repairing VERY damaged wallboard

[phb]

I recently tried removing paper wallpaper in a 50 year old bathroom. The drywall was not sealed/primed prior to paper hanging. (thanks Schalmo!) After a lot of swearing and a few blisters it is all off however so is the top layer of wallboard in several sections. Some areas are not bad and others are really ripped up. (areas are about 10" x 7") I am trying to determine what to do first. Do I sand the really bad parts as smooth as I can? Do I use sand paper or mesh? Do I seal with one of the products I have read about on this forum and then sand? If the end result I am seeking is paint with a paper border should I use Faster Plaster or something like it or a heavy duty bridging liner prior to painting? There are 3 other rooms in this house that are papered and I am assuming they were all done the same way. Can I just go over the old paper with liner in those rooms to avoid the wall gouges, blisters and swearing? I am trying to neutralize the decor in preperation for selling the house due to job loss after downsizing, other wise I would gladly seek a pro to fix the disaster I have created. Great forum, I am learning a lot about the right way to do things. Hope some one can help me figure out how to fix the current mess. Thanks, phb

[Jeff Evans]

Get one of two products- Draw Tite (preferred), or Gardz. They are almost the same thing but some feel that Draw Tite seals down the facing paper better and allows less bubbling.

You'll need to sand the facing paper until all of the loose stuff is taken down and then roll on a very generous coat of either product. You can mud right over them and then seal the whole mess with more of the same after you have sanded it all down smooth. Good luck.

[HangingInThere]

I use my Olfa knife to square-off any loose drywall paper to the point of where it is solid. I've found that a coarse sanding block works quite well to defuzz the wallboard prior to priming. Guardz is readily available at most stores selling paint.

I've also found it works well prior to skimming if necessary. I've "enjoyed" the new dust control drywall mud. It's slightly more expensive, but when sanded it really does a good job of dropping straight down without getting airborne. I always add water to any of the premix drywall muds to get them to a consistency acceptable to work with...the pro drywallers do...

If you've the same scenario with the other rooms my major concern would be with squaring the corners. You may need to cut them out and mud to get them back to square. I would suspect that someone not prepping the walls properly more than likely did not follow the proper mechanics of cutting the inside corners.

If the wallcovering is affixed well to the unprepped walls I would suggest using something like Kilz to prepcoat if available. Use the oil base formula. It is stinky stuff but it will provide you with a "new" stable surface from which to work.

This might be better moved to an appropriate forum! ;)