mbittard
join:2008-08-26
Lincoln, RI |  Anybody know how to remove bathroom wallpaper?
I swear, it's cemented on! I'm trying to get the border off but it's almost impossible. Does anyone know of any tricks or tips?
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HarryH3
join:2005-02-21
Georgetown, TX
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| I've had good luck using the Tiger Claw (I think that's the name) to perforate the paper, then applying Zinzer's gel type wallpaper remover. Got both at Home Depot. The paper came off MUCH easier after the gel soaked in for a while.  |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
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O Fallon, MO
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Yeah, take a shower  . When I was a kid and wall paper was all the rage, my mom used to try and put it in the bathrooms. It would only be up a few days before it started peeling.
I never understood WP in a bathroom. I'll bet they used some sort of "non-wallpaper" glue to get it to stay up. You may need a saw and a hammer to get it all off.
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zevin
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join:2008-11-11
Texas
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| reply to HarryH3
said by HarryH3  :I've had good luck using the Tiger Claw (I think that's the name) to perforate the paper, then applying Zinzer's gel type wallpaper remover. Got both at Home Depot. The paper came off MUCH easier after the gel soaked in for a while. Good Lord.... I have pulled more paper than... I don't know.
Yes the Zinzer's and I think there is another called Dap use and enzyme that breaks down the glue to allow you to peal it off. The perforator is key but don't spray the whole wall thinking it will loosen it up by the time you get to it. I did that and yes the middle did come off better with some soak time but the end was the worst as the remover and glue almost became super glue. Spray only as much as you can remove in a few min.
This is going to be the biggest wettest mess you have ever seen.
Have fun. I have pulled off 8 layers of paper once. It was like peeling a sunburn. Foil palm trees were covered with, foe bamboo, followed by roosters and barns, covered with more foil but gold foil this time.
I have never used steam but I have heard good things. The key is to score the wall with the perforator thing. |
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cdru
Go Colts
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join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to HarryH3
said by HarryH3 :I've had good luck using the Tiger Claw (I think that's the name) to perforate the paper, then applying Zinzer's gel type wallpaper remover. Got both at Home Depot. The paper came off MUCH easier after the gel soaked in for a while. Yes it's called Papertiger. The Gel is DIF Gel. I would also highly recommend the Paper Scraper.
I've removed countless rooms worth of wallpaper using these 3 products.
The best trick in removal you probably have (or had) little control over. Sizing the wall prior to putting up the first piece of paper makes removal much easier. Even just a good coat of semi-gloss can help significantly but sizing is best. If the wall was just primed by the builder forget an easy job.
Before you use the tigerclaw, try to peal the vinyl top layer off. I just redid my 1st floor and 3 of the walls had wallpaper on the bottom half along with a border. I was able to grab a corner of each piece of paper and the border and slowly peel off the vinyl while leaving the paper and glue behind. This actually eliminated the need to use the TigerClaw. I sprayed about a 4' square section and let sit for about 10 minutes, then could just scrape off the paper/glue/gel with the paperscraper.
If the vinyl doesn't come off, use the TigerClaw. Don't press too hard or you'll perforate the drywall. But you want to apply a decent amount of pressure. You can't really have too many holes so run it all over the wall until you think you have enough, and then do it some more. The more holes in the vinyl the better as it allows the remover to penetrate the paper. Without the holes, it would just sit on the surface and not do anything. |
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MrFixitSC
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join:2000-12-01
Moncks Corner, SC | reply to mbittard
a mixture of cheap fabric softener and water works as well as any wallpaper removal chemical I've tried and is significantly less expensive... |
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cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT
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| said by MrFixitSC :a mixture of cheap fabric softener and water works as well as any wallpaper removal chemical I've tried and is significantly less expensive... I second that, just let it soak for 3-5 minutes. The mixture must be hot - as hot as you can stand. |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
1 edit | And I third it - try and get an unscented one if you can as it will be very powerful in a closed room if it is scented. |
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ptrowski
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Oh the horror! I went through that a few years ago and I would swear they superglued the stuff on.
