Primer after scraping wallpaper?
Question:We have a house built in the 40s that had wallpaper which we scraped off. We spackled and sanded the visible cracks, but there are still some issues. For one thing there are small spots where the glue is still stuck on - have tried TSP but that doesn't take it off. Secondly there are tiny dimples in the wall itself, all over. A lot of the tutorials online are geared toward newer houses with drywall but ours doesn't look like drywall.
We have two coats' worth of the color and were planning to just go for it, but now we're wondering if we need a primer as well. Will either the paint or a primer cover the tiny holes and leftover wallpaper? If not, do we have to spackle over the entire wall to get it smooth?
Answers:
Sounds to me like you either have a sand finish under the wallpaper or rough plaster. If you are not all that concerned about the rough spots, you could prime the wall with Kilz or Zinzers. It would be better to get all the wallpaper glue off if you can. If you want the walls smooth, get some sheetrock mud and a 12" sheetrock trowel and apply a thin coat of mud, called a skin coat. By the time you get done, you will be a sheetrock finishing expert. Just be aware that no matter how good you are, you will still have to sand some so be prepared for the dust.
I think you definately ought to fill in as many of the holes as you can. I'm not a fan of wallpaper and have taken quite a bit down. I know it can really beat up the walls. After removing the wallpaper wipe down the walls with a wash cloth and warm water to remove all the left over glue and paper. Then after the wall is dry fill in scrapes and holes with spackle. You dont have to do the whole wall, just selectively where there is damage. I would also suggest using a primer like Kilz, because you dont want any left over glue or wallpaper remover discoloring your paint.
The primer will cover pin dot holes, but will not be enough to cover up the leftover wallpapers.
To take off the glue. Wet it w/ warm water-keep it wet for at least 10 mins. then use a scraper.
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