How to quickly remove old vinyl wallpaper from walls. How to quickly and easily remove old wallpaper from walls: vinyl, non-woven, liquid, washable How to remove vinyl wallpaper correctly

How to quickly remove old vinyl wallpaper from walls.  How to quickly and easily remove old wallpaper from walls: vinyl, non-woven, liquid, washable How to remove vinyl wallpaper correctly
How to quickly remove old vinyl wallpaper from walls. How to quickly and easily remove old wallpaper from walls: vinyl, non-woven, liquid, washable How to remove vinyl wallpaper correctly

Finishing paper has been replaced by decorative materials made of non-woven fabric and vinyl. Their popularity in the market is explained by their progressive performance characteristics. They are attached to the surface using strong adhesives. Since any coating loses its original luster over time and requires replacement, you need to know how to properly replace it.

Specifications

To peel off vinyl wallpaper from a wall without damaging its coating, it is useful to become familiar with the features of this material. It consists of two layers - PVC, non-woven or paper. Regular wallpaper glue will not work for installation, because... This material is much heavier compared to paper. Vinyl wallpaper is applied using a special composition that ensures reliable adhesion to the surface.

Non-woven wallpaper is a two-layer coating - a non-woven backing and a top decorative layer. The base is a fabric made from compressed cellulose fibers and special additives. The second type is a multilayer material made entirely of non-woven sheets. They are smooth, even, the top one has a relief, which is done using hot stamping. Compared to vinyl wallpaper, this option is lighter.

Removing non-woven fabric - preparation, stages

Are you going to put up new wallpaper? To do this, be sure to remove the old layer. Why dismantling is needed:

  • after gluing a new material onto an intact one, depressions and bumps form;
  • old glue, which will hold two layers at once, may not withstand the load, and the newly applied coating will peel off along with the substrate;
  • fungus or mold may appear under paper sheets that have been on the wall for a long time; to destroy them, you need to treat the wall under them with an antiseptic;
  • Good, expensive wallpaper sticks best on a perfectly smooth, specially prepared surface.

Before you begin the process of dismantling any wallpaper material, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work:

  • cover furniture and other objects that you do not want to damage or stain with plastic wrap; use tape or crepe (painting tape) for fastening - it does not leave marks when removed;
  • de-energize the room where you are going to clean, so that a short circuit does not occur due to water getting into sockets and switches;
  • if you really need artificial light, take a carrier;
  • Cover all electrical outlets with masking tape.

If you set a goal to quickly and efficiently remove non-woven wallpaper, you will need “helpers” to work with the walls:

  • several spatulas of different thicknesses with sharp edges;
  • water or liquid for;
  • spray, soft roller or rag;
  • needle roller or “wallpaper tiger”;
  • bucket or basin for water.

Compared to a knife, a needle roller is preferable, i.e. it does not damage the wall behind the wallpaper - important for plastered surfaces. You need to take a sharp spatula, because... it is useful for scraping paper. Liquid for under wallpaper - on sale you will see a concentrate of it, which needs to be diluted with water.

Less effective, but acceptable, is the use of regular warm tap water. Apply it evenly, do not create streams or leave empty spaces. Do not wet a large surface at once - part of it will have time to dry before you start working on it. Frequently dampening the same area can cause the wall finish to become damp and begin to peel.

The procedure consists of three stages:

  • treat the wallpaper with a needle roller;
  • moisten it with water or liquid removing compound;
  • wait 20-30 minutes;
  • pry the wallpaper sheet at the joint near the baseboard on the floor with a spatula and carefully separate it from the wall;
  • do the same with the rest of the area;
  • Remove the remaining paper with a spatula.

Water will not only help dissolve the glue and make the paper pliable, but will also get rid of dust and plaster, which may crumble in places. Dry removal of the coating is not recommended.

