Getting the wall paper off plaster board

ollietrex

Hi

We just brought a 35 year old house which had one previous owner. From the first day she has just put layer upon layer of wall paper, the walls were never skimmed, they just applied wall paper to the plaster board. The first couple of layers comes off fine but once we get to the first ever layer its taking hours upon hours to remove because its stuck onto the plaster board. I remove about a meter squared in an hour today and we have a whole house.

I used a pointy roller to break the surface and wet the walls and wait 10 mins and I am able to peal some bits off but others I have to scrape. We are aiming to get back to the plaster board so we can get them skimmed to paint the walls.

Is there any way to increase the speed at which we can get back to the plaster board so we can get the plasters in? Is there people that will come in and do this at a reasonable cost?

Dont mind getting my hands dirty but this will takes months at the current rate :mad:

Steve

Is it actual plasterboard?

As in gyproc nailed to wood or dabbed onto brick?

I had the same thing 10 years ago, ended up with a heatgun and scraper and it did take months.

It would be quicker to take it off and put up new stuff, would only take a few days.

Edit: another option would be heavy lining paper over what's there.

ollietrex

The picture I posted is some sort of board dabbed onto the wall. When I peel back to the base it seems more like cardboard type than anything else but then I don't know much about construction.

Our ceilings are down and the only thing that is left is the walls, some of which are gonna be chased by the Gas / Electrical people. We have a tight enough budget which is why we wanted to avoid pulling everything down but I also have a full time job so was looking to see what options there was to save the walls so I don't spend months scrapping old wall paper off walls?

Steve

New plasterboard - especially if you put it up yourself - will be cheaper than months of your time in the long run.

Plenty of advice will be given here on how to to it if you ask

budgemook

Having exactly the same issue. Going to try the 30 minutes soak method this weekend and then re-evaluate. My uncle said straight away to just put new plaster board over what is there and then skim that but I'd rather it gone to be honest.

I have not come across the heavy lining idea before, can that stuff be skimmed and painted?

Pic attached.

Steve

It's basically the same paper that is on the outside of the gyproc sheets, I've never used it but have heard good things about it.

From a quick google search:
https://www.davesdiytips.com/using-lining-paper/

budgemook

Steve wrote: »

It's basically the same paper that is on the outside of the gyproc sheets, I've never used it but have heard good things about it.

From a quick google search:
https://www.davesdiytips.com/using-lining-paper/

Was just reading about it too. Is it already to hang this stuff on the existing wallpaper?

ted1

You are using a steamer? Right?

ollietrex

ted1 wrote: »

You are using a steamer? Right?

Hi, not using a steamer but water and sponge, same effect as far as every one I know has told me.

ollietrex

Steve wrote: »

It's basically the same paper that is on the outside of the gyproc sheets, I've never used it but have heard good things about it.

From a quick google search:
https://www.davesdiytips.com/using-lining-paper/

Humm... might have a look at this, would be quicker probably than all this scraping.

budgemook

ollietrex wrote: »

Humm... might have a look at this, would be quicker probably than all this scraping.

Yeah I'm definitely going to look into this further. Just not clear to me if it's okay to throw it up over the existing paper. I suppose it is

d9oiu2wk07blr5

ollietrex wrote: »

Hi, not using a steamer but water and sponge, same effect as far as every one I know has told me.

Get yourself a steamer. We had to do the whole house when we moved and it made the job much easier.

sbsquarepants

I'd be inclined to agree with the other posters who say just put up a fresh layer of plasterboard over the existing one - it's a quick, easy and relatively cheap job, especially if you value your time and your sanity!
Plus you'll be surprised the difference it will make with muffling sounds from room to room - In fact I think it should actually be done as standard, particularly in apartments, and I'm sure it could only help in the event of a fire.
It's most definitely the easy way out.

I know a friend of mine who went at it with as belt sander - but I'd say that's a horrible job to be honest. At the very least you'd need to ensure you wore a proper filtered face mask, I can't imagine it being a very pleasant experience!

ted1

ollietrex wrote: »

Hi, not using a steamer but water and sponge, same effect as far as every one I know has told me.

I'd recommend a steamer, it really is way better.

dodzy

ollietrex wrote: »

Hi, not using a steamer but water and sponge, same effect as far as every one I know has told me.

No offence, but everyone you know is wrong. Worlds apart. Hire one for a day. You will not regret it.

Sponge and water. Jesus.

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I know a friend of mine who went at it with as belt sander -

There are just no words.

embraer170

We went through something similar recently. The house was only 6 years old but had multiple layers of wallpaper over plasterboard.

Ended up using a combination of a professional steamer made for wallpaper removal, a normal consumer steamer and special soap to help. The real nightmare was getting the wall suitable for painting after. Doing it again, I would probably go for the lining paper.

K.Flyer

Another advocate for using a commercial steam wallpaper remover. Once you get the hang of it you can have the wallpaper down off the walls quick as anything.
Pro-tip,
First score the walls in checker board pattern with a blunt blade to make it easier to allow steam get in behind the paper. Steam and wet about 2 sq m area, then leave it, move to next 2 sq m area and do same. Go back to first area and wet any dry patches and start scraping.
The wider the scraper blade the more paper you can get off as you scrape. Rinse and repeat.
They are also great for getting stubborn tile adhesive off the walls when you have taken the old tiles down.

Steve

K.Flyer wrote: »

Another advocate for using a commercial steam wallpaper remover. Once you get the hang of it you can have the wallpaper down off the walls quick as anything.
Pro-tip,
First score the walls in checker board pattern with a blunt blade to make it easier to allow steam get in behind the paper. Steam and wet about 2 sq m area, then leave it, move to next 2 sq m area and do same. Go back to first area and wet any dry patches and start scraping.
The wider the scraper blade the more paper you can get off as you scrape. Rinse and repeat.
They are also great for getting stubborn tile adhesive off the walls when you have taken the old tiles down.

You have to be careful scoring, if you go through to the original plaster then it's a lot of work to fix.

K.Flyer

Steve wrote: »

You have to be careful scoring, if you go through to the original plaster then it's a lot of work to fix.

True, I should have made that point, not to cut deeply into the paper.