Does your wall mural no longer serve its purpose? Maybe you made (or commissioned) one for your baby’s nursery years ago, and now that they’re older, they want it gone and replaced with something more age-appropriate. Or, maybe you run a business and have updated your branding and need to swap out your old mural for a new one. Whatever your reason for removing a wall mural, there’s a right way to do it easily and without harming the wall in the process.
This article explains how to remove a wall mural and wallpaper. For personalized advice, contact our team at Signworks today.
How To Remove A Wall Mural
The first step when removing a wall mural is to prepare the area. Cover the floor and furniture with drop cloths, and make sure the room is well-ventilated.
Before you go peeling panels off your wall, you’ll need to find out what the material that currently adorns it is. This will ensure you use the correct removal method and keep your walls looking great even when they’re undressed!
- Vinyl HD- Texture, Eco Bella-Texture, Or Prepasted Wallpaper Wall Mural: Peel the mural from one of the edges at a 45 degree angle, and repeat the process panel by panel. When the whole mural is removed, clean any residue that remains with a damp sponge or towel.
- SmartStick® Wall Mural: Peel the panels at a 45 degree angle, starting from the top.
- VersaGrip Wall Mural: Removing a VersaGrip Wall Mural will require an additional tool such as a putty knife or razor. Use one of these to pull up a corner of the material and peel it off at a 45 degree angle. It’s easiest to remove VersaGrip Wall Mural when it’s warm, so maybe save this one for a summer project!
- Frosted window film: Take 3” to 4” of Scotch Tape and apply it to the corner of the printed piece, and pull the extended tape to lift the material from the surface. This is so you don’t bend the corners back, allowing you to reuse the film. If you plan on reusing it, roll it towards the surface you’ll be applying it to.
- Eazystick: Peel from the wall from the upper left corner and repeat for each panel. As Eazystick is biodegradable, make sure you recycle it afterwards!
- HP Prepasted Wallpaper: Wet the panels with water, and when the glue is released, peel the panels from the wall. Use a damp sponge or rag to clean any glue residue.
- 3M Peel & Stick Vinyl: Gently pull from the top edges. If it doesn’t come off easily, don’t force it— this may remove paint from the wall. In this case, use a blow dryer to heat up the panels and liquify the glue, helping it to release more easily. Then gently peel the panels from the top.
- Digiscape®: Use a putty knife to pry the edges, gently pulling from any corner or angle to release it from the wall. If any stubborn wallpaper remains, you may need to use a liquid stripper or concentrated remover solution. If so, follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Korographics® Type II Wallpaper: Follow the same directions as those for Digiscape®, remembering to follow specific instructions on any additional solution you may need to use.
How To Remove Non-Strippable Wallpaper
If your mural is made from non-strippable wallpaper, the process to remove it is a little different. You may find that there are several layers of wallpaper and think it will be easiest to remove them all at once, but make sure you only remove one layer at a time so that you don’t damage the drywall underneath.
You may then need wallpaper stripping liquid to complete the job. Use a scouring tool to poke holes in the wallpaper, allowing the liquid to penetrate the adhesive. Then, spray the wallpaper with the stripping liquid and allow it to soak as per the directions on the packaging.
Use a paper scraper to test the seams of the wallpaper and ensure it comes off easily. If it doesn’t, repeat the above instructions until it does. Then, use the paper scraper to scrape off the wallpaper (without pressing too hard, as this may damage the underlying surface).
Lastly, spray the wall again and remove any spots you may have missed. Use a sponge and warm water to rinse off the wall, and let it sit for at least 48 hours before adding a new mural, repainting, or doing anything else to the wall.
Look To Signworks Today
Removing a wall mural can be a challenging task sometimes, but it’s not impossible. With the right tools and techniques, you can remove wall murals without damaging the wall underneath! Just remember to prepare the room first, and test the wallpaper or adhesive before beginning the removal process. By starting small and using any additional tools you may need, your walls will be looking brand new again in no time.
Whatever your project, whether it involves wall mural removal or not, Signworks is on your side to make sure it’s done well the first time. With over 30 years of experience, you can’t go wrong! To get started, contact our professional and friendly team at Signworks today.