Vinyl - remove from the wall in three ways

Compared to conventional paper decorative covering, vinyl wallpaper is not so easy to remove. In order for the process to be effective, three methods can be used. The first consists of stages:

  1. 1. Perforation. In order to separate the paper from the wall, just wet it. It won't be that easy with vinyl, because... it does not allow water to pass through. It is necessary to make sure that holes are formed in the outer layer through which moisture gets onto the paper backing. To do this, treat the top layer with a special spiked roller. This will help not damage the wall and allow water to enter the material.
  2. 2. Hydration. Treat the surface with a damp cloth or roller. To do this, you can use either regular warm water or a special removing liquid.
  3. 3. After the material is well saturated with moisture, remove it, starting from the bottom up. Remove the remaining pieces with a spatula; it is better if it is wooden - this way you will avoid the appearance of damaged areas.

The older the coating, the longer it will take to saturate it. Very old vinyl wallpaper should be kept damp for about an hour - after that it will not be difficult to remove it from the walls. Usually the material comes off in whole stripes, without breaks.

The second method is suitable for cases where strong glue was used or the coating is very ancient. Instead of a spatula, take any of the following tools:

  • drill and a special attachment in the form of a round brush;
  • coarse sandpaper and sanding machine;
  • a regular metal brush for washing dishes.

The first two options will help you get rid of old coating quickly and with a minimum of effort. The third one will have to work hard. All three methods are suitable when there is no plaster on the wall under the wallpaper layer. If available, use the latter method. First, treat the wall with a needle roller, wet the surface with water mixed with fabric softener, vinegar and ammonia in approximately equal proportions. Wait 20 minutes - the old glue dissolves, the wallpaper sheets can be easily peeled off without damaging the wall base.

Cleaning drywall - pay attention to moisture

GCR is a material that is afraid of moisture. Therefore, you need to remove wallpaper from it in a special way. This will require three things:

  • two spatulas of different widths;
  • sponge;
  • container with heated water.

The use of scrapers and similar tools is unacceptable, because This will damage the surface of the drywall. Dismantling steps:

  1. 1. Treat the surface with “wallpaper tiger”. This tool is suitable for cardboard because... it carefully cuts the top waterproof layer without damaging the wall itself. A toothed roller will not work here. Do not press it too hard, just enough to break through the top thin moisture-resistant coating.
  2. 2. Using a sponge dipped in water, go over the cut wallpaper. It is important not to overdo it, otherwise the protective layer of the wall will be damaged and the sheet will have to be completely replaced. Move the sponge from top to bottom, simultaneously moistening the material and removing excess water from the surface.
  3. 3. Wait a quarter of an hour and carefully remove the wallpaper, prying it off with a spatula at the joints of the sheets. Don't pull the sheet too hard - if it doesn't come off easily, add water to loosen the dried glue.
  4. 4. Remove any remaining paper from the wall.

In the case of vinyl wallpaper, pour a little wallpaper glue into the water - this will make the remover more viscous and will not allow it to quickly drain and dry out. Moisten the wallpaper sheets completely - from top to bottom. If you can’t pry off the layer with a spatula, make a small cut using a construction knife. Vinyl is stronger than non-woven fabric and can be removed in one piece.

When removing non-woven wallpaper, the base layer sometimes remains on the wall. It can be puttied for painting or a new decorative coating can be glued directly on top. There are different options - choose the most convenient for yourself. Read the instructions carefully, apply, and you will succeed!

During the renovation process, many people wonder how to remove vinyl wallpaper from the walls. To complete this job without any problems, some recommendations will come in handy. So.

Preparatory moments

Get out the masking tape and plastic sheeting to protect indoor surfaces. Prepare in advance a wallpaper tiger or a spiked roller to damage the surface of the wallpaper, a spatula and a knife. Fill with warm water or dilute the wallpaper remover solution according to the instructions. Prepare a roller, sponge or spray bottle to wet the wallpaper. To avoid trouble, turn off the power to the room before starting work. Water entering sockets may cause a short circuit. Cover sockets and switches with masking tape to protect them from water and dirt. A plastic film on the floor, glued with masking tape around the entire perimeter, will protect the floor from dirt and save you from long and tedious cleaning.

