+104 votes
by (10.7k points)
A contractor told us that if our home’s wallpaper was applied before we moved in 27 years ago, it would be SO hard to remove, it would be more cost-effective to REPLACE the drywall, than to fix the damage. Can anyone verify this?  
A contractor told us that if our home’s wallpaper was applied before we moved in 27 years ago, it

95 Answers

+58 votes
by (2.9k points)
 
Best answer
Ive done this to my house personally! Flock and foil wallpaper was under the paneling. It was quicker and easier to skin over everything with 3/8 inch drywall and mud and tape then it would have been to peel off those sheets of evil!  
by (610 points)
@ornamental exactly
+24 votes
by (770 points)
Call bullshit
+12 votes
by (810 points)
Thats bull
+1 vote
by (1k points)
Doesn’t seem accurate
+72 votes
by (750 points)
Total bullshit of done correctly the most it would require is a decent skim coat.  
+78 votes
by (2.8k points)
I can only say that we removed my moms 50 yr old wallpaper without a problem and it still looked good before we took it down. just dated.  
+92 votes
by (13.7k points)
We bought a house built in the 70’s, wallpaper came RIGHT off. Just need to right products. We also scored it first (there is a tool for this) and it literally all came off in a single piece.  
+34 votes
by (2.9k points)
Won’t know til you begin to apply the solvent products. Sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it gouges the substrate. You are paying for labor when it comes to painting. Product costs nothing. It’s all labor
by (610 points)
@vandyke4332 exactly
+36 votes
by (3.2k points)
It depends on the wallpaper, but most likely they are correct. By the time you remove it, skim coat the wall, etc., new drywall makes financial sense and will be a better looking product in the end. Good luck!  
+90 votes
by (3.9k points)
Wallpaper can be a total nightmare to remove, so would make sense. But you could try removing it first before you go drywall route.  
+31 votes
by (1.5k points)
I’ll disagree. I just removed some wall paper. I have a patch where some drywall went with it but I chalk that up to me being careless. I used a scoring tool and Zinsser. The Zinsser worked great!  
+54 votes
by (860 points)
It depends on if the walls were “sized”. Sizing is a product that is painted on the wall prior to applying the pasted wallpaper. It creates a barrier and when removing the wallpaper, the wallpaper literally pulls right off leaving a thin paper which can be removed with a wallpaper remover solution with little or no damage to your walls. It’s not a fun job to do but I removed wallpaper that we put in our house in 1990. I’d get a second opinion from a home painting contractor. Good luck with your project!  
0 votes
by (2.6k points)
Who keeps wallpaper up THAT long.  
by (10.7k points)
@prostrate76788 People who dread the labor involved in REMOVIN@garrik419 it & then repainting the entire room!  
by (2.6k points)
I know. we’ve looked at houses to buy a few years ago, and as soon as my husband saw wallpaper. He just rolled his eyes. like nope I’m not doing it.  
by (1.5k points)
@protolanguage9 and life happens. It doesn’t make the priority list.  
by (1.5k points)
@prostrate76788 we had wall paper that was painted over.  
by (10.7k points)
@molybdenous Truth. You get used to it. Ours isn’t as outdated-looking as the wallpaper I had put up in the house we sold before buying our current house, but it now also has nearly 30 years of wear & tear!  
by (10.7k points)
We DO have a foyer coat closet that still has its original flocked wallpaper from the 60s!  (They replaced the foyer wallpaper sometime before we moved in. )
+55 votes
by (2k points)
Yes. The labor to strip and fix the wall is likely going to be way more than just putting up new drywall
+93 votes
by (2.9k points)
Possibly. Might be easier for them to mud & seal over it. We had to do this to our foyer & stairwell because the wallpaper was applied directly on bare drywall rather than painted walls and it was IMPOSSIBLE to remove. It’s been three years now and have had no issues with pealing, etc.  
+7 votes
by (2.2k points)
Just Paint over the wall paper.  
+17 votes
by (790 points)
I would agree. We bought a house and tried to scrape the paper that had been on for 30 years. We spent so much time and ended up putting new dry wall up everywhere. It was so much easier to hang the drywall in the long run.  
+31 votes
by (1.5k points)
Sometimes it is easier to remove the drywall or put a new thin layer of sheetrock on top. Wallpaper removal can be very time consuming and difficult. The wall finish you end up with may be very rough requiring a lot of finishing work that can take a lot of time.  
+31 votes
by (1.5k points)
By the way, that crap stripper does not hold a candle to a steam wallpaper remover.  
+61 votes
by (3.9k points)
If it was professionally installed it will be hard.  
by (10.7k points)
@evante I’ve no idea who installed it.  
