Removing wallpaper goes one of two ways, incredibly easy or very difficult. Be prepared for a tough job and be surprised if it’s not.

Removing wallpaper is an inexact science, get the right tools and give yourself plenty of time. Removal is the only way to guarantee the best results but if the surface is in good condition, professionals often paper or paint right over the top of the wallpaper. Make sure your decision about the condition of the wall objectively and honestly before you proceed. If you have any doubts, remove the paper. In any case repair and priming are essential. Removing non vinyl coated papers the same way you clean painted walls.

Preparation
1. Turn off the power at the circuit breaker panel, then remove all switch and outlet covers on the walls you are stripping. Cover switches and outlets with blue painter’s masking tape. Cover the floor with moisture proof drop cloth. Then apply 12 inch baseboard masking and painters tape to the baseboards. Allow it to overlap the drop cloth for complete coverage.

2. Perforate the wallpaper for water penetration. A perforation tool is available at most hardware stores. Apply just enough pressure to perforate the wallpaper without damaging the underlying drywall.  

Here is a great do it yourself home upgrade option. When painting interior bricks for greater beauty and ascetics, first scrub thoroughly with a TSP solution and a brush with firm, synthetic bristles. Wear goggles and protective gloves. Rinse at least twice. TSP is a suds free cleaner you may not see residue, but it will interfere with adhesion. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly. Second, repair joints with thinset mortar and small trowel, called a tuck pointer. Brush wet mortar off bricks with a stiff brush as you go. For a finished edge, smooth joints and corners with a tool called a jointer or with a copper pipe. Allow to dry completely. Mask adjacent surfaces with painters tape. Spread drop cloths to help keep paint spatter and drips off adjacent surfaces. And third finally, apply latex primer specially formulated for brick, masonry and stucco using a roller with a one inch nap. Let the primer dry and roll on a semi-gloss or gloss latex paint. Touch up corners, cracks and crevices with a one inch brush. This up grade can be the difference in a buyers opinion of a property by simple seeing that even the small parts of the home are of importance in the overall maintenance and upkeep.

There are so many different paint choices on the market today, that it can be difficult to find the one that would best fit your needs. Color choices can alone be overwhelming not to mention what type of paint. Do you use flat, glossy, or semi-gloss?

When choosing what kind of pain that you want, you will want to think about how you want the finished product to look. Do you want something that will shine, or do you want a nice matte finish? A flat paint will give the matte finish. This kind of paint is great for hallways and bathrooms. Flat enamel paint will hold up well to the occasional cleaning. Flat paint is ranked high among homeowners who have small children.

A semi-gloss finish, also often referred to as a satin finish, will give any room a nice glow. This is often recommended for family rooms or bonus rooms. You will want this paint to be enamel paint. Enamel paint holds up best to all the wear and tear a home is put through. Many homeowners choose this paint for the warmth that it can add to a home.

High gloss paint is mainly recommended for large areas. Using a glossy paint in a small room can become over powering though rooms that are dark can handle the sheen of the glossy paint. Many homeowners will use this paint in low lighted areas such as basements and closets areas. It is also more commonly used on cabinets and furniture to give it a high shine appearance.

You are vulnerable to particulate and fumes when you are sanding, painting or working with solvents. To protect your skin, wear cotton gloves when using sharp or abrasive tools. Wear latex gloves when working with paint, or handling solvents, strippers and harsh chemicals. To protect your eyes always wear safety glasses when working with tools. To protect against aerosol droplets when sanding, spraying or painting over you head you should protect your eyes with safety goggles.

To protect your lungs you should sand, paint or strip outside or in a cross ventilated area with a minimum of two open doors or windows. If there is a danger of breathing dust, aerosols or solvent fumes, filter the air with a respirator. Be sure to check the product labels for the recommended type. There are two types of respirators: dust masks, also called particulate respirators, filter out dry particles and most non oil based liquid droplets. Cartridge respirators contain both particulate filters and chemically active canisters for absorbing solvent vapors.  Use a cartridge respirator when spraying solvent based paints and working with solvents and strippers. Most importantly accept no substitutes for safety. To avoid toxic fumes wear masks that the manufacturer has expressly recommended for you particular job.