Woodchip wallpaper?

Question

AAAAAArgh please help, anyone have any ideas on removing woodchip wallpaper from plasterboard walls. Its driving me round the twist! It seems to come off of the lath & plaster walls no probs but its where its stuck onto the plasterboard the problem arises! Please help!

Answer 1

Most DIY shops sell a tool for scoring the paper. Its a series of spiked wheels attached to a handle. I've found that if you use this to break the paint film on the woodchip, it lets steam penetrate to soften the adhesive. So you need a scoring tool, a steamer, a good sharp scraper and lots of patience - and good humour.

Answer 2

Can you get to soak it any way? I had this problem when someone had painted a gloss paint onto woodchip. Like you the steamer wouldn't touch it. We had to keep dousing it with water for about 5 days until it was pretty wet - then we painstakingly had to scrape it off. If you've got any spare cash I would honestly pay a professional to do it. It will take you forever and then you'll have to wait for the walls to dry out. Also, if you've got a carpet you'd best lift it up. A professional guy will probably use an industrial strength steamer. good luck. you could always ask at your local diy for advice.

Answer 3

it took me whole week with a steamer to get wood chip of our living room walls approx 15x12ft. the paper had been on for about 30 years, you just have to persevere, don't use that smooth over stuff unless you are an expert plasterer it will just look even worse i used it in our bedroom where there were a few dents in the plaster and if just looked worse than ever. sorry but there is no easy way of doing this. try soaking the wall with water 10 Min's before you start it may soften the paper more and make it a little easier.

Answer 4

I have not heard of woodchip wallpaper but an easy and inexpensive way to remove wallpaper is to score the walls affected and brush household liquid fabric softener over them. Let it set and the wallpaper will peal off. Clean the walls and you're ready to paint or whatever.

Answer 5

Woodchip is just vile, isn't it? My dad did almost the whole house in it. Now I'm redecorating my bedroom and hating his poor taste lol. Try getting the top layer off first then wetting the bottom layer to get it off, or steaming it (go easy on the steam, might blow the plaster).

Answer 6

The problem may be if the plaster board has not been plastered the paper bond too well then try sanding the lumps off but if it is platered then try a steam stripper but watch out for the dripping water

Answer 7

Hire or buy a steamer, they are really cheep. IT WILL JUST FALL OFF. I had the same problem but the paper had been glossed over, impossible i thought. I scored it with a stanley and the steamer did the rest. Good luck, happy stripping.

Answer 8

Steamer for definate - I hate the pooping stuff. Our entire house 7 rooms and large hallway were covered in the stuff it took us 6 years to slowly work from room to room, finished last room, our bedroom, and 4 days later our house burnt down. When they rebuilt I got lovely new plastered walls though!!

Answer 9

we had this problem and it felt like it was glued with superglue,even the steamer wouldnt shift it.My husband plastered over it.looked fine,although most plasterers will tell you it cant be done,we scratched the surface up first then used PVA before plastering.good luck.

Answer 10

use a steamer. I moved into a council house and its all woodchip and painted with vinal paint. A steamer does the trick.