How to Remove Old Wallpaper With a Heat Gun

One of the worst home renovation jobs is removing old wallpaper. If you grab a corner and pull, you end up with countless tiny strips of paper with some still clinging to the wall. Using a plastic or metal scraper creates the same effect, but this time with the addition of gouges and scrapes in the wallboard. Save hours of labor and frustration by using a heat gun to remove old wallpaper.

A heat gun looks a lot like a hair dryer, but heats up air to a much greater degree. It's main purpose in home improvement and remodeling projects is the removal of adhesives and old paint. The incredibly high temperature simply melts these materials and makes removing them much easier.

To remove old wallpaper with a heat gun, focus on safety first. Always wear sturdy gloves and place the heat gun on a non-flamable surface. Use of an air mask is recommended, as melting adhesives and glues can result in noxious fumes. Open windows where you intend to work and set up fans to blow the fumes out of the house. The heat gun is definitely hot enough to start fires. Use extreme care when it is near any flamable material.

If you are not removing baseboard before removing the wallpaper, be very careful with the heat gun near the painted wood. The paint could bubble and the wood could be scorched. Removing the wood trim before you get to work on the wallpaper will not only prevent damage, it will make it easier to start at the edge of the wallpaper with your scraper tool.

Start near the bottom of a strip of wallpaper and point the heat gun approximately 8 to 10 inches away from the edge. Keep the gun in motion to avoid scorching any one section or wall or wallpaper. Use a wide plastic or metal scraper tool to gently lift and separate the wallpaper from the wall as the paste or adhesive softens. Continue this process for the whole length of each strip of wallpaper.

This job goes much easier with two or more people. While one person uses the heat gun and scraper tool, the other should pull the wallpaper gently back and out of the way, finally removing it completely from the wall and discarding it.

After the wallpaper is off the wall, unplug the heat gun and allow it to cool completely before putting it away. Scrub the remaining paste residue off the walls and prepare them to be refinished in whatever way you like.