Monday, June 29, 2009

How Do You Spell Frustration?

W-A-L-L-P-A-P-E-R      R-E-M-O-V-A-L.

I want to paint before the carpenter comes in three weeks to install crown moldings throughout my house so I am trying to strip the wallpaper that was on the common wall of my dining room and living room.  It really should have been taken down a long time ago so the crown molding was a good incentive to do it now.
The clock is ticking so I finally got motivated yesterday to start.  I think I’ve put it off for so long because I intuitively  knew it was going to be a hassle.
And I was right.
IMG_2239 (c)
The top layer of the paper came off fine but it left the paper backing, which you know  is typical if you’ve ever stripped wallpaper.  And  the paper backing even came off about 2/3 of the 24 ft. long wall pretty easy.
But this last 8’ x 8’ section…it’s giving me absolute fits!  I worked on this problem section for 4 or 5 hours last night and really only got about 1/2 of it done.

IMG_2246 (e) 

I first saturated the paper with slightly diluted fabric softener, which has worked really well for me in the past.  Usually the paper just slips off.  This time I’m not having too much success with it.
On the positive side,  my hands sure are soft and my house smells nice from all the fabric softener! 
Even DIF wallpaper remover isn’t making my job any easier.  The backing is  just coming off in small strips.   It is requiring lots of tedious scraping.  The fact that my walls are textured plaster is not helping either.
IMG_2241 c&e
The next time I get  a bee in my bonnet to put up wallpaper, will someone please remind me what a chore it is to remove it?!
Thank you.
Well, break time is over for me.  Back to work.  See you all soon.  I hope.
 

10 comments:

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Good Morning, girlfriend. Oh, I'm sorry you are having such a hard time with that paper. Wish I lived closer so I could help. I would let you borrow my wallpaper steamer. Any chance you could rent one? Don't work too hard now, and watch that shoulder. :)

Debbie xo

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Wow, this does look like a huge job. I use to have wallpaper in every room of the house, so glad I sold it before it was time for it to come down. I hope the rest goes a little easier for you. Hugs, Marty

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

This is exactly the reason why I won't entertain the thought of wallpaper for more than a minute. Way too much trouble (and mess) when you change your mind about it a couple of years later. On the up side, you're going to be so pleased with your crown moulding, and hey, can't complain about your house smelling so nice, right? :)

Kathi said...

Oh dear, I feel your pain! You've done a great job so far! I've had textured plaster before too. Pretty, but really hard to get wallpaper off! It's going to look so good when you're finished!
Don't forget to show us!!

Lisa said...

Wallpaper is the worst!! I hope you get it done with your sanity intact!!
Hugs, Lisa

Signing Out said...

Go to Home Depot, Lowe's or any hardware store and ask them for a wallpaper scoring tool. It makes holes in the wallpaper and backing. Run this along a section of the wall where the backing won't come off, then apply the wallpaper remover. Let it set for a few minutes and try scraping it.

If the above doesn't work, do you have any friends that have a garment steamer? Those work pretty good at loosening the wallpaper backing from the wall.

Jane

Anonymous said...

I don't envy you a bit but I wish I could help you. I know what a challenge it can be to strip wallpaper. I've done it so many times and it will be worth it.

Hang in there.

Gretchen
birdnestcottage.typepad.com

The Bliss Journey said...

Wow, that is really stuck on there. I guess now wouldn't be the time to tell you that wallpaper is making a come back. What's that I hear? Sounds like screaming coming from the St. Pete area. I hope you are having a great evening and looking at your walls wallpaperless.
Kathleen

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Shari, I feel your pain! I've stripped my share of wallpaper too. Hopefully you'll enjoy the new beadboard wallpaper much more than this one!

I'm laughing that the beadboard wallpaper is now on back-order at HD. Your note made me laugh out loud! Please tell me what you end up doing with it. I feel a Mr. Linky beadboard wallpaper party coming on!

Martha said...

Stumbled upon your blog; am in the process of reading your old posts. I totally agree with you regarding wallpaper. If I ever even say the word wallpaper again, I hope someone kicks my b---. Love your blog and your decorating ideas. I dream of a condo or home in Florida to decorate and love what you are doing with your master bedroom. I've bookmarked your blog so will keep reading and waiting to see the finished product.