The wallpaper removal attempt.

remorse, not remorese

I think you will find this helpful. :) http://smallnotebook.org/2011/09/02/how-to-remove-wallpaper-from-unprimed-drywall/ The answer is towards the bottom so read the article. :)

My wallpaper issue is that I can't pull off the top layer of the wall paper to expose the glue to water, as described in the link. I will try scoring then steamimg. 'Diff' is the product I used in the past.

You may have no good options. 1/4" Sheetrock is one, remove the baseboards and put thin Sheetrock right over the wallpaper. The other is to remove the wallpaper, oil prime then skim and sand the wall. Though honestly it may at this point be part of the drywall. Shellac Prime the wall, then sand it to remove the seams, Prime and paint. Done!

I am sorry - I am cringing. I have done nightmare wallpaper removal to find damaged drywall but not this. You probably should have a pro at least look at it because if the drywall was not finished properly I am wondering what is happening at the seams in the drywall - like did someone wall paper over bare joint tape without using joint compound, sanding, etc? Is this a large room and do you have lots of wallpaper in the house? Are there any rooms with non papered walls and are they finished properly?

Remove the drywall. If you have to do electric and windows anyway, you'd be doing enough repair that coupled with the wallpaper removal, it would be faster and cheaper to just rip it down. That also let's you examine insulation levels.

Thank you for sharing my misery! Yes, we will have to hire a pro to do as Matt suggested. Thanks Matt for your honesty.
Its a great house but oh its not a full day of ownership and I have big time buyers remorse. Still have my condo that I love.
Take a look at the kitchen. Oh the bathroom wall paper thus far does come off better.

Sophie we were posting at the same time...I agree.

I tried to upload pics but not working. There are lots of windows with wallpaper between and lots of wall space with the wallpaper. It will be a big expense because every thing in the kitchen is covered with lovely heart wall paper. The radon mitigation system the seller had to install (and the sellers realtor never asked us where we wanted it located), well it will have to remain in the front of the house!!! Why we did not cancel the contract you might wonder? Well the home has potential. If I knew about this wallpaper fiasco, though, I would have walked. It will not be the investment we thought. Maybe we can fix the wallpaper and put it back on the market. :(

Have you scored the wallpaper? I had this issue but over unprepared plaster! We got it off with assistance from professional but then had to hire plasterers to fix the walls. It may be cheaper to tear out Sheetrock if doing electrical and windows. All new home purchases have issues because you are trying to make it your own. This is not an issue to regret your purchase. Keep it in perspective, my friend bought a new home and 6 weeks into her purchase the mine shaft collapsed under her home causing major structural damage. Mine subsidence is always a potential problem in my area. All homes have issues, you need to get passed the notion that a home ever is "perfect" and enjoy the aspects that you love.

I also suggested 1/4" sheetrock. Cover it all up.

Thank you Bell, I realize these things happen. Wow, though...a mine shaft? Yikes. That would be bad. I appreciate words of encouragement. Attitude is everything and life is messy!

As much as you want to change the look of everything RIGHT NOW...you would be better served (nerves, finances, materials, etc) if you leave the aesthetics (as much as you dislike the wall paper, it is a "finish" and nothing more) until AFTER you deal with the windows and the electrical.

Walls (drywall) MUST be disturbed for these updates. There is not point in putting your sweat and money into a "finish" that is going to be BADLY disturbed in the very near future.

I know you are ITCHING to get going with this project. You are probably feeling like you need to do SOMETHING...so you are tackling what you are capable of. but it makes no sense to do anything at this point. Deal with the windows and the electrical - pay those bills and then see what is left of your interior walls at that point.

I would hate for you to put in 20 hours of work on ONE room...only to have 3/4 of the room destroyed because of wiring, etc. That would be heart breaking. And dollars to doughnuts it will happen.

I suggest you sit back, get the big stuff done. Start looking at new paint, etc while you are waiting for the work to finish. That's where you should be putting your energy - finding finishings; not removing them.

Thank you, Cancork...you are right...and I thought I could tackle the walls but have to fix the windows and electric. Gotta fix that window gap or more big wood spiders like the one I am sitting next to will be moving in out of the cold!

I have this house that was built in 1992 and it had a lot of wallpaper bc it was the model home in this sub division. The wall paper came off just like yours, not very well at all. I have removed it all but it was a battle,it took five days to remove the mb alone. Peel off the top layer like to have done, perforate the bottom layer with a wallpaper tiger, that is score it, then roll on your dif with a paint roller, cover with a plastic sheet to keep it from drying out, move to the next area and do the same,go back and see if you can remove the bottom layer from time to time. The difference I think is wallpaper is so much more stubborn than it used to be. This was so difficult and timeconsuming that I really can't understand how a pro could make a living removing this stuff. Once I managed to get it off there was so much damage to the walls I had to skim coat most of the surface. Theres no way around this problem, layering a 1/4 inch dry wall over it would work but you would have to get that finished as well as well as removing all your base mould as well. Steamers did not work at all .you have to be more tenacious that the wallpaper. Good luck

Downbytheriver, second thought is to place the tv and viewing seating to the right of the fireplace, piano in the left back area by french doors and maybe a desk on the stair wall. There would still be room for seating by the fireplace and a taller cabinet to the left of the fireplace, thoughts?

smiley, I read your reply 3x and live the idea of diff and paint roller then cover with plastic. I did make little headway and had already biught the steamer but could return it. I also spoke with contractor friend and and said with all the windows, angles more sheet rick would be crazy difficult. Its not a square room.

I dont know whats more frustrating....typing on a phone making typos or removing wallpaper!

The other poster had my experience with wallpaper removal. Remove the top layer and use a garden sprayer with hot water and fabric softener and plan to repair the walls.

carey, I will try that next. I posted a pic in another post intended for this one. Anyway, I won't do another wall until I fix the one. The paper doesn't separate from the glue...after scoring the wall the dryall ended up soaked. There are 11 walls in this kitchen...all angled.
If I can't fix the one wall then will have to hire out.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support!

Kathleen: The answer is removing wallpaper. Definitely more frustrating.

Hello, well I tried the fabric softener and am amazed at how well it works. I will do a little at a time, when I can. The walls will be patched (better) and sanded when done.

Way to go, you are on to it now.