I used some of those enzyme removers to get it off the wall after scoring it with the Tiger Claw. The only issue with the Claw was I had to push hard enough to get through the paper but not so hard as to score the drywall underneath.
If I had to do it again I would rent a steam powered remover.
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pnh102
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Mount Airy, MD
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| reply to mbittard
said by mbittard :I swear, it's cemented on! I'm trying to get the border off but it's almost impossible. Does anyone know of any tricks or tips? I was able to remove some wallpaper trim from a wall by wetting a paper towel and dabbing it on the wallpaper itself. Then I was able to pull the wallpaper off of the wall pretty easily.
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Warzau
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join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
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| reply to nunya
said by nunya :I never understood WP in a bathroom. I'll bet they used some sort of "non-wallpaper" glue to get it to stay up. You may need a saw and a hammer to get it all off. Really I recall the silver wallpaper with black designs on it. |
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RockCake
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join:2005-07-12
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to mbittard
If wallpaper is on THAT securely, couldn't you just paint over it? We did that in our our hallway and son's room four years ago(we put on a primer first), and it's been fine ever since.
Though bathrooms, with that extra steam/humidity from showers may be different, I don't know...
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beck
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I haven't ever used the chemicals.
I've used the softener & water and that works for paper wallpaper. And one layer at a time.
I had one room where I swear they put up 20 layers of wallpaper. Lord only knows what they used to glue some of it. I used a steamer on that room and a good sharp scraper/putty knife. Had to do a lot of patching at the end, but got the junk off. Really, it was over half inch thick!
Good luck to you. Just do a bit at a time so you don't get upset and use too bad of words about whoever put it up. 
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james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica | reply to mbittard
I'd just rip the walls right out and put up new ones. In many cases its less work and more fun. It is more expensive though. |
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Jeffrey
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The tiger claw and the spray solution is what I have been using on a bathroom wallpaper boarder that I am trying to get off. Like another user said, it probably would have been quicker and a lot more fun to just knock the walls down, but time I have.
Gotta score the wall a lot with the claw, then soak it with the solution. It comes off, but there will be some work to do after also with the left over glue and a couple of spots where I already guaged the wall.
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dcurrey
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join:2004-06-29
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| reply to mbittard
I used Dif and a scraper designed to score wallpaper (Don't remember the name) worked pretty good. Had 3 layers of wallpaper first one being the hardest. Foil type wallpaper Dif couldn't soak in very good.
Someone said something about Dawn dish soap mixture works pretty good never tried it.
I well never buy a house with lots off wallpaper again. They should ban that crap. |
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Valkyre
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join:2000-12-25
Valhalla
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said by HarryH3 :I've had good luck using the Tiger Claw (I think that's the name) to perforate the paper, then applying Zinzer's gel type wallpaper remover. Got both at Home Depot. The paper came off MUCH easier after the gel soaked in for a while. I second this method. Worked for me when I tried to take 40 year old wallpaper off.
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jvauge
join:2003-02-02
Hurst, TX | reply to mbittard
steam a steamer works great. or try an iron used for irioning clothes be sure to use a peice of news paper between iron an and border |
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David
No,there is another.
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Granite City, IL
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1 edit | reply to mbittard
Considering I have a house that has wallpapered walls the best thing I found and was the best investment- A steam machine w/ a wallpaper perforator (made by tiger I think). Apply the hot steam straight to the wallpaper and just count for about 3-5 seconds. after that just take a common putty knife and just peel it right off. Comes off like a champ. I wouldn't suggest renting a steamer, you can own one for $100 and depending on how many wallpapered walls you have to do, the steamer will pay for itself after 2 rooms.
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs | reply to mbittard
A sledge hammer, and fresh drywall.... |
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