Description
Wallpaper Removal Contractors’ Core Value: Damage Prevention and Surface Restoration
Wallpaper Removal Contractors specialize in safely and efficiently stripping old wallcoverings and meticulously preparing the underlying surface for the next stage of renovation (whether painting or new wallpaper installation). Their core value lies in preventing costly damage to the drywall or plaster that often occurs with amateur attempts.
Removing wallpaper, particularly old or commercial-grade material, is complex due to the unknown factors beneath the surface. That is multiple layers, the original adhesive type, and whether the wall was properly primed (sized) before installation. Professional wallpaper removal contractors handle these variables, guaranteeing the wall is preserved.
Wallpaper Removal Contractors Require Safety Gear and Tools
Professional wallpaper removal requires specialized gear and tools to ensure efficiency, safety, and minimize damage.
Essential Safety Gear
Eye Protection
Safety goggles or glasses are essential for protecting the worker’s eyes throughout the removal process. They create a secure barrier that shields the eyes from the twin hazards of hot steam generated by steamers and splashing chemical solutions. They also guard against flying debris and sharp particles lifted from the wall during aggressive scraping, ensuring the professional maintains clear and safe vision.
Gloves
Chemical-resistant gloves are mandatory for skin safety. These robust gloves protect the installer’s hands from thermal damage caused by hot water and steam. They also provide a critical defense against strong chemical solvents and alkaline stripping solutions used to dissolve old adhesives, preventing skin irritation and chemical burns during the messy and prolonged process of soaking and stripping.
Respiratory Protection
A dust mask (N95) provides necessary Respiratory Protection. It is crucial, particularly during the scraping and intensive post-removal sanding phases, where fine particles are released. The mask effectively filters out airborne wallpaper dust, old paper fibers, and dried adhesive particles, safeguarding the contractor from inhaling debris and ensuring a healthier working environment.
Containment
Drop cloths and plastic sheeting are deployed for comprehensive Containment. These materials thoroughly protect the client’s property, shielding floors, carpet, trim, and electrical outlets from exposure to water saturation, corrosive chemical spills, and sticky, difficult-to-clean adhesive residue. This diligent setup minimizes cleanup time and prevents property damage.
Specialized Removal Tools
Scoring Tool
The Scoring Tool, a spiked rotary wheel, is critical for preparing non-porous wallcoverings. The contractor uses it to create a precise pattern of tiny, strategic perforations across the vinyl or sealed surface. This action allows the liquid removal solutions (chemical strippers or water) to bypass the waterproof top layer, penetrate the paper backing, and successfully reach the underlying adhesive, initiating the bond-breaking process.
Wallpaper Steamer
The Wallpaper Steamer is a heavy-duty tool leveraged for the most stubborn jobs. This industrial electric unit uses boiling water to generate pressurized steam, which is applied directly to the wall surface. The intense heat and moisture penetrate multiple layers of old paper and thick adhesives, softening the stubborn glue without damaging the drywall. Steamers are highly efficient and are the preferred, non-chemical method for large projects or when tackling wallpaper that has been painted over, ensuring a faster, cleaner breakdown of the old bond.
Scrapers and Knives
After the adhesive is loosened, Scrapers and Knives are used for the physical removal. These include broad, flexible putty knives or specialized stripping scrapers with rounded corners. The contractor employs these tools with controlled, gentle force to lift and peel the softened paper away from the wall. This focused approach is essential for preventing the sharp edges from gouging the plaster or tearing the fragile paper face of the drywall beneath the covering.
Cleaning Sponges
Finally, Cleaning Sponges and buckets are indispensable for the last step: Adhesive Cleanup. Large, soft sponges and clean water are used to systematically wash the wall surface. This is vital for rinsing away all traces of the dissolved glue residue. Complete removal of the sticky film is non-negotiable, as any remaining adhesive will severely compromise the adhesion and appearance of new paint or wallcovering.
The Professional Wallpaper Removal Contractors Process
Initial Assessment
The process begins with a meticulous Initial Assessment, which is crucial for determining the least destructive and most efficient removal technique. The contractor thoroughly examines the existing wallcovering’s type. We identify factors like whether it is porous paper-backed, layered vinyl, or non-woven strippable material. They also analyze the likely adhesive used and the quality of the wall’s original primer, as these elements dictate how stubbornly the paper adheres. This professional evaluation ensures the correct blend of chemical strippers or the precise application of steam is used, preventing damage to the underlying wall.
