wall/wallpaper/paint problem?

Question

I recently bought an old house, built in 1892. I've been scraping wallpaper, getting ready to paint. All of the walls have been plaster over lathe. I recently found a signiture on a wall under the wallpaper that was dated May 28, 1945. All the walls have the same wallpaper on them. But now I've encountered a wall that seems to have been built with some sort of drywall... but it really seems like it's almost a cardboard like material. It feels soft, and pourous. I've already started peeling the wallpaper, so I can't leave it. Can I paint directly over this material? Does anyone know what it might be?

Answer 1

Something you could do is take some thin plywood hang it over the wall or you maybe even could just hang some drywall over it and prep that and paint it. That would probably be the easiest to do

Answer 2

Painting over this will create a bonding and leveling problem. I would suggest priming the wall first and then applying a knowdown or texture. The texture will hide the imperfections and best of all there is no need to remove the paper.

Answer 3

Sounds like insulation board which is a soft fibrous building board..
I would get off any loose paper then put on the thickest lining paper you can find and then paint over that.

Answer 4

gypson board would be my guess be careful taking off wallpaper and patch scrapes and holes with drywall mud or spackling compound

Answer 5

i've encountered that stuff only once, we tore it out and replaced it with drywall.
lath and plaster, gawd i haven't done one of those in years, can't say that i miss it either...ahhhh the memories of choking dust, never ending patches, scraped knuckles and punctured fingers, sweat in the eyes...nope, don't miss it at all.

Answer 6

It might be Homosote if it is gray and kind of spongy. I don't think it is sold anymore.