How to remove vinyl wallpaper from walls

Method I

Stage 1 - perforation

If simple paper wallpapers can be simply wetted in order to be removed, then with vinyl wallpapers it is more difficult. The fact is that vinyl wallpaper for walls has a durable moisture-resistant coating and it will not be easy to wet it with water. This will take a lot of time and effort. Therefore, first of all, you need to break the vinyl top layer so that water can easily penetrate under the wallpaper and dissolve the adhesive layer. To do this you will need a spiked roller or wallpaper tiger. They can easily perforate wallpaper without damaging the wall surface.

Stage 2 – moisturizing

You can simply moisten the wallpaper with warm water or water with the addition of a special liquid, which will quickly saturate the wallpaper and dissolve the layer of glue. Such special means do not pose a threat to human health and can be used indoors. Apply water with a roller, a regular sponge or using a spray bottle.

Stage 3 – removal

Vinyl wallpaper begins to be removed from the wall only when it is well saturated with moisture. However, do not overdo it with the amount of water so as not to damage the floor surface and not to wet the wall too much. Subsequent work can only be carried out after the walls are dry. Remove the wallpaper from bottom to top, removing remaining pieces with a spatula. Moisten islands that are difficult to remove with water again and clean with a spatula. For work, choose a wide wooden or metal spatula.

Method II

There is another way: To do this, you will need a steam generator or an iron with steaming capability. After destroying the front side of the wallpaper, treat it with steam and after a while remove it with a spatula. The principle of operation is that wallpaper glue swells under the influence of steam and is easily removed from the wall. In addition, without water there is less dirt.

Method III

For difficult cases, when the wallpaper is difficult to remove, add a little wallpaper glue to the water with a special wallpaper remover. Cover the wall with the resulting mixture and leave for 2-3 hours. After this, the wallpaper is removed in solid strips without breaks. There is no need to scrape them off piece by piece.

Some advise using regular detergents instead of a special liquid. This should not be done, as it can ruin the layer of putty or plaster. In addition, there is a risk that a layer of powder will remain on the surface of the walls and may deteriorate the properties of the adhesive when it comes into contact with the wall.

Difficult cases


Difficult cases arise when, instead of special glue for vinyl wallpaper, another glue was used that does not dissolve under the influence of water or a special agent, for example, PVA. Here you need to arm yourself with a sharp spatula and manually scrape off the remaining wallpaper or use a sanding machine with coarse sandpaper. A drill with a special attachment in the form of a round metal brush is also suitable.

If the wall is made of plasterboard

How to remove vinyl wallpaper from plasterboard walls without damaging its top layer? Ordinary gypsum board deteriorates from moisture, so do not overdo it with water. Using a wallpaper remover, carefully using a spatula, remove the old wallpaper.
Modern types of glue are easily removed. If the vinyl wallpaper was glued with PVA glue or other glue not intended for this purpose, the drywall will need to be replaced.

In order for newly pasted wallpaper to serve for a long time, you need to be patient and carefully remove the old ones. After freeing the walls from the old wallpaper, do not rush to glue new ones. Let the walls dry, apply a primer. If the walls are uneven or damaged, you will need plaster and putty to level them. Cover the walls with a primer over the plaster. This preparation will make it easier to stick the wallpaper and make it easier to remove it during the next renovation.

Due to several layers of polyvinyl chloride and a backing, which can be paper or non-woven, vinyl wallpaper is not so easy to remove. But there are several ways to remove vinyl wallpaper from walls. Moreover, most of them do not require the use of expensive tools or materials. How to quickly remove vinyl wallpaper from walls?

Preparatory work

Before you remove the wallpaper, you need to prepare the room. To free up space for work, move furniture to another room. Cover remaining items with old sheets or plastic wrap. To protect the floor, cover it with oilcloth or thick paper. To prevent trash from spreading around the apartment, place a damp cloth on the threshold.

