We found the steamer worked best. Our house dates to 1830 but some newer construction here and there (1950'ish). We discovered a hallway with plaster on one side (and steamer worked well to remove paper there) but sheetrock that was not primed on the other. Chunks of sheet rock came off as we scraped. No amount of spackle is filling in smoothly. We just decided to do more paper, possibly textured, and paint over that. Good luck - it is my least favorite house projects!

We had plaster skimmed walls in our 50s ranch and a lot of the paper was real paper, not vinyl backed or anything. We found the steamer worked best. If the walls are sheet rocked at all, then definitely not.

Thank you both . That confirms what I read so we will hope for original plaster. Thank you!! c

My upstairs rooms in my 1939 house have plaster and there was wallpaper over the plaster. I stripped off the decorative portion of the paper with almost no effort, due to the age. Then, my crew steamed off the remaining paper. They had to do a few minimal repairs to the plaster.

We live in a 100 year old house with some wallpaper that old and some applied in the 50s. We found some of it came off easily with a spray bottle and water, but other rooms we ended up doing a skim coat of plaster over it because it was coming off in inch long strips. We ended up hiring a pro to come in and do the skim coat. It was relatively cheap and he did a great job.

We bought a 1964 house with double layers of wallpaper everywhere. The top layer was vinyl, peelable, and wasn't a problem. The original wallpaper was stuck directly to sheet rock that hadn't been primered. The worst was a metallic paper. It just wasn't coming off no matter what. In the end we peeled off what could be peeled, sanded any bits sticking up, then painted over with Zinsser BIN Primer Ultimate Stain Blocker. Then we had the drywall guys in to do a skim coat. Paper over un-primered drywall just isn't coming off.

We had it all over our old house. Used a steamer on the plaster walls and it worked. The drywall in the kitchen that was papered without being primed did not come off and we ended up priming and painting over the paper. It was okay but always bothered me.

Great info ! I am so glad I posted this. If they get the house will be lots more questions...we will be doing a full basement remodel with bathroom so lots to think about and ask :) Thank you all !! c

They got the house !! And all the walls are plaster under the paper ...so we are going up in Mid April and check it all out and get a game plan going for the renos. It has knob and tube ..yikes ! and the whole heating and air has to be re-done and new ducts. The inspector said it is a great solid house and well worth the fixing . There were three bids behind their's so they were lucky to get it and if they decide to re-sell it will go instantly. Thank you for the help . Oh and he said the basement is not worth fixing but extending into either the garage ( which we are against) or going out to the sunroom which is on a slab and we are for are the two best options to increase for another bedroom and bath. So we shall see. Will hopefully have a floor plan with measurements in mid-April. c

Congrats to your DS and DIL. My DD just called last night to tell us that her bid was accepted for her first home. What an exciting time. We're making a list of all the items we have in our home that we can give to her. Very timely since we're hoping to downsize in a year or so.

Good luck removing the wallpaper. When we moved into our current home we were totally unaware that the wallpaper had been applied over unpainted, unsealed drywall. What a nightmare. After scarring one bedroom we gave up and hired a fellow who used a steam plate - it was 12" by 12" and emitted so much steam that one day I opened the door to ask a question and there was a haze of steam hanging above his head.

I'm surprised that a house built in 1957 has knob and tube. I thought that went out in the 40's?

Well the house looks like every other house in town that dates from 1957 or within 5 yrs. This is the only one that has k and t! How that happened I have no idea. We ( mom and dad) have talked and are going to discourage too much improvement beyond the necessary. There are several houses on the street with 90 somethings in them and they will be on the market before too long. I do not wish the end of a lifestyle for anyone . That said this house is a placeholder only. Great but too small. We will encourage patience and get to know neighbors and be part of neighborhood and see where it leads while making judicious improvements in this house.

we are lucky paper is on plaster not drywall

Our old house had knob and tube and it was fine. We had an Electrician come out and put together an estimate to switch to romex and he said that as long as you don't mess with it knob and tube was perfectly okay.

Congratulations to them! Very exciting.

Make sure they check with insurance about the wiring. My in-laws long time insurer refused to renew with them until they took out the knob and tube. Until the fire, we had knob and tube as well but our insurer never mentioned it. It seems ridiculous to me because we have talked to several electricians who say that knob and tube is not a safety issue in their eyes. They say the wiring put in in the 60s/70s has more issues due to using a certain type of metal that heats up more easily or something along those lines (sorry, I may have the details wrong here).

Well the inspector yesterday listed it as a health and safety issue so that the current owners will deduct it from sale price . My DIL wouldn't stay in the house for 5 min. with our grandson unless it was replaced. Daisy I have no idea about the safety or not of it but it will be replaced. Louislinus- unless "messed with" would be the key. There is no way to have a new washing machine and dryer in the basement without wiring work so it will all be pulled out. About 3-5 K is the estimate. Thank you ! c

We rented an industrial steamer. The wall paper was on the walls in our home since the 50s, and peeled right off the plaster walls easily after steaming it off.

And we replaced all the knob and tube wiring in our 100+ yr old home as well. We could not get homeowners insurance without replacing it within 3 months of taking ownership. We also replaced the HVAC, converted from oil to gas and my DH put in an energy efficient boiler. He works in the HVAC industry.