[mudbug1968]

our entire second floor is done in wallpaper.bedrooms, hallway and stairwell. the mess is that there are years of paint over all of it. layer after layer and its so thick that it cracks at the baseboard so peeling is out. we want to refinish the walls and paint but dont want to do what previous owners did. the seams of the paper really stick out now so we were wondering if there is a way to sand down the walls to smooth the seams, spackle and prime to get them looking better

 

[chrisn]

layer after layer and its so thick that it cracks at the baseboard so peeling is out.

?? what do you mean by this?

 

[mudbug1968]

wall paper mess

we live in a townhome that has passed hands a few times. not sure when the paper was aid but since that point there has been several layers of paint over the paper. it seems to be thicker at the bottoms near the floor and baseboards and is prone to cracking and chipping. i feel that if we were to try to peel the paper it would do no more than chip and flake i just want to make the walls look flat again and less like painted over wall paper. what are my options? thanks for the help

 

[PLAIN O TX]

My wife just stripped two layers of wallpaper off our kitchen. Now we can fix the nail holes and paint. You will not be happy with the outcome until all the junk is off the walls. A lot of work? Yes. The end result is worth the effort.

 

[saggdevil]

I just stripped 96 years worth of painted over wallpaper and yes it was a long tiring job but well worth the effort. I used a putty knife and got under those edges that curl and sheared upward. Get a starting point and shear it all off. You'll be left with the paper backing and glue which you need a "remover" of whatever type to remove it. Then clean your walls to a sparkling clean before starting the repairs. You'll love the outcome.

You need to remove all the cracked and peeling stuff. Sounds like that's what has been done in past causing it to continue. It needs cleaned off the walls.

 

[Shamus]

I've done more than my share of interior walls with wallpaper/paint issues.

There is, in my opinion, no one single way to remove what your walls have accumulated over the years. Often I see oil based paint over laytex over paper over oil base with another layer of paper, then a few more coats of paint.

If this is the case I pull all the trim and start the slow process of wetting/scrapping/wetting until the plaster finally appears.

On really difficuly jobs we may even install new drywall over everything. That's the case on the job we have now. The last homeowner stripped everything down to the studs in this 1895 home. Installed new drywall and then papered over it without a primer coat on the drywall. You cannot remove the paper without tearing into the drywall. Water just makes a mess in this situation.

On several jobs it's been easier/quicker/best results to strip everything back to the studs and start fresh. Keep in mind there is a crew working on it. Also the flooring either comes up first or it's going to be replaced.

There just isn't a quick fix for a problem that has been magnified over many years. It's gonna take a lot more time than you think but you will be rewarded with the results. (Also, you'll give pause before you hang another sheet of wallpaper again... :yes

Just my 2¢

 

[mudbug1968]

thanks, your input has helped me see what could really be lying beneath the surface here. im afraid to try scrapping and peeling and have it really damage the drywall and ending up replacing it in the end. have a lot to think about now

 

[saggdevil]

Considering the fact that you probably have drywall under the paint and paper, and who knows if proper procedures were followed when installing the paper....I'd look at the option of installing "paper liner". (at Lowes in the wallpaper dept). This is a thick, smooth white paper that can be put up like wallpaper. This paper is to provide a smooth surface for paint. It is used to cover wall imperfections, paneling, etc. I will be using this to cover the painted paneling in one bedroom.

 

[chrisn]

. I will be using this to cover the painted paneling in one bedroom.

Be very careful with this project, you may be making things worse( just what you wanted to hear!):laughing:

You must be absolutely sure the paneling is SECURYLY fastened or the wall liner could pull it loose. The paneling MUST be clean( free of wax,etc) primed properly,etc.

 

[saggdevil]

Oh no Chris....that's not what I wanted to hear, lol :no:. I believe this paneling to be quite secure (however there is some horrific excuse of crown molding that I'll have to remove .

So I can't just put up liner over the paneling??? Do I sand it to degloss it or use one of the commercial deglossers? It was painted about 10 years ago (my attempt to rid the stuff) and the guy didn't prime it or degloss it so there are some chips in places.

I've asked myself so many times why I bought this place. Too much work to get it the way I want it, lol . I just like clean smooth walls and that seems to be on ongoing effort here, lol.

 

[chrisn]

Well,if it has already been painted just prime with a WALL COVERING primer and hang.