I have a teeny ,tiny powder room that has 18 yr.old vinyl (ugh) wallpaper covering the walls...I think the paper is hermetically sealed onto the drywall because I tried stripping one wall with DIF and it didn't move...I recently read about a new paint made specifically to cover non strippable wallpaper...and now I can't find it any of my decorating magazines..(hubby thinks I dreamed this)NOT TRUE...have any of you ladies read about this paint? If not...do I have any easy options for covering this mess?

Blondi try calling a paint store like Sherwyn Williams etc. and ask them. If there is such a paint they'd know and probably carry it......OR what about another paper on top of this paper or even fancy ceramic or decorative tiles since its a small powder room?

Try the dummies.com link:

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2494.html

Oh Dear...unfortunately I have drywall and unnstrippable paper...I think this is going to be a major job...Thanks for the link to the Dummies website Dotsie...I have never been there before...what a fabulous site...

Chatty...I'n going to take your advice and call a few paint stores in the morning...I didn't want to put alot of money into this project...just a little "freshen up"...still...I wonder how quickly I could learn to tile walls..... that would look sensational...

Avalon,

I loovee to strip wall paper. Don't ask me why.

Did you get one of those "hand held" jobbies (lol) that puts holes in the paper. (you run it over the paper and it pierces it). THEN, you can give it a "heavy duty spray" with old fashioned H2O, let it soak in for a few mins (5-10) and let the stripping begin. WOooohooo.

The paper should come off in large pieces.

It is always better to strip then not to!

Danita

Well, you can come over my house . My family room has some ugly beige wallpaper on it and it needs to go so I can paint . My daughter did her family room and looks great , but won't touch my house . She mention those jobbies that put little holes in the paper and you just melt it away or something like that.

I don't have an alternative for stripping wallpaper but plenty of hard work, prayer and patience.

But I wanted to share that I recently saw a brochure for a thin sheetrock that is premolded with wainscoating and raised panels--to give you the look of walls like you would have in a dining room or a den. Then you can paint or wallpaper it as you please. You can hang it on walls or ceilings--on ceilings it would give you that coffered look. Inexpensive and impressive without the expense. Just for FYI's!

Check out this article on painting over wallpaper.

http://www.gardenandhearth.com/PaintandWallpaper/PaintOverWallpaper.htm

This woman is a professional painter and she has lots of great articles at her site for all kinds of painting ideas!

Wow..I really love this place...my Boomer sisters rock!!!All of your ideas are sensational and I thank you all so much for sharing your knowledge with me like this...my powder room is so tiny That I'll be lucky if I can fit a step ladder in to cut in around the ceiling...so I'm going to follow the advice on the webpage from TVC15...it sounds doable even for an aging ditz like me...I'll let you know if it works...

Danita..I want some of your energy!!..what's your secret?

Starting over..I love the sound of the faux wainscotting panels..I have always wanted that in my dining room and stairwell...I'm going to search for it...Do you think they have it at Lowe's or Home Depot?

Avalon,
If you have any questions, there is a discussion board at the bottom of the page. You can ask her for advice. She's helped me with ideas for painting. She's great!

There are a lot of great sites at Garden and Hearth for all kinds of things, recipes, crafts, homeschooling, stamping, scrapbooking, drawing, home decorating, photography, you name it, it's probably there.

[ February 28, 2006, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: TVC15 ]

Avalon, I would think since they are in competition with each other that both would have it--if it's on the open market yet. I will check later to see if I can get the name of the company. I had seen the brochure ont eh table at my part-time job (contractor) I will call over there and see if they can get me more info for you.

Thanks so much Starting over...you are a doll!!

OK Avalon, Here is the 800 number for support. I couldn't come up with an e-mail but you could call and find out where to buy locally. It's called Designer Drywall. 800-637-7638

Thank you Starting over...(((hugs)))

Danita, that's exactly how I've stripped a ton (it seemed like, anyway) of wallpaper off my walls. Then I take a wide scraper thingy, like for drywall mud, and scrape the excess glue off, then wipe until your water in the bucket is clear with a sponge.

Daisygirl

Daisygirl,

Isn't there something just sooo satisfying about stripping wallpaper. lol. talk about "mindless stimulation".

One time, I was staying with my sister in law - and it was obvious she had tried to take down a little bit of wallpaper in her bathroom. I asked her "what's up with this"...she said she couldn't make the time to do it (she had a new baby)...so, I came to the rescue and spent a day taking it down for her.

I came back to visit a year later, and the bathroom looked like it did when I had left. I'm like, "ummm, Donna, did you REALLY want me to take the paper down???"...they just hadn't found the time to paint it yet. lol

Now DO NOT put a paint brush in my hand - I'm dangerous! drips, spills, the works. NO THANK YOU!

danita

Danita, Daisygirl: That is the trick! and make sure the water is as hot to the touch as possible. If the paper is textured, you can paint it with any paint at all! Be sure it is adhered properly though. Can't do a thing with wallpaper that is coming apart at the seams or curling. I love taking off wallpaper!! However, I do know if you do not take off all that glue with the warm water, til the water is clean, if its still "slippery" (glue) your paint will crack.

Sandi
A hint to taking down wallpaper...Use a steam iron....dripless of course so as not to burn your hands...hold it to the wall and the paper will just peel.....Also, when papering a bathroom mix a little white vinegar in your water...this prevents mildew

I used the iron to pull up old vinyl tiles.