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XP from D&R: Removing old wallpaper

I'm going to put this here, too, because I'm sure there are some handy-women here!

So, I'm finally getting around to removing the awful, dark paisley wallpaper from the master bath. I assume it's the only thing that has ever been on the walls, because it's drywall underneath. I have only been able to remove a small section in about an hour and a half because it's so stuck. I scored it with a knife, and moistened with vinegar water, and some peeled away but the other walls are much more stuck.

I'm worried about damaging the drywall. I nicked it a couple of times and getting the glue off without it getting wet...well, how does one do that? 

We plan on priming, texturing, and painting the walls once the wallpaper has been removed.

Any tips for wallpaper removal that won't damage drywall? If only it were the easy-peel kind...if that really even exists!

 

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Re: XP from D&R: Removing old wallpaper

  • Oh, I love removing wallpaper.

    The easiest way to remove wallpaper is to use the stuff you can find at Lowe's. I can't remember what it is called - but its an orange formula that you mix with water.  Spray it on the wall.  Wait 15 minutes.  Spray it again.  Wait 10 more. Then peel.  This works like a charm. (and yes, wait 15 MINUTES - one of my friends claimed it didn't work at all but that was because she can not read or follow directions, apparently). 

    As far as the drywall issue - if the walls were not finished properly prior to putting on the wallpaper (it sounds like they weren't), then you are SOL. The drywall is really easy to patch though (just google it) and shouldn't be too big of a deal.

  • imagestripesandspots:

    The easiest way to remove wallpaper is to use the stuff you can find at Lowe's. I can't remember what it is called - but its an orange formula that you mix with water.  Spray it on the wall.  Wait 15 minutes.  Spray it again.  Wait 10 more. Then peel.  This works like a charm. (and yes, wait 15 MINUTES - one of my friends claimed it didn't work at all but that was because she can not read or follow directions, apparently). 

    This sounds like what I was going to recommend.  I haven't used it, but H and FIL were doing some remodeling work and the homeowner said she was removing the wallpaper herself.  From H's description, it sounds like she used what stripes has described, and he was amazed at how easily the wallpaper came off.  I wish we had known about it when we were peeling off wallpaper in our house!

  • H is on the mission to find it.
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  • Cane you texture over it?

  • Since it's the bathroom, I would rather remove the wallpaper as I'm concerned that over time, it will peel, and take everything with it!

    Even if this doesn't happen in the time we're in the house, I don't want to be like the previous owner and have someone cursing their name for all the craptastic work they did. Wink

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  • imagefuzzylogic:

    Since it's the bathroom, I would rather remove the wallpaper as I'm concerned that over time, it will peel, and take everything with it!

    Even if this doesn't happen in the time we're in the house, I don't want to be like the previous owner and have someone cursing their name for all the craptastic work they did. Wink

    Oh, good point about the humidity in the bathroom. My parents had it textured over in part of their old house and stripped in the bathroom.

  • I'm kind of glad I started taking it off in the window area because there's some work that needs to be done there with drywall and caulk. H bought me scrapers, scorers, and a spray but it's still stuck on like glue. I'm starting to hate all previous owners of this house. I'm really starting to hate paisley. It's like it's mocking me.
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  • imagefuzzylogic:
    I'm kind of glad I started taking it off in the window area because there's some work that needs to be done there with drywall and caulk. H bought me scrapers, scorers, and a spray but it's still stuck on like glue. I'm starting to hate all previous owners of this house. I'm really starting to hate paisley. It's like it's mocking me.

    Spray, let it soak, spray, let it soak, repeat, repeat, repeat. It may take awhile.

    The wallpaper isn't furry is it? If so, then we have another set of problems (flocked wallpaper is AWFUL to get off of walls!).

    And I am SO GLAD you are taking the wallpaper off and not texturing over it.  Our first subcontractor convinced us to do this in our entry way and dining room.  When we went to repaint our dining room over thanksgiving, the texture kind of started to peel off the wallpaper. I am so pissed.

  • Oh no, regular old (ugly-ass) wallpaper. No fuzz. I'll keep spraying today. They definitely didn't prime the walls or do anything right. Jerks.

    I shouldn't be surprised, though. This isn't the first time we've discovered something they "repaired" or "installed."

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  • imagefuzzylogic:

    Oh no, regular old (ugly-ass) wallpaper. No fuzz. I'll keep spraying today. They definitely didn't prime the walls or do anything right. Jerks.

    I shouldn't be surprised, though. This isn't the first time we've discovered something they "repaired" or "installed."

    If you ever want to vent about things seller's have "repaired" or "installed" send me a PM. Oh, I have some interesting stories about my house.  Assholes.

  • imagestripesandspots:
    imagefuzzylogic:

    Oh no, regular old (ugly-ass) wallpaper. No fuzz. I'll keep spraying today. They definitely didn't prime the walls or do anything right. Jerks.

    I shouldn't be surprised, though. This isn't the first time we've discovered something they "repaired" or "installed."

    If you ever want to vent about things seller's have "repaired" or "installed" send me a PM. Oh, I have some interesting stories about my house.  Assholes.

    You've got a PM Stick out tongue

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