Between Naps on the Porch: Repairing Damaged Walls from Wallpaper Removal

Mar 21, 2011

Repairing Damaged Walls from Wallpaper Removal

While we continue enjoying all the wonderful links for yesterday's Met Monday, I thought I would share some of the progress I made in the office, today. In case you are new to BNOTP, for the last couple of months I've been converting my son's old bedroom into a home office. You can see the Before HERE and HERE.

I covered everything up.

I put "you-know-who" on the screened-in porch so he wouldn't be breathing in all the sanding I'd be doing. He wasn't too thrilled about Mom staying inside while he was out, but he eventually found a big puddle of sunshine and took a nice nap. Whenever I let him stay inside while I try to sand the walls in the office, he scrapes at the office door until he pushes it open. The latch on the office door isn't catching quite right so he can worm his way in with just a little effort. It was nice and warm out today so he was fine on the porch.

I sanded all the walls to remove any last little bits of wallpaper and/or glue. Then I grabbed this stuff...

And got to work on all the damaged areas that occurred during the removal of the wallpaper. I have polka-dotted walls right now.

I had to move all the furniture to the center of the room, so here's how it's positioned for now. Tomorrow I'll put Mr. Max back on the porch again and I'll get busy sanding all those polka dots.

Then it will be time to prime all the walls, including the mural that I've been dreading painting over. Maybe it won't be as painful as I have feared it will be. I will just have to keep envisioning the room all finished. Right? (Sniff, sniff.)

In the meantime, all is right with the world again. Zzzzzzz

I'm linking this post to Nester's Take a Risk party since repairing these walls by myself is a challenge since I've never attempted this before. :) Thanks Nester for hosting this party!

Labels: Pottery Barn Bedford Office

25 Comments:

At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Kat said...: I think Max has the right idea! Can't wait to see what color you paint. The office is coming along beautifully! Kat
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Babs said...: LOL.. Poor Max. Bless his heart.. it's a tough life having to stay on that beautiful screened porch while you sand. :) Have fun priming and painting.I don't envy you having to do all that, but it'll be beautiful when it's finished.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Anonymous said...: Susan, you have worked very hard, and I know the end result will be fantastic.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Barb S said...: I am really enjoying your home office project! I know it is a lot of work because I have done projects like this too. I also want to tell you how much I enjoy Max. I have 3 cats that seem to be just like him...always wants to be with you when your doing something. My Max loves to sit right in front of my computer screen when I am working..he thinks he needs all the attention!
Again, thanks for sharing and I look forward to more updates.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Anonymous said...: I have loved watching your new office come to life! Can't wait to see it when it is finished! Love the Pottery Barn desk! Wish that I could curl up in the sunshine and take a nap like your cat! She always looks so cozy! Kim
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , coastal femme said...: Hi Susan,

Isn't it wonderful to be at the end of your monumental wallpaper removal? I can empathize with you and all you've been through,having been there myself. I don't think I'll ever wallpaper again.I really enjoy seeing max in your posts. He really is enamoured with that Pottery Barn desk isn't he? He has good taste:)
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , mrsben said...: Having 'been there, and done that' myself; I feel you are making great progress Susan! The space is coming together beautifully.

Painting the room will be the easy part as you know, speaking of which I can relate to your anguish of painting over the mural. YearS ago I hand-painted a full size mural of Charlie Brown characters which wrapped around three walls of my son's bedroom and I hated to part with it when he outgrew it. It was basically done in Primary Colors, outlined in comic strip black. They didn't have the paints they do now and finding the products to do it was even a challenge. (No craft acrylic paints back then.) If I recall correctly it also took three coats of Primer to cover it. -Brenda-P.S: I received my order of Safe & Simple Wallpaper Remover last week and it does work like a charm. One room down and six more to go. Thank you again for sharing its source.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Brenda, that sounds so cute! I wonder if it will take that much primer to cover this mural.
Safe and Simple is amazing for sure. I will never use anything else! So glad it worked for you, too. I don't know why it isn't in every Home Depot and Lowes around. Beats everything else I've ever tried.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Anonymous said...: I've been following your office project and can feel your frustration (when dealing with the stubborn wallpaper), anticipation in setting up your furniture and your determination to get it done and the fun of your creative juice allowed to run wild! Great job! Painting over the mural I also feel the sentimentality of painting over a "season of life gone by". I felt that way when I painted over my boys penciled growth chart on the inside of my pantry.....I even copied it off onto a long roll of paper. You can't quite do that with a mural....but I'm sure you have photos to remind you. Go for it! This rooms for you girl! Toni
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Lizabeth said...: I don't envy your job here, but the results will be well worth the effort I'm sure! Mr. Max is seetheart and I'm sure he survived his alone time just fine! They do love the sun don't they!
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , mrsben said...: Susan, it was cute and the rewarding part is; my son who is now 38 years old still remembers it. Regarding the 'Primer'; paint products have come a looooong way since then. The only thing I will suggest is, buy a quality Primer and refrain from overloading your paint roller in anticipation of having less work and one coat will do it. (Now back to my stripping of wallpaper as my fifteen minute break is over.) -Brenda-
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , megan said...: You have done an amazing job so far Susan. Good luck covering the mural.
In one house, I had stencilling and painting in different parts and my husband forbade me to ever do it again as he was the painter.
He did say, that it depends on what paint you used for the mural and also what colour you are going to paint it as it may show through a lighter colour. He said sometimes he sanded the wall first so it would not show through, other times it only took one coat of primer.
I would suggest trying out a small piece of the wall first to see what works.
I am really enjoying the process of this room change...as long as I do not have to do it!! :)
I know it is going to look fabulous when finished. Don't get paint on Mr. Max!! :)
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Ever - The red house by the lake said...: You cat is lovely! Is he a special breed?

