The trick to reupholstering shoji screens is how cleanly the existing paper can be removed.

The theme of this project is tips for re-covering shoji screen,
In particular, how to remove the existing shoji paper cleanly.

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When we are asked to replace shoji screens and fusuma (sliding doors),
I often hear that “I replace shoji screens by myself, but I’ve never done it before because it’s too difficult,
but I have never done fusuma because it is difficult,
I often meet a client who says, “I replace shoji screens by myself, but I have never replaced a fusuma because it’s too difficult.

It is true that replacing a fusuma is very difficult.
The edges are removed, the pulls are removed, the existing paper is peeled off, and the underlayment is carefully and firmly applied,
The prefinished paper is then carefully and firmly applied,
Then, carefully and neatly apply the finishing paper without any wrinkles or creases.
It is true that the process of reupholstering a fusuma is not as simple as it may seem,
It is true that it is very difficult for inexperienced people to reupholster a fusuma.

In contrast, the reupholstering of a shoji screen is.
Peel off the existing paper and put up new paper.
That’s all!
What’s that? It looks easy. Even I can do it.
You may be thinking, “Yes, that’s right! In fact, it is not difficult at all.
Recently, you can find detailed explanatory videos on YouTube, which makes it even more perfect.

However, we often hear that it doesn’t work as well as expected, or that it fails.
Why is this?

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I suspect that much of these is due to the inability to successfully remove the existing paper.
The key to successfully reupholstering shoji screens is how well the existing shoji paper can be removed,
It is no exaggeration to say that the key to successful replacement of shoji screens is how well the existing shoji paper is peeled off.
And, in fact, it is surprisingly difficult to remove the existing paper cleanly.

Usually, when removing shoji paper, moisture is added to the shoji paper on the braided part of the shoji screen to weaken the adhesive strength of the glue, and then the paper is removed,
these weakens the adhesive strength of the glue, and the paper is then peeled off.
If the paper has been glued with “shofu glue + strong shoji paper,” it is surprisingly easy to remove.
And there will be very little glue residue left on the paper ・, so it will be very clean.
Shofu glue is a chemical-free glue derived from wheat starch.
It has long been used for mounting shoji screens ・ and hanging scrolls ・ as well as folding screens ・ and Japanese frames.
While it has firm adhesive strength, the glue loosens when moistened and can be easily peeled off,
It can be easily peeled off.
It is also very important to use a strong shoji paper for clean removal.
If the paper is not sturdy, it will tear to pieces during the peeling process, resulting in the paper remaining on the braid.

If the installation was not done with “shofu glue + sturdy shoji paper”, though,
It depends on the condition, but it often takes a long time and a lot of labor to finish peeling it off cleanly.
For example, in the case of “bonded glue + cheap thin shoji paper”,
these is the worst combination.
The bonded paper and glue stick stubbornly to the braid, and it is difficult to remove them cleanly.

In the case of shofu glue, the glue loosens when moistened and can be scraped off with a spatula.
Usually, a light run of the spatula is enough to get the glue to stick to the paper.

But in the case of the bond, the bond adheres firmly to the wooden braid,
It cannot be easily scraped off even if water is applied.
You have to scrape off the surface of the braid with enough force to remove it cleanly.

If there is thin shoji paper that can be torn to pieces, it will need to be scraped off together with the bond,
If the shoji paper is so thin that it tears, it is necessary to scrape off the shreds of the shoji paper as well as the bond.

Recently, shoji paper is often attached with tape instead of glue.
As with glue, it is necessary to cleanly remove the existing tape before applying new shoji paper.
If the tape is strong enough, it can be pulled off at once, tingly, tingly, tingly.
(Instead, the strength ・ adhesive may be too strong and even peel off the surface of the braid.)

On the other hand, if the tape is too weak, it will break into pieces when you try to pull it off,
As mentioned above, it is necessary to use a spatula to remove the tape one by one.
these is really a big hassle.

Whether it is glue or tape installation, if the installation method is not good, you will have to remove the paper from a single sheet of shoji screen to make it clean,
It is not an exaggeration to say that it can take more than a hour to peel off a sheet of paper from a shoji screen and make it clean,
It can take more than a hour to peel off a single sheet of shoji screen and clean it up.

