Home décor preparing walls for decorating
The key to a perfect paint finish or wonderful wallpaper is not so much in the method, but more about the preparation. I know this sounds daunting, however the process is not as tiresome as it used to be, because now there is a wide range of help at hand to make the job easy.
Stripping Paint
Paint stripping is a messy job. It is a good idea to ensure that all furniture, pictures and rugs are cleared out of the way, and anything that you can’t easily remove from the room is covered. It can also be a smelly procedure, so it may be a good idea to open the windows before you get started. As well as ensuring that the necessary personal protection equipment is being is at hand.
Firstly, you should move the hot air jet steadily over the surface; it is a good idea to concentrate on a small area at a time. Keep the hot air jet moving to avoid ruining the paint and the wood below.
Hold the paint stripper’s nozzle 4-6 inches away from the surface of the wall until the paint just starts to bubble and becomes soft enough to be scraped away.
It’s a good idea to whizz over the area with a sander once all of the paint has been removed. This will ensure a nice, smooth, even finish –remember to wipe with white spirit before you paint or varnish.
Stripping Wallpaper
If you need to remove wallpaper, you’ll be pleased to know that the process is not as much of a task as it used to be. Forget the long hours and the endless scraping, simply get hold of a wallpaper stripper and you’re on your way.
Again, like when stripping paint, remove furniture and clutter from your working area and cover the floor and anything you can’t move with a dust sheet. Again, ensure that all windows are open and the room is well ventilated, as well as ensuring that the right safety equipment is being worn.
Before trying to strip vinyl or painted wall coverings, use a wallpaper perforator to pierce the surface. This makes it easier for the steam to get through to the adhesive and makes the process a lot more effective.
Before going ahead, make sure the steam supply hose is fully uncoiled and then place the stripper plate against the paper. You should apply light pressure against the surface, concentrating on only a few square metres at a time. As the paper softens, simply lift the paper off with a scraper. For stubborn areas, just simply repeat the steam treatment until the wallpaper scrapes off easily.
Preparing Walls for Re-decorating
Once you’ve got rid of the old paint/wallpaper, it is worth spending a bit of time preparing the wall surface to ensure you’ll get a good, smooth finish. You should wipe down walls with a warm damp cloth. Giving skirting boards and door frames a once-over can also be a nice touch. You should flatten any lumps and bumps using a drywall sanding kit or small sander as well as filling any cracks or all holes. You should allow the walls to fully dry before beginning to sand and smooth.
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