It is not dry strippable and not waterproof, but has been on the walls (over drywall) for more than 30 years. Still in good shape but needs to be changed.
2007-11-28 00:24:44 · 95 answers · asked by donald.macdonald44 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
If it is still in good shape I would paint or repaper right over it.
You have no idea how awful it is to remove wallpaper. Just imagine vinegar dripping down into your armpit as you try to scrape off the un-scrape-able. I don't care how ambitious you are (I was like that), it is one big flippin' mess. The fact yours is over drywall and not plaster is even worse. It laminates itself to drywall.
I did the vinegar thing, the fabric softener thing, everything people have answered so far, and they don't adequately describe the hell (maybe because I did a whole house).
The next house I took Spackle to what little chips and holes there were, primed it, and painted right over it. It turned out fantastic.
Do yourself a favor - save yourself the time, the trouble, your marriage (if you are married), your sanity - go right over it. You won't regret it.
2007-11-28 13:56:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Temporary wallpaper? And you have to pay the paperhanger $80/hr to hang it(more or less and it is probably more. Paperhanger has no problem with that. But I think you would be rather P.O.'d There is removable wallpaper. And that is most of the vinyl coated ones. It will say strippable. But how that works is ...if you look at the glue side of the of the prepasted wallpaper...it is a paper that is off white with no pattern. So, if you hang it, when it comes time to remove it you use a snap razor and down by the baseboard or bottom trim you separate the pattern from the paper(which is glued on) and carefully lift it up to the ceiling strip by strip. Your pattern is off and the glued paper stays. It can be painted or wallpapered on as is for it is a perfectly flat surface. The glue will not let go. Taking that paper off is akin to removing the paper on drywall. That paper was meant to stay there. So try harder to understand "why you cannot do what you want to do" If they give you a reason that they are satisfied with, then you can always go someplace else. Or hang a (while you are there) wall curtain drape) against that wall like dividers in an office..
2016-04-06 01:53:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few years ago my parents began remodelling a house that had been abandoned (no one had lived in it or cared for it) for 5 years and the interior hadn't been redone since at least the 60s - wallpaper included. They bought one of those tools (the wheel with the teeth - for some reason I want to call it a zipper but I Googled that and couldn't find anything - it looks similar to a small pizza cutter except it has little teeth on the wheel if I remember correctly). They tried that and tried the fabric softener solution to no avail. They then tried a hot water solution to which I suggested the steamer.
Use a regular clothes steamer and hold it close to the wallpaper begining at ceiling it loosens the paper and the decades-old adhesive enough that the paper should just peel off for the most part. Get a scraper to help lift the pieces and to remove any scraps that may be left behind. Mabe even try scoring the paper with the roller first to allow the hot steam to penetrate even more.
2007-11-29 00:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by heather m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, get a Paper Tiger. It is a small, round tool with a toothed-wheel. You roll the Paper Tiger over the wallpaper, scoring the paper with small holes. This will allow any liquid to soak through the paper, and into the adhesive.
Second, try a 50/50 solution of cheap fabric softener and water. Apply the solution to your wallpaper using a spray bottle or pump sprayer. Hot water will work best for either. Starting at the top of the wall, thoroughly spray the sheet of wallpaper from top to bottom. Allow the solution to soak into the paper through the small holes, which usually takes about five to ten minutes.
Using a plastic stripping or scraping tool, try to get one corner lifted up. You should be able to peel large pieces of wallpaper at a time. Use the scraping/stripping tool to strip/scrape off any paper that is still stuck to the walls. What works best is to pull the paper slowly with one hand, while the other hand guides the scraper/stripper behind the paper, helping to release it along the way. You can also work in a downward motion, starting at the top of the wall and working down to the bottom.
2007-11-29 04:54:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want the walls to come out nice you do need to strip it. I've found that the best way is to get a liquid wallpaper remover, put it in a spray bottle, keep wetting it until it starts to come lose. Some people try scrapping it but that can maul up the wall. That will cost you time and money to repair. So I suggest the wallpaper remover in a spray bottle. If yur patient with it, it will pull off in a sheet. Painting over it just isn't the answer because eventually the wallpaper will start to lift and it's too hard to hide the seams. Moisture from painting it will lift it.
2007-11-28 15:17:34 · answer #5 · answered by For real 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might be able to rent a steamer from Home Depot's Tool Rental Department. Not all Home Depots have this department, so call ahead of time.
Once you get started, you pretty much have to finish the project. There is really no going back. You want the new wallpaper to spread evenly.
Another option is to put the new wallpaper up over the old wallpaper, but only if there are no major tears/flaws in the old wallpaper. If there are, you may want to sand down the tears/flaws before putting up the new wallpaper.
2007-11-28 18:02:37 · answer #6 · answered by Foolraving 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Strip Old Wallpaper
2016-11-07 09:30:42 · answer #7 · answered by read 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm in the middle of doing it and with some you can steam but some wallpaper is more stubborn to get down. You can get a stripper with an enzyme named "DIF" from home depot ( not the blue ...use the red ,it's quicker to work. Score and spray and get the top layer off ( as much as possible ) and then continue with spraying and the under part comes off easily. If you are doing a large room you may want to buy a larger quantity of DIF and fill a bucket and sponge it on. It is the only thing that has worked for me. Also make sure you purchase the scraper for after spraying. Good luck!
2007-11-29 05:56:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just want to say you should give Tracey the best answer bc she is correct about how you take wallpaper off. I have done this numerous times working for my dad since I was a little kid. If you don't use the roller thing the steam won't get under the paper enough so make sure you use that first. And don't bother with that spray on gel either- I have used that and it takes so much that gel that it is very time consuming and expensive. Pls ignore Fisherman- even if you are just flipping this house it won't look as nice if you just paint over it.
2007-11-28 12:19:19 · answer #9 · answered by Tiffany 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a tool called the tiger, it will put little holes in the paper, as well as the dry wall You can find it @ Home Depot. I do not know what your plan is after the paper is gone You may have to repair the wall if you are going to paint If you can find a steamer that will be a great help. other wise you will need a scraper, some rags and a abucket of very warm water. and some wall paper remover.. Once you get the little tiger teeth thru the paper, spray the remover.a section at a time 2`x2`.
If you start continiously steaming and wetting the paper with the rag it will start to absorb into the paper and will start to loosen enough to get the scraper behind it. Once the paper comes away from the wall, then spray the remover so it goes behind the paper. This will help along the process. Try to go section by section.
2007-11-28 11:14:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