<p>We’re taking down the ugly wallpaper in our powder room (put up by the previous owners). I started peeling it off the other day, and the top layer came right off but a porous paper backing was left on the wall. I wasn’t sure how to deal with it, until I did a little research. So today I bought a spray on gel: you spray it onto the paper, and it soaks into the paper and then renders the wallpaper glue “unsticky” - and then it just peels right off! It’s quite amazing. I bought a scraper too, but I don’t think we’re going to need to use it very much.</p>
<p>We moved into this house 5 years ago, and we’ve been putting it off all this time, but this dreaded chore isn’t so bad after all. The lady at the paint store said to prime the walls before we paint, in case there is any wallpaper glue residue on the walls. We haven’t chosen a paint color yet. We’re also replacing the pedestal sink with a maple vanity, topped with a marble slab and a glass vessel sink.</p>
<p>We have no idea what color to paint this tiny bathroom. It has 9 foot ceilings, and we’re thinking about painting the ceiling as well, to bring it down a little. We need a color to go with a light maple cabinet. The toilet is white. Hardwood floor. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Oh man, I think I jinxed myself. I originally did a small section of one wall and that went very well. A few minutes ago I started on a different wall, and I don’t know what’s going on but the paper backing is not coming off easily at all and it’s making a huge mess. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with this stuff on paper where the top layer won’t budge, either? And, what’s the name of it?</p>
<p>I’ve removed lots of paper in my days, but I’m currently working on the toughest stuff yet. I’ve used the liquid chemical stuff in the past, with marginal results (not much better than just using water). I tried lots of stuff on my current project, including the warm water/Downy mix, but the pieces are coming off in 1/2 in squares. I was planning to take my clothes steamer to it, to see if it helps. If this gell stuff works, I’m all over it----I’m just concerned of whether it will penetrate the stubborn top layer of this ugly paper.</p>
<p>A couple of pro tricks- if you know the walls are plaster, and not drywall (sheetrock), you can score the face of the paper with a razor knife, or a tool made for the purpose (Zinsser’s Paper Tiger, in at least two different sizes).
WARNING: agressive use of this methodology will result in mutilated drywall.</p>
<p>There are a couple of main paper types: strippable vinyls, where the vinyl face with the pattern peels off, revealing the actual “paper”, older vinyls or heavy vinyls that will not peel from the backing, making it difficult for the solution to soak through and dissolve the adhesives. True paper/cloth papers usually have no issue with stripper penetration. You also can run across an scenario where the wall was not properly prepared (paper applied to raw unsized/unprimed drywall), multiple layers of paper, paint over paper, or the older “clay” paste, or heavy duty brown colored paste. </p>
<p>You can try a steamer, and rent one if necessary. Almost anything will come off, but sometimes it takes a trained eye and a bit of experience to diagnose
the problem and best removal methodolgy.</p>
<p>Patience and caution. It can be tedious. And remember, let the chemical soak and do as much work as possible.</p>
<p>When we moved into our current home 15 years ago it was almost entirely covered in wallpaper. I single handedly stripped every last bit of it with two little ones underfoot and an H who was mysteriously busy with other pressing tasks. I became an expert at drywall in the process. A huge chunk of a wall in the living room just caved in and I had to reconstruct it. What a headache but also cathartic. Then I painted everything really neutral. Then a few years ago I put wall paper into the foyer, then the guest bath, then the dining room, another bath, etc. You guessed it – the whole house is practically covered in wall paper. I liken this to phenomena to molting. I have a few more rooms to wallpaper, then the requisite rest period,then it will be time to strip. What can I say? Some of us just lead really exciting lives.</p>
<p>I stopped buying commercial products years ago. I have a tiger to score, while I am scoring the paper I take my largest pot (8 qt) and boil water and vinegar (1 to 4 ratio)…put on your rubbermaid gloves, use an old towl and start wiping the walls down …leave on for 5-10 secs, move it over and repeat, when the towel gets cold return to the simmering pot to soak…now just take a scraper to start the peel, if you do it correctly it just peels away in seconds in sheets. I have done it now for years and I can do a 12 x 12 in about 1 - 2 hrs. </p>
<p>As far as the steamer I borrowed my friends it is a pain in the butt especially for 9 ft ceilings.</p>
<p>As far as colors painting the ceiling will make the room look amaller, taller ceilings make rooms look larger…my color choice is a sage green, or the new rage…light blue with brown towel accents</p>
