Hanging over wall board...:(

[gocrod2]

Hi...
We live in a modular home that has the preprinted wall board.
I'm certain the old paper doesn't come off. So...how do we prepare the surface to hang wall paper?
I have noticed some wall paper sites have a heavy paper that goes on first on surfaces like paneling & concrete.
ANY suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated

Thanks alot...Debbie

[Chuck Berkman, CP]

Hi Debbie,
This sounds like the preverbial "can of worms". I believe the walls you are describing are installed as 4' x 8' sheets and probably have a thin plastic or wood piece of trim between the panels?
As with all panelling, you need to make sure it is secure and free of movement. Check it for loose spots and nail it down where it moves.
Find yourself a good wallpaper dealer to talk to in terms of primers, both pigmented and otherwise. A product like Shieldz or Guardz seems to be indicated here. There are others. This will be the most important aspect of your preparation...don't scrimp on it.
All those pieces of molding: lapped over each seam between the panels and some sort of quater round perhaps in the inside corners...hmm...got those critters there? You need to decide if you are going to paper over them or paint them. If you paint, you want to do so prior to papering...it's easier that way. You may want to caulk the "great abysses" to eliminate those "dark spaces" showing between the new paper and the new paint...ie; paint over the caulking.
If you intend to paper the moldings, I'd consider hiring a professional. I have done a couple of these and use a different adheshive on the moldings so that I can conform to the detail and have the material STAY PUT.
If you can not tolerate the moldings issue, I think new drywall is the only alternative that would give your wallpaper a good foundation...and of course that starts with primers too!:eek:
Chuck

[gocrod2]

Chuck....
Thanks so much for the input. You know of which I speak!

I'll let you know what I decide to do...or the outcome in the next month or so.

Thanks again....I'm impressed with the quick response.

Debbie :)

[NCMama]

I just did a bath over wallboard in a modular. I did not like the look of the strips so I removed them, spackled between (a few corners had gaps big enough to throw a cat through) and then Shieldz'ed the whole thing. The paper was an embossed vinyl (somewhat thick and 3-d faux tile look) so it covered the poor quality walls beautifully.

One note of caution: the vinyl covering these walls was very slick and probably non-porous. I about fainted when noting an area of Shieldz bubbling where the new paste had wet it and I had overworked it. I was afraid for a minute the whole wall was going to bubble, but it didn't. Next time I'd use Gardz.

I'm doing another of these next week and I'm prepping it the same, then laying a bridging liner. The old vinyl is textured and this paper is a pretty thin Waverly. I thought it would show everything if I didn't line.

Cheryl

[gocrod2]

Thanks so much for the advice....I'm tackling the bathroom next!

Debbie