The Map Wall Must Die...
Over the past weekend, Aaron took up the paint roller in order to prime and paint the two first floor bedrooms.
We lived in the first bedroom during the first few months that we were in the house, even though the plaster ceiling threatened to fall on our heads at any minute. After that, we moved into the back bedroom. A bedroom where the radiator had been removed for some reason before we bought the house. A bedroom which opened up onto an uninsulated back porch that was built onto the house sometime within the last few decades. A bedroom with an unusual view that assaulted your eyes before you fell to sleep each night.
We lived in this back bedroom for almost three years (3! YEARS!). Three winters of sleeping in bed while dressed in a woolen hat, layers of clothing and sweat socks on my hands. I was ever so happy to leave that room.
But now that we are sprucing up both downstairs bedrooms, we are facing a dilemma.
How do we rid ourselves of the map wall?
These are old road maps and posters glued tightly to a plaster wall. There is a smooth, clear coating over them...decoupage? Varnish? There is most likely paint between the plaster and the maps. Who knows? Maybe the maps are attached with Liquid Nails, since that seems to be the only adhesive used in this house for the last forty years.
How do I strip this? Seriously. I have no idea. Anyone got a clue for me?
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Comments
try steam first? if it's only glue it might work.
Posted by: ben | July 25, 2006 8:31 AM
I think you should put up paneling and preserve it for the future owner ;-)
Posted by: Greg | July 25, 2006 9:11 AM
We've had good luck with removing the liquid nail residue with a razor blade scraper.
You might try a Zinsser paper tiger and DIFF on the wallpaper.
Posted by: Marie in St Paul | July 25, 2006 9:14 AM
I think you'll secretly be sad to see it go. I really think you ought to just leave it and decorate around it. It actually looks pretty cool (from here). Especially if it's only on one wall. It's sort of like something Hildi would do on Trading Spaces, ha ha.
Posted by: Jake | July 25, 2006 11:12 AM
Here's another vote for steaming it off. If that doesn't work, you might want to try a chemical stripper like Soy-Gel to cut through the gunk holding it on.
Are there any loose corners you can just start yanking on?
Posted by: Di | July 25, 2006 11:36 AM
Not sure. Kind of scary, huh?
I am all for taking it down. So, if steam doesn't loosen the hold, I would recommend DIF wallpaper remover. I'm thinking it would work for this just as well and maybe even better? (cross fingers)
I used the DIF wallpaper remover (available in attractive blue goo form) and scoring tool to take down wallpaper (circa 1973) in my home last fall.
Tips: If you use the scoring tool, no pressure needed. Let the tool do the work or you will damage your walls with the scoring teeth.
If you use the remover and not all of the paper/maps comes off with light scraping (or simply peeling), I would rescore (if you think necessary) and respray and let sit for a bit longer. This way you don't accidentally scrape INTO the wall.
You still have to work a bit even with using this product, but I was really pleased with it and the results.
Good luck!
Posted by: Mandy | July 25, 2006 11:46 AM
DIF got us through the seven layers of wallpaper on our office & hallway walls (with accompanying paint in between). Soak and scrape, soak and scrape. And take photos of the good maps for posterity.
Posted by: Kate | July 25, 2006 12:58 PM
See if you can get some arts funding, then take the whole thing down with a sawzall and exhibit it in a gallery. :)
Posted by: Tim Jarrett | July 25, 2006 2:50 PM
I think you might just want to pull the whole wall out and put up new drywall...I know...not the plaster and lathe that we all love so much, but if that crap doesn't come down you're going to be sooo much more frustrated!
Posted by: Kathie | July 25, 2006 3:33 PM
Oh I don't envy you. That's a tough one. Just wishing you lots of luck and as the French say "courage!"
Posted by: misschrisc | July 25, 2006 4:05 PM
If the surface is smooth, why not just paint it? It's not like there is a fresco hiding underneath. Probably just brittle plaster waiting to be damaged. That sounds overly pessimistic, but you know how the smallest projects can turn into big ones.
Posted by: david | July 25, 2006 5:10 PM
Could you cover it with 1/4" drywall maybe? I know that is not a purist approach, but we even considered doing thi on our 2nd floor except we decided no because we needed to update electrical. What a find for a future owner behind that wall that would be.
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 25, 2006 9:01 PM
Paint it. Bin Primer ... then a top coat. It will look fine. My last house was 70 years old and we did this over some dated wallpaper in our upstairs hallway. It came out great.
Posted by: Jason | July 27, 2006 1:47 PM
I vote for the 1/4" drywall and thin coat the whole thing to look like plaster. I have NOT had luck with Dif or anything else to strip wallpaper. It's a grueling task. Spend your energy elsewhere!
Posted by: Purestyle | July 28, 2006 4:43 PM