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wallpaper border on top of wallpaper border?

14 years ago

I have vinyl wallpaper with a wallpaper border on top that was done apx 12 years ago. I wanted to remove the border only but keep the neutral wallpaper.

I tried and by just pulling it slowly without any wallpaper remover etc, the border is coming off but there is another thin layer (looks like paper) that is now on top of the wallpaper.

I had originally wanted not to have any border but guess I will have to settle for putting a different border on top.

Can I just put the border on top of

1) the current border without removing anything?

2)what is left after I remove the vinyl part of the border?

Thanks-I'm not sure which forum to post this in, paint seems the closest match. Thanks!

Comments (3)

2ajsmama
14 years ago
It's just the paper backing from the prepasted border. Try a damp sponge. You might end up having to put another border up - the PO might not have gone all the way to the ceiling all the way around the room if he/she planned on hiding it with the border. Or you might the wallpaper is a different color under the border (the bottom may have changed from UV exposure, dust, etc. while the top is clean).
mboston_gw
14 years ago
Mix vinegar into water at a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. I am in the process of removing the backing now from our 20 year old wallpaper. First time I have ever done it. The wallpaper came off easily with this solution, in some spots the backing came with it, in other areas it didn't. I am using a plastic spatula to gently scrape the backing paper off the drywall.

We were told by a lady at Lowes who had hung wallpaper as a job for years that you can put new border over old (and I am assuming just over the paper backing if you get one that is thick and textured that it won't show through. We will be trying that in our breakfast area where we just had border. Again the paper came off easily but the backing won't budge. My new border is wider and thicker so we think we will be okay. Hope yours turns out okay.
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Ugh, I just finished doing this in my LR and hallway. Peeled the top part of the paper off, then used water and dish washing liquid mixed in a spray bottle. Sprayed an area then used a putty knife to scrape it off. I even had one wall that had a second, older border underneath. Must have put it up, then found another one I liked better. lol It came off easily, but what a huge pain. Have one small bedroom to do yet, but it's on the wall not the ceiling. Never, ever again will I put up wallpaper or border. Stick a fork in my eye!! Just got the coat of primer on the ceiling today to repaint.
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PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
14 years ago
We were told by a lady at Lowes who had hung wallpaper as a job for years that you can put new border over old (and I am assuming just over the paper backing if you get one that is thick and textured that it won't show through. We will be trying that in our breakfast area where we just had border. Again the paper came off easily but the backing won't budge. My new border is wider and thicker so we think we will be okay. Hope yours turns out okay.

You CAN put new border over old or any other wall paper BUT you must use a special VOV paste( vinyl over vinyl) nothing else will stick to the original vinyl paper properly.

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