Wallpaper? Laminate? What the heck is it, and how do I get it off?
#1
02-09-14, 06:16 PM
Wallpaper? Laminate? What the heck is it, and how do I get it off?
I cut down old paneling in my new house and found disgusting, glue-streaked drywall on every wall except the very last one. This last wall was totally different underneath - "Mystery-Material". It's a very realistic-looking wood texture that looks like real wood at first glance, or maybe just really good quality wallpaper. I've never seen anything like it. Check the photos below.
As you can see by the closeups, the places that have damage almost look as if it's "chipping", not tearing like wallpaper. I can't find any seams, and don't be fooled by the texture, this is all one big sheet of something.
I have no idea what this is. Wallpaper? Laminate? Some special-made drywall with a print baked on top?
I have no idea how this is adhered to the wall. (except: "very well")
I have no idea how to get it off. (except: "tear off the drywall and start over")
I'm sure I can't just paint over it... can I?
I'm extremely confused and looking for advice, so do your worst! Thanks in advance!
As you can see by the closeups, the places that have damage almost look as if it's "chipping", not tearing like wallpaper. I can't find any seams, and don't be fooled by the texture, this is all one big sheet of something.
I have no idea what this is. Wallpaper? Laminate? Some special-made drywall with a print baked on top?
I have no idea how this is adhered to the wall. (except: "very well")
I have no idea how to get it off. (except: "tear off the drywall and start over")
I'm sure I can't just paint over it... can I?
I'm extremely confused and looking for advice, so do your worst! Thanks in advance!
#3
02-10-14, 04:45 AM
I'm sure there are seams, just hidden pretty good 
You have 3 options; coat with a solvent based primer and then a couple of coats of latex paint, laminate with drywall or tear off and start over.
btw - welcome to the forums!
You have 3 options; coat with a solvent based primer and then a couple of coats of latex paint, laminate with drywall or tear off and start over.
btw - welcome to the forums!
#4
02-10-14, 11:01 AM
@marksr - thanks! These forums are great, I ended up reading all kinds of random posts last night. 
Drywalling over the wall isn't my favorite option - I would prefer to coat with a solvent based primer if that works. Can you guys give me the advantages/disadvantages of this method? I'm looking for the fastest solution, but I don't want to do something I'll regret in a few years!
Drywalling over the wall isn't my favorite option - I would prefer to coat with a solvent based primer if that works. Can you guys give me the advantages/disadvantages of this method? I'm looking for the fastest solution, but I don't want to do something I'll regret in a few years!
#5
02-10-14, 01:50 PM
Painting is quick and easy but you still have the wood wall and the primer will have a strong odor.
Paneling gets painted all the time, some done right, some not
By far the biggest mistake diyers make is not using the right primer.
Paneling gets painted all the time, some done right, some not
By far the biggest mistake diyers make is not using the right primer.
#6
02-10-14, 02:50 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
If you paint over a texture wall with all those gaps and flaws even if there filled in its just going to look like poop and the wood grains still going to show through.
Paints not going to cover up the flaws.
Paints not going to cover up the flaws.
#8
02-10-14, 08:49 PM
Thanks for the advice. Let me clarify though, I feel like there might be some confusion as to what we're looking at.
This isn't wood paneling. It looks convincing, but it's either a laminate that has been adhered to drywall, or maybe it's just a really heavy-duty wallpaper. It's really hard to tell! Even looking at it close-up, I haven't found any seams, evidence of a pattern or anything.
So my situation is this - the wall is drywall with a very very thin layer of *something* over top. Again, removing the drywall or installing 1/4" drywall on top is my last resort.
Instead, I'm looking for suggestions on how to remove, paint-over, melt, or wish-away this material.
Or, at the very least, I'd love to hear from someone who can identify what this material even is! Like I said, it seems like like wallpaper, but it feels more plastic, it "chips" instead of tears, and does NOT want to go anywhere.
I could try sanding it and see if that roughs it up enough to accept primer. I'm clueless.
Thanks again in advance everyone.
This isn't wood paneling. It looks convincing, but it's either a laminate that has been adhered to drywall, or maybe it's just a really heavy-duty wallpaper. It's really hard to tell! Even looking at it close-up, I haven't found any seams, evidence of a pattern or anything.
So my situation is this - the wall is drywall with a very very thin layer of *something* over top. Again, removing the drywall or installing 1/4" drywall on top is my last resort.
Instead, I'm looking for suggestions on how to remove, paint-over, melt, or wish-away this material.
Or, at the very least, I'd love to hear from someone who can identify what this material even is! Like I said, it seems like like wallpaper, but it feels more plastic, it "chips" instead of tears, and does NOT want to go anywhere.
I could try sanding it and see if that roughs it up enough to accept primer. I'm clueless.
Thanks again in advance everyone.
#9
02-11-14, 04:13 AM
Just because you can't find the seams doesn't mean it isn't some type of paneling although not necessarily what is normally thought of as paneling in 4x8 sheets. The damaged areas show that it is not wallpaper.
A solvent based primer adheres better than it's latex counterpart. It's always a good idea to scuff sand first but I wouldn't over sand it as you don't want to sand thru whatever the face of the paneling is made of.
A solvent based primer adheres better than it's latex counterpart. It's always a good idea to scuff sand first but I wouldn't over sand it as you don't want to sand thru whatever the face of the paneling is made of.
#10
02-11-14, 11:45 AM
The MYSTERY is SOLVED!
I've become so curious about this wall that I emailed the previous owner's son and asked him about it. Check out his reply....
"I'm glad you're getting things changed, and don't apologize for renovating...you didn't buy a museum(although a couple of my sisters would've loved to have made it a museum!). The wood print around the thermostat is actually hand painted, by an artist from, I believe, Bolivia. He was a friend of my sister she
met in the Peace Corps."
This is a PAINTING?!?!?!
Check the photos out again... I was completely fooled. I can hardly believe the quality.
So from here on out, my plan is to paint over it. Anyone think I should sand / prime it? (I'm planning on skim coating the adjacent walls, so I plan on doing it with this one too.)
I've become so curious about this wall that I emailed the previous owner's son and asked him about it. Check out his reply....
"I'm glad you're getting things changed, and don't apologize for renovating...you didn't buy a museum(although a couple of my sisters would've loved to have made it a museum!). The wood print around the thermostat is actually hand painted, by an artist from, I believe, Bolivia. He was a friend of my sister she
met in the Peace Corps."
This is a PAINTING?!?!?!
Check the photos out again... I was completely fooled. I can hardly believe the quality.
So from here on out, my plan is to paint over it. Anyone think I should sand / prime it? (I'm planning on skim coating the adjacent walls, so I plan on doing it with this one too.)
#11
02-11-14, 01:24 PM
Are your walls plaster? Where the pic shows damage, I thought that showed the thickness of the paneling. Can you feel the joints in the faux paneling? or is it just paint too? Sure had me fooled
Since it's just paint, I'd sand the walls with 80 grit, fill the voids and then apply a thin skim coat of j/c.
Since it's just paint, I'd sand the walls with 80 grit, fill the voids and then apply a thin skim coat of j/c.
