Peeling back decades of old wallpaper looks easy enough on home improvement shows until you hit your first layer of unprimed drywall near the Missouri River valley. Wallpaper Removal is one of those projects that starts out satisfying and quickly turns into a messy and sticky problem if you do not know what you are doing. Over the years, Great Falls Painting Company has pulled down everything from 1970s foil prints in Riverdale split-levels to stubborn borders in historic downtown Victorians, and the same mistakes pop up over and over again.
Here is where people usually trip up and how you can save yourself a lot of frustration during Wallpaper Removal.
Underestimating the Drywall Damage Beneath
The biggest shocker happens the second that last strip of paper comes off and you see the drywall surface underneath looks like the surface of the moon. If the previous owner hung wallpaper straight onto bare drywall without sizing or primer, the adhesive bonds directly to the paper face of the drywall sheet. When you pull the wallpaper, the drywall paper comes right with it.
You end up gouging the gypsum and creating a massive patching job. Skipping the proper scoring and enzyme-based stripping solution makes this ten times worse because you end up scraping too hard with metal putty knives during Wallpaper Removal.
Using Too Much Water on Montana Lath and Plaster
If you live in an older home around the historic Northside in Great Falls, Montana, you are likely dealing with plaster walls instead of modern drywall. Plaster is tough, but it hates being soaked. Homeowners often drown the walls in hot water and vinegar to soften the glue, letting it pool around the baseboards and seep behind electrical outlets. Too much moisture can cause plaster to crumble, loosen from the wood lath behind it, or warp your wood trim.
Skipping the Glue Residue Wash
Getting the paper down is only half the battle of Wallpaper Removal. The clear paste left behind feels dry and harmless once the wall dries out, but the second you roll fresh paint over it, that old glue reactivates. Your new paint will bubble, crack, and peel right off within a week. You have to wash the walls down completely with a sponge and a proper neutralizing solution, then rinse them clean. It is tedious, dirty work, but you cannot skip it.
Hiring Based on the Lowest Bid
If you decide to bring in a pro instead of spending your weekend covered in old paste, watch out for fly-by-night operators. Wallpaper Removal is labor-intensive, so quotes can vary wildly. If someone gives you a price over the phone without actually walking through your house to look at how many layers of paper are up there, run the other way. They are going to either rush the job, gouge your walls, or hit you with surprise change orders halfway through.
Great Falls Painting Company charges for the actual scope of the prep work because we know what hides behind those prints. Doing Wallpaper Removal right means taking the time to wash, skim coat, and prime so your walls are actually ready for a clean finish. Take your time, use the right tools, and do not rush the wash phase if you are tackling Wallpaper Removal yourself. For homes and businesses in Great Falls, Great Falls Painting Company provides Wallpaper Removal services.