How to Use a Wallpaper Steamer Safely
Twenty to thirty seconds and keep it moving, the rhythm that makes a steamer worth hiring, and the three ways one damages a wall
Hold the plate flat against the paper for twenty to thirty seconds, then move it to the next patch and scrape the one you have just done. Keep it moving. Holding the plate in one place saturates the plaster behind the paper, and on plasterboard it can blow the surface off the board.
A steamer is the fastest way to strip stubborn or multi-layered paper, and the fastest way to damage a wall. Both come from the same property: it puts a lot of heat and water into a surface very quickly.
Safety first
- Wear gloves and safety glasses. Steam escapes around the edge of the plate, and it usually finds a forearm.
- Turn the power off at the consumer unit and tape over socket and switch faceplates before you start.
- Never steam directly over a socket, switch or light fitting. Work around them and deal with those areas by hand.
- Keep the hose clear of your feet and off the stairs.
- Let it cool before refilling or emptying, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the machine you have.
- Ventilate. A steamed room becomes very humid very quickly.
Getting set up
- Clear the room and tape plastic sheeting along the skirting.
- Fill the tank with hot water, because it comes up to temperature much faster than with cold.
- Let it reach steam and check the plate is producing evenly.
- Score coated or painted papers first, lightly, so the steam can get behind them.
- Have your scraper in your other hand from the start. The rhythm is what makes a steamer worth using.
The rhythm
- Hold the plate flat against the paper for twenty to thirty seconds.
- Move it to the adjacent patch.
- Scrape the patch you have just steamed while the new one softens.
- Repeat, working across and up the wall.
Steam rises, so the area above the plate softens while you work. Two people, one steaming and one scraping, halve the time again.
Over-steaming
Leaving the plate in one place for a minute or more drives moisture deep into the plaster. On old lath and plaster this can soften the plaster itself and cause it to blow away from the laths. If you see the wall darkening or feeling spongy, stop and let it dry.
Plasterboard
The paper face of plasterboard is what gives the board its strength, and it is only paper. Steam it hard and it delaminates. Use shorter bursts, keep the scraper flat, and consider stripping plasterboard walls with water and stripper instead.
A sharp or upright scraper
Steam softens the wall as well as the paper. A scraper held at a steep angle will gouge. Keep the blade almost flat and let the steam do the work.
Hiring one
For a single room it is usually cheaper to hire for a day than to buy, and hire machines tend to be more powerful than domestic ones. Book it for a day when you can clear the whole room, and have everything else ready before it arrives: sheets, scrapers, sprayer, stripper.
When not to use one
- On plasterboard, unless you are confident and using short bursts
- On old lath and plaster in poor condition
- On a wall with any sign of damp, because you are adding moisture to a wet wall
- On a single feature wall of ordinary paper, where water and stripper will do it comfortably
Afterwards
Wash the wall down to remove old adhesive and let it dry for several days, since a steamed wall holds more moisture than it looks. Then fill, sand and seal before papering again.
How long do you hold a wallpaper steamer in one place?
Twenty to thirty seconds. Longer than that risks the plaster rather than helping the paper.
Do you work top down or bottom up?
Either, as long as you keep moving. Steam rises, so paper above the plate softens as you go.
Can a steamer damage plaster?
Yes. Prolonged steaming can soften old plaster and blow the face off plasterboard.
Should I score the paper first?
Only if it is coated or painted. Score lightly, because a scoring tool used with force punches through plasterboard.
Is a steamer better than stripper?
Faster on stubborn or multi-layered paper. Gentler results usually come from water and stripper.
How long should the wall dry before re-papering?
Several days after steaming, and longer in a cold room. It should feel and look completely dry throughout.
