# RIP, Upstairs Wallpaper (1920 - 2011) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 18, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372 "2011-05-18T21:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/21 "2011-05-20T16:50:05Z")
I see. That sucks. Thanks, **lieu**. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/22 "2011-05-20T22:51:09Z")
this is why i have the number of a very good, very affordable wall scrapper with in reach. one room of the house has a connecting door to the front bedroom. it was used as a nursery about 6 times (very twee kiddy paper), then a manly den (foresty ducks), then a bed room for a senior family member (silvery grey flower things) then painted with a lead based paint in the late '50s. i found a new spackle/mud trick. patch/cover as usual with spackle/mud. wait 'till nearly dry, then wipe with a lightly damp magic eraser. sooooooo very smooth, sanding may not be needed. the magic eraser lightly sands and smooths very nicely. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/23 "2011-05-21T05:43:00Z")
Why didn’t you just paint over the wallpaper? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/24 "2011-05-21T14:26:23Z")
I can understand the relief. My hallway had woodchip wallpaper over several other layers of wallpaper, and yes, I _did_ paint over it - because it was discoloured and extremely ugly and my attempts to remove it failed. Eventually I paid someone to remove it, first time I’ve ever done so; took him twice as long as he expected, and the bits he removed were 6cm thick. I felt so, so good about this. Every time I go in the hallway I have a residual memory of my joy at getting rid of that horrible woodchip. Maybe your new walls give you as much joy as mine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/25 "2011-05-21T14:47:28Z")
Got the walls washed last night, and I’m off to buy some skim coat today. I love it - there isn’t a trace of the wallpaper left on the walls (the floor, on the other hand…). My original plan was to have this all done by next weekend, but that’s impossible. If I can get the skim coating done this week, I’ll be extremely happy. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/26 "2011-05-21T19:28:47Z")
There is something really satisfying at seeing a project like this when it is finished - and then you realize that that wall over \>\>\> there needs work … ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/27 "2011-05-21T19:49:09Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > There is something really satisfying at seeing a project like this when it is finished - and then you realize that that wall over \>\>\> there needs work … Counting these walls, there are 8 entire walls in this house that _don’t_ need work. Just…32 more. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/28 "2011-05-21T20:57:17Z")
For about two weeks earlier this year I was very nearly a home owner. You all are making me glad it didn’t work out. When my mom moved into her current house and started doing all the interior work herself I’d get phone calls every other day “what else those idiots did”. Painted over wallpaper, painted things shut, and my personal favorite, wallpapering over an open live junction box. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/29 "2011-05-22T16:25:53Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > For about two weeks earlier this year I was very nearly a home owner. You all are making me glad it didn’t work out. > > When my mom moved into her current house and started doing all the interior work herself I’d get phone calls every other day “what else those idiots did”. Painted over wallpaper, painted things shut, and my personal favorite, wallpapering over an open live junction box. Oh, I love it. Getting a project like this done is really satisfying. Tell your mom it’s a good idea to give the person who did all that crappy work a name. It’s very cathartic to curse out “Daryl”. “Christ, Daryl - what the hell were you thinking when you painted this window shut?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/30 "2011-05-22T17:33:21Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > There is something really satisfying at seeing a project like this when it is finished - and then you realize that that wall over \>\>\> there needs work … Then you get the walls done and realize that the ceilings really need some work, and that tub surround has got to go, and those kitchen cupboards are outdated and dingy, and… ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/31 "2011-05-22T22:07:35Z")
Germans just love wallpaper - they paper the walls with off-white wallpaper, and then paint it! When I was living in Berlin, I swore the square footage of my apartment was at least 20% less than my lease stated, simply because of the layer upon layer upon layer of wallpaper on those walls. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/32 "2011-05-22T22:40:56Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Germans just love wallpaper - they paper the walls with off-white wallpaper, and then paint it! > When I was living in Berlin, I swore the square footage of my apartment was at least 20% less than my lease stated, simply because of the layer upon layer upon layer of wallpaper on those walls. I thought part of the lease was you had to peel off the wallpaper? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/33 "2011-05-23T00:53:02Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > … plaster over all the nicks and scrapes and gaping holes, sand the whole motherfucker down, repeat those last two steps one more time, and then prime it. Fuuuuuuuuuu… I never do the nicks and scrapes - I just do the whole walls. And I don’t sand; I put on a smooth coat and scrapes of the little ridges when it’s dry. I love re-doing walls, after the wallpaper is off. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/34 "2011-05-23T01:08:19Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I thought part of the lease was you had to peel off the wallpaper? Not in typical German apartments. Next tenant just comes in, slaps on another layer of wallpaper and paints. (At least that’s how it was among my graduate school friends a ways back in Berlin.) I think it must be easier to use wallpaper than worry about the plaster underneath. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/35 "2011-05-23T02:02:44Z")
> [@j66](#): > > I never do the nicks and scrapes - I just do the whole walls. And I don’t sand; I put on a smooth coat and scrapes of the little ridges when it’s dry. Interesting. What product do you use for your smooth coat? I may try that next time. ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/36 "2011-05-23T04:18:46Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I gave up on tearing out my old bathroom wallpaper and just put up some wood paneling over it. Looks like a ski lodge in there. Our first house taught me that there is only one reason to put up paneling. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/37 "2011-05-23T09:09:21Z")
Do I want to know what the reason is? Last summer I helped tear off some of the most random paneling I’ve ever seen so we could redo our kitchen; not only was it ugly it was both glued and nailed on to the wall. The former lady of the house autographed the wall in GLUE. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/38 "2011-05-23T09:21:12Z")
I’ve just ripped out my old kitchen, which was seemingly a DIY job in the 1960s. And by DIY job, I don’t mean “put in the units themselves”, I mean “created an ad hoc countertop out of whatever random bits of timber they had lying around”. Anyway, behind the cupboards on one wall was [this](http://i53.tinypic.com/ve6e1d.jpg) wonderful portal back into Sixties interior decor. Imagine a whole wall of that stuff. The other three walls were at that time apparently covered in _brown wood-panelling effect_ wallpaper. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/39 "2011-05-23T17:06:20Z")
> [@Dano83860](#): > > Our first house taught me that there is only one reason to put up paneling. :eek: To hide a dead body? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372/40 "2011-05-24T01:41:33Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Interesting. What product do you use for your smooth coat? I may try that next time. Light weight joint compound. Wash the surface, scrape it off with the blade (3" or 4") to get off all those little sandy bits (old plaster always has some). Then just scrape a thin coat with the largest blade you can get an even coat on with - I never use more than 4", but I’ve seen pros do it with one twice as big. It’s usually dry enough to scrape off the raised ‘seams’ by the time you finish a coat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-upstairs-wallpaper-1920-2011/582372.md?page=3)