Removing wallpaper from printed wallboard

Hello. We have a 30 year old mobile home that has printed wallboard. One of the previous owners covered it up with wallpaper that we want to remove. We have removed all that we can that is loose. We simple peeled it away until the point where it started leaving stuff stuck to the wall. What I need to know is what is the best way to remove the remaining wallpaper without damaging the wallboard. I like the colors/design on the wallboard, so I don't want it damaged. Can we use a steamer to loosen the paper? I was afraid that any chemicals designed to loosen/dissolve the glue might hurt the finish. Are there any other options that would work better? Thank you for any help you can provide with this.

 

Welcome to the forums!

Just to be clear, the factory 'wallpaper' can't be removed as it takes the place of the face paper on conventional drywall.

Wallpaper paste is water soluble although often it's difficult to get the water to the adhesive. Have you tried scoring the paper first to help the water get to the adhesive. They sell a 'wheel' with knives at a preset depth just for scoring wallpaper. They're sold anywhere they sell wallpaper.

 

Yes, I know. My issue was that the wallboard was covered with conventional wallpaper that we are wanting to remove. I have heard about the 'wheel' for scoring the paper, but I wasn't sure if it would damage the wall underneath the paper. But if I understand you correctly, the blades are set so that would not happen. Thank you so very much for your help.

 

I won't guarantee that the knives won't scar the underlying drywall but if you use care and don't press too hard - it should be ok.

 

First, try a cheap home made solution including vinegar and water. Cup/gal of h20 should do. Then, before applying it to the paper backing of the added wallpaper, ad a few teaspoons of dish soap. Put down some rolled up towels near the floor against the wall so that the liquid doesn't soak into the carpet or make a mess on the floor. If you have a small garden sprayer that hasn't had weed or insect killer in it, fill the sprayer and spray the All of the wallboard and then, once it has had an opportunity to soak into the paper backing of the added wallpaper, attempt to remove it with a 4" blade like a spackle knife. Once it is removed, wipe off all of the sprayed-on solution with a towel- ideally a microfiber towel (they absorb more). If that doesn't work, you may have to go buy some wallpaper removal solution at a big box store and use the same procedure to attempt removal. The printed wallboard probably wont be affected by either solution since it's factory laminated. Hope this helps.

 

A Steamer may work but, I'm not sure it's worth a rental and especially a purchase. The removal solutions, today, are enzyme solutions that "attack" the adhesive and should loosen it if left on for five minutes and not allowed to dry out. I'll follow this thread and lend a hand from here. let me know if either procedure that I suggested works.

 

Thank you so very much for both solutions. I will try the vinegar/water/dish soap option first. I will let you know what works. Thanks again.

 

Water is the main thing needed for dissolving wallpaper paste although adding soap will help the water to stay on the wall longer giving it a better chance at reaching the paste to loosen it up.