The previous owner of my home felt the need to paint over multiple rooms of wallpaper with paint. I want to remove the wallpaper and get some fresh paint on the walls but am uncertain about the best method for removing it. Has anyone overcome this problem without having to cause major damage to their sheetrock?
You need to obtain a “PaperTiger” to scarify the paint and allow the companion aquaeus wallpaper removing solvent to penetrate into the paper and allow it to be peeled off the wall down to the base. YOu might want to try peeling away an incospicuous corner to determine how many applications of wall paper are on the wall and the base wall material. If sheetrock be carefull in peeling tht paper so as to not damage the paper coating on the sheetrock.
Ask the experts and the paint and wallpaper center. I used this system, but wall had a coat of paint/sealer on wallboard base.
Alterrnately you could try a heat gun if you have one to see if it will aid in removing the paint and one application of paper. A bit like the old steamer machine without the mess. Might be a help after first soaking an area in conjunction with the paper tiger.
I just saw this on an HGTV show. It appeared to work quite well. The old paper came off in nearly full sheets.
If you’re unlucky, you might discover that the previous owner had a good reason for painting over the wallpaper. In my house, one room had wallpaper applied to raw sheetrock - no sizing, no priming, no nothing. As a result, that wallpaper was completely and utterly unstrippable. The only way to “redecorate” the room was to paint over the wallpaper, then wallpaper over that.
It appears it was done because when she was preping the house for sale, it was the easiest way to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.
I was thinking of removing a small corner and then using a steamer to loosen the glue to start removing the paper. The Paper Tiger idea is sounding better though.
Thanks
The companion product mentioned by springears is called DIF. You buy it in concentrate and mix what you need for the job. In my experience it works quite well.
BTW, I saw the PaperTiger thing on Ask This Old House. They used some type of cloth soaked in the chemical and pressed it onto the wallpaper. They would then keep it wet for however long it’s necessary. The cloths could be re-used.