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Stripping Bathroom Wallpaper

4K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  shapeshifter 
#1 · (Edited)
I've had to take a short hiatus from my reno/remodeling but am back on track now. :yes:

I began stripping wallpaper in a guest bath and the results are not what I expected. Attached are a couple of pictures, both looking upwards past the shower curtain. Some of the wallpaper is coming off as though it weren't ever pasted. The white areas feel like sheetrock floating material. What I'm not sure about is the brown area to the left of the picture. [The brown on the right side of the picture is the ugliest wallpaper ever printed.] It looks like the backing to the raw sheetrock. Am I harming it by pulling off the paper? In my other bathroom remodel, I did not encounter anything that looked like that. I expect that I would not want to harm the sheetrock backing.

 

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#2 ·
That looks like joint compound. It doesn't look like they primed the sheetrock at all. Maybe they just sized the walls. You should be able to tell if the paper backing is coming off or not. Did you use one of those paper tiger pin hole tools? Try one and see if you get better results. You don't want the backing off the sheetrock. Better you sand the seams of the paper that's there and repaper on top. Not my first choice, but you need to deal with the existing situation.
Ron
 
#3 ·
Actually the paper backing is not coming off at all.

If the wallpaper is coming off freely, is it necessary to use one of those tools?

And I will NOT be re-papering. I'm going to try my hand at texurizing and doing a faux plaster finish. After which I will lightly sand, prime and paint a yummy icy blue green. Oops, sorry, that goes under the interior decorating topic right? :laughing:
 
#4 ·
You will need to get the paper backing off the wall or it will bubble when you put anything moist on it. The paper tiger perforates through the vinyl covered paper so when you wet it down it dissolves the paste underneath and all of it comes off. You need to be careful so the sheetrock paper isn't conpromised in the process. You should be able to moisten the paper to dissolve the paste under it and pull it off. You can use a plastic scraper but be careful of gouges in the drywall.
Ron
 
#7 ·
I have heard about using inexpensive fabric softener to remove wallpaper paste. Thoughts???
I've had good luck using a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water...put it in a sprayer and mist the paste. After it sits for a while, using a sponge, and water, it'll wipe right up.

Good luck!
 
#8 ·
I've had luck with some fabric softner and lotsa HOT water. If that doesn't work get a sledgehammer and re-drywall :) In all seriousness, I just tackled our house that has been wallpapered since the 1930's, with layers added about every 20 years. A putty knife, hot water and fabric softner go a long way.. Dont forget copiuos amounts of cool running alcohol too!
 
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