Wallpaper And Borders

Important Information on Peeling Off Wall Paper and Borders
By Adam Peters

Removal of wallpaper and wallpaper border needs extra care and should be done correctly. In age-old houses the wallpaper borders are stuck to the wall with glue, and it is a tough task to remove such borders. When old wallpaper is painted over, the job of removing it becomes all the more difficult.


It is important to check on what type of surface the wallpaper and borders are stuck. Sometimes it is stuck on the painted wall directly and in some c

ases it could be stuck on the old wallpaper.

There are different types of wall on which the wallpaper can be stuck. The wall can be a dry wall or a plaster smoothed over plank. Dry wall is made of prefabricated material like plasterboard. Drywall generally will sound hollow when tapped and it is less smooth and even. Wallpaper on dry wall has to be removed carefully without using much water, as excess water can damage the wall. Scrape the paper carefully as dry wall gets damaged easily and faster.

If the wallpaper is glued on a painted wall, then t

he first step in removing is to wet the lower layer with warm water and allow it soak for sometime. There are solvent available in hardware stores, which can be used as an alternative for water in removing the wallpaper stuck on the painted wall. Once the wall is considerably dampen start scraping the wallpaper.


In removing borders, first check whether the border is made of porous material. Borders with porous material will absorb water and removing it becomes easy when it is soaked for long time. Sometimes borders are made using foil, vinyl coated material and acrylic. These materials are not porous and needs different method for removing. For non-porous borders first scratch the surface of the border. Sometimes it can be perforated or pierced to make the surface rough. Then wet the entire area with water or solvent to break through the glue or any adhesive used. A well-damped border can be worn out easily.


There are different techniques followed in removing the wallpaper border. First check for the kind of wallpaper used and nature of the surface of wall before applying any technique.

The different techniques are:

o Dry Stripping: This technique is used when peelable wallpaper is used. The top portion of the decorative paper comes off easily and backing paper and adhesive needs to be scraped off.


o Soaking and Scraping: For non-strippable paper borders you need to use water and wallpaper removing solvent to dampen the wall. Use a paint roller or spray bottle to dampen the wall. Allow the wall to soak for sometime. For non-porous paper borders use perforators or scrapers to scrap the border. But extreme precaution should be taken while using scarping tools on wet borders.


o Steam bath: Steam bath technique is used when wallpaper is painted over, wallpaper glued onto old wallpaper, or when the borders are not scarped off easily. Using steamer on walls ensure that the wall is not damaged. Steamers can be hired or bought.

Wallpaper and Border

Adding Wallpaper, Borders, Wainscoting, Or Chair Rails to Complete a Room

By Daniel P Elliott



With all the available products on the market to change and improve the cosmetics of the home interior it can be a daunting choice. Wallpaper or borders can make it easy to theme out a room. Then there are chair rails or wainscoting. Paneling is another alternative. Is painting the best option? What about stenciling? Which is the most cost effective and least time consuming? What about safety?

The safest and least expensive cosmetic change overall is wallpaper or borders. This method of customizing a room's appearance can be performed by almost any individual. As long as you have access to a sharp pair of scissors, a good straight 3' level and/or a plumb bob, tape measure, and a sturdy step stool. The last item will be a long plastic water trough for submerging the wallpaper or border completely. With these few common household tools a typical 8' tall wall can get a new lease on life. A good amount of open space will be required to allow for a good clutter free work area.

Painting is probably the most common method of altering a room's appearance, but often comes with trade offs. Instead of a simple affordable step stool, a ladder will be required to reach the top edged of the wall where it meets the ceiling. Much of the necessary painting supplies such as brushes, rollers, and paint trays will quickly increase the cost. The advantage of painting is a truly customized color to reflect your décor and tastes.

Additional materials needed are drop cloths and either a dust mask or respirator. The last items necessary for proper safety are often overlooked. Safety should always be of prime importance. The majority of paints on the market can have adverse health risks. Most paints give off volatile organic compounds or V.O.C.s even after the paint has completely dried. Volatile organic compounds have been linked to head aches and nausea as well as more serious potential health risks. There are a growing number of low or no V.O.C. paints on the market as health awareness heightens.


Installing a chair rail or wainscoting will give any room a distinctive charm and flair, however, special attention, skills, and tools need to be used with this type of cosmetic customizing. A good miter saw and/or circular saw, tape measure, and safety instruments are just a few of the tools that are key in order to produce professional results. The majority of households do not have these tools necessary for installing this type of room accenting so is often the most expensive alternative to change a room's appearance. If expense is of no concern, then safety and skill level with these tools is the next topic that needs to be addressed.

Make sure to have a good pair of safety glasses and hearing protectors. The power tools used for this project are often quite dangerous in the hands of an unskilled worker and special attention is required to use these tools in a safe and responsible manner.

Other safety issues are regarding the type of material from which the chair rail and/or wainscoting is made. Many composite materials such as MDF or other wood products have been manufactured using a formaldehyde based resin to glue the wood particle board together. This type of glue, commonly used in kitchen counter tops, has been proven to be carcinogenic. Many wood products, such as preassembled or ready-to-assemble furniture, that use particle board materials can produce off gases that may affect an individual's health.

Further exploration of a room's decorative options can be found throughout books, television, online, or even a hardware store. The imagination is the only limit to revitalizing that boring old room and showing off your accomplishments to friends and family.