Expert: Robert Lamb - 11/27/2006

Question
Years ago, before we bought our home, the previous owners covered the garage window with contact paper that would allow light in but maintain privacy - a good idea except that they contact-papered the outside of the window.  We have always wanted to remove it, but didn't know how, so it has remained like that for about 15 years. Now it is rusted and peeling and really an eyesore, and we definitely want to remove it. Can you tell me how to get the paper off?  

Answer
Yes Karen,

I have a couple of ideas. I'm wondering about your comment about the contact paper now being "rusted". Is it metallic? Or perhaps you mean something else?

Here's how I have removed contact paper in the past:

Method 1. Use a hair dryer to heat up a corner of the paper. If this loosens the paper, lift the corner and with slight pressure, gently continue to lift the paper pulling it back at a sharp angle back towards the window. The whole time you need to heat the paper so that the adhesive remains soft and gives away to your gentle pressure.

Method 2. Make the following simple solvent. Put a few drops of dish washing liquid in a bucket of warm water (no more than a teaspoon to 5 gallons of water will do it)and add 1/2 cup of ammonia. Take a few layers of old newspaper and with solvent in a spray bottle, soak the newspapers and stick them to the window. (The wet newspapers should stick to the window.) After an hour, use a single sided safety razor and scrape the contact paper off by lifting a corner and with slight pressure, gently continue to lift the paper while pulling it back at a sharp angle back towards the window.

Hope this helps.

Rob