+84 votes
by (2.2k points)
Our experience with old wallpaper removal is that you really have to be slow and patience with removal, what's under it could be bad as well. Any case be prepared for the worst but happy if it all comes off w no surprises.  
+3 votes
by (680 points)
Use a steam machine and spray fabric softener with a mist bottle sprayer, falls off.  
by (680 points)
With a good quality putty knife, pick up bottle of the wall paper remover as well, still cheaper than drywall.  
+23 votes
by (730 points)
Soapy water and a sharp blade will do the trick. Have patience. As a kid I used all sorts of tools. Try it yourself because replacing drywall
+93 votes
by (4.5k points)
That’s crap. I’ve taken years of wallpaper off and painted the bare wall! It can take work but it’s definitely cheaper to put in the work then to cut out the whole thing!  
+86 votes
by (1.8k points)
Also bs. wall paper steamer should remove it. It costs about $30 bucks.  
+22 votes
by (2.4k points)
He's figuring the cost of his labor. You can do it for a lot less yourself.  
+42 votes
by (4.5k points)
Also I mix vinegar water and little dish soap and sprayed the wall, let it soak and it peeled very nicely
+85 votes
by (770 points)
How hard it is to remove depends on how well it was applied. I do know it can be a huge pain in the chibi and if you are not careful, you can damage the underlying drywall.  
+88 votes
by (920 points)
Yes, all these folks are right. I have used a pre-treatment and steamer on very old wallpaper. A few spots were a struggle. But anyone can do it, no skill required, it's just a pain in the butt.  
+43 votes
by (770 points)
Try it. You’ll find out if it requires professional help.  
+46 votes
by (1.4k points)
If you are paying someone. From a time stand point it would take less time to cut down the walls and replace them then it would to take off the paper. But you could do it yourself with a little work and the right tools
+53 votes
by (1.9k points)
WE DID IT!  
+22 votes
by (1.6k points)
If you would benefit from adding insulation in the walls, now’s the time
+25 votes
by (6.1k points)
Not true. Its removable.  
+80 votes
by (2.2k points)
It takes little time I used steam . You can buy chemical that help with it!  
+29 votes
by (830 points)
And what they call a cat's paw
+30 votes
by (770 points)
You can wallpaper over old wallpaper too. My mom in law did it and it looked great!  
+35 votes
by (1.2k points)
Not true. Get and empty spray bottle add I part fabric softener to 2 parts warm water. Shake it up a bit. Spray on the wall paper wait 5-7 minutes and scrap walls with a plastic putty knife or scraper. It will come right off - promise.  
+47 votes
by (810 points)
I have mud it and painted over it.  
+24 votes
by (3.6k points)
My house was built on 1967 and we just had some original wallpaper removed and had the walls painted. The people we hired did a great job with little damage.  
+18 votes
by (1.3k points)
I have taken off tons wallpaper it's not that bad.  
+13 votes
by (4.4k points)
That is totally untrue. I removed wallpaper from a kitchen that was up for over 50 years. I love removing wallpaper.  
+25 votes
by (880 points)
Sounds like they don’t want the job.  
by (1.8k points)
@aerostation3668 sounds like they do want the job. of putting up all new drywall
by (2k points)
@aerostation3668 they want job to replace drywall for for money.  
by (920 points)
Ah, the ol’ profit scam!  
+13 votes
by (1.9k points)
If the original installer didn’t size the wallpaper it would be hard
+39 votes
by (2k points)
Our wallpaper was old in Texas. Painted over it and you would never know wallpaper is still there.  
+35 votes
by (750 points)
Wallpaper is easy to remove - it is time consuming though - you have to lightly score it with a boxcutter and then soak with soapy water several times over a period of hours. Then you can lightly scrape it off. There will be scars which need mudded. To a contractor, time is money, so if he has to sit around waiting for the soapy water to work it's magic he feels guilty about charging you for doing nothing but wait. I am originally from the UK where everything was wallpapered (usually on older houses the walls were actual plaster and therefore easier to strip) over here I would possibly (and have done) dry wall replacement as a faster method of removing wallpaper that I put in 20 years ago.  
+2 votes
by (1.2k points)
We had to re-drywall in parts of our home here. I tried every trick in the book, bought the sprays, rented the steamer. after days of working on it I had about 5 square feet done. Was totally with it to drywall over it. We just did thin drywall over it instead of ripping out the old.  
+79 votes
by (790 points)
I used to paint house in Rhode Island during college summers and spent a lot of time steaming off wallpaper in old homes. It takes time, but can’t recall ever having to dry wall over instead of removing.  
by (790 points)
But it is possible most of these homes had plaster walls vs. drywall and perhaps it is easier on plaster?  
