Posted: 3/14/2008 9:30:35 AM EDT
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This weekend I'm removing wallpaper from my girlfriend's kitchen. I've read/heard conflicting word on whether using a wallpaper steamer or chemicals is the better method, so I figured I'd check with the hivemind. So, have you had better luck using a wallpaper steamer or chemicals to remove wallpaper? From what I've read, it may also depend on the type of wallpaper, and to be honest I'm not sure what's up there. It's probably no more than 5 years old though. If chemicals, any recommendations? If steamer, do you still use a perforation tool on the paper before steaming? Thanks, JDC |
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I've used a a ton of different methods. Dif Remover in garden sprayer and paper tiger, Steamers, fabric softener, etc. Like you stated it all depends on the paper. None are easy, it just sucks. There will always be stuff leftover you have to scrape off by hand. No way around it. Wish you luck. Keep delaying stripping my hall bathroom. |
It was at least primed, and probably painted. It's a condo built about 16 years ago. In fact, in one spot a corner is starting to peel off, so hopefully that's a good sign. |
I recently stripped our half bath using a perforater and Dif. Don't expect to do a kitchen in one weekend. Patience is key. If you get in a hurry, you will make a mess of the dry wall. I would not re paper the kitchen unless you need to hide the scars from the removal. |
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Steam worked on a few of the rooms in my house. Fabric softener + warm water + the perferator worked on some others... (MESSY) In the living room, the walls weren't primed or prepped. I had to tear them down to the studs and start over. (Killed two steamers on a 4x8 section).  Up side, it gave me an excuse to insulate the interior walls against sound and run all my cables. 
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Dif is the best stuff. It works wonders. But it makes more of a difference if it were primed or sized first. That you have no way of knowing until you go to take it off. I have tried steaming and Dif. Dif and and a scraper, hands down the only way to go. -Good luck, you are going to need it. |
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I have a small bedroom I've been avoiding due to all the horror stories. I'm thinking I may just put some 1/4" drywall over it. Did that on a cracking plaster ceiling in a hallway and it worked out great. I'm keeping an eye on this thread for the magic answer......................... |
| I just called my mom (professional painter for 35+years) and she said to remind everyone that if it is a vinyl wallpaper to make sure you pick at the corner before you start and you will be able to pull the vinyl coating off the paper, then use Dif and a perforator. She said alot of people forget to remove the coating off vinyl paper before they start and it makes it a hell of a lot harder to remove. |
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We rent wallpaper steamers pretty regularly... Never had any complaints... The only time we hear about issues is when vinyl wallpaper is involved. The steam wont penetrate the vinyl... for that we have a spike roller to score, scratch, poke holes in the paper for the steam to get behind. |
The border stuff? Usually find a spot that has peeled up some, and get under it with a 2.5" spackle knife. Slide the blade under and move slowly (too fast and you'll tear through the paper and have to find another spot), it comes right down. Use some warm water to get rid of the glue residue/reminants. If that doesn't work... warm water + sponge first then blade. |
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We just moved into a wall-paper shitstorm and found that Dif and a perferator was worthless, so the ol lady and her mom got a steamer and worked in the kitchen / dining room alone for 3-4 days straight. Sure, the paper came off fine, but the drywall was so devistated we had to have them professionally skimcoated & sanded, and they still looks like ass. They told me they never remove paper, they said to just roll primer over it. Don't know how right they are, but I do know I will NEVER put that shit up, not even lame ass border. BTW, the majority of the kitchen had 2-3 layers on it, baseboard to ceiling. |
After we tore down the living room, the MIL said to primer over it. She said there is some heavy primer that we should have used.  I have never seen/heard of it other than from her. |
Dif & paper tiger, but while you're doing it, you'll wish you'd just stripped the walls to the studs and started fresh.
Kharn |
| Done this twice first time sucked.. well they both did. But the first time it was just wallpaper trim so I used a hot washcloth and bowl of hot water. Worked alright for the small amount I was doing. Second time steamer. I would highly recommend this. Good Luck and she owes you big time for doing this chore for her. I hate removing wallpaper! |
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Dif or liquid fabric softener and a scoring toll (Paper Tiger). If it was sized properly it will be much easier, and very hot water may do the trick as well. ETA- A lot of times priming over the wallpaper can loosen up the adhesive and then you have a really huge problem. |
Tell your MIL she is a lazy POS. You should tear the stuff off the wall so it looks like a quality job. |
No, it isn't Killz. That stuff rocks though... nothing like repainting the ceiling 3x with that stuff to get rid of the 40+ years of nicotine stains. They say the owners died of lung cancer.  <- surprised faceETA: The paint is supposed to be heavy enough, applied with a different nap roller to hide the borders/seams. I have yet to see how this looks. Easy with calling the MIL names. I think my FIL camps these forums, I don't need to be in any hot water over wallpaper.  Besides, she was just relaying info from someone else she heard it from.  I tore the walls down to studs, because I chose to not do a half assed job.
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DIF and paper tiger FTW! I did a "test" removal of one section tonight, and the paper tiger and DIF worked very well. There was primer and paint under the paper and it stayed intact except for two very small places that I'll have to quickly skim over before priming again. Guess I got lucky that the paper hadn't been up that long, and there was paper/primer underneath. Thanks for all the suggestions. |
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the paper tiger sucks so much it pulled nails out of my walls. here is what I did in my house. #1 - daughters room. had 10" wide borders at the cieling . used the paper tiger and some orange scented stuff . then switched to a damp rag with 50/50 striper and hot water . sucked but worked. #2 - master bedroom . the wall paper was hung by experts , no seams , designs matched perfectly , etc. I "kiltzed" the crap out of it then painted over it . can't even tell. #3 - master bathroom. tried the paper tiger and orange stripper . sucked royaly. worked on it over many weeks time. tiger put some small holes in the wall when I'd get pissed. then I had an ephiffinay - sand paper. I picked up some 36 grit from lowes and scoured the paper with that . it was beautifull , the scouring was so fine and close that the hot water on a sponger saoked right in . the paper almost fell off the walls. whole sheets came off in one piece . also for the record my BIL used a steamer and took off the top layer of the drywall in his bathroom. try the corse sandpaper on a block with warm water . |
