Wallpaper Woes

Note: This was posted using my phone, so please excuse the questionable pictures.

So…I had a whole post planned for Wallpaper Removal 101.  I began by removing the vinyl layer last week.  My plan was to then remove the glued paper layer by using this stuff called Dif .  I had already tried using hot water, and though it did remove the glue & paper, it took quite a while to do it, so I was hoping the Dif would make quicker work of it all.

However, after removing the vinyl layer on the biggest stretch of wall space in the kitchen, I noticed that the plaster walls underneath were pretty bumpy & uneven.  All of the walls in this house are plaster, but many of them have been skim coated and smoothed out really nicely (probably back in the 80s).  I knew the bathroom still had uneven walls, but I thought that was the only area in the house.  I guess I was wrong.  So I was left with the decision to either remove the glued on paper, patch, skim coat, & sand these walls, or….hit up Google to find a quicker, easier solution.

And Google most certainly came through for me.  I learned that it’s not too big of a deal to paint over wallpaper.  There are just a few things you need to do to ensure a problem-free experience.

1.        Smooth the seams of the wallpaper using joint compound.  You can also cover the whole wall with a layer of the stuff, but since I’m trying to avoid sanding all the walls and the textured vinyl layer has already been removed, I think I’ll just stick to smoothing out the seams.

2.       Patch up any holes or problem areas.  I actually do have a couple of holes from when I removed the chair rail that’s in this room.  That was my first indication that I could run into some problems.  The plaster crumbled a little in a few areas where the nails were removed, and the hammer I used to pry the nails out left indentations in the surrounding plaster.

3.       Sand those patched areas very well.  We’re going for the smoothest finish possible here, so I’ll be using plenty of sanding blocks.

4.      Apply an oil based primer to ensure the latex (water-based) paint doesn’t make the glued paper peel off the wall.  I have great luck with Zinsser Cover Stain and you can use latex paint right over it.  It is a little stinkier than regular primer, so I may be willing to try using Kilz Odorless to get the job done.  I already bought the Revere Pewter paint in Benjamin Moore Regal Complete, which is paint & primer in one, but I’ll play it on the safe side by using the oil-based primer too.

5.       Paint the walls with any kind of paint desired.  Like I said, I’ll be using the Benjamin Moore Regal Complete.

Considering I still have the One Room Challenge going on, who knows when I’ll really get around to giving these walls the attention they need, but I’m in no rush. I’ll be sure update you all on my progress and if the plan I outlined above actually works.