How to strip wallpaper

I had a job a while ago where it took me over 6 hours to remove 2 square metres of wallpaper. I think it was stuck on with superglue!

Unlike most decorators I love wallpaper stripping so I thought I’d share my method.

I prefer not to use a steamer, as in older houses forcing this amount of steam can ‘blow’ the (often weak) plaster.

Most decorative papers come in two layers. The decorative top layer and then backing paper. I tend to peel the top layer off first which usually comes off fairly easily. This then leaves the backing paper and the lining paper.

I score these with a Zinsser Paper Tiger tool then spray it with their wallpaper stripping solution which soaks in through the holes I’ve just scored.

Leave it for a little while and, before it dries, use a long handled scraper to scrape it off the walls.

It can be a messy business and this is my favourite tip from a fellow decorator:

Before you start attach plastic sheeting, with masking tape, to the skirting board. This means that all the wet paper falls onto the plastic sheet and you can just roll it up and bin it once you’re done!