Removing wallpaper -- I've never seen one like this ...?

Question

We recently bought a 17-yr-old house.  In the bathroom (it's approx 8'x10') , it looks like the previous owners papered over the painted wall (pieces  of mint green paint(?) are stuck to the back of the paper) .  The paper is peeling, and I can see that it is quite thick, with a brown cardboard-like backing.  At least, I *think* the backing belongs to the wallpaper!  The paper is lifting/curled at the seams (approx 1/8 in), and looks pretty bad.  

I have 1 1/2 days to finish the whole job  -- either try to fix the paper, or strip  it and paint.  What kind of paper is this? Would it be difficult to remove?  Will I wind up with a wall that I need to repair?  How difficult would it be to fix the paper instead of getting it off?  Get it off and repaper with some textured paintable paper?

Advice on the best way to proceed?

*twinkle* · Accepted Answer

don't get into a potentially big job like this if you're short on time. Go to your local walmart or home depot/lowes, etc., and buy this little bottle of wallpaper glue that it is made specifically to squirt along the seams to re-seal the wallpaper. That will be a really quick fix, and will make the paper look presentable again till you have time to tackle this big job! ;-)

hepp2 · Answer

1 1/2 days is not really enough time to fix this room. you will need to rent a wallpaper steamer. if you are on short time horizon, rent two machines. In addition, there is some fluid you can buy at paint store for when you get down to last 2 layers of paper. you will have to steam the wallpaper for a few minutes per section and then scrape off. the final wall will still need a lot of smoothing before you can paint or paper.

Ken E · Answer

He's right 1 1/2 days is probably not going to be enough time. They sell little tools for wall paper that you rub on it to cut little scratches. You can get them in paint dept of a home improvement store like Lowe's or Home Depot. After you use the tool brush fabric softener on the wall paper. It works great and is inexpensive. Repeat this process till paper is gone. You can go back with wall paper made just for bathrooms or tex-tone it and paint with a water resistant paint.

Removing wallpaper -- I've never seen one like this ...?

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