Can I get wallpaper of a wall that hasn't been primed without ruining the sheet-rock?

Question

Would it be better just to paint over the wallpaper than to try to get it off?

Answer 1

I have removed many a rooms of wallpaper in my life, and what I have found it is how old the wallpaper is makes all the difference.

The newer the wallpaper, the easier it is to remove. It seems the older wallpaper had more of a heavy duty glue.

I just removed some wallpaper from our hallway that was maybe put on about 7 years ago. I scored the wallpaper LIGHTLY with a knife, not damage the drywall. Then with a scotch brite sponge I saturate the paper with liquid fabric softner(which smells good too). I let it soak in for 5-10 minutes and it pretty much peels right off. Then I go over anything that didn't peel right off with the rough side of the scotch brite sponge. After the wall is clean, I wipe the wall down with plain water to get any fabric softner off.

The older wallpaper may require steaming off.

Answer 2

No, DIF will remove it. If you want to contact the company directly for help you can call or email them:

United States
Zinsser Co., Inc.
173 Belmont Drive
Somerset, New Jersey 08875 USA

Email: [e-mail]

Corporate Office(732) 469-8100

Media Relations(732) 652-2229

You may have to put a sheet of plastic over the DIP once it's on the wall and let it sit for a few hours or overnight and maybe still need to steam.

For sure you'll have to skim coat the sheetrock afterward!

Problem with painting is after a few coats, the whole thing collapses. So if you will paint once and move.........sneaky.

Answer 3

Instead of going out and buying something that can potentially ruin your walls, I suggest getting a big bucket of water and pouring some distilled vinegar in with it. Just use an old or cheap mop (the mop will probably be ruined by the end) and dip it into the solution and wipe on the walls. The paper will come right off. Just keep experimenting with the amount of vinegar until it works well. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

there is a device that has shallow cutters that makes small cuts in the wallpaper when rolled over it. then you use a sponge and get the wallpaper wet. the water gets behind the wallpaper enough to loosen the glue then you can peel it off.

another method is using steam to loosen the paper.

Answer 5

the device is called "Paper Tiger"

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/z/ZINPTT/