Getting Rid Of Old Wallpaper And Borders
Looking back at home décor in the 1950s and the succeeding 20 years or so, an outstanding feature used to be the use of wallpaper to cover up the walls in almost all the rooms of the house. Wallpapers were the fad of those days and came in all kinds of prints and patterns, hues and shades across the entire light spectrum, the look was considered classy and spawned a generation of Americans, who were 'house-proud' with all their walls papered and not a single spot missed out! Well, times have changed and how! While wallpaper is still an item of décor for those lost in the nostalgia of the 'good old days'; home décor is now all about clean and sleek lines and bare walls, with different kinds of textured paints, replacing all that paper!
If you're among the class of people who have no time for nostalgia and are quite keen on decorating your home with the modern look, that faded, ratty-looking wallpaper and borders are the first thing you'd want to get rid of!
Alternatively, perhaps, you're still steeped in nostalgia, but want to replace the old paper with a newer and colorful print. Having adhered to the walls for so many years, it may take a bit of time and careful effort, to peel away the old wallpaper and borders, but it is not an insurmountable task. Of course, you may not want to put in all that time and effort yourself, but have the means to get it done by hiring trained labor. In which case, good for you and you can stop reading this article and move on to something else!
For those who are diehard fans of DIY, or are inclined to be more fiscally prudent in the current economic climate, knowing how to remove all those old borders and wallpaper will be most helpful. As mentioned before, it is not a difficult task, provided you're willing to expend some time and sweat over it. More importantly, it is the degree of care and precaution you will need to take, should you decide to undertake this project on your own.
To remove old wallpaper and their borders, here are a few handy tips and suggestions to help you on your way:
You will need to ensure that the paper comes away cleanly from the walls, applying heavy pressure or force should be strictly avoided.
Loosen up the glue, which holds the paper to the walls with the help of any of these materials - water, white vinegar, steam or commercially available solvents.
Before choosing any of the above materials to remove the paper cleanly, check to see the soundness and quality of the paint and wall structure, behind the paper. You do not want to damage these, because that would mean extra expenses in fixing the damaged wall or getting it repainted.
Read and follow the instructions to the letter, if you decide on using a commercial solvent. These are strong formulations and must be used exactly as advertised, to prevent any damage.
To scrape off loose paper once it has been softened with water or steam or vinegar, use a plastic scraper or one with blunt edges, so as to not mark the paint or the wall behind.
Start removing the paper from the lower ends of the wall and then work your way progressively upwards.
Keep mopping away at any spills or spots on the newly bared walls, not giving any time for the fluid to soak in and damage the walls.
There you have it! Follow the helpful tips listed above and you will be able to get rid of your old wallpaper and borders, quite easily!
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