Getting wallpaper off the wall?!?

[sajetto]

The previous owners of our new home had the bright idea of pasting the wallpaper directly onto the drywall and then when they got tired of it they found it took a lot more work to remove it than they realized and painted over it instead! Great How the heck do I get it off the walls? I don't think simple scraping or vinegar and water is going to cut it. Now what

 

[disneyfam]

we had that problem in our house too. Go to Lowes or Home depot and get Dif and get it in gel form. "Plaster" the Dif in a good section of the wall, let it sit for about 5 min or so then it should be easier to scrape off. And unfortnately it can take off some of the drywall. we just used some joint compound and evened it out and it looked fine. But the ONLY thing that worked was DIF.

Good Luck, I feel for you...

Cynde

 

[ducklite]

Before you use the remover, you need to use a "scorer" over the paper so the remover can really soak in. It's a time consuming process, and having paint over the paper will make it worse unfortunately. Good luck!

Anne

 

[sajetto]

Good Luck, I feel for you...

Thanks for the tip and I've got a feeling I'm gonna need all the luck I can get. I've never seen a home where someone has done this before. The ugly lime green paint that they chose to paint on top of the paper is chipping off in big chunks in some spots and stuck like glue in others. I'll look for DIF and cross my fingers.

 

[bicker]

On Sell This House, Roger recommends soaking the wallpaper with a solution made of dilluted fabric softener.

http://boards.aetv.com/thread.jspa?threadID=500011133&tstart=0&mod=1141621616861

Here's a ton of other ideas:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf644708.tip.html

 

[Magickndm]

Wallpaper is evil! I have yet to find an easy way to remove it, it's always a tough job.
One thing may help a bit though. Get one of those wallpaper-scoring tools to pierce through the paper before you put whatever you're going to use on.
Good luck.

 

[sajetto]

Thanks bicker! I would love to try the fabric softener trick, I'm cheap so if there is any way to save a dollar I am all there!

The second link didn't work though. What was it about?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We had this same problem in a house we owned. Our solution? Hire someone to do it for us after we already started with the mess.

 

[bicker]

The second link didn't work though. What was it about?

I'll try pasting it here:

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Raymond. (Guest Post) 2006-02-06 - 30 yr old house
- unprimed drywall
- original layer of wallpaper
- additional layer of "tack" paper (yes, the vinyl kind you stick to the bottoms of drawers)

This is definitely a job for the more compulsive (mmm.. peel, rip, peel, rip!) of us. I have been able to remove the top vinyl portion of the tack paper using only a scraper and my finger nails. This left the tack paper backing glued over top of that original wallpaper. I have tried several techniques on the walls and am finding that just some patience and the scraper are working best (i.e. removing the least amount of drywall cardboard). The perforation tool everyone is talking about also perforates the drywall paper. The DIF spray then loosened THAT. I was forced to tears the top layer of drywall backing off, after doing this, since it just got bubbled up when it re-dried.

Lessons learned:
- Let your finger nails grow out a bit
- keep a sharp scraper edge
- start corners w/ scraper carefully, keeping as parallel an angle as possible with it (or else gouge the drywall paper)
- peel slowly and evenly... feel out where the glue is stronger, and assist the peel gently with your scraper.
- test a SMALL area with the perforation tool and DIF solutions, first. Make sure the solutions are not going to soak through to your drywall.

I walked into this project prepared to tear down walls, so I'm not angry about any of it. I just wish I wouldn't have to spackle so much and prime, before seeing some cool color in there.

Raymond.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Raymond. (Guest Post) 2006-02-06 - 30 yr old house
- unprimed drywall
- original layer of wallpaper
- additional layer of "tack" paper (yes, the vinyl kind you stick to the bottoms of drawers)

This is definitely a job for the more compulsive (mmm.. peel, rip, peel, rip!) of us. I have been able to remove the top vinyl portion of the tack paper using only a scraper and my finger nails. This left the tack paper backing glued over top of that original wallpaper. I have tried several techniques on the walls and am finding that just some patience and the scraper are working best (i.e. removing the least amount of drywall cardboard). The perforation tool everyone is talking about also perforates the drywall paper. The DIF spray then loosened THAT. I was forced to tears the top layer of drywall backing off, after doing this, since it just got bubbled up when it re-dried.

Lessons learned:
- Let your finger nails grow out a bit
- keep a sharp scraper edge
- start corners w/ scraper carefully, keeping as parallel an angle as possible with it (or else gouge the drywall paper)
- peel slowly and evenly... feel out where the glue is stronger, and assist the peel gently with your scraper.
- test a SMALL area with the perforation tool and DIF solutions, first. Make sure the solutions are not going to soak through to your drywall.

