Can you just sand off wallpaper?
You know those little things that bug you out the corner of your eye? The little DIY moments you didn’t quite get around to finishing – I have one of those in my hallway and it drives me wild.
I removed some wallpaper from the hallway and obviously didn’t do a good enough job because I managed to leave behind some glue.
It glistens at me when I open the door and winks at me when I turn on the light. Irritating.
Despite trying, I think it needs a good sanding to remove the last of it, as well as a spare afternoon (if anyone has one of those going, feel free to send it my way).
Rocket sanding sponge kit – Homebase £8
According to a study commissioned by Draper Tools, in 2020, more than a 430 million DIY jobs need to be carried out in Britain, so I’m not alone in avoiding the snagging then.
How do you remove wallpaper with a sander?
You’re probably wondering if you can sand wallpaper off the wall – is this method successful? Although it’s messy and dusty, it can be a successful way of removing wallpaper off the wall (I used this method in my kitchen).
You want to remove the top layer of the wallpaper so then you can steam off the backing paper and the glue. For this, use an orbital sander with 40-60 grit paper.
Bosch home and garden orbit sander – Amazon £49
Can you sand off old wallpaper glue?
Once you’re done soaking/steaming/scraping off the old wallpaper then use a medium or fine grit sandpaper to whip off stubborn bits of glue or bits you might have missed.
Harris assorted sandpaper – Homebase £3.50
Is there an easy way to remove old wallpaper?
There are lots of ways to remove old wallpaper, but I found a solution of hot water, vinegar and washing up liquid was very effective and easy because I got to use things I already had at home in my kitchen cupboard.
Tip: score the wallpaper with a pen knife to help the solution penetrate through the wallpaper if it’s proving tough to remove.
Stanley knife – Homebase £8
Does removing wallpaper remove paint?
This all depends on the wallpaper and the condition of the wall underneath. I’ve removed fairly new wallpaper which left the wall and the paint underneath unscathed, but then I’ve removed very old, woodchip wallpaper which removed the wallpaper and large chunks of plaster.
If the wallpaper is fairly new and your walls are in good condition then removing the wallpaper gently should leave the paint underneath intact.
Read more: crumbling plaster behind wallpaper
Can I sand wallpaper before painting?
It is possible to sand wallpaper before painting. If you’re painting over old wallpaper, then sanding can help the paint to stick. However, you will need to use an oil-based paint to prevent the wallpaper slipping when you apply the paint.
Read more: does painting over wallpaper work?
Black and Decker mouse sander – Homebase £55
How do you remove 50 year old wallpaper glue?
Applying a wallpaper removal solution or using a steamer will remove old wallpaper glue. Soak the wall with the solution and once the glue has softened use a wallpaper stripper or a scraper to remove it.
Wallpaper scrapers – Amazon £5.94
How do you remove hardened wallpaper glue?
If you can’t remove the glue using a stripping solution then try using some sand paper, a fine-grit or a medium-grit sandpaper should do the trick.
Do painters and decorators remove wallpaper?
Yes indeed, painters and decorators can remove wallpaper if you ask them to. Since they are experienced, they should be able to remove it pretty quickly too.