Walls surround every room of your home, so they play a vital role in how the space will look. If you plan on updating your wallpaper with a new look, then the first problem is how to remove it. We have researched and gathered all the information that you will need to complete the task.
To remove wallpaper from a mobile home's walls, the first thing that you will need to do is to determine the type of wall and wallpaper you have. After that, you can choose which method applies to you. Take a look at them below.
- Using a solution and scraping tool.
- Steaming the wallpaper with a wallpaper steamer.
- Peeling it with bare hands and a blower.
Once the wallpaper is completely detached, remove the residues using a solution and a sponge.
Should you paint the wall after removing the wallpaper or replace it with a new one? How are you going to smoothen the patches that are present in the bare wall? These are some of the questions we will tackle after discussing the methods thoroughly. Read on if you want to learn all of these.
Steps On Removing Wallpaper From Mobile Home's Wall
If you are wondering whether you need to hire a professional, you may not have too with our DIY methods. However, if you do this all by yourself, expect it to occupy your whole day since you will have to do the following steps.
Step 1: Prepare The Area
Put away the pieces of furniture, decorative objects, or appliances that are present in the area where you will tear down the wallpaper. Doing so will give you enough space to move around and reach the spots these items were covering.
Protect the big or important items with a cloth or a plastic and cover the electric outlets with painter's tape because the solution you might use later may splash or drip on them.
Check out this painter's tape on Amazon.
Step 2: Determine The Wall Type
By determining what kind of wall is behind the wallpaper, you will know what you should and shouldn't do during the process. Most commonly, mobile homes have either a drywall or a plaster wall.
Get a thumbtack or a pin to know which type of wall you have. It is drywall if it pierces through the wall easily since this material is softer and less dense than plaster.
If you have drywall installed in your mobile home, you must be careful with scoring or scraping off the wallpaper since the surface may be damaged. The sharp tool may leave cut marks or punctures, giving you more things to deal with.
Step 3: Determine The Wallpaper Type
Just like the second step, knowing what kind of wallpaper is attached to the wall is essential since this will point you to the proper removal method. Go to the corner of the wallpaper. Try to peel the material off and observe how difficult or easy it is to remove.
- Traditional wallpaper - Tough to remove and stuck to the surface.
- Strippable wallpaper - Easy and smooth removal
- Peelable wallpaper - Only removes the paper layer and leaves the adhesive on the wall surface.
Aside from that, the type of wallpaper can also hint at how difficult it will be to remove. How? Dab or spray water on an area. If the liquid is absorbed, then that indicates that the removal will be easy.
Step 5: Remove The Wallpaper
Here are the different removal methods according to the wallpaper type.
Strippable Wallpaper
Get to a corner part of the wall and feel it with your hand. If you have difficulty pulling it off, use a blower to help the adhesive melt.
Peelable wallpaper
Peelable wallpaper will require you to use a putty knife. Use the tool for scratching the layer of paper and backing off the surface.
Traditional wallpaper
You will need to spray a solution on the surface and let it sit for a few minutes for absorption. If your wallpaper material is nonporous, score it first before spraying the liquid. After that, start scraping it in one direction with a putty knife.
If none of the methods worked, try using a wallpaper steamer. A wallpaper steamer is a device that creates steam to melt the wallpaper's adhesive layer. Can you use a fabric steamer as an alternative? Yes, you can.
Check out Wagner Spraytech wallpaper steamer on Amazon.
Step 6: Get Rid Of The Residues
If there are residues on the wall, especially from the paperback, spray Goo Gone on the surface and scratch it with a sponge. If you do not have Goo Gone, you can mix soap and water in a spraying bottle. Rinse the solution off with clean water or a damp cloth.
After cleaning the wall, please wait for the surface to dry before putting up new wallpaper or preparing it for paint.
Want to know how you can tone down a busy wallpaper? Learn what you have to do by reading this article: How To Tone Down Busy Wallpaper
Does Vinegar Or Fabric Softener Work To Remove Wallpaper?
Yes, vinegar and fabric softeners can be used to remove wallpaper. However, to be effective, you should mix them with hot water. Below is the portion that you should follow to make the solution.
- Vinegar solution - 2/3 of hot water and 1/3 of vinegar
- Fabric softener - 3/4 hot water and 1/4 fabric softener
How Do You Seal Walls After Removing Wallpaper?
You can seal the wall after removing the wallpaper by applying primer. Make sure that the primer you use is compatible with the wall material. And before you apply a coat of primer, repair the dents and holes that are present in the wall's surface.
Is It Better To Paint Over The Wallpaper Or Remove It?
It depends. Wallpaper should be removed and not be painted over under the following conditions:
- Material is starting to loosen or has bubbles in different spots.
- The wallpaper has a textured surface.
- The row seams are visible.
On the other hand, you can paint over the wallpaper if you want to prevent any damage to the wall's surface, and you are in a rush since removing the wallpaper will take a lot of time.
How about painting over wallpaper glue? Is that okay? Find the answer in this article: Can You Paint Over Wallpaper Glue? Should You? [Tips & Considerations]
Is It Cheaper To Replace Wallpaper Or Paint?
Generally speaking, it is cheaper to replace paint compared to wallpaper, but this will depend on many factors, such as the quality of the material you will use. Of course, high-end paint will cost more than cheap wallpaper and vice versa.
What Happens If You Paint Over Wallpaper Glue?
Painting over wallpaper glue will give you a bumpy texture instead of smooth, and the paint you will use might not stick to the glue's surface. If you do not want these to happen, you can remove the wallpaper glue by applying a solution and sanding it.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Wallpaper Removed?
Wallpaper removal costs $1 to $3 per square foot. Here is the price list depending on the room to give you an overview.
- Living room: $230 to $3,080
- Kitchen: $180 to $2,050
- Bathroom: $120 to $1,080
- Bedroom: $140 to $1,540
Can't choose between contact paper and wallpaper? This article will help you decide which one to choose: Contact Paper Vs. Wallpaper: Which To Choose For Your Home Project?
In Summary
To remove the wallpaper mobile home's wall, you will need to determine the type of wall and wallpaper installed. If it is strippable, peel it off with your hand. If the adhesive is too strong, use a blower to soften or melt down the glue. Peelable wallpaper needs to be detached with the help of a putty knife.
The paperback residue will most likely be left on the wall's surface, so you will need to remove that with an adhesive remover solution or a homemade mixture of soap and water. Meanwhile, traditional wallpaper needs to be soaked in a solution before scraping it off. If the material is non-absorbent, score the surface first.