I used to have a cat very like him, but he recently passed away and I miss him so.

Apart from that I really know how hard it is to work when the cats are around. They definitely like to be in the middle of things and I am always scared that they will be hurt.

Looking forward to see your finished room!
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Ever, thanks! I adopted him from a shelter but I've had several folks tell me he looks like a Norweigian Forest Cat. I think he may be. Here's a pic on one at this site:
http://www.breedlist.com/norwegian-fc-breeders.html
and a video about them here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g0-fSOv2bA
He does want to be right in the middle of everything and he LOVES this office. LOL I think he thinks it's HIS office. :)
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Jessica said...: wow i am completely impressed! that is a huge job to take on alone! it is looking so beautiful already! i am envious of that great furniture. looks like a pretty good job to me so far!
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Flat Creek Farm said...: Great tips on repairing the wall. This is very timely for me - thanks! Suddenly it doesn't seem so overwhelming :) Max is adorable, btw! -Tammy
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Mellodee said...: It would be completely heart-wrenching for me to remove that mural, sort of like erasing a whole segment of your son's life.

May I suggest that you perhaps choose a portion of that mural (at the right height and placement) and "frame" it, possibly like a window! When you need a break while writing, you can just turn around and head over to the ball park for a few innings!

That way you'd always have a piece of the mural and it would never be completely gone!

Just a thought.
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Mellodee, that's such a cute idea...I just may do something like that. I never would have thought of it. Thanks for the suggestion!
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , we three dogs and me said...: I certainly know what you are going through as I just finished 18 by 21 room that was partially wallpapered for 25 years. It covered many bad parts. Except for some plastering a couple of bad spots my son did that.Moving the furniture was the hard part as I had do that and empty all the dishes from the hutch. I did all the rest myself.Kudos for me lol
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , On Crooked Creek said...: Susan,
Just when I was ready to state. . .Poor Max. .. I see him sleeping on your new desk in a new bed. What a life he has!( Much like our Maurice!) I'm loving the polka dots. . .really. . .means you're nearing the finish line of this HUGE project! I am so very proud of you for sticking with it, meeting each challenge and overcoming adversity! YOU ROCK, Lady! Keep the updates coming!
Fondly,
Pat
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...: It's looking great!! I bet you will be soooo glad when this is over with!
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Sinjin said...: I've painted entire rooms by myself when redecorating; one room TWICE when I didn't like the results of the 1st paint I chose . I can't recommend KILZ enough! It's a real time saver. :-)
At Tuesday, March 22, 2011 , Sinjin said...: I've painted entire rooms by myself when redecorating; one room TWICE when I didn't like the results of the 1st paint I chose . I can't recommend KILZ enough! It's a real time saver. :-)
At Wednesday, March 23, 2011 , ohiofarmgirl said...: You are at one of the worse stages in the make over. I don't tolerate the sanding and dust too much. It will be wonderful when you are done. I am enjoying watching the progress. Dianntha
At Sunday, March 27, 2011 , {oc cottage} said...: I want to be Max!!!!! ;} And Melloddee's idea is so darn sweet I'm getting misty!

m ^..^

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Mar 21, 2011

Repairing Damaged Walls from Wallpaper Removal

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