Wallpaper glue removal question

[jsmm67]

We removed the vinyl layer...the brown paper layer underneath...and now we are faced with a white tacky glue-like layer that has not responded to using hot water or a steamer or to any of the products suggested by retailers. Please help...any suggestions appreciated!

[Cliff Hayes]

Steamers and removal-solutions will dissolve normal (organic) wallpaper adhesives, but they won't have any effect on synthetic adhesives, which is what you may be up against. Try applying a product such as DIF gel to a small area. Cover it with plastic (such as a trash bag) applied directly over the area, to prevent it from drying out. Let it sit for a half-hour, ansd then peel away the plastic. If there's no change to the state of the adhesive, I'd say you're at a dead-end concerning the paste removal.

One option, at that point, would be to let it dry, sand it all as smooth as possible, roll on a coat of Gardz to seal it, and then skim-coat the walls with joint compound.

[Chris Nelson]

Safe and Simple will work better than Diff:disco:

http://www.safeandsimple.com/

[oceanwalls]

Hi Jsmm,
I have run into a similar sounding situation from time to time. Almost like a thin plastic or rubbery type sizing product that may have been used years ago. When you sand it in kind of peels away a little at a time but is stretchy? I think it will depend what is going back up, and how thick the new wallcovering is, but I have had success with washing it as best as I can, then drying it out with a fan, lightly sanding it, cutting back the peeling edge with an olfa knife, guardzing it, light skim then if necessary line it before you reinstall the new covering. If you start trying to peel it all off it gets very frustrating, because it only lets go in certain spots... hope this helps.

Brian
www.OceanWallcovering.com

[Boston Hangman]

Safe and Simple makes a VOV (vinyl over vinyl ) remover...this may work. If it is a prep coat as Oceanwalls suggests, the S&S may work on that too....or you could try heat and scrape with a 6" broad knife.

Good luck!

[Bill Archibald]

Maybe I dreamt it, or was misinformed, but I could swear I remember Mike telling me that Safe and Simple no longer makes the 826 (border adhesive removal). And that he said one might as well use fabric softener.

If this is a total fabrication of my mind, it's definitely time to check into the funny farm.

[Lee Epstein]

Fabric softener, fabrication of my mind. I get it, very punny Bill.

[Jim Seymour]

Currently, Safe and Simple offers #826 Border Removal Solution in gallons and in 16 oz bottles.
http://safeandsimple.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SAS&Category_Code=WRP

pints are at the bottom of the page.

[Bill Archibald]

Currently, Safe and Simple offers #826 Border Removal Solution in gallons and in 16 oz bottles.
http://safeandsimple.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SAS&Category_Code=WRP

pints are at the bottom of the page.

I know, I saw that also before posting. I also know what I remember. A call to S&S would clear up any (my) confusion.

[Chris Nelson]

Please keep us informed. Inquiring minds( those of us that have ones still fabricating properly) want to know.:roflmao:

[Chris Murphy]

On Nov 24, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Mike Zekich wrote:

Chris:

Demand was so low for the VOV remover we dropped it.

Mike

[Bill Archibald]

thank you Chris

[Colour Republic]

That sounds to me like neat PVA or a very strong mix of it to me.

How often do you guys that side of the pond use PVA? It gets used for all types of construction over here, plastering, woodwork, Tiling (although you shouldn't use it in tiling many do as they don't know any better), screeding.

Sorry if that's a stupid post and you all know exactly what neat PVA looks like but I know we can have very different building practices between the UK and US

[Bill Archibald]

Fabric softener, fabrication of my mind. I get it, very punny Bill.

Thank you Lee. You should buzz over to Hempstead and load the back of the Subaru with a big Thanksgiving gobbler so Jake can give me the Bird as PUNishment. I'll know who it's from - y'know, one turkey to another :funky:

:roflmao: :roflmao:

[Chris Murphy]

That sounds to me like neat PVA or a very strong mix of it to me.

How often do you guys that side of the pond use PVA? It gets used for all types of construction over here, plastering, woodwork, Tiling (although you shouldn't use it in tiling many do as they don't know any better), screeding.

Sorry if that's a stupid post and you all know exactly what neat PVA looks like but I know we can have very different building practices between the UK and US

You're basically correct, it may be a PVA glue: doesn't react to water. Probably would to alcohol, though.
My understanding is that PVA is used in a lot of common, cheap adhesives in Europe. Here, there are PVA's - "white glues"- that are used for little household repairs- like Elmer's- but for wallcovering the only ones are the vinyl-over-vinyl (VOV) and border adhesives, and they ain't cheap, and thankfully, not common. We have whole states the size of the UK devoted to starch production, so that is our common adhesive ingredient.

Now that you're registered, check that other link, put it into your browser window, click here: http://ngpp.org/lounge/showthread.php?t=2847&highlight=grasscloth

[Colour Republic]

Now that you're registered, check that other link, put it into your browser window, click here: http://ngpp.org/lounge/showthread.php?t=2847&highlight=grasscloth

Thanks Chris... close but no cigar! I can almost smell success!

I only have basic forum access I'm not a paid up member like you guys, so I can't see that thread:help: Any chance of emailing me the juicy bits

Thanks been a great help so far:2thumbs:

[imcanyon]

sounds like it might be R-35 to me

[Chris Murphy]

We removed the vinyl layer...the brown paper layer underneath...and now we are faced with a white tacky glue-like layer that has not responded to using hot water or a steamer or to any of the products suggested by retailers.