| Author | Content |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 1, 2006
9:18 PM Post #2576629
| Hi, can anyone give me some sage advice in how to easily remove vinyl wallpaper. Is there such a method? To our chagrin the wallpaper was installed professionally to the naked wallboards. We removed the same type of wallpaper from our kitchen and butchered the wallboards and had to spackle everywhere as well as prime the walls before we painted the walls. It took us nearly 4 weeks to complete! I am trying to rally the troops so we can update the bathrooms more readily. We applied wallpaper stripper as well as hot vinegar and water solution after using a circular razor to put holes in the wallpaper. It was very tedious, frustrating and time consuming. On a good day we may have scraped an area of 2x10. Surely there must be an easier way? Thanks! |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 1, 2006
9:28 PM Post #2576663
| I've seen on some shows on HGTV where they dilute up some fabric softener in water and use that instead of stripper--I don't know that it works any better but certainly smells better! The only thing I can think of that might be easier is if you rent a wallpaper steamer. I don't have any personal experience with them, but it's the only thing I can think of that might be easier (other than painting over the wallpaper...which won't work too well if you've already pulled some of it off). I had a similar experience to you where I pulled some off one wall and it ripped up the drywall underneath and had to apply a knockdown texture to it so that it looked slightly less atrocious. So on the other wall that I wanted to do, I painted over it with primer, then the color I wanted overtop (the caveat with painting over it is if there are any holes or loose spots where the moisture from the paint can get in behind, you can end up with the wallpaper bubbling up--I had this happen in a couple small spots, but it still looked a million times better than the wallpaper or the other wall) |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 1, 2006
10:37 PM Post #2576886
| Thanks Ecrane3, we are willing to try anything to make the wallpaper removal as easy as possible. May I ask what is a knockdown texture? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 1, 2006
10:59 PM Post #2577017
| Here's a web page that has a picture of it. It's something I didn't see much when I lived in Ohio, but out here in CA it seems like almost every house I looked at when I was househunting had it. It's a good way to cover up irregularities and imperfections in the wall. There are good professional quality ways to do it, I did it the cheapo easy way, bought a can of texture stuff at Home Depot, sprayed it on the wall in splotches, then you let it dry for a couple minutes and drag a large trowel diagonally over the tops of the splotches to flatten them out a bit and this is what it looks like.
[HYPERLINK@paintitnow.home.comcast.net] |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 2, 2006
8:16 AM Post #2577997
| Thanks Ecrane3, I have those textured ceilings in our home, much better to look at than "popcorn" ceilings. Now I know what to call it! Thanks again for the advice and website. I'll post after we complete our guest bathroom.. Our goal is to start this weekend. |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
August 16, 2006
6:36 PM Post #2629713
| You might of already started on this...however, if the wallpaper was put directly on the drywall with no sizing or at least a good coat of paint, I'm afraid you will only take off chunks of the drywall. Patching isn't that hard. You just need a putty knife and a small tub of joint compound. On those t.v. shows where they do paint over the wallpaper, mostly it's because it wasn't installed properly. I've had to remove wallpaper not installed correctly and I've had to remove wallpaper that's been painted over (not by me). I'd much prefer to remove the wallpaper installed incorrectly. It might take awhile, but it's nothing compared to removing painted over wallpaper. Just my .02 cents. |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 16, 2006
8:26 PM Post #2629999
| Thanks Terry, that's how we butchered the walls before, no sizing nor coat of paint !! Uggh... anyway DH has been doing all kinds of things around the house to avoid the bathroom wallpaper! Things that I really didn't ask for, but definitely appreciate. The pumpkins have been in cahoots with him as well !! He thinks we should hire out... the quotes were ridiculous!!!...mostly to remove the dreaded WALLPAPER!Just the same we are to start this weekend. (Fingers crossed) Then do the master bathroom in Sept...I pray! |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
August 16, 2006
9:49 PM Post #2630183
| I have put up and taken down way too much wallpaper and borders. Not just in my own home, but in friends and families. Hence my disdain towards wallpaper. I tend to get bored with it in 3 months anyway. With paint, it's so much easier and cheaper.
