Removal of Plaster over Wallpaper?
Gentlefolk,
First, thanks to all the ideas about the toe moulding. I got some really good ideas that will help me complete that project nicely.
Now: as I was working in the living room, I noticed that part of the wall is bulging out and a friend who’s work on old Victorians (mine’s c. 1892) tells me this is a telltale sign of plaster applied on top of wallpaper. When I removed the picture moulding to paint the chimney surround, sure enough, there was wallpaper sticking up from under a top coat of plaster.
What’s the best way of “encouraging” the wallpaper and overlying plaster to come off? Is dry best? Wet? Is there a special tool beyond a sharp, stiff scraper? Is there some solvent to help release the wallpaper’s glue?
Thanks!!
Mario in San Francisco
Replies
I don't have an answer for you. But I wonder...
If the wall has plaster over paper, what condition are you expecting to find under the paper?? Can't be very good I'm thinking.
If there is a part bulging out, then I would guess that somewhere behind the bulge there has been a loss of attachment. Can you push in on the bulge? If so, I'd start there with a knife and cut around that to get a idea of what's ahead of you.
Another day, another tool.
It could be a tumor on your house or Jimmy Hoffa!
OK Mario! Restore old plaster!
My house has the main bedroom in lath & plaster, with walpaper over it. After many years my parents plastered over the wallpaper & paint to "modernize it". I'm getting it off, and discovering all the cracks and sags in the plaser at the same time.
1. Dif with warm water into any kind of crack in the paper/plaster/paint to get it softened. Start scraping.
2. Mess on the floor. Clean it up, vacuum with good filter since it's all lead paint.
3. Fill all the scrape & pinholes, probe for loose plaster. Screw with plaster washers (Lee Valley Tools http://www.leevalley.com) to get the plaster tight. Fill again.
4. Sand & refill. Note the yellow cast on the plaster walls. It's glue, it has to come off or the paint won't stay.
5. 6 months later. Enjoy.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the Handyman
Vancouver, Canada
Thanks so much, Aaron!!
Very useful information, since my hope was to restore the underlying plaster instead of removing it all. Thankfully, it's only one room that this happened to and the buckling is in several spots.
Can you tell me more about Dif? Is it something I get from a paint store or a hardware store? Who makes it? Can I get it in the States? (That's coming from a fellow Canadian who's just an ex-pat.)
What did you do to remove the glue layer? Use water to wash it down? Sand it down to bare plaster?
Again, thanks for the helpful tips!!
Best,
Mario in SF
I got Dif at Home Depot, because I was there. You can also get it at my local Benjamin Moore store. There are a couple of walpaer glue disolvers.
After getting all the paper off, I washed the plaster with a large drywall sponge (with 2 sides, one rough and one sponge side) again from HD with the dif too.
Hope it helps.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada