How to remove a wall mural from a wall? Learn effective ways

A wall mural is a very popular decorative element, thanks to which you can easily enliven an interior and change the atmosphere in it. Their wide selection makes it easy to choose something that suits your preferences. At a relatively low cost you can carry out a metamorphosis of your apartment, and the amazing end result will definitely positively surprise you. What to do in a situation when its old design has bored us and we would like to introduce a breath of fresh air? In this article we will show you methods on how to remove a wall mural from the wall.

Is it possible to completely remove the wall mural from the wall?

Are you worried that you won't be able to get rid of the wallpaper in its entirety? Rest assured, it is not that difficult at all. Certainly, you will need to allocate quite a bit of time for this, but after all, what is not done for a beautiful interior. Ripping off wallpaper can be done in several ways, and it is not at all necessary to have specialized means for this, also what you find at your home will certainly suffice.

Removing wallpaper - what should be kept in mind?

What condition our wall will be in after getting rid of the wallpaper depends largely on two issues, among others: whether it was glued on a primed wall or on a wall with drywall. While in the former case, stripping the wallpaper from the wall should not pose much of a problem, in the latter case - it can be much more labor- and time-consuming. The level of difficulty in removing a wall mural is affected by its type (paper, latex, vinyl), as well as the adhesive used during installation. Therefore, you need to keep in mind that during its tearing off, the wall may be more or less damaged and will need to be filled in before the wallpaper can be glued back on.

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DIY solutions for ripping off old wallpaper

Peeling off a wall mural can be done in a number of ways, and it's hard to say which one is best - rather, it's an individual issue. To make it easier for you to choose, we have prepared a summary of the most popular methods with their main advantages and disadvantages.

Dry wallpaper removal

In this case, you start removing the wall mural by undermining its corners with a spatula, then scraping off more areas. This is a rather time-consuming method that, once completed, may require touching up the wall. Therefore, it is also the least recommended and practiced method. Its only advantage is that it requires nothing but a spatula or other fairly sharp object. On the other hand, its disadvantages include:

  • time-consuming and the need to use a lot of force;
  • Ripping the wallpaper dry largely destroys the wall, so that it will be necessary to reconstruct it again, using plaster putty or repair compound. In the case of an absorbent substrate, a primer will be necessary.

Wet mural removal

With a wet sponge, soak the mural by rubbing it with water - it is best to repeat this action several times until it softens. If you find it easier, you can also use a spray gun for this purpose. In either case, you'll need to wait about 15 minutes, and then you can lever up a corner and start pulling the print away from the wall. In case of difficulties, wet the mural once again. The advantage in this case is, first of all, the simplicity of removal and the fact that you just need to have a regular sponge or spray bottle and a spatula, and the whole process takes much less time than in the case of tearing off the mural dry, however, even this time you need to be careful not to damage the wall.

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Removing a wall mural with water and vinegar

Mix water and vinegar, keeping the ratio of half and half, and then soak the resulting preparation with a sponge or pour it into a spray bottle and spray it on the mural. In this case, a paint roller and cloths will also work in practice. Conduct this operation in the same way as in the method described above. The difference is that vinegar speeds up, and also makes it significantly easier to peel the wall mural off the wall. In what way? The wall mural and the glue holding it, after soaking in the diluted mixture, will begin to come away from the wall. After that, all you have to do is peel it off, and using a metal spatula or glass scraper, remove the residue. This is one of the fastest ways, which is a fairly safe alternative to the dry wallpaper removal method. The biggest downside for many people may be the unpleasant smell, which, fortunately, can easily be gotten rid of after airing the apartment.

Removing a mural with painter's soap

This is a fairly common method because of the ease of acquiring paint soap and its effectiveness. What actually characterizes this soap? It consists of: glycerin, sodium and potassium salts, and water. The combination of these ingredients results in a really effective and efficient washing product that is safe for us. What's more, it doesn't have any artificial dyes or fragrances - a big advantage for those with children or who don't have the ability to air their apartment quickly. How to use painter's soap to remove a wall mural? Mix it with water and apply it directly to the wall, for example, using a sponge for this purpose. The result will be less durable glue, and the wall mural itself will begin to come off the surface.

Removal of the wall mural with a special agent

There are also special substances on the market dedicated to the removal of the wallpaper, which you can easily purchase in almost any general store and chemical store. In this case, the entire process should be carried out in accordance with the instructions on the package.

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The most common mistake made when removing a wall mural

Making mistakes is perfectly natural, in fact, they can happen to anyone. However, if you know the methods no how to remove a wall mural from the wall and know how to follow the tips posted above, it will be much easier for you to achieve your goal without major complications. However, you must keep in mind that there is no perfect way with which you can be sure that no cavities will form on the wall.

What can you do to minimize the risk of damage? First of all, don't tear off the mural by force! If you see that it is very firmly attached to the wall, then simply soak it with water and painter's soap or use another method that is designed to soften the mural, and only then make another attempt to peel it off.

After reading this article, it will certainly be easier for you to plan your work, and if you show patience and precision, your new wall mural will soon be pleasing the eye in your renovated interior!

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