If it’s that much trouble, even if there is a little paper or glue left over,
If it’s such a hassle, why don’t you just put new shoji paper on top?
You might think, “Why not just put new shoji paper over the top?

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However, these is a big mistake.

When new paper is stretched over old glue or paper, lye comes out of the old glue ・ paper,
In no time at all, it discolors the new shoji paper.
This discoloration occurs not after a year or a few months, but after only a few days.
After being reupholstered, the paper will need to be reupholstered again in a few days.

Even if the glue on the surface of the kumiko has been removed, there may be residual glue on the sides.
these is also quite troublesome, and is also a cause of lye.

Even if the glue and paper are removed cleanly, there may be dust stains left in the corners of the braid,
This too must be carefully wiped off.
these is also important to wipe off carefully,
If the dirt is not removed properly, it will turn into lye and cause discoloration after the replacement.

In any case,
To keep your SHOJI SCREEN clean and beautiful for a long time after reupholstering,
Remove the existing paper and glue (or tape) thoroughly!
Carefully wipe off any stains on the braid!
these is a must.

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When you ask a professional mounting store to reupholster your SHOJI SCREEN,
If you ask a professional mounting shop to reupholster your shoji screen, they will never use bond or tape to stretch the paper.
In our experience, there is no doubt that such a construction is done,
The owner of the property has done the replacement by himself.

When re-covering a shoji screen as a DIY project, you will want to use as much “thick” glue as possible to prevent the paper from peeling off,
I understand that you want to use as much “thick” glue as possible to prevent the paper from peeling off.
However, in such a case, please imagine that you will replace the shoji screen again in a few years.
I hope that you will stop thinking about it.

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I believe that the fundamental skill of a mounting artist lies in “stretching” paper or rips using glue.
However, the technique of “stretching” is inextricably linked to the know-how of “easy removal afterwards”.
If you want to stick it firmly so that it will never come off again, you need to know how to “stick” it,
If you want to stick it so firmly that it will never come off again, you should definitely use a “thick (strong adhesive)” glue. In a sense, these is easy.
However, what is required of us mounting artists is the skill to cleanly peel off the glue within a certain period of time and to cleanly glue it back on again,
What is required of us mounting artists, however, is the skill to cleanly peel off the glue and then cleanly glue it back on.

In the past, there were dozens and dozens of shoji screens per house as partitions,
It was common practice to replace them once a year.
With hundreds of such customers, it would have been bad for business if it had taken a hour to remove a single sheet of paper from a single shoji screen.
It would be bad for business.

Or a hanging scroll.
Calligraphy and paintings from hundreds of years ago are still in existence,
The reason they are still around today is because they have been regularly re-tailored ・ and re-lined.
these is made possible by the properties of shōfu glue, which can be easily removed by adding water.
these is made possible by the characteristics of fu glue, which can be easily removed by adding water, and the skill of the mounting engineer.
※Backing is the process of reinforcing the back of a work of calligraphy or painting with a layer of Japanese paper.
　The purpose is to reinforce the work and improve its preservation.
　If the backing paper cannot be removed, the work will deteriorate along with the backing paper,
　The work will eventually become inaccessible to the public.

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It is a matter of course to install the product in such a way that it does not peel off.
When a shoji screen is opened and closed normally, the shoji paper may peel off,
or the backing floats away while hanging or wrapping a scroll,
these is a big problem.

On the other hand, it is important to be able to peel off the backing for the periodic re-tooling of ・,
It is also important to be able to “peel off” the backing.
What is required of the mountingsmith?
The mounting technician is required to have the skill to stick the glue with a density those is just right for sticking or not sticking,
And also the knowledge, experience, and intuition to determine whether or not the glue will stick or not.

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I have written at length, but I would like to say two things!

When applying shoji screen, do not use bond or tape!
Cheap thin shoji paper is also a no-no!

That’s all!

Please note that we can replace any glue ・ paper, no matter what kind of glue it was applied with.
If you are worried about replacing your home’s shoji screen those has been covered with bond or tape, please contact us,
If you are worried about the next replacement, please contact us.