ripped drywall during wallpaper removal - how to repair?

15 years ago

What can i use to repair my drywall which was ripped down to the brown paper during the much needed wallpaper removal process? I just want to be able to paint the walls - I am not going to be re-wallpapering. Do I just get a can of Gardz? or do I need something else in addition to the Gardz?

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graywings123

15 years ago

I taught myself to repair drywall with the assistance of people on the gardenweb forums. It is a DIY project, but there are a couple tricks you need to know about, especially since you are going to be painting.

First, paint the damaged drywall with oil based primer. Then skim coat with drywall mud, sand, skim again, sand again, and maybe even a third time. Once it is smooth and the way you want it, prime again with oil based primer.

It would be a good idea to do a google search for skim coating so you know what equipment you need and learn some techniques.

But most of the on-line advice fail to tell you about the importance of using the oil based primer, and using it twice. It acts as a shield, first between the damaged drywall and the drywall mud, and then the second time as a shield between the drywall mud and your latex paint. If you don't use it, you can end up with the repaired area having a slightly different sheen from the rest of the wall. This is the best tip I ever got off gardenweb.

I have read that Zinsser Garz works the same as the oil based primer, but I haven't used it.

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Comments (7)

tinker_2006
15 years ago
You need to skim coat it with a little spackle. If you need help - do a search on google. It's a very easy DIY project.
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Yes, expect to have a huge mess. I had a bathroom with that problem. Since the surface was vinyl, I had to remove it. The mess was terrible. I got the vinyl and the paper backing along with a lot of the drywall paper off the walls. I coated the bare gypsum with Gardz. When it dried, I kept filling the deepest dents with thin layers of joint compound, then eventually did a skim coat of the walls. More Gardz, good primer then two coats of paint. It looked good and held up well. But it was a lot of work. Having removed layer after layer of painted wallpaper, it's not something I recommend. A lot depends on how picky you are. Painted wallpaper never looks great, but you may decide that it's "good enough" when compared to the work to remove it and patch the walls. If you go that route, you have to remove any lose paper, sand lumpy seams, etc. then seal it with Gardz, then prime and paint. It may still bubble or loosen, but that's your best shot if you want to paint over it.
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Thanks for the reassurance -- all is well. The wall where the wallpaper removal had taken off the drywall has been skim coated ( not sanded yet) but looks so much better. I understand now what the workers are up against -- some of the walls have a reasonable amount of primer -- others are just barely primed -- very thin coat of primer in center section of wall only. I also saw the can of Gardz and learned from this forum that they were priming the damaged dry wall with it. ( more reassurance) The work has been going on for a week now the the wallpaper is almost gone. I am sure this turned into a much larger job then they expected. The worker I spoke with said that most wallpaper that he has stripped was added onto at least previously painted walls -- not onto barely primed new drywall. I am now wondering if I want to tackle my upstairs -- every room in this home was wallpapered when we bought it.
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"What I read was that it can also cause the mud to shrink and crack and it does appear that it did shrink a bit. Pre-mixed drywall mud hardens by drying out, and shrinkage occurs. There is no way to really stop shrinkage cracking except by adding another (hopefully thinner) layer. The shrinkage cracks get smaller and smaller as the mud coats get thinner and thinner. Setting compounds (like EasySand) harden by chemical reaction (like plain plaster). If they are mixed with as little water as needed to get a workable thickness the shrinkage can be essentially zero, even for large and thick patches. I have had to fill in plaster ground gaps in remodeling work, and a layer of Easysand 1-2 inches wide and an inch thick barely shrinks a few thousandths of an inch in width when setting. The Easaysand should be about the consistency of peanut butter for minimal shrinkage.
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wooderlander
15 years ago
Yes, Gardz works as well as oil-based primer, it doesn't smell bad, and it's very easy to apply and clean up. My drywall guy had me apply Gardz before he did the skimcoating.

Here's some more advice he gave me when I could not face the prospect of removing the tightly applied wallpaper (someone did a good job on that!) from a very long narrow hallway, especially after the first few strips I took down damaged the drywall as you described. He said to sand down the torn edges and seams of the wallpaper so it's flush, then apply Gardz. He then skimcoated. Then I added another layer of Gardz and painted. After we were done, you couldn't tell there was ever wallpaper there. After all, drywall itself is basically paper, and if you can prevent the wallpaper from buckling and coming down from the moisture, why not. Gardz supposedly makes a hard seal on the surface.
tracey_b
15 years ago
I'm so glad you asked this question as I have a few repairs to make myself, and I've been holding off because of the Unknown Factor (I've never done it before, nor seen it done).

I have an additional question of Graywings--does it have to be drywall mud that you use or would spackle do?

Okay, I lied--another question: How far past the rip/tear/hole do you need to go with it?

Thanks!
Tracey
canobeans
15 years ago
I've just been through this. Use Gardz. It's water based, so MUCH less smell and easier cleanup.

And use joint compound, not spackle, unless you're talking about very small holes. Spackle is not meant for skim coating.

BTW, on the off chance there's anyone in the DFW area who needs a quart of Gardz, let me know. I have almost a full quart and no need for it anymore -- we're moving also and can't take it with.
diydevon
Original Author
15 years ago
thank you all so much for replying. I went to my local Duron paint center and got the Gardz, but when i told them that I wanted joint compound the sales guy INSISTED that I needed spackle. I left with a very small container of spackle...Im going to go back today and stand my ground and get the compound.
mlgrow_gmail_com
13 years ago
I am in wallpaper hell! The paper under the counters came off like a charm. When I started removing the paper from above the cupboards and walls it was a different story. I even rented a steamer which made matters worse--the drywall softened and is coming off. I am returning the steamer but don't know what do do next. It's so overwhelming. PLEASE HELP!

ripped drywall during wallpaper removal - how to repair?

graywings123

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tinker_2006

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ripped drywall during wallpaper removal - how to repair?

graywings123

Comments (7)

tinker_2006

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