Home Improvement : Scrape, Spackle, Sand Before Wallpapering

Take care to invest in the care and cleaning of walls before redecorating them with new coverings.

First, scrape away peeling paint and sand smooth. Then apply a spackling compound over scraped areas, cracks or nail holes. Prime all patched areas.

Flat oil-base painted walls need only washing and light sanding after patched areas are primed.

Walls painted with low-quality paint need a priming over the entire wall.

Glossy painted surfaces are too slick to hold coverings. Dull them by sanding. Then, wash with an extra-strong trisodium phosphate solution or a soap and ammonia mix. Rinse thoroughly.

For papered walls, remove old wall coverings. Newer strippable coverings peel off readily, but one of these methods may be needed for older coverings:

--Scrape paper from the wall with a scraper. Then, remove paste residue with steel wool and warm water. Rinse thoroughly.

--Rent a steamer.

--Sponge or spray on a remover sold at hardware stores, following label instructions. Repair and prepare stripped walls as for painted walls.