When you hire painters and decorators to revitalise your house, their first step will be to strip the walls and get them ready to look their best once wallpaper and paint are applied.
This is part of the vital preparation steps needed to ensure that wallpaper properly sticks to the wall, and you get an even finish with the paint without any lumps, bumps or grains.
To understand why, here is a quick step-by-step guide to preparing your walls for decoration, as well as why it matters.
A Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Walls Ready For Decoration
Step 1: Strip The Existing Paint Or Wallpaper
If you have wallpaper, score the old wallpaper with a wallpaper scorer or (very gently) a Stanley knife, then use a steam stripper or warm water and a sponge alongside a stripping knife to get rid of the existing wallpaper.
If you have painted bare walls, sand them, scrape them or use a steam stripper to get rid of the existing paint, leaving a blank canvas that we can get ready to paint again.
Step 2: Clear The Wall Of Any Detritus
Use a stiff brush or hand vacuum to clear any dust, dirt, cobwebs or debris from cracks, before washing the wall down to get rid of anything the paint or wallpaper paste might stick to.
Step 3: Patch Any Plaster Cracks
If there are any cracks, apply an all-purpose filler using a filling knife. Push the filler into the cracks or holes from multiple angles, before smoothing and leaving to dry.
Step 4: Sand To A Smooth Finish
Use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand down any of the filler or any additional lumps until they are smooth.
We recommend putting down dust sheets first, as sanding will cause a lot of fine debris to land on your floor.
At this point, your wall is ready for your primer or your wallpaper paste.
Why Do You Need To Strip Wallpaper Before Painting?
In general, you really need to get rid of existing wallpaper before applying a new roll on top of it or painting over the existing paper without maintaining the old pattern.
However, if your wallpaper is in good condition, there are not too many layers behind it, and it is not a dark pattern that could potentially be seen through, you can sometimes get away with decorating on top of it.
If you hire professionals, however, they will go the extra mile and ensure that the wallpaper is stripped and your walls are prepared to ensure the best possible finish.
Do You Need To Strip Existing Paint Before Repainting?
This also depends on the existing colour of the walls, the type of paint you are using, and whether the walls are already clean and smooth.
You may need to do additional prep work if the paint is chipped, glossy or has stains on it, and you should still lightly sand the wall in order to provide a proper adhesive base for the paint.