When using the wet method of removing vinyl wallpaper on non-woven or paper backing, de-energize the room. This will avoid short circuit. To prevent moisture from getting into sockets and switches, seal them with tape or polyethylene.

Prepare all the necessary tools that you will need to remove the wallpaper:

  • A roller equipped with spikes (“wallpaper tiger”). The tool perforates the wallpaper, which will speed up the penetration of water or solution to the glue.
  • Spatulas of different widths, metal scrapers and knives.
  • Foam roller and soft sponges, as well as old rags.
  • Stepladder or stools.
  • Water container.
  • Rubber gloves for hands.
  • Large trash bags.

Removal methods

There are several ways to remove old vinyl wallpaper on paper or non-woven backing. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, which you should familiarize yourself with before starting work.

  • The wet dismantling method is suitable for paper-based vinyl wallpaper. Treat the walls with a special roller with needles. Using a foam sponge, thoroughly wet the wallpaper with warm water and fabric softener or 9% vinegar. During wet processing, be especially careful around outlets and switches. Getting into the small cuts formed by the needle roller, water causes the glue to swell, which makes it easier to peel off the wallpaper from the walls. Start working from the bottom. Use a small spatula to pry up the fabric and pull it out. If small fragments remain on the wall, remove them with a knife or coarse sandpaper.
  • The essence of the second method is the use of a special agent that dissolves glue. Purchase solvent from a hardware store and prepare according to the instructions on the package. Apply the prepared solution to the vinyl wallpaper and leave for 2-4 hours (the exact time is indicated on the packaging). After the product has completely dried, the canvas can be easily removed from the wall.
  • Steam will help you quickly remove vinyl wallpaper from walls. To produce it, use a steam generator or an iron with a vertical steam function. Exposure to hot steam will soften the glue. Treat the walls and after 5-15 minutes remove the wallpaper using a spatula or knife.
  • It is quite difficult to remove old vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven or paper base, glued with PVA glue, from the wall. This process requires more time and physical effort. It is impossible to clean the walls with water or steam. The use of such methods will allow you to remove only the top layer, but will not help to get rid of the base and glue. Wallpaper glued to PVA can be removed mechanically. Use an electric drill with a special attachment or a grinder for this. First of all, remove large sheets with a spatula, prying them at the joints, from below and from above. Remove remaining traces of glue and wallpaper using a power tool.

Features of removal from drywall

Removing vinyl wallpaper from plasterboard has its own characteristics. This material does not tolerate water well, so using the wet method is not permissible. The best option is to use special products that dissolve the glue. If PVA was used when gluing the wallpaper, then it will not be possible to remove it and you will have to completely change the entire structural element.

Removing vinyl wallpaper from walls is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. It is easier to remove canvases that were glued to special wallpaper glue using steam, water or a solution. Wallpaper glued to PVA can only be removed mechanically. Regardless of the method chosen, it is important to remove all remaining fabric and adhesive to ensure the new finish looks neat.

Classic paper and washable vinyl wallpapers fit into any interior. The finishing material is inexpensive and looks good on the walls and ceiling. Fills rooms with comfort and creates a unique atmosphere. But when it comes time to update the renovation, wallpaper makes apartment owners nervous. Both paper and vinyl varieties adhere tightly to plaster or concrete surfaces. How to save time and quickly clean walls?

Preparatory stage

It is impossible to remove the finishing material without dust and crumbling plaster. Furniture from the premises where renovations will take place is moved to spare rooms or placed on the balcony. Massive cabinets, sofas and other objects are moved to the center and covered with plastic wrap. The floor is covered with old newspapers, and the baseboards are sealed with wide construction tape.

It is advisable to turn off the power to the apartment. There are electrical wires hidden under the wallpaper that can easily be touched with a spatula or wet, causing a short circuit.

