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stripping wallpaper to paint walls - nail heads?

17 years ago

I'm cross posting this in the painting forum in hopes someone can help me. I'm trying to strip wallpaper in a bathroom in order to paint the walls. The wallpaper is coming off in thick sections, and underneath there's a surface that's sort of paper bag brown. I can see nailheads in a regular grid pattern. Have I stripped too many layers? How do I prepare the nail heads to be painted? I went through this process in the kitchen and never saw any nails at all so I'm starting to worry.

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Comments (5)

sdello
17 years ago
This is all speculation because I can't see you house, but:

it sounds like you have drywall under the bathroom paper and when you peel the wallpaper off, you're taking some of the drywall facer with it.

You might have plaster walls in the kitchen which is why there is no facer to peel and you didn't see any nail heads.

The "paper bag" surface will be difficult to smooth and finish to prepare for paint. In correcting this you will have to cover the nailheads. It is time consuming but can be done. (I did it in my old house when I remodeled the bathroom).

An alternative to preparing the existing walls for paint is to install new drywall over the old.

good luck
brusso
17 years ago
you have strippeed too much off the wall. but it can be fixed. First, re-set the nails with a hammer. Then, seal the 'paperbag' with an oil or shellac sealant. I prefer to use Zinser shellac. It dries fast and creates a good bonding hard surface. Dont use a water sealant because the water will cause the paper bag to bubble, an even worse mess to clean up. After the sealant dries, apply a skim coat layer of mud. Sand, prime and paint.
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Yes, I've been to the paint store and ordered my wallpaper from them after discussing our situation. Repairing plaster and trying to texturize the drywall to look like plaster is just more work than we are willing to do. And frankly, I am *in love* with the wallcovering we chose (a gorgeous faux plaster) so I am fine with not painting. I agree that the following statement, made by me in my OP indeed sounds like someone looking for a "quick fix": "How should I proceed? Should I just stop and size the whole thing and paper over this mess?" But, if I may make a small retraction - I was really only speaking of that one drywalled wall when I said I wondered if I should just paper over the "whole mess". Why keep fighting to take the paper off when it is stuck like glue and pulling the paper off the drywall. So - back to my orginal question. Can I wallpaper over the fuzzy backer paper that is leftover on the drywall (one layer from the paper liner on the drywall) if I size the whole wall? Is there any reason not to do this? (besides the fact that I should be painting these walls, in your opinion... LOL) Will the leftover backer paper prevent the new wallcovering from sticking? Will it bubble? Will it do something unsightly to the new paper??
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shloyme
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, sdello and brusso for your help. Most of the wallpaper has come off ok except for a 3 ft square area which I will try to seal, skim coat, sand and prime.
oregonnewbie
17 years ago
Another, somewhat less labor-intensive solution might be to install an 1/4" layer of fresh drywall over the top. Depending on how many corners (soffets, built-in closets, etc) you have to go around, it might be less work in the long run. It will likely yield a better looking finish once painted. Home Depot and Lowes (or any other home improvement mega store) will either have or be able to order the drywall for you. If the walls are fairly solid, you can install it with glue (drywall or construction adhesive, comes in tubes like caulking), and use fewer nails or screws.
brickeyee
17 years ago
"Another, somewhat less labor-intensive solution might be to install an 1/4" layer of fresh drywall over the top. "

Is is only less labor if you do a poor job by not removing all the trim and extenind the jambs.
If you do the job right skimming is faster and cheaper.

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