+19 votes
by (780 points)
Having stripped a lot of wallpaper that may very likely be true. Lots of factors but the type and age of paper are the biggest
by (780 points)
BTW - It’s such a horrible experience I’ll never do it again. Period
+85 votes
by (1.2k points)
Mix 50/50 fabric softener & water, comes off so easy!  
+58 votes
by (1.7k points)
Our house was built in 1938 and I’m pretty sure that the wallpaper was just as old. What I couldn’t just peel off, I sprayed with Dap and off it came.  
+81 votes
by (3.3k points)
Like others have said, it just depends on how the wallpaper was installed. I’ve had wallpaper that I swear was put on with superglue. It took a lot of work to get it off and the walls ended up needing mudding and sanding anyway. In that case, it would’ve been easier to re-drywall. I’ve had other wallpaper that once I used a scorer and DIF gel, it was super easy to remove. I would suggest trying a scorer and the DIF gel remover. See how easily it comes off. It won’t take long to figure out which is the better way to go.  
+78 votes
by (2.1k points)
In my home they wall papered directly on the drywall with out priming 20 some odd years ago. We took it down but now have a mess of walls. Needs skimming or new drywall:/
+4 votes
by (650 points)
I had the wallpaper in my house removed, some put up over 30 years ago. Didn’t need new drywall.  
+27 votes
by (800 points)
They have a roller with little blades, a wall paper scorer. Score the wall then apply diff or vinegar and water. Let sit for 10 minutes then use a scraper and scrap and pull. The scrapper I use is a putty knife for spackle. I have great results. Good luck it's a job for someone that likes tedious work but so rewarding:)
+13 votes
by (980 points)
I love taking down wall paper.  
by (10.7k points)
@piloting3235 You wanna take down mine?  
+20 votes
by (790 points)
We were also advised the same. removing the wallpaper can damage drywall. make it not smooth at times
+18 votes
by (800 points)
Who knew wallpaper would be such a hot topic on a late Sunday night.  
by (2.9k points)
Kinda refreshing!  
+82 votes
by (1.1k points)
Disagree. We moved into our house last year and had popcorn ceilings in the entire house and a wallpapered kitchen. Having the wallpaper removed and the entire ceiling of the whole house scraped and painted was cheaper than just drywalling anything
+14 votes
by (1.6k points)
Have you tried to take it down? I mean that would be the first thing I would do, then if it doesn't there are all kinds of things you can do to take it off.  
+23 votes
by (1.2k points)
Keep in mind if you redo the drywall that in itself is a messy job as well with mud, taping, and sanding. Even if they just drywall over the old drywall. It's less work and easier but not less overall time. I'd also ask about anything that comes through the area like doors, windows, outlets, light switches, heating and air vents, etc. Potentially all that needs to be reworked too if they just drywall over and don't remove the old drywall. In our case we did the removal (took a day), painter did a skim coat and painted it a few hours later.  
+66 votes
by (2.1k points)
I took some off from the 80’s by scoring and spraying DIF and it came off in sheets. No the house we’re at now had wallpaper but on by the builder in 2004 and it’s a nightmare to get off. Literally like peeling a warm hard boiled it. it sucks!  
+75 votes
by (980 points)
My husband was a paper hanger and always primed. If yours was primed get some DIF and that should do the trick Good luck
+62 votes
by (780 points)
Soak it for about 30/40 mins with sugar soap Make it hole bag of white sugar melt with hot water when cooled mix it 1/2 washing up bottle worth fill water made a liquid into bucket.  
+28 votes
by (750 points)
You can use fabric softener with water and a big sponge. I took off wallpaper that was about 35 years old with this method. I had no gauges in my drywall. It’s also much cheaper than the wallpaper remover. I got fabric softener at dollar tree. Good luck!  
+32 votes
by (1.1k points)
Liar I have a little machine that steams it off.  
+32 votes
by (1.1k points)
Go to home depot and rent one I own one now I paint so yeah I'm calling bs.  
+78 votes
by (810 points)
That person was an idiot.  
+66 votes
by (1.9k points)
No I wouldn’t RE plaster board the walls. Liquid fabric softener and a paper tiger and patience. I hung wall paper in my kitchen over 30 yrs ago and decided I no longer wanted it so It took a week to get off. I had pasted pre pasted wall paper so the steam from cooking wouldn’t loosen it. Walls no longer have any wallpaper in any room.  
+12 votes
by (1.3k points)
I would try Pam's suggestion before replacing any drywall.  
+74 votes
by (830 points)
I use new 1/4 drywall on top, I didn’t remove the wall paper I didn’t remove the drywall.  
+51 votes
by (3.3k points)
In the 80's I helped strip wall paper in a historic house downtown. It had a note written during WW II. Said something like, "the war is still going. no end in sight". We used a steamer. Not sure what chemical they had back then.  
