Need info on old wallpaper

[brittsgrams]

How do you know what kind of backing is on old wallpaper? I have a sample of it and wasn't sure if you could tell by the touch of it or what. I can take it to a paint store in town, but was wondering if anyone knew how to tell by feel. I am going to take it off my bathroom walls and paint (I hope). Did not want to get into a big mess. Thanks, Tami

[B Blanchard]

Most likely it is either paper-backed, fabric-backed (a cotton scrim), or not backed at all (the pattern is printed directly on the substrate).

The fabric-backed shoud be easy to identify because it looks and feels like cheese cloth.

The paper-backed will often delaminate from the top layer which you can sometimes do with your fingers.

If it's not 1 or 2 it's probably 3.

It's not clear how this information will help you. If there's any confusion about the backing I would take it down to the store where they can see it. We would only be guessing.

[papernpaste]

All you really need to do is, while it is dry on the wall, see if you can lift an edge at the corner of a strip. You could also use a break off blade type of knife to cut through the paper on a 45 degree angle from a seam for a couple of inches (try not to use a lot of pressure or you'll cut through the surface of the wall board)- just score through the wallpaper. Then, try to lift the corner that you have just created, using your break-off blade to get under it, and, if you can, begin to pull on what comes lose. This will be the surface that has the pattern printed on it. Allways pull off what will come off dry, before applying any removal solution. If it is a vinyl that will delaminate from the backing, step "one" will be "stripping" the surface off. Step "two" will be soaking the backing to get the adhesive to release. Be sure to remove all residual paste from the wall, as you remove the backing of the old wallcovering. Not performing this step will cause the paint that you want to put on to crack in the next six-to-eight months. Spray the walls with removal solution and use a scour pad to agitate the residual paste. Then, squeegy or wipe off residual paste with wet towels, cleaning and wringing them out, constantly, as you go. Finally before painting, do any spackling and caulking that is necessary. No matter what the backing is on the old wallcovering, if you get the surface off first, a removal solution will loosen the backing. If Step One doesn't produce a strippable printed surface, lightly score the surface with a "paper tiger," applying just enough pressure to go throught the wallcovering but, not so much as to make little teeth marks in wall board. Then, spray with removal solution, wait 3-5 minutes and wet a second time. Do it a third time, if neccessary and the corners should loosen. Patience is the key. It's usually not a "bang, bang, and your done" kind of job. Good luck.