You can’t do without a stable stepladder, comfortable old shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. A drill with a sanding attachment, sandpaper, a bucket of warm water and a package of glue will come in handy.

Spatula and kitchen knife

Finishing coatings that are more than 6–7 years old can be handled with tools with a sharp blade. Old wallpaper separates from the walls on its own due to dampness and time. You need to find the swollen areas, pry off the peeling paper with a kitchen knife or the edge of a spatula, and then slowly pull. Paper varieties become frayed, so they should not be tugged sharply. Pieces that have become embedded in the plaster are pryed off with a wide spatula. Islands that could not be separated from the base are treated with water or a grinding machine.

Vinyl and non-woven options are easier to remove. The canvas with a water-repellent coating is cut in the middle and the edges are lifted with a spatula. Pull the bottom half with your hands, then remove the top, and remove the remaining paper base with a brush with stiff bristles.

Attention: Do not rub the plaster or concrete wall too intensely, especially in old houses and apartments. The material crumbles and falls off, leaving holes and dents. You have to spend extra time and money on priming and leveling the walls for new wallpaper.

Water procedures

Fresh finishing fabric, which is up to 4–5 years old, is pre-soaked. The liquid dissolves the glue and softens the paper, protecting the plaster from destruction. Warm or hot water will do.

Wallpaper with a water-repellent coating is treated with a roller with sharp spikes. If you don’t have such a tool at home, a regular knife will come in handy. Using a sharp blade, make wide cuts around the entire perimeter. The more holes, the easier it is for liquid to seep into the paper layer.

Special solutions can handle wallpaper that ordinary water could not soften. The canvas glued to the wall using PVA is treated with laundry soap. The detergent bar is crushed and poured into a pan. Pour in 3–4 liters of water and, stirring, bring to a boil. A roller or foam sponge is moistened in the hot workpiece. Soak the finishing material in the liquid and wait 20 minutes for the soap to take effect.

Fabrics with water-repellent properties are impregnated with a solution prepared from fabric softener. Add 200–300 ml of the chemical component to a bucket of liquid. The concentration is increased if there are several layers of finishing material on the wall.

Construction adhesive and PVA will dissolve table vinegar. Combine a bucket of hot water and 400 ml of product. Laundry soap shavings are added to the mixture if the plaster is very crumbly and the wallpaper is literally ingrained into the base.

The solution is applied to 1.5–2 square meters. m. finishing material. You cannot treat the entire room at once, because part of the room will dry out, and you will have to repeat the impregnation to clean the walls of wallpaper. Water softens the paper base of rolls in 20 minutes, solutions work twice as fast.

Apply the liquid product with a paint roller, soft cloth or large foam sponge. Wallpaper in old houses is sprayed with a spray bottle so that less liquid gets on the walls. If you apply too much water, it can soften the plaster and putty.

The wetted canvas is pryed with a spatula with a wide blade. The remaining pieces are sprayed with a spray bottle and cleaned off with sandpaper with a water-repellent coating or a wire brush. Choose varieties with stiff bristles.

The remains of wallpaper and plaster are immediately swept into a heap so as not to trample dirt into the floor. It is advisable to wipe walls treated with soapy water with a sponge dipped in clean warm water. The liquid will remove any remaining powder and fabric softener. Household chemicals are absorbed into the concrete base and interact with the glue, worsening its properties. New wallpaper will not adhere well and may swell and fall off on the first day.

Steam cleaning

High-quality glue that could not be dissolved with water is steamed with an iron. You will need a sheet or thin towel, a bucket of water and an assistant to hold the fabric:

  1. The rag is dipped into a container with liquid, twisted and applied to the wall, covering pieces of finishing material.
  2. The iron is turned on and set to the maximum temperature.
  3. Iron the sheet several times with a hot device.
  4. The rag is removed and the remaining wallpaper is quickly removed with a spatula.

