Removing wallpaper question!
by
Miss Kitty
+14
I am thinking about removing the wallpaper in my living room and then painting it. My question is...do I need to remove the wall sizing before I paint? I don't want the sizing that is left on the wall to possibly affect the paint color down the road. This is a rather large area and would require a lot of work to remove it, so if it's possible not to, I would rather not. I was thinking that I could use a primer such as Kilz if that would work so as to avoid all that work. What do you think?
15 answers
-
There are no short cuts when it comes to smooth, good-looking walls! Take the time to do it right the first time and you will not regret it! You can use a clean roller to wash down the walls quickly, then let them dry before applying primer and paint. Do NOT skip the primer unless the primer is included in the paint! You may even have to sand some rough areas. You will not regret taking the extra time to make it look good.
Dianne
on Apr 20, 2015
- See 1 previous
-
Hi, I don't know if this will help, but I have used fabric softner after I have taken the top layer of wallper off (the vinyl part). The fabric softner is used neat, and left a few mins. to soak in.It really works ! It takes you right back to the bare wall. Maybe you could try it ?. Good luck ! Syl K.
Cloggynanny
on Apr 20, 2015
-
I have painted over wall paper before! if it is smooth and not peeling, just paint it!
Mary
on Apr 20, 2015
-
We used a steamer to remove the paper and then washed the wall using DIF
Julie Marcellus
on Apr 20, 2015
-
We also used a steamer; turns out there were 7 layers and not always very easily. BUT did not have probs with glue. We misted while we steamed, scrape scrape scrape, and by the time we revealed the bare, all the glue was jelly like and wiped away easily with t.s.p. or similar cleaner. We lived with it bare for a few months while we finalized the paint, worked great!
Duv310660
on Apr 21, 2015
-
If you are lucky the person who hung the wallpaper did it right, and then it will not be hard to get down. Pull up from a corner and see if it pulls up easily. If it does, thank your luck stars, pull it all off and wash off the glue. It is the glue, not the sizing (which is a sort of wallpaper primer) that you are washing off. Wash off as much as you can with plain water. Re-prime with Zinsser 123 or the Kilz and paint. You need to re-prime in case you missed any glue or the paper pulled off any of the previous paint. Do not paint over wallpaper because down the road you will kick yourself or be cursed to a hot place by an owner in the future. If the paper does not come off easily, the ideas above - fabric softener and steamer can be very helpful.
Jhmarie
on Apr 21, 2015
-
Most of the sizing will come off with the wallpaper. (the secret to wallpaper removal is to wet, wet, wet) Remainder of sizing is easily removed with TSP(trisodiumphosphate)
Connie Phillips
on Apr 21, 2015
-
You can mix 2-3 drops of Dawn dish soap Ina spray bottle with warm water. Score the paper. Spray this on the paper and scrape it off. It's quick and easy.
Connie
on Apr 21, 2015
-
If you paint over wallpaper that is paper based, you risk the paint soaking in and bubbling (loosing) the wallpaper...not pretty !~ I've painted over vinyl, but it has to be well glued to the wall with no lifting anywhere....seams, etc. If you choose to texture with a quick drying spray on texture, your wall will not show the seams or imperfections as readily. In a living room area, you might want to rethink how it will look overall if you paint without texturing.
Pau1452126
on Apr 21, 2015
-
I had to remove a large amount of wall paper border and I found out that to save money use fabric softner in a spray bottle not only does it smell good you don't have the bad oders.
Debra Gaunt
on Apr 21, 2015
-
Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I have read them all and decided if I do paint the walls, I will just prime over the old paste and sizing before painting. The area is so big, it would take a LOT of time and effort to wash down all the walls.
Miss Kitty
on Apr 21, 2015
-
You do need to remove as much of the paste as possible before priming - otherwise the primer will wet the glue and it will mix together or the texture of the glue will show through. Walls are usually textured when the house is built and even walls with wallpaper on often have the texture under the paper - you don't want to pull that texture off, but you also don't want to hide it under globs of glue. The glue washes off pretty easy - it is a chore but much easier than actually removing the paper. The sizing is not a problem - it is just like a thin paint that was painted on the wall before the paper was hung and can stay on the wall - you couldn't wash it off anyway. If sizing was used when hanging the paper in the first place, it will help the paper come down easier.
Jhmarie
on Apr 21, 2015
-
Dont paint over the wall paper. I just spent weeks removing painted over wall paper in my house. t is time consuming but better to do it right. You can read what I did to remove my wall paper. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/how-to-remove-wall-paper-without-harsh-chemicals-7840556
117135
on Apr 21, 2015
-
I think you need to remove the siding or your paint will show it up.yes it is a lot of work but really worth it
Yvonne Delik
on Apr 22, 2015
-
I agree either fabric softner mixed with water sprayed over the walls or I've used a wire brush to score the paper, then used a steam wallpaper brush and it scrapes off easily. It is easy to paint over your existing wallpaper, however your finished result will only be as good as your weakest point. You will kick yourself if after painting all this, the result us not good, you will end up re-doing the whole lot twice? I agree with De De getting it right first time will say money, time and your nerves, good luck with your room.
Annie Doherty
on Jul 10, 2016
Sign Up to Answer
