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50+ years of layered wallpaper

Posted by Heather Hitch, on Mon 21 May 2018 02:38am

My husband and I recently bought a 100 yr old house. We’re in love with everything, except the, not exaggerating, 5 layers of wallpaper, on top of paint, and some of all of this is on Sheetrock, while other walls are paneling, or the old wood strip and plaster walls. I’ve spent days over the past few months tackling one room and I’m still not done. We can’t really afford a painter/contractor to do the work, so it’s left to us. Peeling it is so difficult, with some that comes off only by peeling off the outer layer of the Sheetrock. Help!!

John Wale

Wed 30 May 2018 08:52pm

When you say Sheetrock I presume you mean plasterboard? Unfortunately plasterboard damages so easily when stripping paper. Also lathe and plaster will crumble if old. Revealing the lathes. It’s a choice. Either spend lots of time stripping and trying to preserve the wall surface beneath or rip the paper of vigorously and re plaster etc.... Unfortunately there is no easy option.

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