You've got old wallpaper, and you want it gone. Simple, right? Not always. I've seen some real battles with wallpaper over the years, especially in homes around places like Christian Valley where you've got older builds and sometimes some really stubborn stuff on the walls. Homeowners around Auburn ask me a lot of questions about this, so let's just get into the nitty-gritty of what you need to know.
Do I really need to remove old wallpaper before painting?
Look, technically, you can paint over wallpaper. But I'm going to tell you right now, it's almost always a bad idea. First off, wallpaper is designed to expand and contract with humidity and temperature changes. When you add a layer of paint, especially a water-based one, that paper can bubble, peel, or just generally look terrible. The paint can also reactivate the old adhesive, causing all sorts of problems. Plus, you'll still see the seams and texture of the wallpaper through the paint, which usually isn't the look you're going for. If you're going to the trouble of painting, do it right. Get that old paper off the wall first. You'll thank yourself later.
What's the easiest way to remove wallpaper?
There's no single