Need to paint over or pull down grass wallpaper. UUGGGG.

[Maraya1969]

I never thought about this when I put it up but the grass wallpaper probably has tons of dust settles in it.

Anyway, I want something different. I heard it is really hard to get this type of wallpaper off so it is better to paint over it. Anyone ever do this? Hints? Colors that work best?

Thanks so much

Maraya

[hedgehog]

1. DON'T PAINT IT! If you think getting the wall paper down is hard now,

wait until you try to get it off ofter the surface is sealed with paint!

[Warpy]

2. I second Hedgehog

Besides, you'll have to use a rough surface roller and that will create a fine spray of paint droplets that will cover everything else. It will be a total nuisance to paint and a nightmare to clean up.

In addition, you'll have a very weird looking surface.

Bite the bullet, get the scorer, the spray bottle and the fabric softener and realize you're just going to have to start scraping and that it will take as long as it takes.

Wallpaper! It's like that tat you thought was the ultimate in hipster cool at 18 but realized was the worst idea you'd ever had in your life just two years later.

[struggle4progress]

3. I pulled off wallpaper some years back. I used some spray-bottle wallpaper stripper.

It worked pretty well. What's appropriate might depend on the adhesive.

If the stuff had pre-spread paste and you soaked the paper in water before putting it up, you might try just dampening the paper thoroughly with a moist clean paint-roller, letting it stand a while, and then seeing if it will peel. If that doesn't work, you could try some commercial spray-bottle wallpaper stripper

If the stuff had a pre-applied scotch-tape-like adhesive and you had to pull off a protective sheet and then stick it onto the wall, it might be more of a pain. In that case, I might try dampening the sheet with ammonia solution

If it's on drywall, try to avoid doing too much damage to the thin cardboard layer on the drywall face

[ChromeFoundry]

4. Get a "PaperTiger" by Zinsser

Then use a good strong vinegar and water solution.

Acids donate positively charged subatomic particles called protons, and bases accept these protons. Wallpaper adhesive is acid and base sensitive, which explains why it responds to acidic and basic wallpaper removers.

Some commercial products contain an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of the adhesive, so they work faster... but may be less safe for you or the environment.