Woodchip wallpaper is particularly common in old apartments. No wonder, since they have always been robust and easy to care for at the same time. And over the years, they eventually wear tens of layers of paint without ever getting tired. But what if the woodchip should go down? How does the wallpaper come off again? Unfortunately, this is usually not as fast as with modern non-woven wallpapers, which, as is well known, can be removed in seconds. But no worry! This article reveals how even very old woodchip wallpaper can be removed.
The project
The task is relatively simple: the wallpaper has to be removed! More precisely, the woodchip wallpaper must be removed from the plaster. Basically, not too difficult a task if the basic rules for removing wallpaper are observed. In this case, it means oozing, oozing, oozing because a well-soaked woodchip wallpaper will come off by itself.
Tools and materials
To remove the woodchip wallpaper, you don’t need a lot of tools and materials. You may need cloth for the floor, a hedgehog roller or a cutter, a brush or sponge, a spatula, wallpaper remover, and a ladder. Once all of this is in place, the actual preparations can begin.
Preparation
Depending on the construction site, an essential concern is the floor. Because running water and wallpaper whitewashed in the paste will soon fall on the floor in great quantities. A floor that is not being renovated must always be well protected with tarpaulin or masking paper.
Then the wallpaper is already at work. If you want to save yourself the trouble from the outset, work it with a nail or hedgehog roller. This ensures that the wallpaper is pierced so that the water can also get to the paper backing when it is subsequently wet. Depending on the painted color and the number of layers of paint, this step is optional or a must. If there is no hedgehog roller, then the wallpaper should be scored with a cutter before it becomes wet.
Attention: In the case of sensitive surfaces such as plasterboard, perforation, and cutting are unfortunately not necessary!
Then the wetting follows. The wall, or, more precisely, the woodchip wallpaper, is treated with plenty of water with a brush (painter’s brush) or a sponge. Wet wallpaper falls off the wall, while dry wallpaper usually bites your teeth.
Patience is required when wetting. And don’t soak too much at once! Because once damp, the woodchip wallpaper should never dry out.
Tip: Always use warm water with a wallpaper remover or soap when removing the wallpaper.
Remove the woodchip wallpaper.
This is carefully loosened with a spatula and, if possible, removed by hand. Depending on how well the wallpaper was wet, it will now peel off differently.
The spatula is required in any case. A relatively wide, not too rigid, but also not too flexible spatula should be used. The common name for this is the painter’s spatula. Regardless of whether there is plaster or another substrate, the spatula should be run as flat as possible over the wall so that it is not unnecessarily damaged. Otherwise, there will be extensive filling work after removing the wallpaper.
There is a saying that patience is the mother of all virtue. And patience is required when removing the woodchip wallpaper. Even if the progress is slower than expected: do not despair! Just keep scratching the wallpaper, wet it thoroughly, and then remove the wallpaper with the spatula.
As an alternative to the spatula method, woodchip wallpaper can also be removed with other aids. This can be done, for example, with a steam cleaner or wallpaper stripper. The latter is available for hire in every well-stocked hardware store.
Even if the way was more strenuous than expected, in the end, you would get a good feeling that you finally made it yourself!
