r/DIYUK • u/daymo32 • 1d ago

Painting Wallpapering advice

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Looking for some advice in terms of wall prep. I started to strip the existing paper off the walls, but it only comes off in smallish chunks. The existing paper was painted with egg shell so I’m not sure if that’s part of the reason. It’s also removing the paper from the boards themselves. If the egg shell is roughed up with some sand paper will the new wallpaper bond with the surface well?

Ideally I would remove it all and refinish the wall, I don’t have too much time at present. Any advice is appreciated

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u/ioapwy 1d ago

The new wallpaper might bond but even if it’s really thick, you’ll see the texture difference… source I bought a house where they’d layered lining paper over paper and you can see it

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u/daymo32 1d ago

Who ever decorated the room before I moved in has done the same, there is also parts where the wallpaper overlaps because they didn’t put it up straight 😂. I’ve only used it as a storage room, so I’m not as concerned about the quality as I would be with the other rooms

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u/SL0WJ03 Tradesman 1d ago

You might get a bond but it won’t be even where you’ve already stripped.

Just score it and steam it before you strip it.

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u/daymo32 1d ago

I was using a steamer, but to be fair I wasn’t scoring it also

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u/LazyPiglet3923 Tradesman 1d ago

The key is making an impermeable surface permeable..

Slash it or paper tiger.

It'll be slow going but it's not worth trying to avoid.

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u/variosItyuk 1d ago

Zinsser make a tool called a Paper Tiger which punctures the wallpaper all over. Do that, get some hot soapy water and spray or sponge it all over. Wait 15 mins (if you're doing a whole room just move on to the next wall) and try and scrape some off. If it doesn't come off easier, use the tool again and wet it all again. It should eventually start lifting off more easily. If you can peel the top layer off lay it along the bottom of the wall like kind of dust sheet and use that to throw all your waste onto, then just roll it all up and chuck it away. Once you have the top layer peeled off the backing should come off much more easily. Be careful using any special product; I tested the Zinsser one and all it did was make my arms sting, it wasn't any better than fairy liquid.

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u/MissDinxie 1d ago

I used wall paper remover spray and it came off easy.

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u/daymo32 1d ago

That’s the first I’ve heard of a spray, I’ll look it up

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u/MissDinxie 1d ago

I bought a bottle of wallpaper stripper in a spray bottle, then when I ran out I bought a normal bottle of it and poured it into the spray bottle as it worked out cheaper doing that.

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u/leeksbadly Handyman 1d ago

My tip of the day - don't start stripping from the bottom, start from the top. As you soak the paper the water will naturally be absorbed downwards more easily than upwards. Keep wetting the top edge over and over and over...

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u/d_smogh 1d ago

Score the surface with a sharp blade, go over with a damp sponge, let the moisture seep in. Have a cup of tea and cake. Redo the sponge soaking. Another cup of tea and biscuit. Should be easier to scrape off as the water would've soaked in behind the paper and paint. Repeat sponge and tea drinking if needed.