Hello All,
This is my first post – the forum was recommended to me by a carpenter buddy. I am new at home renovations, but have experience as a student painter in college, so I know that prep is the key to a good paint job.
I just bought a 30 year old townhouse, that has about 85% of the walls covered in old wallpaper. My wife and I HATE it, and want to renovate the interior thoroughly. We have stripped the wallpaper off, and used DIFF wallpaper remover to get the glue off. We have washed the walls twice, and are now ready to start prepping for painting…
Despite our care in removal, in several areas the wallpaper has pulled up the paper on the drywall. It appears the previous owners took off the original wallpaper (from 1973) and replaced it with their own (from 1983). Problem was they pulled some of the original sealer from the drywall and did not reseal it. They then glued their 1983 wallpaper directly to the drywall, resulting in the tearing of the paper when we removed it.
Here are my questions:
1. Can I simply use Drywall mud to repair the areas where paper has come up, much as if I was taping two peices together? Or do I need to tape the areas where the paper is missing?
2. What primer should I use? My wife is pregnant, and we would like to avoid alkyd if possible (that way she can help!). Will a latex primer seal the wall sufficiently, and prevent any residual glue from eventually bleeding through the paint and keep the finish coat from peeling?
3. Will the Canucks win the Stanley Cup this year?
Thanks in advance for your help, and I look forward to reading your comments.
Chad
Replies
Drywall mud works great, but can you match the surrounding texture? You may want to mud the whole wall so it will look even. If you want to mud all the walls, topping compound levels itself a bit. Also buy a pool plasterer trowel, its fast and great for large areas. The trowels' outter edges wont touch on a flat table, if properly manufactured.
I find that places where the paper is torn get sort of 'fuzzy', and it is difficult to get the compound smooth. I have found it easier to paint the bare areas first with a fast-drying latex primer (like Kilz 2 latex). Once the primer is absorbed in and dried, you can sand off the protruding 'fuzz' without creating new 'fuzz'. Then fill low spots with compound, sand smooth, prime, give birth, and such...
Hi All,
Thanks for the advice - I (and my wife) are off to the paint store to get some Kilz 2.
I will let you know how things go!
Chad
Another DIYr throwing in 2cents:
You could try the "first coat" primer that is designed to go over taped/mudded sheetrock. I believe it is latex, dries fast with very little odor.
I've used the "SheetRock" brand with good results. It is designed to soak into the un-taped and un-mudded sections, providing a uniform surface for the paint.
Also, to help blend the areas, try a really thick napped roller cover for all coats of paint. It will give you just a bit of texture, not as extreme as knock-down, but able to hide alot of imperfections.