%#*&^%*&%^ wallpaper

[dBel84]

We knew what we were buying and we bought it anyway, now the wallpaper has to come down - 70% 0f all walls are covered in some form and I want to do this once only if possible. I have seen scrapers/scourers, steamers etc

If you have useful advise , glad to hear it. For those with just advise, it always cheers me up so post away.

and I have considered getting a contractor in but that just seems wimpy.

..dB

[Salt Peanuts]

I've used steamers several times in the past with good results, better than just scrapers/scourers. One thing to remember is that they can get bit messy, with steam/water along with glue from the wallpapers.

[dBel84]

Thanks, we will be pulling up the flooring too and thus the desire to do this properly and as efficiently as possible. I am anticipating mess, hoping to bypass frustration.

[Pars]

I think we used Zep Wallpaper remover and it has worked well. Wallpaper... hate the shit! Still have a little in one bathroom and one wall of our bedroom. Maybe this winter. Do a search on Zep and you should get some hits on alternatives as well. First link I saw seemed to have some good advice.

Edited February 8, 2011 by Pars

[Yikes]

My house in NH had horse hair plaster and the decades of wallpaper couldn't be removed without destroying the walls. It was an unbelievable PIA! Good luck.

[n_maher]

The wallpaper in our bathroom was so thick that we had use a wallpaper perforation tool, otherwise the steamer had no effect. I'd suggest looking into one, it made a night and day difference for us. Otherwise we rented a steamer for a day to do the one room and also used a chemical to help soften the adhesive backing. I'm glad it was the only room in the house with paper.

[dBel84]

Thanks , I will investigate local steamer rentals.

I don't think I have ever seen one of these but not sure I have looked for one either - wall paper perforator )

The house unfortunately has its fair share of wallpaper - entrance & hallway, bathrooms, one bedroom, dining room. I know I will be cursing but beer and pizza should ease the pain..dB

[grawk]

I've stripped a bunch of wall paper. I bought a steamer, used the enzyme paste stripper stuff, and a perforator. I'd start with just the steamer. If that didn't loosen it, I'd perforate it and soak it with the enzyme stuff, then steam again. It's a messy messy process. If I had it to do over again, I'd burn the house down, and get insurance to build me a house without wall paper.

[boomana]

When I got my place, 80% was covered in silver foil wallpaper with a Japanese cherry blossom theme. I spent many miserable hours using Zep, a perforator thing and a scraper, and did just enough damage to have to spend many more miserable hours resurfacing the walls before I could paint them. I wished I'd used a steamer, but didn't know better at the time.

[Pars]

You're really at the mercy of how good the wall was prepped to begin with, before the wallpaper was put up. If they didn't bother to prime, etc. I'm not sure you can get it off without leaving yourself with a bunch of repair.

[dBel84]

All I know is that it was put up 25 years ago and still looks pristine. I think from what I am hearing is that an all out assault is needed. Enzyme, perforation some soak time and then a good steam.

I will take pics and let you all have a good laugh..dB

[Currawong]

I'm not laughing. Japan is wallpaper central. If you want an apartment "cleaned" (ie: new wallpaper, tatami mats, re-covered sliding doors etc.) before you move in, it costs a couple of grand at least.

[CarlSeibert]

When I got my place, 80% was covered in silver foil wallpaper with a Japanese cherry blossom theme.

Ouch. I remember that stuff vividly from my days as a photographer in Palm Beach.

[HeadphoneAddict]

When I got my place, 80% was covered in silver foil wallpaper with a Japanese cherry blossom theme. I spent many miserable hours using Zep, a perforator thing and a scraper, and did just enough damage to have to spend many more miserable hours resurfacing the walls before I could paint them. I wished I'd used a steamer, but didn't know better at the time.

Yeah, in our last house we scratched up the wall removing the wallpaper in the dining room, and ended up covering it venetian plaster and polishing it (burnishing?) It actually turned out very nice. Nice enough that we did the venetian plaster in the new house dining room for a similar look.