Ugh- Grunt- The hard part of a layout!

To quote a friend of mine, "there are people for who do that sort of thing"

Michael,

Have you ever used the wallpaper removal tools and concentrate??? It makes it SO much easier!!!

But it is worth it!  Right?

Look what's waiting for you when your done with these chores.

One word for the wallpaper:  STEAMER.

As you scrape, just think of things to come. It will all be worth the effort.

Mike,

 

Trust me, you don't want to do what I did - build the layout first and then think about the backdrop.  More correctly, I tried to do the backdrop first, but the knuckleheads at one of the well-known backdrop purveyors (the one with the website built by 3rd graders suffering a sugar rush) were not interested in helping me.  They kept pointing me to their dysfunctional website.  That's $600 they didn't get.

 

But I digress.  Yes, dealing with your walls stinks.  But it will get better and you will be able to have a great backdrop.  The backdrop will help immensely.

 

Right now, I'm struggling to get a backdrop in place with the benchwork already in the way.  That is not how you want to do it.

 

Best,

 

George

Don't do too nice of a job in getting the room ready, or the "governing agency" might use eminent domain in rezoning the space into a craft/sewing/other type of room!

 

Jim

naw...that hard part is crawling out from under the layout!

I have nice success with removing wall paper by spraying first with about a 50/50 mix of warm water & liquid fabric softener before scrapping.  I forgot where I found the tip but it works well for me.

Yeah, as I was building benchwork, a friend of mine later helped install it. Lots of grunt work and I was getting a little tired of stuffing what most people probably take weeks to do in a couple of days.

He kept saying, "Remember, this is supposed to be fun."

I got a little tired of hearing that and eventually said, "Really? When does that part happen?"

It didn't even come close to fun until the track was in place and wiring was starting progress. Some people are all about the build. I can be for certain things but generally, I like using stuff.

well I found 1x4 and 1/4" drywall cured wood paneling issue my thought was it takes up 1" of space and benchwork built to its underside let me commence a layout quicker.

 

as to seams I used the water method of joint sanding works well and no dust!

 

let someone else deal with wallpaper but if you prefer the hard way thats fine too your call!

I concur. My vote would be demo the drywall, and phone my "drywall Guy". Problem solved. And yes, I'm 100% serious that I can/would/did replace drywall before stripping off wallpaper. In the end, there is no comparison in the finished surface.

Gilly

Assuming you have 8' ceilings. 

 

Thin Masonite mounted sideways on the top half of the wall.  Install your background on the Masonite.  Put the bench work at minimum 48" high to hide the bottom half of the wall.

 

Do an around the room layout.  Problem solved and no need to remove wallpaper.

 

Ron

 

Well, I will suggest a different path.  If the wallpaper is in OK condition and well adhered to the wall, I would just fill any areas where needed and paint over the wallpaper.  If done correctly, most people will never know.

 

Also, If the wall was not painted originally and the wallpaper was placed over bare sheetrock, getting the wallpaper off will most likely destroy some of the wallboard surface.

 

Sometimes the simple way is the best way.

 

Good luck and happy railroading,

Don