Thursday, March 29, 2012

I'd Like to Tear a Strip Off.

All you blog folks with your wallpaper stripping prowess and your wall papering talent just got me into trouble today. (I have to blame someone you know.)

I've been threatening to strip the paper off of our living room walls for years and today I finally went at it.  I've taken the paper off of every room in the house and never had a problem.  Until today.

Live action photo.
Edit:  Mr LC noted that Moses looks like he's cowering from the destruction.

It's bad. It's really bad.  It's not coming off well at all.  The vinyl paper is so thin it just tears into tiny pieces.

Good bye cruel world.  I'm off to the seventh circle of hell.


This is the last time you will see this paper people.  Good riddance, I say.

Help me Rhonda.

25 comments:

Makeminemidcentury said...

Oh my! Your lounge room looks so swank.

Could you paint maple syrup on the walls and get Sassy Horse to eat the wallpaper off? Just an idea ... better run it by Rhonda.

Makeminemidcentury said...

By 'swank' I mean elegant.

Razmataz said...

Oh NO! I won;t allow wallpaper in my house because I once ruined a rooms walls by pulling over paper and the layer of drywall paper with it. I had to pay a guy called Frenchie to fix it with plaster.

Makeminemidcentury said...

Moses looks terrified!

An Urban Cottage said...

That's a bummer. I've never had that happen. When you peel off the top layer, is it leaving a paper layer stuck to the wall? I'm wondering if it's that thin, if one of those tools that you roll around the wall to score the paper so you can get water behind it would work.

At least the plaster isn't coming off.

Those alcoves are amazing!

Anna said...

I like Carmel's maple syrup idea.

brismod said...

What a beautiful home you have! No idea how to remove wallpaper, sorry! There must be something on Youtube, surely? xx

Blighty said...

That room looks so lovely, really nice and elegant., My sympathies about the stripping (of wallpaper; what other stripping you get involved in is up to you...) we have had this prob of the top bits coming off and the vinyl staying behind, Mr B has invested in a steamer thing which really makes it easier - can you get one/borrow one? - though I am sure you have triumphed by now. Mr B just enjoys buying specialist equipment, it's a man thing...xxx

the domestic fringe said...

You can newspaper. Soak the big ole' pieces in water and then put them over your wallpaper. Like hang it over your paper...the water makes it stick. Now the wallpaper will suck up the water from the newspaper and then come off easier. It's all in theory of course. Best of luck to you. Wish I was closer, because I would certainly help. You have a lovely living room.
~FringeGirl

WrathofDawn said...

Love, love, love your fireplace! And the alcoves on either side! And the colour choices and just this whole scene, really.

Have you tried using Polystrippa? You would need to score the paper, as a previous commenter suggested, so the solution gets to the adhesive. I've had great success with it.

And lots of practice... When I moved into my house EVERY ROOM except the bathroom had wallpaper on the upper half of each wall. And there were places where it looked as if they'd applied it directly to drywall. The things the previous owners did to this place. Latex over oil. *shudder*

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH I've been in that kind of wallpaper torture before...but it will look so great when you're done! And I'm glad I'm not Rhonda...lol

Cheyenne said...

Boo hoo! I feel your pain---my whole house was caked in wallpaper---old wallpaper that was put up with something that DOESN'T come off. I tried Downy/hot water...the steamer....everything. I have no cluey tips...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your house!!!!

Lisa said...

Ok, it sounds like it's vinyl. Score the top of it then spray pure downy all over the walls. Let it soak. You should be able to get it off. Your problem is that the vinyl is stopping the water or downy from getting to the glue underneath. After you finally get it off (and it might take a while) make sure you wash your walls with TSP or Safe Prep before you paint the walls. Because there is always some residue glue left over that you can't see.

Good luck.
Lisa

Faye Henry said...

Your room is gorgeous.. I love it..But I hate wall paper and understand you wanting it off.. We have a couple of rooms which need done but I am not into self torture quite yet..
I haven't heard that expression for years.. Love it, too.. grin..
Blessings..

Anonymous said...

wow, what class...I imagine that by now you have already took it off, so I won't say I actually liked it and think you could have let it there...ooops.

Faith said...

Congratulations on winning theh prize over at Faye's...it will cheer you on...Your room is pretty, and I like the wallpaper too.. Now, I am no expert, but have heard that Downy Fabric Softner sprayed on paper will help loosen the glue and what not...give it a google or two to see if you can find out more.

Sue Frelick said...

I don't know much about wallpaper, but can say your room is beautiful! The woodwork is georgous!! Good luck with the rest of the paper.

the old boathouse said...

Your room is very swish and by swish I mean swanky(like MMMC) and by swanky I too mean elegant....That chair is lovely. I am not a renovator so can't offer any pearls of wisdom. But Im sure it will look fabulous in the end, but you may need to have a holiday from exhaustion. xxxx Katherine

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

I am praying for you right now! Seriously. There must be some wallpaper stripping prayer out there. I'll have to do a google search. Holy cow! That's exactly why I haven't stripped the wallpaper in my kitchen. I seem to remember some great tips from Between Naps on the Porch. She had some devilish wallpaper too.

Laura said...

love MMMC's idea. I bet Sassy would too!
put some fabric softener & water in a spray bottle and wet the walls. Don't totally soak it, but get it damp and then use an sos pad or something to scratch it up and losen it.
Poor Moses...

Cindy said...

Hi Deb,
I wish you luck getting that paper off. It's very pretty, but if you've had it for years, I don't blame you for wanting to remove it.
Have a good day.
Hugs, Cindy

The Lumberjack's Wife said...

I know nothing about wallpaper, nor do I ever want to use it.

Holla!

Jacci said...

DEB! Your room is beautiful! :) I love it!!! :) But, I'm sorry it's giving you fits. That's no fun at all.

I'm still gaping at your woodwork, though. Sigh. I love old homes. But you already knew that.

Unknown said...

Where'd you go? Not overcome by glue fumes I hope?

That room really is lovely and I liked that paper. : )

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Haven't seen you in blogland for awhile...hoping that wallpaper didn't get the best of you! Seriously, hoping you are well, Deb! XO