The paper web is softened with a steam generator or steam cleaner. Household varieties will be useful on the farm. The devices remove dirt from outerwear and upholstered furniture. Construction steam generators have limited functions, so such equipment is purchased by renovation professionals.

Use a steam cleaner to iron the wall, placing a clean, dry sheet under the device. If you do not use a rag, dust and dirt will get into the equipment, which can cause breakdowns.

Working with paper wallpaper is easier. Ironed it and took it off. If you are going to steam vinyl or non-woven varieties, it is recommended to first remove the water-repellent film and then turn on the iron. Paper particles that cannot be removed in this way are scraped off with coarse sandpaper or a spatula.

Hot steam penetrates the putty, so the cleaned walls are dried for several days, and then primed and painted or new wallpaper is glued. If finishing material is applied to a damp base, mold will appear.

Special formulations

People who don't have time to scrape and steam are advised to buy an instant wallpaper remover. The product is sold in construction stores. It is usually a powder or thick jelly that needs to be diluted with water. The most popular are Atlas Alpan and Quelyd Dissoucol.

The roller is moistened in a solution prepared from the powder and the wallpaper is treated. Small cuts are made on canvases with a water-repellent coating. The product will need 2-3 hours to dissolve the glue and soften the paper layer. The wallpaper will begin to peel away from the concrete base on its own. The canvases are lifted with a spatula or by hand and torn off from the wall.

Manufacturers claim that the solvents are safe and do not emit toxic fumes, but it is better to work with rubber gloves. Make sure that the product does not come into contact with exposed skin and mucous membranes.

Wallpaper pasted in several layers is treated with a special solution. Not only powder, but also glue is added to the water so that the mass becomes thick, like jelly. This product is better absorbed and softens all paper bases.

Unusual options

Liquid wallpaper is one of the best inventions of mankind. The finishing material does not need to be scraped or torn off. The walls are sprayed with hot water and waited for 2 hours. Wallpaper gradually absorbs moisture and swells. Some areas fall off on their own, others can be easily removed with a wide spatula.

Glass wallpaper cannot be removed without special removers. The finishing material is treated with the solution and left for several hours. When the canvases swell, arm yourself with a spatula or kitchen knife and clean the wallpaper from the walls. After the procedure, the concrete base is dried, puttied and primed.

Non-woven and vinyl wallpapers do not have to be completely removed. Only the top layer with water-repellent properties is peeled off. The paper bottom is left if the walls are smooth, without cracks or holes. New canvases are glued on top of the old wallpaper.

Drywall

Concrete walls are not afraid of water and sanding machines. Plasterboard partitions are covered with a paper layer. You cannot remove it, otherwise you will have to throw away the old slabs and buy new finishing material.

Cheap construction adhesive will help remove wallpaper from the plasterboard base. Several packages of powder are diluted with warm water. Stir to avoid lumps and apply the thick mixture onto paper or vinyl sheets. Leave for 3-4 hours. The product dries slowly, absorbing into the wallpaper. They swell and get wet, so they are easily separated from the drywall.

The glue should be thick so that it does not spread all over the wall. The solution is applied in a thin layer, otherwise it will be absorbed into the drywall. Sometimes a little primer is added to the workpiece. The product will make the wallpaper dissolving liquid viscous. The solution will dry more slowly, plus the primer will prepare the plasterboard walls for further repair work.

If there is old wallpaper from grandma's time in the closet, do not throw away the rolls. The canvases are cut and glued to walls treated with glue and primer. Old wallpaper softens and sticks to the top layer. You just need to pull the edge of the canvas and the walls will become clean. You don't have to take out a spatula and turn on the drill.

In apartments built in the 50s or 60s, it is recommended to remove only the top layer of wallpaper. Let the rest stay. The walls in old apartments are thin and uneven, so simple cosmetic repairs can turn into large-scale construction work.

