The first layer came off in strips with no problem but I am now doing the final layer of wall paper. The top of the final layer comes off in strips but is there a way of removing the bottom other than wetting, steaming, scraping. I have been unable to get a full day at it and am behind schedule. At this rate, I will be lucky to have the wallpaper off and the walls cleaned for next week. UGH!!
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Lass, you dont need to score the paper layer. Only the top layer to get the water to sink in.
After I washed the walls free of most of the glue, my next step is to calk the trim, and paste over any holes with drywall paste, and then I'm giving the walls a light sand before I paint.
You are going to be so glad you sized that wall first. Really you shouldn't have much trouble with just soaking it first it should come right off. The only time you really need to score paper is if it's older. Most of the papers from the past 20 years or so are stripable and they do come off just as you described, top in one big swoop, paper layer with some soaking. Sometimes the vinyls will come off with one tug, but not the others.
Just get an old shower curtain or sheet of plastic and cover the floor so you don't have to worry about it. It also helps to have a large garbage bag nearby because that paper will be wet when you remove it and you don't want that piled on the floor until you clean up.
Windshield scraper, here I come. DBD, yes I sized the wall first, just because it makes it easier to hang. The wallpaper slides into place and gives you a longer time to play with it. I just keep forgetting that someday, I may want to remove it. As I said the first layer of wall paper was heaven but.............
I have a water bottle but I think I am using too little (trying to be careful with the floor) and I also expect I am expecting too much in having it come off in large sheets like the top layer.
I have not been scoring the paper first instead, just pulling the top layer off. Also, I think it just takes time and if I remember correctly a really good clean up is required on the walls or you end up in a mess with the painting.
I shouldn't complain too much, because I only have two walls but have a 12 hour shift this evening, so no work being done. Did I say I was retired. LOL
Thank you everyone, just to know that other people have been in the same..............................:rolleyes:
Now, now, not all wallpaper is a pain. The real trick is if someone did it properly and used size on the walls before they hung the paper. Then it comes off without much effort. People who skip steps just make it harder to undo their work and that gives the stuff a bad reputation.
I have JUST finished my wallpaper removing project. it was in my sons bedroom (new home). If you got the first layer off easily then the rest is not hard.
I struggled to get the first layer off. Scored it and used water. Did half the room, and then found a bottle of wallpaper remover in the closet! Used it for the rest of the room, it was the same as the water, less messy.
So that took 2 days,lol
Then on the the paper layer. I used water at first. Warm and with some dishwashing liquid in it to help with the glue. I heard that Softner works too.
Then I scraped with a WINDSHIELD ICE SCRAPER, it works like a dream! Doesnt damage the wall, and the pieces come off in strips.
Half way through, my dh came home with a steamer, got it for $8 somewhere, lol. it works the same, less water on the floor, and much quicker with one person steaming and the other scraping.
That took 2 days, lol and a lot of stiff shoulders
Then today i washed the walls with warm water and a little soap, and a scrubbing sponge to get the remaining glue residue off.
All done now. What a painful job! I hope I never have to do that again. My advice for furture wallpaper projects "don't!", lol think of the next owner who has to take it all off!
good luck, and try that ice scraper, it works!
Hi - If you lightly sand the top layer of paper to dull the sheen then soak it with water let it soak in & move on to the nex strip & possibly the next one then go back & soak again & by then it should come off easier. I put plenty of old sheets on the floor to absorb the drips, it's all about soaking, leaving, soaking & hopefully peeling the paper off. Good luck.
As far as I know, you have to wet that lower layer, the wetter the better. Really you only need to use water if you are down to that paper layer, and if you have a good squirt bottle, squirt it all over and then mist it again. The more it gets a soak, the easier it will roll off and take it's glue with it so mist until very wet (soaked right in) and take a putty knife (careful not to gouge the wall) and lift/scrape the paper off the wall. Keep the area you are working on damp because it's the water that does the work.
I've been told that if you are having trouble, you need to let it get wetter. It makes it so much easier to get any remaining glue off all in one swipe.