Best way to remove vinyl wallpaper

[Sausagegirl]

I've moved into a house with horrible brown, tile-effect vinyl wallpaper in the kitchen.

I know what you're thinking. Lush!

anyway, wha't the best way to get rid of it? I don't want to steam it off because we did that in another room with normal wallpaper and took half the plaster off with it.

[Postdog]

I think you'll have to, because I had the same problem.

As it's Vinyl, you can try peeling the plastic bit off, and the paper underneath you can maybe soak/scrape.

The problem I had was that sometimes the plastic bit wouldn't come away, and I had to score/steam to get it off.

[gallapunk]

Yes, you can buy those rolling scorer things that put holes all the way through the vinyl so that you can soak the backing underneath. You dont' have to steam it, but it will take longer (and be messier) with a bucket of water and a sponge and scraper (the old way, before steamers). You will need it scoring first though or it will take for ever.

Also, if the plaster comes off the wall that easily, it means it's not 'keyed' to the brickwork anyway and the wallpaper is just holding it on.

[spaudi]

A lot of vynils used to be made so that you could peel off the vynil face to leave the backing sheet as a lining paper. That would help the plaster if it is a bit dodgy.
Try lifting a corner and peeling the face off.
Failing that, unfortunately you need to score the surface and soak through to the backing to scrape it off.
Steaming shouldn�t affect the plasterwork unless it is completely perished (i.e knackered), and would probably need redoing anyway.

Good luck with it!

[clever trev]

If the plaster is comeing off ,that is because you are leaving the steamer on the wall for too long.

[drumist]

Hello Sausagegirl, I would agree with what "gallapunk " states, as a decorator for nearly 50 years I do not believe that a steamer will cause the plaster to come off, the plaster was knackered already. If the paper is an thin old type "washable "score it and steam it off. If the wallpaper is a modern vinyl, the front should easily peel off upwards not across, steam or soak the backing paper, several times with hot water and washing up liquid "let the water do the work" then scrape it off, DO NOT leave the backing paper on it will may come loose if you paper or paint over it

[GEEMAC]

I'm also a decorator, although with not quite as much experience as drumist and I concur with pretty much everything that has already been written, although be careful if you use a spiked roller to score the surface as there is a possibility that you can press too hard and end up with little pin prick holes all over your wall, a bit like if it had had a load of drawing pins put in it. Maybe try a couple of test areas first rather than the whole wall until you get the pressure right. Personally, I use the edge of my scraper blade to score the surface (that is if I can't peel off the top layer) and experience has taught me the right amount of pressure to use so as to minimise damage to the plaster.

[Sausagegirl]

Thanks everyone! The vinyl is gone. Scoring, soaking and upward peeling did the trick most of the time.

Tommorw is another day, and one for scraping off the backing paper, but that's going to be a piece of cake after the old vinyl.

Incidentally, if any of you decorators are still reading, what do you think to this new Polycell Base Coat stuff? worth a punt?

[GEEMAC]

Hi sausagegirl, Well done on successfully completing phase one. I haven't personally used Polycell basecoat although I have used their smoothover product which seems similar. It was basically little more than a glorified ready-mixed filler which worked out a lot more expensive than if I had made up my own. It was quite easy to apply using a filler blade but it still required sanding when dry and needed more than one coat. Having looked at their website, basecoat seems to be a similar product, although slightly thinner as it can be applied by brush or roller. I daresay it would possibly need sanding when dry. I probably wouldn't use it (unless a customer was paying for it!). I would use some powdered filler mixed with water and I always use Tetrion filler as it remains useable for hours.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Sausagegirl]

Thanks Geemac. I've just finished stripping all the backing paper and now the rest will have to wait till the weekend.