I walked into this project prepared to tear down walls, so I'm not angry about any of it. I just wish I wouldn't have to spackle so much and prime, before seeing some cool color in there.

Raymond.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
nuri (Guest Post) 2005-12-31 lol i just got done removing my wall paper i used a perforator called a paper tiger its about 9 bucks at any hardware store i also used a wallpaper remover called "Dif Gel" and omg this stuff is great i've never done anything so easy.

i just bought a jug of it after i perforated the walls put some in a container and brushed a generous amount on the paper about 15 mins later i walked in my room and the wall paper was basically falling off the walls. well sort falling but it came off so easy i cant emphasize enough how great the product is my entire room was finished in about 1 1/2 hours and my room its fairly well sized.

Don't steamers and scrapers i didn't need any of that dif gel is great because if u have anything on a vertical surface such as your ceiling its a gel so it wont drip it just stays in place my house is 30 years old and its original wall paper now for the places where u stapled some of the drywall cardboard barrier off just take some spackle and go over it n fill in the spots.

wait bout a day n sand them flush n smooth don't forget to use a latex base primer that also fills in some sort of tiny cracks and imperfections n go over the seams of the walls of the corners because if this is original wallpaper from when the house was built i guarantee the seams of the corners aren't filled too great this is a great idea for filling anything where u don't have the skill too use drywall seam putty or tapes remember paper tiger and dif gel

RE: Wallpaper Removal
April (Guest Post) 2005-12-04 Hot water, vinegar, and fabric softner is the thing to take off wallpaper. After spraying, it just scraps right off.""

RE: Wallpaper Removal
me (Guest Post) 2005-10-09 You can use boiling hot water and spray with a sprayer and wait about 5 minutes and peel it off.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Tami (Guest Post) 2005-08-22 I am using a bucket w/ half water and whole thing of vinegar and about 3 cups of fabric softener. Taking a big towel and spong and it is taking everything off including the glue..
Zanesville/Ohio working on house built in 1926

RE: Wallpaper Removal
sara Tumminelli (Guest Post) 2005-08-21 I have never really attempted to do any home improvement things on my own. I have always relied on others to do it for me. I wanted to paint my room over and i have 10-15 yr old wall paper i have to remove. I was wondering if someone could give me some tips and/or the best way to remove wallpaper.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Brooke (Guest Post) 2005-07-03 I tried using some downy and hot tap water in a sprayer, but whatever I peeled off--it was too deep and i've got a tad bit into the drywall :S. It also got on the ceiling and now the ceiling is darker and looks like there was a flood upstairs!!!!
I read that I should wait 20-30 minutes before scraping--I'll try that...This isn't easy stuff.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
T'Lee (Guest Post) 2005-05-26 How do I remove painted over wallpaper from my bathroom wall? The wallpaper was poorly removed and painted over. It looks horrific! Someone help me. I have family coming into town June 10th. I need to repair this immediately and need a low cost method.
Also, I was wondering how to do the decorative painted over plastered look

Thanks!

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Kimi (Guest Post) 2005-05-24 I am removing 11 year old wallpaper from my bedroom. We plan on texturing the walls using the knockdown technique). Is it imperitive that I get all the glue and scraps of paper off the wall before texturing???

RE: Wallpaper Removal
jm (Guest Post) 2005-04-19 Does anyone know if I paint over wallpaper that has a boarder will the seams from the boarder show through? I'm hoping to get away with out stripping the walls but I'd like to know if I'm setting myself up for a disaster. This is a tiny room and I'd rather not take the paper down if it would look fine with the paint over it? Thanks for your help

RE: Wallpaper Removal
zc (Guest Post) 2005-04-16 I just bought a house that was built in 1975 and attempted to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen using Dif. I have only taken down a ceiling to floor strip 2' wide, but parts of the drywall paper pelled off with the wallpaper. has anyone else made the mistake and if so, what did you do to correct it?

Thanks!

Editor's Note: Hi, we posted this as a new request.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf763772.tip.html

RE: Wallpaper Removal
zc (Guest Post) 2005-04-16 I just bought a house that was built in 1975 and attempted to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen using Dif. I have only taken down a ceiling to floor strip 2' wide, but parts of the drywall paper pelled off with the wallpaper. has anyone else made the mistake and if so, what did you do to correct it?

Thanks!

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Ed (Guest Post) 2005-04-06 I've found that Downey fabric softener works best.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
jessie (Guest Post) 2005-02-10 I removed the wall paper in my house and even though the paper came of, there is a layer of glue lef ton the wall, I don't know what to do to get it to come off, I am aftaid just washing the drywall, since the walls weren't primed before the wallpaper was applied, any ideas???

