A Complete Guide on how to Remove Wallpaper
If you have that old and out of date wallpaper lingering on your walls still it's time to change! The question is How can you remove wallpaper? Or even, can you place peel and stick wallpaper over wallpaper? Although you might like the vintage feel of the temporary wallpaper maybe it's time to change it up to something like a removable wallpaper or peel and stick wallpaper.
If you are thinking to cover up your old existing wallpaper murals with paint, it can be tricky. It will take several coats to cover up the old wallpaper pattern underneath and not to mention the time and cost of all of this! Let's dive in to see if you can actually put peel and stick wall murals over existing wallpaper.
Can you use Peel and Stick Wallpaper over Existing Wallpaper?
It really depends on a couple of factors but overall Eazywallz peel and stick wallpaper and wall murals can easily be applied over existing wallpaper! Our high quality adhesive and material options will be an excellent choice for covering up that old wall paper! Let's take a look at the factors.
Your Old Wallpaper
A big factor to take into consideration is the state of your old wallpaper. If it's cracked, peeling, or damaged then you will have a hard time keeping your new wall mural on top. If your old wall paper murals have been sitting in a damp or humid room for a while then it will mostly likely have water damage or have grown mold underneath.
The Wallpaper Material
Another factor that might not let you put peel and stick wall murals up is the type of material your old existing wallpaper was. Before you try any method, test to see if your wallpaper is vinyl or strippable. Check out "Deciding to Strip: Removing Vinyl or Strippable Wallpaper" from DoitYourself.com.
The say that "Vinyl wallpapers are easily peeled off by lifting the bottom edge of the paper with your fingernail or a stripping knife. Then, peel each length straight up and off the wall. Vinyl wall coverings have a thin layer of backing paper that will remain on the wall as you pull off the top layer off.
If it is not torn, this can be left on as a liner for the new wallpaper. If it is torn, you will need to remove it. The backing paper can usually be removed by soaking and scraping without needing to score it."
The Pattern & Colour
The last factor to take into consideration is the color and pattern of the old wallpaper pattern. If it is dark then you will have a difficult time covering up the old wallpaper mural. If you are not sure, take an eazywallz sample wall mural and test it on the portion of the wall.
Check throughout the day to see if the old wallpaper seeps through the new wall mural. This is important if you have a dark wallpaper mural and you want to switch to a lighter wall mural like one of our Black and white Wall Murals.
In conclusion, if you pass these factors and are able to stick peel and stick wallpaper over wallpaper then you will need to still prep your wall for the best result.
- Remove nails, bumps, switch plates, or light fixtures that might be in the way.
- Wash down the walls with a weak solution (detergent+water) to not make the old wallpaper peel or fall off. Then let it dry to create a nice canvas to install your new wall mural on!
After following these steps you can now treat the wall as if it is a bare wall. Follow our easy wall mural installation process and make sure no old wallpaper peeks through!
But what about if you find you can't put peel and stick wallpaper over your old wallpaper? Read on for out tips on how to remove your existing wallpaper first!
Easiest Way to Remove Wallpaper
If you're looking on how to remove wallpaper glue here is a quick step guide you can use to help you get started. This guide doesn't involve a wallpaper removal tool but you need some basic tools mentioned below:
- Putty knife
- spray bottle
- scoring tool
- hot water
Step 1: The first step is to protect your floors. Use some tape and plastic sheets along the baseboard to protect your floors from any mess that is about to happen (and yes this is a messy job!).
Step 2: Start peeling the wallpaper face. Firm and steady pressure while lifting it off the wall. Don't use any water in this part. Peel all the facing till you get to the white paper backing. use a putty knife to remove the hard to peel parts that you can't get with your fingers.
Step 3: Apply hot water. Wear gloves and apply the hottest water you can absorbing the backing paper so it becomes easy to remove. Remember this is not easy to remove wallpaper so don't give up so easily! Let the water absorb the paper for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Use a scraping tool to remove all white backing paper. The wallpaper paste should be easy to remove now. Use your scoring tool to remove all stubborn paste or glue and spray all areas with a warm water spray bottle.
We hope you liked the guide to remove wallpaper! We have tones of informational how-tos on our website.
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EazyWallz Guide to Bathroom Wallpaper
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