Tips on installing wallpaper so it’s easier to remove?

6 years ago

Nantucket · More Info

I’m planning to install this wallpaper in my new powder room, above a wainscoting, and was wondering if there’s anything I can do now to make it easier to remove in the future, either by me or a future owner.

Last night I was reading This Old House and they said that it’s easier to remove wallpaper from plaster. They said that with sheetrock, it almost always goes badly because the wallpaper sticks to the paper on the sheetrock.

So....is there anything I can do now to prevent problems down the line? (Short of plastering the walls?)

Thanks in advance for your help

Featured Answer

PRO

Grey Heron Interiors

6 years ago

Hi girl_wonder,

Yes! You have two options:

1) Make sure the wallboard is primed really well with an oil-based primer like Zinsser. Wallpaper paste - whether its brushed on or pre-pasted will soak right through latex paint no matter how many coats you use - and become one with the wallboard paper. Then you need to roll on sizing so the paper is more manageable.

2) You can apply Zinsser Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer. Here's the link: https://www.thepaintstore.com/Zinsser-Shieldz-Universal-Wallcovering-Primer-p/02504.htm

Love the paper!

Good luck,

Karen

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Comments (13)

ShadyWillowFarm
6 years ago
If you are already thinking of removing it, maybe rethink your choice. Maybe it strikes your fancy now, but you are already second guessing it, and removing wallpaper is a pain. I like it, but it’s not really my taste.
girl_wonder thanked ShadyWillowFarm
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
I second the oil primer. If properly done (possibly even two coats) the wallpaper will bond beautifully but also be removable.
girl_wonder thanked HALLETT & Co.
girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
@Grey Heron Interiors (Karen) and @HALLETT & Co., thanks so much for the tips! That’s great to know.

@ShadyWillowFarm, thanks for your comment. I like this wallpaper and I definitely want to paper the powder room, but reading that article last night reminded me that nothing lasts forever. Also, the master bathroom (pre-remodel) had walls that were in bad shape because a previous owner removed someone else’s wallpaper. So I’m just trying to be prurdent now and plan ahead ;)
CC
6 years ago
Use Shieldz primer. That’s what it’s made for. Good luck!
girl_wonder thanked CC
ShadyWillowFarm
6 years ago
I get it - I would not put fish in my powder room, but I would be tempted by baby goats or chickens! And I would wonder, gee, what if I need to pull this up, and I would do it anyway.
girl_wonder thanked ShadyWillowFarm
flopsycat1
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Although your question has been answered, I’ll add that powder rooms are great places to have fun. Small enough to re-do down the road. Enjoy your fish!
girl_wonder thanked flopsycat1
Mrs Pete
6 years ago
Primer. I don't know a name brand to recommend, but the answer is definitely primer.

When we moved into our house 20 years ago, I wanted to remove the paper from two bathrooms. Here's how it went:

I started in the master bath, and it was SO EASY. Literally, 15 minutes later the walls were bare. The stuff pulled off in huge sheets, and the bits that didn't come off were easy to pull. I was so confident! Why do people whine about this chore?

Then I moved on to the hall bath (unfortunately, the larger bath). Hours later I had removed maybe 10% of the wallpaper, and I was in a foul mood. I did some reading, and the next day -- and the next and the next and the next -- I tried hot water, chemicals, a special scraper. It was a miserable job.

When the wallpaper people came to install the new stuff, I asked them WHY the two bathrooms had been so different, and they explained primer to me.

By the way, I love the fish.
girl_wonder thanked Mrs Pete
ajrmcr
6 years ago
Another vote for shieldz wallpaper primer! Fun paper!
girl_wonder thanked ajrmcr
houssaon
6 years ago
The only problem I've had with removing wallpaper is with a vinyl coated one.

I LOVE the paper you are thinking about. So much fun.
girl_wonder thanked houssaon
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
Love the paper and primer is the answer.
girl_wonder thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
mgenigma5
4 years ago
I hate some of these answers asking this person rethink what they're doing if "they're already thinking about removing the paper, they should reconsider". It has nothing to do with that. Just answer their question. Its called thinking ahead. No design or taste last for ever and you don't wanna put paper up if its gonna be a nightmare coming down. If you put paper up properly then it comes down very clean and nice.
kculbers
4 years ago
When I moved into my home about 25 years ago, I removed wallpaper from my sheetrock walls with Dif Wallpaper Stripper. It worked well. My walls were not damaged either. I washed and rinsed them well after. I then painted the walls. No issues. Go for that wallpaper, it’s cute❣️