Thin paper sheets that could not be peeled off with water and special solvents are cleaned with a drill. A brush with iron bristles is put on the tool and the concrete base is polished. Irregularities remaining after removing the wallpaper are recommended to be sealed with acrylic putty. It is inexpensive and high quality, suitable for leveling walls. The putty is applied with a rigid stainless steel spatula so that it lies evenly on the base.

Plasterboard boards will have to be replaced if the wallpaper is glued with PVA. In this case, neither a solvent, nor a sharp spatula, nor a drill with a grinding attachment will help.

Modern washable wallpaper is easy to apply and remove. With old paper varieties you will have to tinker, but solvent and sandpaper will solve the problem. The main thing is not to forget to dry and prime the walls after removing the finishing material, so that the new wallpaper fits well and lasts for many years.

Video: how to remove old wallpaper correctly and quickly

Renovating an apartment or house brings with it a huge number of different problems and hassles. No wonder it is believed that repairs are equal to three fires and two floods. Enormous efforts and resources are invested in repairs. To get rid of unnecessary hassle and problems, so that funds are not wasted and efforts are not in vain, preparatory operations should be carried out correctly. Regardless of what the finishing coating of the walls will be - wallpaper, painting, decorative plaster, the wall should be as smooth as possible. But first you need to clean it. Let's find out how to remove vinyl wallpaper from walls. This is a very popular type of wall decoration. This material has some features that should be taken into account.

Features of vinyl wallpaper

This wallpaper consists of two layers of materials. Often the first one is a paper or fabric base. The second layer is a polyvinyl chloride coating. Due to the presence of a paper base, this wallpaper is easy to paste. The polymer finishing layer provides these materials with high resistance to moisture and also makes the coating durable.

Vinyl tops can be finished in a variety of ways. There are so-called washable wallpapers, foamed, with silk threads. Such surfaces are easy to clean. Some can be washed with water. Others use alcohol and even a solvent. That is why you need to know, quickly and without problems. The fact is that traditional paper wallpaper can be easily removed with ordinary water. But she won't help here.

The method of removing wallpaper also depends on what kind of glue was used during installation. If a professional composition was used, then these are water-soluble mixtures. In this case, the old finish can be easily removed. Also, these wallpapers are glued using water-insoluble adhesives - PVA, bustilate and others. Then you will need to put in more effort. Home craftsmen advise how to remove vinyl wallpaper from walls. There are two ways: in the first case, they act on the glue, and in the second, directly on the wallpaper itself.

Preparatory stage

Before you begin removing vinyl wall coverings, you need to prepare the room. It is best to clear the room of furniture. During the work, it can get dirty and simply get in the way. Interior elements that cannot be removed are covered with film or sheets. It is also better to cover the floors with film. Place sheets of cardboard or fairly thick paper on top of it. A damp cloth is laid on the threshold. It will collect dust and debris.

To avoid electrical accidents, experts recommend turning off the power to the wiring. To reduce the risk of moisture getting into sockets, it is recommended to cover them with film.

Materials and tools

Before removing vinyl wallpaper from the walls, you should prepare fixtures, materials and tools. The first step is to prepare a wallpaper tiger - this is a roller with spikes. Then you will need a knife and scrapers. Sponges of different sizes will be useful, as well as foam rollers, rags and rags. Prepare basins and containers for water and solutions, a stepladder, and garbage bags. It is better to carry out work with gloves.

How to remove vinyl wallpaper: methods for removing vinyl wallpaper using water

First of all, the vinyl surface is carefully treated with a spiked roller. This is done so that holes are formed in the moisture-resistant vinyl covering. This is not such a simple process. It will require a lot of effort and time. A wallpaper tiger or roller can easily penetrate the layer without damaging the wall.

Then the surface is generously moistened with a warm solution of water, vinegar and fabric softener. It must be remembered that this method is suitable for paper-based coating. In the area of ​​sockets and switches, the solution is applied very carefully. Fast is not always good. Water will get into the holes and cuts, causing the glue to swell. Within 15 minutes the wallpaper can be easily removed from the wall. The thicker the layer of glue, the more intense the moisture should be.

