White Rabbit Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Hi Folks, Got to do some decorating in our new house. Problem is, some of the internal walls are just wall paper applied direct to plasterboard. Can i use a steamer to take it off or will it knacker the plaster board? If i try to strip it dry i imagine i'll end up digging holes into the boards with the scraper? Help! Would it be better just to apply the new paper on top of the old? I 've heard thats not a good idea. Any advice greatly received! Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chandelierman Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 I doubt you will get the wall paper off if it is directly on plasterboard it has never worked for me,if the wall paper is flat then just paper over it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedro222 Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Try washing up liquid and water.If that fails go with the steamer nice and easy with the scraper though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 if its textured then i'd try to strip it GENTLY. If not then try taking the top layer of vinyl off and paper over it, use some polyfilla to even up the joints first. steaming it should work , cos it's dissolving the paste under the wall paper, just go easy tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Paper over it - if it's patchy then go for a thicker paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineshooter Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 You maybe able to use lining paper over the top if its flat and not a vinyl paper, (paste wont stick to it) other wise give it a good soaking and strip it carefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Im sure there is something akin to paint stripper but for wallpaper, try asking in a good decorating shop.Im sure it will be messy, time consuming and not be cheap by the time you have done the whole house But its a lot easier than having all your house replastered like i had to Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted December 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks everybody. Think i'll give the steamer a go and see how i get on! God i hate decorating!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phill.p Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Just take it easy with the steamer, too long in one place and steam will penetrate into the skim and holes WILL result. phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 If its vinyl paper,try removing this top layer before going in with a steamer,but dont keep it in one place for too long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiltsmark Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Will also depend on/if the walls are drylined and skimmed with plaster(which would be o.k to steam off paper) or if they were tape and jointed which would be more difficult unless it was sealed first before it was originally painted/papered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted December 11, 2009 Report Share Posted December 11, 2009 Dry strip as much of the face paper off which should hopefully leave the paper backing. Get a cheap pump up sprayer from B&Q and spray a light amount of water on the backing paper. Don't near flood it, just wet it. Allow the water to soak. Then repeat again. You may then be able to strip the backing paper off by hand if it lifts enough. I would avoid the steamer as there is every chance it will pop the board underneath and fur the plasterboard up. You can buy sprays etc for the paper which supposedly softens the paste. I don't use these at all as I think they are useless. Just go with the regular wetting and stripping carefully. Also don't use a cheap scraper with a whopping blade. The one I use daily is only 3" wide. If you wet the paper enough it will lift from the board and will come off. Just take your time. Been decorating over 20 years now and always used the 'wet it, wet it and wet it again' routine to great effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Dry strip as much of the face paper off which should hopefully leave the paper backing. Get a cheap pump up sprayer from B&Q and spray a light amount of water on the backing paper. Don't near flood it, just wet it. Allow the water to soak. Then repeat again. You may then be able to strip the backing paper off by hand if it lifts enough. I would avoid the steamer as there is every chance it will pop the board underneath and fur the plasterboard up. You can buy sprays etc for the paper which supposedly softens the paste. I don't use these at all as I think they are useless. Just go with the regular wetting and stripping carefully. Also don't use a cheap scraper with a whopping blade. The one I use daily is only 3" wide. If you wet the paper enough it will lift from the board and will come off. Just take your time. Been decorating over 20 years now and always used the 'wet it, wet it and wet it again' routine to great effect. Followed your advice to the letter and it came off a treat. Thankyou! Steamed the other solid walls and wasn't very impressed so went back to your method for those aswell. Had to do a small area of woodchip aswell. Nightmare!! But got there in the end. Glad it was a small area cos i was losing the will to live! Thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Followed your advice to the letter and it came off a treat. Thankyou! Steamed the other solid walls and wasn't very impressed so went back to your method for those aswell. Had to do a small area of woodchip aswell. Nightmare!! But got there in the end. Glad it was a small area cos i was losing the will to live! Thanks for the advice. Pleased it worked for you WR. PITA is stripping woodchip paper. I normally let the 2 lads who work for me do those chores... I've done my fair share of stripping it whilst I was the junior... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Sweepy Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Just wall paper over it. We had the same problem with are house , We ended up having to have the whole house Re plastered. And it only started as a small strip Once the plaster started to come away it all did. xxxxSuzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 With paper straight to plasterboard, if you take it off and it leaves imperforations, get a bag of artex, and caulk it out. You don't need to be a plasterer either to get a good finish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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