I am trying to remove wallpaper and I was wondering if anyone had any tricks to get it off easily.?

Question

Here's the catch....There are two layers, the first being vinyl. I started taking it off and it just peeled away...no problem. The problem is, theres a layer of wallpaper underneath, however before the people put up the new wallpaper they covered the old stuff with what seems to be a putty/plaster type stuff. I've never seen anything like this before. I've tried a steamer and the chemical remover stuff and anything that involves water seems to just make it worse. At the most the wallpaper comes off in little dime-sized peices. I need help!!!! Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?? If not, does anyone have any ideas on what I could possibly do? Thanks so much for your help!

Oh, and one more thing...When I get it wet and use a putty knife it ends messing up the drywall underneath....

Answer 1

Douse it with warm/hot water (with a wet rag) and let it set for a few minutes. Start scrapping with a putty knife.
Keep adding water to the surface and it should loosen up that plaster/putty stuff.

They probably used a thick layer of wheat paste on the first layer of wallpaper to make the second layer stick.
Who knows they may have used glue of some sort.

Like I said....just keep putting the water to it and it should come off.

Answer 2

The putty/plaster stuff may just be joint compound, used to make the wall smooth for the second layer. If so, it will soften with steam/moisture and be scraped off. Otherwise, it's old fashioned lime based plaster. This will also soften with moisture, but takes longer to soak in. For this, use water and very little dish soap in a pump sprayer. Wet the walls repeatedly over a full day. When the plaster absorbs all of the water it can, it will soften. It can then be scraped off of the older wallpaper.

To get the old wallpaper off, use a 'scoring tool'. You can get one at any paint store or home improvement store. It punches tiny holes in the paper, allowing water to soak into the glue underneath. Without punching holes in the paper, no method will get the paper off easily.

Answer 3

Well, if you wet a large area, then let it dry again before you can scrap it up again, that can make it worse.

Best thing to do is do small sections at a time. Use warm water and vinegar. Soak it up really good and the scrap it off with a rag... if a rag doesn't work, a putty knife will work.

Lots of water usually helps, even if it seems to get worse... its messy but its going to be anyways.

Hope this helps. :O)

Answer 4

We've been in the business for many years. We use a chemical called "Diff" bought from Home Depot. It comes in a quart can.
Follow directions. Don't vary, be patient and give it time.

Use boiling water and a sponge mop, brush it on and go around the room, make sure o keep it wet. It takes about fifteen minutes on wall-paper, maybe a little longer on what you described.

I did this only once on a wall textured by a tenant and it still worked just fine I had to leave it on a little loner.

Answer 5

This is sooo' cool AND easy, and especially, inexpensive!! Just create, in a clean spray bottle, a mixture of 1/2 *Ultra Downey* and 1/2 water. Then once mixed well, just saturate existing wallpaper with this. You'll want to feel wallpaper after the first few coats of diluted *Downey* and you'll, then, know how much more you'll need to just be able to eventually peel it all off with ease!! Good Luck!

Answer 6

Get one of the scratcher tools for wallpaper sold at the local H.D. or Lowes scratch the paper well, then use a solution of vinegar and hot water, soak, let set a few minutes and then use a plastic scraper. It works well, though messy!

Answer 7

Mix water and (don't laugh) liquid downy in a spray bottle and spray onto the wallpaper. There is something in the downy that makes the glue break down. I've done it and it works.

Answer 8

Wet several or many many times until it is ready to lose.

Answer 9

hmm... try puttin some citric acid! & gettin it wet!