Walls and Ceilings - Removing Layers of wallpaper
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jerseymike
04-23-09, 07:05 PM
I started to remove wallpaper in my kids bathroom because it started to peel. To my surprise there were several layers of wallpaper to deal with. I started out with Dif and it started to work at first but realized that I started to peel the paper off the drywall...I think.
If I rent a steamer will that help or has the layers upon layers of wall paper made this more difficult that I thought?
If I rent a steamer will that help or has the layers upon layers of wall paper made this more difficult that I thought?
Pulpo
04-23-09, 08:10 PM
Generally, a steamer makes things a lot easier. Rent one unless you decide to sheetrock over it. What year was the house built? Is there any chance that the walls are plaster? If they are drywall, you'll probably have to skim coat a lot of it.
marksr
04-24-09, 03:37 AM
It also helps to score/cut the wallpaper. This allows the water/steam to get behind the paper so it can disolve the adhesive. They make a little gadget that has knifes set at a predetermined depth to cut thru the paper. You'll find it anywhere wallpaper or wallpaper supplies are sold.
I usually just use an utility knife to cut thru the paper.....but I'm a trained profesional on a closed course:D:eek::eek::D
I usually just use an utility knife to cut thru the paper.....but I'm a trained profesional on a closed course:D:eek::eek::D
wildbill7145
04-26-09, 11:20 AM
One option you might want to consider is getting a squirt bottle, the kind you use to mist plants and stuff (I kill plants to quickly to ever use it for this purpose).
Go to your grocery store and get some fabric softener. Downy, or whatever noname brand is available. Fill the squirt bottle with half fabric softener and half water.
Spray this solution onto the wallpaper to be removed. Make sure it's good and wet but not drenched. Wait for about 15 minutes to let it soak in and start trying to peel it off. Usually it comes off in those big satisfying strips that make your day.
Generally I've found this works quite well. There will always be spots that are tougher than others to get off, but there's not much you can do to prevent this.
Fabric softener will usually be cheaper than the wallpaper remover you find in hardware stores. That stuff always seems to pricey!
This tip was given to me by and older Italian plasterer. Guy never did say a whole lot, but when he did...most guys working near him shut up and tried to catch every syllable coming out of his mouth!
Go to your grocery store and get some fabric softener. Downy, or whatever noname brand is available. Fill the squirt bottle with half fabric softener and half water.
Spray this solution onto the wallpaper to be removed. Make sure it's good and wet but not drenched. Wait for about 15 minutes to let it soak in and start trying to peel it off. Usually it comes off in those big satisfying strips that make your day.
Generally I've found this works quite well. There will always be spots that are tougher than others to get off, but there's not much you can do to prevent this.
Fabric softener will usually be cheaper than the wallpaper remover you find in hardware stores. That stuff always seems to pricey!
This tip was given to me by and older Italian plasterer. Guy never did say a whole lot, but when he did...most guys working near him shut up and tried to catch every syllable coming out of his mouth!
Pulpo
04-26-09, 06:46 PM
A spray bottle is way slower than using a steamer.
wildbill7145
04-26-09, 07:47 PM
Yup, but it's a bathroom. Not a lot of wall to deal with and it just sounds like she wants the wallpaper off.
Pulpo
04-27-09, 06:14 AM
Why do extra work under any circumstances?
marksr
04-27-09, 02:49 PM
I've tried dif and also fabric softner and wasn't all that impressed with either. IMO scoring the paper and getting the moisture behind the paper [where the adhesive is] does more good than anything. If I have much paper to strip, I'll wet the paper with a pump up garden sprayer - I suppose a spray bottle would work fine for small areas. I've only used a steamer a few times and don't consider it worth the time and fee to rent one....... but that's not to say a steamer won't help. The main thing is to score the paper so moisture can get to the adhesive and soften it up!