Stripping paint and wallpaper

Before you get started

A steam stripper is the most efficient way of removing old wall coverings. However, you can just use a bucket of warm water and a sponge to soak the paper before scraping it off.

Take great care when using a steam stripper as you are effectively working with boiling water and steam. You must wear gloves and goggles, and follow the manufacturer's guidelines for use precisely.

Paint requires stripping when there are multiple layers of old paint that are both uneven and loosely adhered to the wood and/or previous paint layers below. Exterior window sills, for example, are areas that are common to strip before repainting.

Hot air guns are an alternative to chemicals for stripping paint from woodwork. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines precisely and do not combine the use of a hot air gun with chemical strippers.

Most chemical strippers are now more user-friendly than they used to be, as they are water-based. However, it is still necessary to only work in well ventilated areas, and use sufficient dust sheets to protect other surfaces. Always wear gloves and follow the manufacturer's guidelines. After chemical stripping surfaces must be washed down very carefully to neutralise the surface. The surface must then dry thoroughly before any paint can be applied.

Equipment needed

Strip paint

PVC protective gloves

Dust sheets

Old paint brush

Scraper

Sponge

Bucket

Steel wool

Shavehook

Safety glasses

Paint stripper

Strip wallpaper

Dust sheets

Protective gloves

Safety glasses

Sponge

Bucket

Wallpaper stripper (or scraper)

Steam stripper

Tips

It is always best to strip the existing wallpaper before repapering as it is often difficult to guarantee that the old wallpaper surface is sufficiently sound to accept a new layer.

The time required to hold a steam stripper plate on the wall surface in order to remove the wallpaper will vary considerably from surface to surface. It is therefore important to experiment early in the task to see if a few seconds or much longer is required to loosen the paper. Too short a time and the paper will remain stuck. Too long a time and you can risk damaging the plaster, which will lead to more preparation work before redecorating.

Do not allow a steam stripper to boil dry. Keep it topped up as directed, again taking all necessary precautions.

Use plenty of dust sheets when stripping wallpaper as it can be a messy job. Also remove paper from the dust sheets regularly as once the soaked paper dries it often sticks to the sheets making it crusty and difficult to remove later.

Once a wall is stripped of paper, ideally wash down the wall surface to remove any old paste residues. This is essential if you are now planning to paint rather than repaper the wall.

Hanging pictures and mirrors

Things to think about

Do not drill directly above or below light switches or plug sockets as cables conventionally run vertically up from light switches and down from sockets.

A cable, pipe and stud detector is an essential tool to help locate timber studs and identify the locations of electricity cables and water pipes below the wall surface.

Consider what type of wall you are working with – for example, a solid wall or a hollow stud wall – and use appropriate fixings for the weight of the picture or mirror.

Lightweight pictures and mirrors can be hung from a pin picture hook hammered into the wall, but check first that the plaster is sound. You want the pin hook to go cleanly into the plaster and not cause it to flake away.

Masonry walls will accept some picture hooks and masonry nails. However, for heavier pictures, a screw fixing is required with the appropriate size wall plug, to ensure that the weight of the picture can be supported. A power drill or drill/driver will be required to make the necessary pilot holes.

With stud (hollow) walls, plasterboard is attached to vertical timbers called studs and horizontal timbers called noggings. Locate a timber to screw into and you have a solid fixing for the nail or screw. To hang heavy pictures on a stud wall you must find fixing positions directly into the studs.

Mirror adhesive or selfadhesive mirror pads can be used to stick lightweight mirrors to a wall surface. Do not attempt this with anything but the lightest of mirrors.

Using two people to hang a picture is best, as one can hold it in place while the other can stand back and make judgements on height and position.

Picture wire is better than string for hanging pictures, as the wire will not stretch or wear through.

Lighting is important to show off pictures to their full potential. Consider having picture lights fitted, above a picture, or directional spotlights that may be tilted and positioned as required to highlight a special picture.

An impression of space can be created by hanging large mirrors in small rooms. They can also help to bring more light into a dark room, by reflecting the natural light.

Equipment you may need

Cable, pipe and stud detector

Safety glasses

Spirit level

Tape measure

Screwdriver

Pencil

Carpenter's awl (bradawl)

Hammer

Hang lightweight pictures and mirrors

Picture hanging kit (if you have lots of pictures to hang)

Picture hooks

Hang heavier pictures and mirrors

           

Power drill (for masonry walls)

Drill/driver and bits

Screws

Spiral/self-drilling wall plugs (for stud walls)

Hollow wall anchors (for stud walls)

Hang unframed mirrors

           

Mirror screws (for mirrors with predrilled fixing holes)

Mirror brackets (for mirrors with no predrilled fixing holes)