Removing Wallpaper and Textured Paint

Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of ServiceMagic.com

Q: I've been wanting to paint my bathroom. The walls are covered with two layers of wallpaper and textured paint. I've been trying to remove it by scraping, but its taking a very long time. I have been scraping and scraping. Is there an easier way?

A: Have you tried soaking it before scraping? You could also try renting a wallpaper stripping machine. This punctures the paper, injects steam behind the paper, to loosen it and make scraping easier.

Here's an easy way to speed up the tedious chore of stripping wallpaper:

After you perforate the surface of the paper with a wallpaper-scoring tool, use a garden sprayer to soak the surface with wallpaper stripper, a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar or just plain water. Allow the liquid to soak through the perforations and dissolve the adhesive; keep the paper wet for at least 20 minutes. Peel back one corner of the wallpaper. If it easily comes off the wall, the adhesive is dissolved. If it doesn't, spray the wallpaper again and wait ten more minutes.

Finally, if that wallpaper is on there good and tight, the walls could be sealed, floated with a new layer of joint compound over the top of it, retextured to cover imperfections in the walls and repainted.

You can find both processes described in more detail at ServiceMagic.com. Click on "Ask the Expert" on the left and type "Painting Over Wallpaper" in the search box.

However, should you decide to hire a professional either to remove the wallpaper and repair and texture the drywall, or texture and paint over the wallpaper please visit Service Magic. Fill out a service request and let Service Magic help you find the ideal service professional in your area.

Good luck!

Kathy Maynard

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic