How To Remove Wallpaper From Old Plaster

You gotta remove wallpaper from old plaster if you have repairs to do (or if you just want to paint).

This is a job no one wants, but some simple tips may help.

Some variables.

--- multiple layers of wallpaper

--- vinyl coated paper

1. With more than one layer of wallpaper, you will need to get the paper pretty wet to soak all the layers. You can paint on the water with a brush, or apply it with a WET sponge, not just damp. Use warm water. Do smaller areas at a time. Experiment.

A stiff two or four inch putty knife works pretty well. If you find that after soaking the wallpaper is really hard to remove, you may have to bring in the big guns, i.e. enzyme solution or rent a steamer.

Be sure you get it all, even little bits of paper. These will loosen or blister under your patching materials if you don't get everything.

Unless it is extra thick or lumpy, don't be too concerned with the wallpaper paste. You can mud over this in the course of the repairs and texturizing. If you are shooting for a final smooth surface, then you can usually scrape (carefully) the wetted glue off and finish by some sanding when all is dry.

2. Vinyl coated paper will not take water very well. But you can often cut it to get ahold of it, then pull off the vinyl surface layer. The backing paper that remains can then be soaked and scraped off.

If you are unable to pull the vinyl surface layer free, then score the paper in many places to allow the water to soak in, then scrape or pull it off. Caution: when you score the paper, go easy. You want to avoid cutting into the surface of the plaster. You might check with your local wallpaper store to see if they carry a special tool designed to score paper.

Tip: If you find after removing all the wallpaper that the plaster is raw (unpainted), you would do well to apply a coat of drywall primer/sealer over the whole surface before starting any plaster repair or texturizing. This will make it much easier to do what you have to do. You will slow the plaster's tendency to grab water from your patching materials, making them stiff and hard to work.

If you plan to put new wallpaper over your repaired and smoothed surface, be sure to prime with drywall sealer over all repairs before papering. Two coats would be best.

Have drywall instead of plaster? You notice after you strip the wallpaper that you have some damage to the face paper of the drywall.

Here's how to repair the damaged drywall.

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