The Great Wallpaper Debacle
- coaledsweat
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So I'm refreshing the downstairs bathroom, the 37 year old wallpaper has to go according to the bride. I peel the paper off using a paper tiger and DIFF. Works pretty good. The problem is the two drunks that built the place did not prep the drywall properly. Looks like one coat of primer if that. Anyway, got a bunch of wall board paper coming up and you know when painting it more will lift. Not dealing with that. I sniffed around and found Zinnser GARDZ, a milky looking product that dries clear. It penetrates the residual glue, paper and into the drywall gypsum itself leaving a solid, water impervious surface. So I paint the stuff on (it's like water), dries in 3 hours. Make the repairs with mud and sand. Re seal with GARDZ and it's ready to paint, no primer needed. Leaves a waterproof, even surface, not bad for $30. I'm impressed.
- Rob R.
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Good to know, that sounds like a good product.
I had a similar problem and ended up calling a wall paper guy. He must have had.a different bag of tricks, because he had all of the old paper off in one morning and the wall prepped for paint by the end of the day.
I had a similar problem and ended up calling a wall paper guy. He must have had.a different bag of tricks, because he had all of the old paper off in one morning and the wall prepped for paint by the end of the day.
- coaledsweat
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There's a big difference between the old true paper wallpaper and the newer composites as far as taking it off. The newer stuff is harder to get a remover through it. The big problem is if the drywall isn't prepped properly for wallpaper, you get a disaster removing it.
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i used a wagner wallpaper steamer on my laundry room. dad got a real deal on some unglued wallpaper back in 1992 when we finished that room. he glued it on there good!
i had to steam all that off then steam off the glue. then repaired and primed the walls with oil based primer.
2 more large wallpapered rooms to go, not looking forward to them. the dining room wallpaper is mostly good, one wall ripped by the kids. i have matching paper although it's not faded, will have to cover that whole wall. the living room paper is peeling off bad in the corner from the house moving. dad and i put that up in 1988 iirc.
i had to steam all that off then steam off the glue. then repaired and primed the walls with oil based primer.
2 more large wallpapered rooms to go, not looking forward to them. the dining room wallpaper is mostly good, one wall ripped by the kids. i have matching paper although it's not faded, will have to cover that whole wall. the living room paper is peeling off bad in the corner from the house moving. dad and i put that up in 1988 iirc.
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If the old paper is securely adhered, we have had no problem going right over it with new paper. One problem is, if the seams were overlapped instead of butted, then the overlaps may show right through the new paper, depending on the pattern. Paper with vertical lines pretty much hides the old seams; paper with other patterns does not.
A little joint compound can repair tears/gouges in the old paper so the surface is flush for new paper. We have a hallway where several layers of old paper were the only thing holding the crumbly plaster in place. I reinforced the loose seams and tender spots with fiberglass mesh tape with sheetrock screws driven through the tape, then a careful application of mud tapering to the solid areas, then new wallpaper. Now that the kids no longer whap tennis balls against the walls to hear the plaster tinkle, the fix has held up very well.
A little joint compound can repair tears/gouges in the old paper so the surface is flush for new paper. We have a hallway where several layers of old paper were the only thing holding the crumbly plaster in place. I reinforced the loose seams and tender spots with fiberglass mesh tape with sheetrock screws driven through the tape, then a careful application of mud tapering to the solid areas, then new wallpaper. Now that the kids no longer whap tennis balls against the walls to hear the plaster tinkle, the fix has held up very well.
- Rob R.
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The guy that hung my wall paper put a few coats of primer on the walls, and then something else that I was not familiar with. To your point, he said proper prep. of the surface made all the difference in removing the paper later.The big problem is if the drywall isn't prepped properly for wallpaper, you get a disaster removing it.
Our wallpaper was made by York Wallcoverings. Excellent product.
- Uglysquirrel
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Wallpaper would not exist as a concept if Eve did not exist. Or for that matter some variants of Adam that were obviously gay.
- coaledsweat
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Ug, are you filling in for Dave McBeth in his absense?
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Generally when I deal with an issue of wall paper I just cover the walls in 1/4 inch sheetrock and start from scratch
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Same here. I dont mess with wallpaper anymore. Wallboard is cheap and quick to hang.LehighanthraciteMatt wrote: ↑Fri. Dec. 15, 2017 8:06 amGenerally when I deal with an issue of wall paper I just cover the walls in 1/4 inch sheetrock and start from scratch