, you name it. Ima tell you right now dont waste your time, the steamer was the only thing that got the job done.