+63 votes
by (1.7k points)
We have a historic home in Michigan, instead of possibly damaging the plaster walls, we patched the nail holes and seams, primed with an oil-based primer, then painted-it looks fantastic and we saved thousands!  
+15 votes
by (5.8k points)
What about 'repapering" on top with a base paper, and painting that? I think my bathroom has that technique, I can tell in some corners.  
+96 votes
by (1.1k points)
If you ever tried removing old paper where primer wasn’t used you’ll know why he suggested that.  
+16 votes
by (2.4k points)
I recently removed 30-35 year old wall paper. It came off in two layers. It’s not that hard it’s just a bit time consuming and you need to have patience. I have removed plenty of wallpaper in my life and the BEST tool I have found by far are the little rubber scrapers you get from Pampered Chef to clean their stone bakeware. I have used putty knives but find they can damage the drywall easier than the pampered chef scraper. You can do this. And what’s the worst that can happen? If you remove the paper and there is major damage, then you replace the drywall anyway. If you succeed in taking off the paper with minimal damage, then you saved a bunch of money.  
by (1.2k points)
@erastian Korpan Hlavaty A bunch of money, and a bunch of hassle. Dry wall dust is a complete pain, and seems to get everywhere.  
by (2.4k points)
@sax30636 yes, you are right, it does. That’s why I suggested trying to remove the wallpaper first. No dust from sanding the drywall mud.  
by (10.7k points)
@sax30636 Good point about the dry wall mess.  
by (1.2k points)
@protolanguage9 I’ve been involved in several home remodel projects, and I used to clean houses for a living. Dry wall dust (and all that goes along with it) is pretty high up on my kryptonite scale. Good luck with whichever path you choose.  
+9 votes
by (1k points)
Not true. My moms wallpaper was easily that old. The painters got it off just fine. Run from that contractor.  
+82 votes
by (2.1k points)
This May be true. Test a spot to see.  
+54 votes
by (760 points)
Yes, text a spot!  
+73 votes
by (2k points)
I have removed dozens of wallpaper in my time of business and that is not true there is an easy and effective way to remove wallpaper
+81 votes
by (2k points)
Just so you know some of these comments are false you do not use a steamer on your wallpaper you cannot paint over it and you cannot seal it there is a way to do it and there's a wrong way to do it some of this advice is very wrong even if the wallpaper was booked right there's a way to take it off
+87 votes
by (840 points)
We bought an older home (1906) in 1976 and the wallpaper in the dining room came off easily. So I guess it depends upon if it’s paper or if it’s canvas. Paper would need to be soaked or steamed before you take it off, the canvas pulled right off.  
+24 votes
by (790 points)
That’s baloney
+61 votes
by (1.7k points)
What a crock, sounds like he trying to take advantage of you.  
+10 votes
by (1.4k points)
My parents removed wallpaper that was at least 35 yrs old before selling their house last year. Their realtor helped.  
+62 votes
by (2.1k points)
I had to. It was def the way to go
+50 votes
by (810 points)
I’ve removed paper from many houses but had 1 mudroom that would have been better to drywall. The prior owners had applied the paper directly to unpainted drywall. Everything I was able to remove took drywall with it. Had to skim coat the whole thing.  
+5 votes
by (730 points)
Don’t think so. paper scorer and DIF. If it doesn’t work replace the drywall!  
+71 votes
by (750 points)
My experience is if the walls are plaster - score, steam, scrape. Painted - pull top layer off, use a spray liquid, scrape, & sand if necessary. No sizing or paint - skim coat and paint. Go behind refrigerator to experiment.  
+43 votes
by (560 points)
You can effectively paint over it.  
+64 votes
by (1k points)
Removing wallpaper is a pain period. I wouldn’t do it. But the contractor CAN do it just a HUGE PAIN so I would assume he just doesn’t want to do it and taking the more expensive, easy way. IMO!  
+94 votes
by (800 points)
All I know is that when we too OLD wallpaper off our bathroom walls years ago, the only problem we had was where some dope GLUED wallpaper down on the edges where it was probably coming up! I recommend taking a steamer to it and peel the WP off with a scraper. Then you’ll know if it’s true or not. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!  
by (800 points)
Our wallpaper removal was easy. Easier than replacing all the drywall.  
+90 votes
by (400 points)
I took down 25 year old paper and it wasn’t bad. It always depends on how the wall was sized and how they installed it.  
+46 votes
by (5.2k points)
I'm thinking you were questioning this to begin with, go with your gut feeling.  
+50 votes
by (1.7k points)
I took down old wallpaper and my walls look like doo doo. If I had to do it again I'd just drywall.  
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