How To Repair Damaged Wallpaper

If you have wallpaper in your home then there is a very good chance that sooner or later you will have to repair a damaged or ripped section of the wallpaper. If this happens, then you will need a remnant of your original wallpaper in order to complete this project. If you wallpaper is not very old then there is a good chance that they still make your wallpaper pattern and you should be able to order a roll from wherever you bought your original wallpaper.

First you will need a few tools to get started. You will need a utility knife, a putty knife, a pair of scissors, a damp rag or sponge, painters tape, a drop cloth or some newspaper, a ruler, wallpaper adhesive and a piece of wallpaper remnant.

Begin by covering the floor with a drop cloth or newspaper so that you can protect the flooring from any damage. Next, cut a section of your remnant that is slightly larger then the damaged area and secure it to the wall with painters tape. Make certain that your pattern lines up properly.

Using your utility knife, cut through the wallpaper remnant and the original wallpaper in a single cut. This will help to ensure that the piece that you are replacing is the exact same size as your opening.

Remove the patch and wet the damaged area with hot water using your cloth. Peel away the damaged piece but be very careful not to damage the surrounding areas of wallpaper. If the damaged area does not come off easily, you can add a small amount to dishwashing detergent to help loosen the wallpaper.

Once the damaged wallpaper has been removed, you will need to remove any excess glue residue before proceeding. Use the hot water and cloth once again for this step. You may need to add a bit of dishwashing detergent to your hot water to completely remove all of the old adhesive. Make certain the wall is fully dry before going to the next step.

Next, apply the wallpaper adhesive to the back of your patch and place it in the area which you have already cut out. If you used pre pasted wallpaper, dip the wallpaper in water and then place it over the the prepared opening. Again, be sure that the pattern lines up with the surrounding wallpaper. Smooth the patch out using a ruler removing any bubbles that may form.

Wipe away any adhesive which oozes out with a clean sponge or cloth. Allow the patch to dry.

Its always a good idea whenever you hang new wallpaper to always order a extra roll or two so that you always have some in case of any mishaps. Most wallpaper patterns will go out of production after a couple of years and it will be very difficult to find your pattern after this time period.

This is a fairly simple project that most homeowner can complete in a short time with very little cost