Need alternatives for drywall

Dee
by Dee
We're redoing a duplex, and the walls are heavily wallpapered with many layers of really old wallpaper. We want to cover rather than tear down as they are lathe and plaster - too messy. Any suggestions for wall going over top of current walls with something and then painting. Thanks
  7 answers
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Jan 17, 2016
    We had that same problem in our former house and found that beadboard covered a multitude of sins! We covered over the rough walls and ugly wallpaper and painted it a warm-toned white. It looks great and is easy to keep clean, too!
  • Patty S Patty S on Jan 17, 2016
    I agree with Barb, Bead board can be purchased already finished in white, therefore no painting needed. It has a very clean look and goes with any décor.
  • Dee Dee on Jan 17, 2016
    Our first thought was bead board too, thanks! But wondering if anyone has tried anything else. Really don't want to do 3 rooms on the same floor with all bead board, thinking it may get too busy. Thanks.
  • Karen Coulas Karen Coulas on Jan 17, 2016
    We strapped and drywalled over the walls in our old farm house. We thought and have tried a few other ways...but in the long run, we were happiest with the drywall over the lathe and plaster. The cost was not much more than the other options, as we did the work ourselves.
  • Dfm Dfm on Jan 17, 2016
    is there a 1/4 inch thick sheet rock supply in your area? rock tape and mud...worked for an uncle of mine in San Antonio. I've also seen 4x8 sheets of brown press board..can be painted. had a race track and electric car race game mounted to it as a kid. it's more flexible than sheet rock. then there 1/4 inch sheets of plywood.....my favorite look is to cut the ply in squares ....finish them individually with stain(s) paint(s) of your choice and glue to wall in a pleasing pattern. work it out on the floor first....
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Jan 17, 2016
    I was going to add the 1/4 inch sheet rock also. But check you building supply for other options. Paneling can be used for one room and it comes in many colors. another idea is do half and half I had an older home in IN and it had bead board on the bottom with sheet rock of painted walls on top with a chair rail.. they had also put up many shelves permanently on the walls I loved it. Also hid a multitude of mistakes in an older home.
  • Carri Reed Carri Reed on Jan 18, 2016
    You could try a humidifer filled with vinager and water runnng none stop for a few days one room at a time. the end result will be that the wall paper falls off to the floor or is very easily peeled off. In colder climates you may have to add a heater but you would be surprised how well this works if you have a little patients. It does work for multipal layers very well also.