Remodel Your Bathroom Walls:
Removing and Replacing Wallpaper, Sizing Walls, Preparing for Painting, and Installing Bathroom Fixtures
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
This article explains how to renovate bathroom walls; removing and replacing wallpaper, sizing the walls, preparing drywall for painting, and removing and installing bathroom fixtures.
Why Remodel Your Bathroom Walls?
Just ask any real estate agent; studies have shown that the two most important rooms in the modern
home for property equity are the kitchen and the bathroom. That makes sense; the first is the most public
and the second is the most private.
As time goes on, any living space is going to need to be remodeled, either to bring it up to the
latest fashion, or because of normal wear and tear. There are a few things to be aware of when you remodel
your bathroom walls. Let’s go over them.
This article addresses drywall, look here for
installing tile on bathroom walls.
Removing the Wallpaper
Your bathroom has either wallpaper or paint. In either case, the first thing to do is to remove all the
bathroom wall accessories such as towel racks, toilet paper dispensers, etc. If the walls are painted, just
caulk any holes and repair any faults in the drywall and you’re ready to repaint.
Or if you plan to hang wallpaper, sand off the texture.
If you have wallpaper, wipe down the walls using a sponge and a bucket of warm water. The purpose
of this is to loosen the glue. Yes, you can use a wallpaper steamer, but in many cases that’s
overkill.
Before hanging the wallpaper, a good paper hanger will size the walls. This means painting the walls
with what is usually an acrylic primer. This is sort of a barrier between the wall’s porous surface and the wallpaper glue.
It the walls were properly sized the wallpaper should come off fairly easily as you coax it with the
warm water with a sponge or pump-up sprayer. Otherwise, you’re going to be pulling off drywall paper
facing and perhaps even chunks of drywall.
Skim the Walls with Drywall Compound
The thing you want to do now is to get a smooth surface. You do this by skimming the walls with
drywall compound, or “mud”. Most likely you’ll need both a wide floating knife and a
narrow taping knife. Perhaps even something so narrow as a putty knife. This is common when you remodel a bathroom because of so many narrow surfaces.
Sand the wall lightly after the drywall compound dries. You may need to skim the bathroom walls again
to get a good finish. Disobey the temptation to rush this part of the job. Unlike what you might see on
TV, actual remodeling projects don’t reach completion in thirty minutes!
Prepare the Bathroom Walls for Paint or Wallpaper
Once you are satisfied with the walls, it’s time to decide on paint or wallpaper. If you are going to paint it’s a good idea to texture the walls. Any imperfection will show up, and the glossier the paint, the more obvious this will be.
There are many simple texturing techniques. Or for a really unique look, use this
homemade knockdown
texturing tool.
Next, use a good latex primer to prepare the walls for paint. Be sure that you use painter’s tape
on the areas where you are cutting in such as on the baseboards. After the primer is dry, use a good quality paint to ensure proper coverage.
It’s important to choose the correct paint type. A satin finish paint works well in bathrooms.
If you decide to prepare for hanging wallpaper, size the walls first. After removing the old paper, you know
how important this is. Now hang the paper.
Install the Bathroom Fixtures
In most cases, you’re going to be lucky to find even one stud to screw into. Invest a few dollars
in a, electronic stud finder for this so you don't have to mess up your new finish. Where you don’t
have studs right where you want your fixtures, that’s OK, use spring-wing toggle bolts or E-Z Anchors.
Too many people rely on those little plastic wedges and end up disappointed. There is a plastic wedge on
the market that does work. This one actually screws into the sheetrock. It is distinguished by
very wide threads and the brand name is E-Z Anchor.
That’s all there is to it. Not rocket science, just patience and attention to detail!
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