RE: Wallpaper Removal
kivester (Guest Post) 2005-01-02 I have been removing my wallpaper and find 3 layers. I use Dif and it was going fine, however the first wallcovering '1967' was painted over and is very difficult to remove, This is my dilemea. any tips on how to remove the first painted over layer of wallpaper? Kevin

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Andrea (Guest Post) 2004-11-18 I am fifteen and i nominated myself to take off wallpaper in my little brother's room. I tried the fabric softener meathod and was it a life saver! Thank you so much!!!

RE: Wallpaper Removal
marianne. (Guest Post) 2004-08-27 Fill a garden sprayer with hot water and a cup full of fabric softener. Spray one wall at a time. Wait 20-30 minutes. Spray again and wait another 20 minutes. Start to peel it off. If it doesn't come off easily... spray again and wait again. This will remove the top layer. Re-spray the backing that is still stuck to the wall - you got it - wait again and it will all peel right off. Let dry overnight before painting. It's never failed for me in 20 years.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Post by sweetapplepie242 (1) 2004-07-27 Last summer I removed a 9 year old wall boarder from my son's room with a ligued gel called Dif you can get it in the spray bottle or in the bucket in any hardware store. It worked wounders.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Ann (Guest Post) 2004-07-26 Unless the wallpaper is loose or peeling I would not remove it. When you remove it you will probably have to do some wall repair where the paper glue took some drywall with it. We have had success painting over wallpaper that was in good space by first priming over the wallpaper with Kiltz. Talk to someone at Home Depot/Lowes and they can help you with any questions. We simply painted the primer and then painted over the primer with our paint. I think you have to use Kiltz or a similar brand.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
(Guest Post) 2004-07-17 I have removed old wallpaper and border using a bucket of hot water, about 1-2 cups of fabric softener, and a sponge. Soak the sponge in the bucket and wring some of it out and rub onto the wall starting at the top. It should start to peel off easily. Just make sure you put a rolled up towell on the floor against the wall you are working on to catch the drips!

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Post by Patticat (36) 2004-07-16 Removing old wallpaper depends on how old "old" is. If it is a really old paper, you may have some problems removing it. Newer papers with a vinyl coating are a little easier to remove. Papers with were properly installed over wall sizing are the easiest to remove. If the paper has a vinyl layer attatched to the paper backing, then you can either try to pull the vinyl from the paper or score the paper (make lots and lots of little cuts in the surface) with a razor blade or a Paper Tiger. Once you have removed or scored the paper, you can use steam or hot water to soften the glue, adding a little vinegar helps. Or you can use a product called Dif (if you use the Dif, roll it on, don't bother with spraying it, it doesn't cover well when sprayed). Allow the hot water or dif to work for a while, but don't allow it to dry. After 10 minutes, try removing the paper with a plastic putty knife or wallpaper remover. If it still sticks, wet it again and wait another ten minutes. Once you have all of the paper off, you need to make sure that you have removed all of the glue from the wall. Use a TSP solution and rinse well before painting. If the paper was applied directly to unprimed or unsized drywall, you will probably end up removing part of the drywall paper with the wallpaper. Don't apply too much steam, water or Dif if the wallpaper is pulling off pieces of drywall. If this is the case, you may be better off simply cleaning the wallpaper, using spackle to hide the seams, then priming and painting the wallpaper. Not the best solution, but easier than trying to repair drywall that has been damaged by water.

RE: Wallpaper Removal
Diana (Guest Post) 2004-07-16 I watched a program about preparing a house to sell and on it they removed wallpaper with fabric softner. Check out HGTV.com, it was I think on Sell This House.

 

[KristaTX]

Wallpaper is evil!

Wallpaper is such a hassle to deal with once it is out of style, which is usually in just a few years.

 

[sajetto]

Thanks Bicker. I'm so irritated about this. Its a job I don't want to do, but the walls are truely hideous. I couldn't bear to look at that lime green or rose color underneath for the entire time I live in the house

 

[figment52]

The ugly lime green paint that .....

Are you sure it wasn't a DIS'er that was the former owner of your house???

 

[sajetto]

Are you sure it wasn't a DIS'er that was the former owner of your house???

Ya know, I thought of that. I told my DF that if it came off in big enough pieces we could cut it in the shape of mickey heads and put it on our luggage

The way its looking though, I'd be lucky to scrape of little pieces with my finger nails.

 

[Laura]

Yes, get a scorer for the wallpaper. Ours is Zinsser, a "paper tiger".