You need to go slow and not get it too wet. Drywall and water spells disaster. Be sure to score it well and if you can, peel off the top layer first. Then use whatever you plan to use and try to just get the paper wet, not soaking. I would advise against steaming.
How far to Lansing? Hmm...I could trade you. You come here and finish up skim coating and repairing my plaster walls and I'll come and remove the wallpaper (did I mention it took me over a month straight to remove wallpaper in this old house?). Sound like a deal? lol... |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 16, 2006
10:29 PM Post #2630323
| Terry, thanks for the advice, I'll definitely let you know how we end up. No sooner than I wrote the earlier post, DH expresses interest in choosing another color to paint the bathroom!! So, we now have about 12 color cards lying about the floor, one pumpkin played hopscotch. with them, so she's delighted. Just as long as we start stripping the wallpaper this weekend, I'll indulge DH's attempt to procrastinate a day or two. |
Sarahskeeper
Brockton, MA
(Zone 6a)
August 25, 2006
4:46 PM Post #2659097
| The best way to remove wallpaper is with a garden sprayer filled with a commercial stripper concentrate like "DIF". Scoring the vinyl helps. Be sure to spray the paper/vinyl a few times before trying to remove it. Let the moisture penetrate and re-spray at least 3 times within 10-15 minutes. Let the chemical do the work. Always spray way ahead of yourself to be able to keep going without interruption.
Be sure to put down a tarp then cover that with a disposable plastic tarp. Let all the mess drop onto the plastic, drag the plastic along to collect all the old paper and water. When it gets 'full' wrap it up and throw it away. Put down another plastic tarp and continue around the room. (A bathroom needs only one plastic tarp.)
You should be able to find a gallon size sprayer for $15 or less. The DIF (remover) is about $10. Plastic tarps are about a dollar or two.
Once the paper is down and before the walls dry be sure to get all the residual glue off. A coarse scrub pad and sponge work fine, use more sprayed on DIF for this step also. Rinse with a clean wet sponge.
The next day when the walls are dry, give them a light sanding.
Have fun.
Andy P
Andy P |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 25, 2006
6:06 PM Post #2659374
| Thanks Sarahskeeper,my DH has been procrastinating about the bathroom and finding everything else to do, but the wallpaper. We even picked out another color for the bathroom. Perhaps, he will be more encouraged with the insights and we can tackle the bathroom and then move on to the master bath which also has the same dreaded wallpaler application, (no sizing and no priming.) The builder definitely wasn't thinking about the homeowner "fer SURE! |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
August 25, 2006
8:59 PM Post #2659862
| If there's no sizing and no primer, I'd be very careful about getting the walls too wet. I've always had better luck if I can peel off the vinyl first, then get the paper wet. Otherwise, you work so hard at getting the vinyl off only to discover you have not touched the paper below. It's dry as a bone. You just can't get the paper too wet with nothing else on the walls, or you end up with mushy drywall. |
claypa
West Pottsgrove, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 25, 2006
9:35 PM Post #2659956
| Sorry if this sounds too "off the wall"... :) ... but, there are some times, in some rooms, where it is easier, faster, and cheaper to sheetrock over layers of messed up wallpaper that require spackling and all that when you're done anyway. I remember one room in an old house, layer after layer of vinyl and wallpaper, about 150 years worth. My brother and I spent half an hour getting nowhere fast, and we kinda just looked at each other, then the stack of sheetrock that was for another room... we popped off the nice old trim to re-use, got some long screws and construction adhesive, and avoided a lot of heartache. It's worth considering if you're okay at finishing.