Safety and Containment
For Safety and Containment, the contractor undertakes rigorous site protection measures. The room is first cleared of furniture, and all flooring, baseboards, and immovable fixtures are thoroughly covered with plastic sheeting and drop cloths to shield them from water and adhesive runoff. For electrical safety, power to the work area is typically shut off, and outlets are taped over, minimizing risk during wet work.
2. Loosening the Wallpaper Adhesive
Scoring (Perforating)
This initial technical step involves Scoring the wallcovering using a specialized perforating tool or scorer. The contractor creates a precise pattern of tiny, strategic incisions across the entire wallpaper surface. This is vital because the perforations break the vinyl or top layer, allowing the subsequent removal solution or high-pressure steam to effectively penetrate through to the adhesive backing.
Soaking Methods: Chemical Strippers
One primary soaking technique involves applying Chemical Strippers. These are commercial-grade, concentrated liquid solutions containing enzymes or solvents specifically formulated to react with and chemically dissolve the old paste. The contractor applies the solution evenly, ensuring it breaks the adhesive bond with minimal manual scraping, which is key to preserving the wall’s original integrity beneath the paper.
Soaking Methods: Steaming
For highly resistant or multi-layered wallcoverings, the contractor employs Industrial-grade Wallpaper Steamers. These powerful units generate pressurized steam, applying concentrated heat and moisture directly to the wall. The steam effectively penetrates through the paper layers, reactivating and softening even the toughest, oldest adhesives and multi-layered applications. This method is often preferred for its effectiveness and is crucial for removing stubborn wallpaper without resorting to aggressive scraping that could damage the underlying plaster or drywall.
Dwell Time
Crucial to the entire loosening process is observing the correct Dwell Time. Whether using chemical strippers or steam, the solution or heat must be allowed a specific period to soak in and fully activate the adhesive before any stripping begins. Rushing this stage leads to incomplete glue dissolution, which increases the likelihood of tearing the drywall and requiring extensive repair work.
3. Wallpaper Stripping and Residue Removal
Stripping
The physical removal stage, or Stripping, requires exceptional care to protect the substrate. Using broad, flexible putty knives or specialized scrapers, the contractor carefully lifts and peels the softened wallpaper layers. The key is to apply gentle, even pressure, working slowly in sections. This meticulous technique is employed specifically to avoid the common pitfall of tearing the delicate paper facing of the drywall or damaging plaster beneath. Successful stripping minimizes the need for extensive (and costly) post-removal surface repairs, ensuring the subsequent restoration process is quick and efficient.
Adhesive Cleanup
Following the paper removal, thorough Adhesive Cleanup is paramount for a successful future finish. The contractor ensures all residual paste is completely removed from the wall surface, often using a solution of warm water and a mild detergent or a specialized adhesive cleaner. Stubborn, sticky patches are delicately scraped or rubbed away. This rigorous cleaning is non-negotiable because any leftover glue will chemically react with new paint or primer, leading directly to bubbling, streaking, poor adhesion, or peeling of the new wall finish.
4. Post-Removal Repair (The Final Touches)
This concluding phase is the most critical for the client who intends to paint, as it transforms the bare, potentially damaged wall into a flawless canvas.
Damage Remediation and Skim Coating
The contractor meticulously addresses all damage inflicted during removal, such as gouges from scraping or, more commonly, patches where the underlying drywall paper has been torn or peeled away by stubborn glue. These raw, exposed areas are first treated with a specialized sealer-primer (like an oil-based primer or a product like Gardz) to lock down any remaining adhesive and prevent the exposed paper from bubbling when new paint or paste is applied. Following this sealing, any holes or imperfections are filled with joint compound. For surfaces with extensive damage or noticeable differences in texture, the contractor may perform a skim coat—applying a thin layer of compound over the entire wall and sanding it perfectly smooth—to ensure the finished wall is truly even.
Final Surface Preparation and Sealing
Once all patches are dry and sanded to an impeccable smoothness, the entire surface is wiped clean of all dust. A final coat of high-quality, stain-blocking primer is applied across the entire wall. This primer seals the entire surface uniformly, ensuring:
Uniform Porosity
The wall absorbs new paint or wallpaper paste evenly, preventing “flashing” (uneven sheen) or patchy adhesion.
Color Blocking
Any residual ghosting from old colors or adhesives is fully blocked, providing a neutral base for the new finish.
This disciplined approach guarantees that the surface is returned to a professional-grade foundation, ready to accept new paint or wallpaper with flawless, long-lasting results.