Will skim coating remove cardboard on walls?

Renee McCready
by Renee McCready

I just removed wallpaper from a room and there’s cardboard underneath it. It’s not just a thin layer, it’s like wallboard. Will skim coating it stick to it well enough??

  3 answers
  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Jan 20, 2019

    It's the drywall has paper/cardboard on both sides of it & gypsum/plaster like material inside- yes it will stick here's bunch of videos on how to skim coat https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=DIY+skim+coating+drywall if the drywall/paper has been ripped it'll need fixed before you skim coat look at videos

  • Seth Seth on Jan 20, 2019

    I don't know if Lynn's videos show it, but you need to seal the paper first. Use a utility knife or Exacto knife with a sharp blade to clean up any fuzzy edges on the torn paper. Then use a sealer/bonding agent. if you try to apply joint compound directly to the area, it will suck out all the moisture and will not cure well.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jan 20, 2019

    If it’s thick cardboard, you may have “Button-board” or a Masonite product used in mobile homes, porch enclosures and other light construction- all of which will bleed brown residue into the skim coating.


    So you’ll need to put a stain barrier primer, like Kilz or Zinzer on the cardboard or on the skimcoat- so that your finish coat will not have the brown bleed through.