Obviously, some rooms and situations this isn't the way to go, like a bathroom where the sheetrocking is a lot of little pieces and cuts and corners and trim, butting up against tile, etc., but it's worth thinking about sometimes. And the resulting wall is that much more fire and noise resistant. To me, sheetrocking is fun compared to removing old wallpaper |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 26, 2006
9:35 AM Post #2661024
| Claypa, hmm... this may not be a bad solution! The house is 6 years old, and the wallpaper just does not appeal to us in the slightest. It is a 1/2 bath and no tiles to consider, just a moderate size mirror which we would remove during the process and an oval window...Anyway, this has given cause to DH to procrastinate even longer... "let's wait there's a great solution on the way!" |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 31, 2006
11:51 PM Post #2680515
| EUREEKA!!! We stripped the wallpaper without butchering the wallboards!!! DH is taping the walls as I type so we can prime then paint it "Autumn Malt" tomorrow! KUDOS, BOUQUETS to everyone who offered us keen insights. We started on Tues. ( I was sick and tired of being sick and tired of that wallpaper) Using Terry's suggestion, I took a plastic putty knife, ran it along the mirror and pulled off the vinyl in strips. Then I worked tiny edges to pull the rest off. Took 2 days. Then using Ecrane's solution of fabric softner with water, we applied the solution with a damp cloth being careful not to overwet the boards. We removed the paper the 3rd day and the remaining paste last night. Only had to spackle the holes from the pictures.So thanks everybody !! |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 1, 2006
10:13 AM Post #2681399
| Congratulations! |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 1, 2006
10:59 PM Post #2683664
| Does that mean you've painted already? I also congratulate you on removing the wall paper!
Edited to add: If you did get it painted, how it's look?? Share!!
This message was edited Sep 1, 2006 10:00 PM |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
September 3, 2006
6:31 PM Post #2688327
| Ok... Here's the dreaded wallpaper, before stripping (no sizing, no primer ) BEFORE... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
September 3, 2006
6:35 PM Post #2688339
| AFTER wallpaper removal and painted in Autumn Malt ...and I want to especially thank all my DG friends who made this AWARD possible! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
September 3, 2006
10:48 PM Post #2689120
| Oh that wallpaper is ugly. My oh my, no wonder you wanted it gone fast...lol. I like the color. It looks really nice. Good Job!! |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
September 4, 2006
12:45 AM Post #2689368
| Thanks Terry! |
labtech1
Palestine, TX
June 25, 2007
11:36 PM Post #3659100
| I am removing wallpaper. I want to texture and paint instead of more wallpaper. Since the paper is coming off without a problem I think the wall was prepared before papering. Do I put a sealer on before I texture and how do I do a Spanish Lace texture? |
drsanderson
Richmond, TX
(Zone 9a)
July 27, 2007
8:54 AM Post #3785073
| I SAW A PROGRAM ON DIY THAT SUGGESTED USING BEADBOARD PLACED OVER WALLPAPERED AREA WHEN HOMEOWNERS DIDN'T WANT TO REMOVE PAPER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKED WITH THE MOLDING. MAYBE BEADBOARD IS THIN. HANDYMAN BOOK BY JOHNNY CHOUKE OF SAN ANTONIO SUGGESTS USING "FAST WALLPAPER REMOVER"-CALL HIM FOR STORE IN YOUR LOCATION:-210-226-1436. HE ALSO USES "GRIP AND SEAL" OVER WALLPAPER, 2 COATS, LET IT DRY 20 MINUTES, PAINT WITH "TOUGH WALLS". |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
August 5, 2007
8:46 PM Post #3822165
| Horrid wallpaper!! Glad to see it gone and the paint up. I shudder just thinking about that wallpaper. lol |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 5, 2007
9:26 PM Post #3822364
| Pepper~ LOL! Hope there're no nightmares with recurring horrid wallpapers flapping after you!!! |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
August 5, 2007
10:00 PM Post #3822537
| LOL. When we first moved in I helped move 4 layers of wallpaper from my room alone. Then there was this ugly torquiose/robins egg blue, whatever you want to call it, paint on the walls that had to be primed then painted over. Then there was wallpaper in other rooms too. I still have nightmares over those too. LOL.
I have told terryr about the nightmare this house was when we first bought it. The house is only 40 some years old but it was a major nightmare. Now it is a minor nightmare because of the kitchen. LOL. I could picture her mouth dropping open when she realized how young this house is compared to hers. LOL |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
August 5, 2007
11:05 PM Post #3822799
| Pepper~ I can only imagine how difficult and tedious it must have been removing those layers! The horrid, dreadful wallpaper (selected by the original owners) MIGHT have been considered tasteful during our grandmothers' heyday! LOL! |
terryr
Bureau County, IL
(Zone 5a)
August 5, 2007
11:28 PM Post #3822884
| I was wondering why my ears were ringing, somebody was talking about me! You got that vision all wrong pep...
