or maybe...."Off, Damn Paste!"
These are the infamous walls I've been telling you about. The wallpaper is mostly gone, but the paste remains, in quantities to choke a dinosaur. The brighter blue parts on the lower section are where I have successfully removed the paste, and the dull upper parts have yet to be tackled.
The white stripes were painted there 26 years ago, just before applying the wallpaper. I knew that if the wallpaper shrank (as it sometimes does), the blue wall would "shine" through, at the seams so I painted those areas. Unfortunately, I painted over the old wallpaper paste, and now those areas will have to be sanded until they are as smooth as the blue areas. A thankless job if there ever was one.
The white stripes were painted there 26 years ago, just before applying the wallpaper. I knew that if the wallpaper shrank (as it sometimes does), the blue wall would "shine" through, at the seams so I painted those areas. Unfortunately, I painted over the old wallpaper paste, and now those areas will have to be sanded until they are as smooth as the blue areas. A thankless job if there ever was one.
This is a close-up of the area with a lot of paste still on it. You can see how thick it is. Before I've managed to get the whole hall and up the stairs finished, I may give up and put up new paper, since the walls don't have to be so pristine for that. Take a lesson from me, and don't put up paper unless you know how to do it without bucket-fulls of paste - or - you plan to move before it has to be changed!
I just watched a show on HGTV, and they solved the problem by putting bead board over the existing wallpaper. Now there's a thought!
<<>><<>>
I just watched a show on HGTV, and they solved the problem by putting bead board over the existing wallpaper. Now there's a thought!
^^^^^^^^^
***The title comes from:
***The title comes from:
Doctor:
What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands.Gentlewoman:
It is an accustom'd action with her, to seem thus
washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of
an hour.Lady Macbeth:
Yet here's a spot.Doctor:
Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to
satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.Lady Macbeth:
Macbeth Act 5, scene 1, 26–40
Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!—One; two: why, then
'tis time to do't.—Hell is murky.—Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and
afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our
pow'r to accompt?—Yet who would have thought the old man to
have had so much blood in him?
14 comments:
I've painted acres of walls in my time but have never wall -papered. Probably just as well. I always felt disaster loomed:)
I have both stripped and put up wallpaper and it is a big project either way. The room has to be a mess until it is all done.
We stripped the wallpaper off of one wall at the old house and the paper had been put directly on drywall. So to make the wall look like the others that were plastered, my cousin put on a thin layer of thinned out spackling with a scrub brush to give it the same look. It worked!
I don't know what it is, but for the last several days I haven't been able to see the pictures of your posts older than two days or the ones in your sidebar... if I use Safari on my mac. Now, I can't get to the comments on Safari. I never had this come up before... at least it works with firefox just fine. Strange thing technology.. :)
Your solution is quite simple....
As soon as I viewed your post this morning I was taken back by the posted images. My immediate thought was, "I didn't know Judy liked abstract art!"
Of course, as I began to read your post it was obvious my initial conclusion was quite incorrect. However, given your predicament might I suggest the following....
Cut out the section and then divide it up into several 3x4 sections, frame them and then sell them for say $250,000 - $500,000 each cause I'm telling you....you've got some abstract art there girl!
Then take a portion of the several million dollars in sales and have someone else just do the whole damn thing! Whatch ya' think? :)
I have a feeling I'm going to be going for the "Venetian plaster" look in my kitchen...
people say I'm boring because I prefer white paint (and hang pictures) to colored walls... Oh well, at least you're problem isn't related to Lady Macbeths--at least I don't think it is :)
Out, out damned paste.
I have no solutions so I will just say I don't envy you the job.
This is no hobby to have! Not at all.
I would totally have giving up by now. You're a strong, strong woman.
Have you looked into sand paint. I've seen it used over trouble areas with great success. It's quite a nice finish.
Did the vinegar not work?
Brighid had another tip over at my place last Wednesday: 'after scoring the wall paper, saturate it with a mix of warm water & fabric softener from a hand held pump sprayer. Let soak in and scrape off. Just finished removing 4+ layers of oooold paper from a beadboard room. Worked like a charm'.
Holy Moly, "What were they thinking with that dayglow blue??"
Of course when I sell and some one gets this place they will definately say, "What was she thinking with those Orange Blast walls."
For some of us, myself included, our taste is only in our mouth.
Goooood luck.
I am laughing because you left me a comment that you would get back to look at the videos, but you didn't have time at the moment. NO WONDER! You are up to your ears in a very messy project. I hope it all goes well for you and that it does not leave you too exhausted. . . not good for your health.
beadboard hides a huge amount of misery.
With a nasty wallpaper job like that, it might be easier just to knock the wall down and install new sheetrock. Or pay somebody to do it for you.
That beadboard you saw on HGTV is not a bad idea, either, depending on the location.
Alan G. has the best idea, though.
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