Reinstalling original vinyl wallpaper

[dagrae]

Get ready....I have never done a project like this before, so I will need some suggestions......customer's home is probably 50 + yrs old. The walls are total of 18" thick, exterior is brick with interior being a very porous semi sandy plaster. The brick mortar was bad which allowed water to seep in, it caused enough of a moisture problem that the older vinyl wallpaper/paper backed released itself from the wall. This is a very large room, only one wall is damaged. The paper is still hanging at the top under the border. Customer is asking if I can rehang the paper. That's where I will need a little help.....anyone done this type of thing before?????
Questions are:
1) Have I complete lost my mind to even try this?
2) If I remove and soak the paper, will the paper relax enough to allow it to be rehang back to its original size (length & width)?
3) Want to seal the plaster, need best recommendation?
4) Is it necessary to use a bridging material?
5) If bridging material is used; down the road when customer wants to repaper, will the bridging come off with the paper?

Alway liked a challenge....appreciate all the assistance I can get.

Thanks.......Deb (Dagrae)

[Chris Murphy]

First, Diane, you should look into membership in the NGPP, as you have at least 2 excellent members in your state, Tim Bodine and Willie Rosser.
I trust that the moisture problems have been fixed. The walls need to be sealed, and I'd use an alkyd primer that can tolerate a high ph like Zinsser's Bullseye Odorless Stain Killer, followed by a wallcovering primer.
You'll just have to try the paper to see if it's dimensions/pliability have changed. In my experience, it doesn't take but a few years for the vinyl to start shrinking, and that process is uneven.

http://ScenicHanger.com (ScenicHanger.com)