<p>Zinsser is the stuff I am using. DH and I just spent the last hour and a half in there. Apparently at least 3 strips - all adjacent to one another - are coming off beautifully. Just spray and peel them off. (Those are the ones I just happened to start with!) Then, inexplicably, right next to an easy one, is one that’s very difficult to get off. Then there’s the one on the other wall that I talked about in post #3. DH spent an hour and a half and got only half of it off. Now he’s thinking he wants to pay someone to finish the job!</p>
<p>We had a HORRIBLE experience taking 13-year-old wallpaper off non-primed drywall. I tried every commercial product, Downy, a rented steamer, vinegar,… AARRGGGHHHHH</p>
<p>I ruined the drywall with the scrapers and tigers and only 1/3 of it was gone. I gave up.</p>
<p>Then we had a horrible storm that tore a hole in the roof and caused water damage in multiple rooms as the water ran along beams. The insurance paid for new drywall. I was so thankful.</p>
<p>If it really won’t come down, or was put up on un-primed wallboard, I have had success with 2 coats of Kilz primer over the wallpaper and then plaster/texture/paint over that. You have to be really careful that there are no loose places because if there are, they will get looser and sag away from the wall when you start painting. Then you have to go back when it’s all dry and razor-blade them out and fill with drywall compound and reprime and repaint. Not that this <em>ever</em> happened to me…</p>
<p>Side note…white vinegar and water works for migraines…One time many months later I had a pounding migraine (actually could feel the pulse beating)took lots of advil/aleve with no results. my m-i-l said get a hot towel dip it in water and vin, microwave and put it on your head…I did it and it was gone within 2-3 min. I originally thought the meds kicked in, but I have done it again without meds and it worked.</p>
<p>I’ve used the chemical stuff (DIF?) and just plain ol’ warm water. Both seem to work if applied liberally and allowed to soak in but not dry. Spray, peel, scrape, repeat. Don’t try to do too big an area at once. I found a pump type garden sprayer to be a fabulous tool for this purpose. My small household steamer gave so so results and seemed more tedious than the spray method. Worst experience was coming across the area where the wallpaper had been applied directly to the drywall (why oh why would someone do that), but of course this discovery was made AFTER the damage was done. That fix was beyond me and I ended up calling a handyman to come in, repair and skimcoat that section of the wall. It took a few years but there is now NO wallpaper in this house, nor will there be any as long as I live here.</p>
<p>DO prime before you paint-any little bit of left over glue residue can totally mess up a nice paint job. I, too, have a green bathroom, a deep “sprucy” green. Almost bold-but I find the color rather soothing.</p>
<p>My bedroom is sage green and I love it. I once had a paprika colored bathroom which I loved because it made me look tan, which I never am. Our current powder room is a pale dove grey. The sink is burgundy and the tiles are grey and burgundy. (It’s basically a 1960s bathroom, but looks remarkably good if I do say so myself!)</p>
<p>Depending on the wall and the number of layers of paint and wall paper, the best solution may turn out to be a new layer of 1/4-inch drywall on top of the paper. It doesn’t sound like Oregoinianmom is to that stage yet, but you never know.</p>
<p>If you live in Coos Bay, look up my Dad. He’s the all-time Oregon champion wallpaper remover.</p>
<p>On the general theme of home decor, What color walls would go well with white drapes over white wood blinds in a master bedroom? I want something warm and vibrant and not too feminine since it’s H’s room, too.</p>
<p>I hope I can describe this color combo accurately! I recently painted our master BR the color of a good latte. It has depth and warmth withoug being overpowering. The Duvet cover has several colors (including camel, green, and garnet on a cream background), and I’ve used that garnet color elsewhere for accent. It turned out quite well, if I do say so myself!</p>
<p>As others have said, if you are dealing with unprimed wallboard, the wall will get chewed up. Otherwise, I have found that you can score wallpaper on drywall if you are careful to not score too deeply. You want to score the wallpaper and not the wall. I use the edge of a putty knife and don’t apply too much pressure. You may end up wiht a mark here and there, but that’s why we have spackle!</p>
<p>I painted our powder room a deep brick color ( I believe the Benjamin Moore color is Brick). It’s a darker color than anything else I’ve used in the house, and it works in that small space. I kept the ceiling and trim white. Works well with the sagey color in the adjacent mud room.</p>
The lady at the paint store said to prime the walls before we paint, in case there is any wallpaper glue residue on the walls. We haven’t chosen a paint color yet. We’re also replacing the pedestal sink with a maple vanity, topped with a marble slab and a glass vessel sink.</p>