Our bedroom had wallpaper over wallpaper over painted wallpaper over wallpaper over painted wallpaper over wallpaper. One of the painted colors was orange. Like the state trucks are painted? Loverly, juz luverly...lol... |
pepper23
KC Metro area, MO
(Zone 5b)
August 6, 2007
6:58 AM Post #3823263
| Ugh. LOL |
psychw2
Boise, ID
(Zone 6a)
September 7, 2007
11:04 PM Post #3949730
| As sad as it is to say it... I would prefer YOUR old wallpaper to what I have in both of our bathrooms AND the kitchen!! Stripping it and painting is on the "to do list" but so far I just haven't made it that far.
Pat |
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
September 7, 2007
11:57 PM Post #3949937
| Pat~LOL!!... By the time my hubby finished the first bathroom, we had the process figured out to remove the wallpaper in the master bath. The key for easier removal is to start at the top and pull the wallpaper strips downwards after preparing the wallpaper with the method described in the Aug. 31st post. It took us a week, but the results were well worth it, so "psych" yourself up and jump IN! You'll be rewarded with a more welcoming color that will sing a job well done and worth it!! ;0) |
Athey
Sanibel, FL
November 15, 2007
6:46 AM Post #4194972
| I enjoyed this thread; we are about to tackle a wallpaper removal job; also we've just painted a new room garden6's color; Behr "Autumn Malt" and we like it (doesn't quite look the shade of garden6's photo though; even to my color blind eyes). This is new construction and we need to find a floor tile. I am color blind and my husband isn't so good with color so would someone help us out with a coordinating floor tile color choice? Since there are no windows in this room, we probably need to stick with something on the lighter side.
Thanks so much!
This message was edited Nov 15, 2007 5:49 AM
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
garden6
Lansing, KS
(Zone 5b)
November 15, 2007
10:45 AM Post #4195677
| Hi and a big welcome to Dave's, the best garden in the world. We went with honey oak cabinets and honey oak wood . We are very happy with the results. That bathroom is actually a guest bath and the wood pops the room with radiant warmth! I love your Autumn Malt as well , and I agree there's a difference in the tint, but it's very lovely. Keep us posted of your progress and I hope you're very happy with whatever flooring and cabinet choices made. ;0) |
MaryMcP
Phoenix, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 21, 2007
9:48 AM Post #4216696
| That Autumn Malt is a nice, soft color. For flooring, have you considered marmoleum? Lots of great colors and patterns to choose from. [HYPERLINK@www.themarmoleumstore.com] Just an idea - in case you need more options in you decision tree. :-)
I popped in to this forum to see about removing wallpaper. The small area I want to redo is not vinyl wallpaper but this thread has lots of knowledge in it so I thought I'd ask here rather than start a new one.
This paper is just standard wallpaper, one layer, neatly applied. No nicks or holes. Can I just paint over it with primer, then use the color of my choice? Is it *really necessary* to remove the existing paper first. BTW, the original paper is probably about 30 years old, if that matters at all.
Thanks for any help, and Athey, good luck with you decision making. Let us see the final result please.
Mary |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
November 21, 2007
11:18 AM Post #4217090
| If the wallpaper is really firmly adhered to the wall, then yes you should be able to paint over it. However, even if it looks firmly adhered, there may be spots where the adhesive is more worn out than others and you won't discover that until you paint it and it bubbles up, so it's definitely better to remove the paper if you can. Especially given the age of the paper, I'm guessing you're going to end up with some bubbling. Since it's a small area hopefully it shouldn't be too big of a task to remove it. |
MaryMcP
Phoenix, AZ
(Zone 9a)
November 21, 2007
11:23 AM Post #4217122
| Thanks so much for the insight. I'll try the removal route then. |
