How to fix damaged drywall after wallpaper removal
If you are planning on painting after wallpaper removal on drywall, chances are there is some repair work needed. Unfortunately, drywall damages easily. The paper can tear, gyprock may come loose, and even a rounded knife can leave gouges and marks.
If you plan on painting after you have removed your wallpaper, you will definitely want to address any issues with your walls before you get started. After putting in the hard work of removing the wallpaper, you want nice, smooth surfaces for painting. If you have hired professional wallpaper removal contractors or a company, they will do the repair work for you.
Supplies Needed
TSP wallpaper glue dissolver
Spackle/mud
Roller and paint brush
Bucket
Face mask
Sandpaper block and sandpaper
Various sizes of putty knives
Drywall primer
Paint tray
Scissors or pocket/utility knife
Oil-based primer or drywall primer
Steps to Fix Damaged Drywall After Wallpaper Removal
It is extremely important to make sure that you remove all the glue left behind by the wallpaper. Wash the walls with TSP and water, which will clear away dried glue globs and any other remnants. Make sure you give your walls a thorough rinse afterwards. Don’t soak your walls, otherwise you will damage the drywall further.
Sand where there is ripped paper and cut any loose edges of paper. You will want to smooth the edges to create a smoother surface for the spackle. Make sure that you wipe away and clean up any dust before you apply the spackle.
You can find spackle or joint compound in the drywall section of your hardware store. Apply with a putty knife, laying it on thicker where there are holes and gouges.
Smooth out the spackle until it is as even as possible. Try to avoid leaving knife edges or large globs. Spackle shrinks as it dries so make sure you have good coverage to avoid having to fill in any missed holes afterwards.
Sand the dried spackle. Make sure to wear a mask for this part, as spackle dust is not good for you and can make you cough a lot if inhaled. Use a sanding block, as it is better for flat surfaces. Make sure to sand the spackle as smooth as possible but be careful not to over-sand – you might end up having to add more spackle to even out the wall in that case.
Once everything is dry, give everything a coat of primer using a drywall primer or oil-based primer.
Other Methods to Fix Damaged Drywall After Wallpaper Removal
Depending on the state of the walls after the wallpaper has been removed you may need to skim coat the walls before you can paint. Skim coat is a technique that smooths the wall surface and hides imperfections. This would be the better choice over spot repairs if you have a lot of repair work needed.
Skim coat is also a better choice for repair in commercial spaces or where there is bright lighting. If you need to replace any of the drywall, skim coating can hide bad taping jobs as well. If you end up needing to skim coat, make sure to prime the walls beforehand. Priming will seal any loose paper and provide a better surface for the mud to adhere to.
If there is a lot of damage to your drywall after you remove the wallpaper, you may have to face the choice of replacing sections or re-drywalling the room. This may not be the answer you were looking for, but it might be a necessary evil if you want nice, smooth walls to paint.
The state of your walls after pulling down wallpaper depends on a few factors:
How well the walls were prepared by the installer beforehand
What kind of wallpaper was used (and how old it is)
In theory, newer wallpaper should be easier to remove. The bulk of the work to remove it is the backing paper and adhesive. Older wallpaper is harder to remove and may cause more damage to your walls.
Whether you are using TSP or just plain water to wash your walls and remove adhesive, remember – don’t soak your walls. Too much water will soften and damage the paper, as well as affect the gyprock.
Removing wallpaper is a big job that is tedious and messy. Repairing your walls afterwards can be just as much work, but completely doable on your own. Do your research and consult with professionals if you are not sure about anything. Painting after wallpaper removal is always satisfying, especially when you have nice, smooth surfaces to work with, which is why it is important to put in the work and do it right.