Professionals advise how to remove vinyl wallpaper from walls: it is better to start removing it from the bottom. To do this, pry the edge with a spatula and remove it. The remaining small fragments can be removed with the same spatula or coarse sandpaper.

Method No. 2 for removing wallpaper using water

Here, too, the vinyl covering is first treated with a roller or tiger. Then moisturize. The peculiarity is that instead of water, special compounds are used. They are mixed with warm water and applied to the surface. This product does not act on the paper base, but on the glue. The wallpaper itself will remain unharmed and without damage. The composition will dry in 2-3 hours - manufacturers indicate this in the instructions. Then the canvas can be easily removed almost entirely.

If the coating is difficult to remove, in such cases add it to water with a special solution. Cover the wall with this mixture and leave it there for several hours. Then the wallpaper is easily separated from the wall in a single strip without tears. Some give other recommendations on how to remove old wallpaper. We will talk about them below.

We use a steam generator

Here is another effective way to remove old vinyl wallpaper from walls. It is good because it allows you to quickly remove old finishes. Under the influence of hot steam, the glue will swell and dissolve much faster than in the second method. If there is no such generator, then a vertical steam iron will do.

This method is also good because it eliminates the appearance of dirt.

Mechanical methods

Professionals know that waterproof adhesives can provide better adhesion of vinyl wallpaper to the wall. This is the advantage of this method. But it is very difficult to dismantle wallpaper glued in this way. This is not an easy or quick process. In this case, the wallpaper can only be separated mechanically. So, take a sharp spatula and pry it over the edge of the sheet - at the junction, near the rosettes, at the bottom. Next you just need to peel off the coating. It is useless to wet surfaces. If the bottom layer starts to swell, it's the paper, not the glue.

Removing wallpaper with a spatula is a long process. How to remove vinyl wallpaper? Removing vinyl wallpaper mechanically will be faster if you use a power tool. You can use a grinding machine, electric drills with special attachments. But the tools must be used correctly. This removes small pieces and traces of glue, but not the entire fabric.

We work with plasterboard walls

If there are no special problems with a regular wall, then problems may arise with plasterboard ones. This material does not withstand exposure to moisture, especially water. The dismantling method with abundant wetting will not work here. Experts recommend that the best option is to use special compounds that dissolve the glue. If the wallpaper was applied to drywall with PVA-type adhesives, then it will not be possible to remove it. The entire element needs to be replaced.

Recommendations on how to properly peel off vinyl wallpaper on a plasterboard wall

As noted above, vinyl wallpaper can be made on a paper or non-woven basis. How to remove old vinyl wallpaper from walls? The methods are the same as with a regular wall. Wallpaper is sprayed with a special solution, and non-woven wallpaper must first be treated with wallpaper tiger. Only after this is it possible to moisturize them. Only after half an hour can you begin to dismantle the vinyl wall decoration.

Some types of wallpaper will require the use of special tools. But you need to work extremely carefully, as you can easily damage the wall. It is very difficult to remove washable wallpaper. Their coating is made in such a way that they are not afraid of moisture. Here it is best to use irons or steam generators. By removing the coating in small pieces, you can get a good result yourself.

Paper wallpapers, as well as liquid ones, are especially easy to remove. The latter do not need to be removed at all - with the help of special paints you can simply change the color scheme and change the design to suit your taste. However, if the task is to apply a different coating to the wall, then in order to remove liquid-type wallpaper, an aqueous solution or a grinding machine will do. But there is one drawback - after mechanical removal you will have to sand the wall again. This is an additional waste of time. We'll have to clear the room of trash again.

Conclusion

In order for new wallpaper to be pleasing to the eye and last a long time, you need to have a lot of patience. Now you know how to remove vinyl wallpaper from a wall. It won’t be difficult to peel off the old ones using these recommendations. After the wall is cleaned, there is no need to rush. Let it dry. Then you can safely apply the primer.