home renovation hints---or should I say demolition

[Toccet02]

Hi guys---my siblings and I are cleaning out my mom's apt. of 41 years...she put permanent hooks and glued on cork boards and put up pegboards on just about every possible surface in the kitchen. Plaster walls, think building was built in 20's. Oh, she also did this to cheap metal cabinets)
We are doing our best to remove this gunk (think glue-gun residue with tons of cork stuck to it!) before contractors come in and clean, whitewash, paint.
I know lots of you work on your own barns, homes, etc., so anyone have any advice on chemicals, elbow grease techniques, or just household hints that could help us?? We're flying a little blind.

For my part, happy to pass along to anyone with kids that wood polish (Pledge orange oil stuff) works great to remove permanent crayon on painted walls!

[xfactor fan]

Is the construction lath and plaster? Or framing with drywall?

If it is drywall, the simple solution --which may be the easiest -- is just to replace the drywall, mud, tape and paint.

In my experience that type of glue doesn't come off. You can chip it off, but it takes the surface it is stuck to with it.

If you've got lath and plaster, get as much junk off as possible then put on a new layer of plaster.

The last time I had to deal with lath and plaster, I went off to the local Home Depot, and went through five Home Depot guys. They got older and older since the young guys had no experience with lath walls. Finally got to the oldest Home Depot guy, who was able to answer the question.

Other options include putting up some type of wall surface like panels.


Good luck.

[madelyn]

If it is old plaster and lathe, you might be best with a wide cold chisel and a hammer - just flake off the offensive patch. Come back with drywall patching compound, smooth over your chips, and use a drywall sander really quick over the dry patch to smooth it out. While you are patching, you can get any cracks or other imperfections. I assume you want as perfect as possible on the finished product? If you have any big areas / holes, use drywall fiberglass mesh under the first coat of compound to get a solid result.

For removing big things, a crowbar is a girl's best friend.

[Toccet02]

Plaster for sure. My SIister has been trying scary chemicals...sounds like I should tell her no, use chisrls and stuff. We don't want to do much but make it presentable...buyer will for sure gut and rennovate.

[madelyn]

I would skip the chemicals. They just make a mess, take longer and usually cause cancer... If you are a bit skillful, a good sharp chisel, properly set and hit, will get it done really quick.

[xfactor fan]

Or you could just pull off the cork, patch holes, then go over everything with a texture sponge and create "texture" finish. Then paint.

Ditto about the chemicals. If the glue is old and brittle enough, you might be able to take it off with a sander. But be sure to use a good quality dust mask. You don't want all that stuff in the lungs.

[ak1]

I live in a 1920s bungalow and just had plaster repairs done...local guy,union construction plaster who started his own business. Properly did repairs with mesh and fresh plaster and can't tell a thing. Previous bad repairs are now invisible. Cost was very reasonable given every room had at least one repair.

Don't use chemicals as you will possibly destroy the plaster. I also would not sand as there could be lead based paint under there given age.

Carefully chipping away and then having a plasterer in before painting.

Oh, and local painter gave us a quote and was just going to use normal spackle to repair---does not work or hold up long term as that is part of what we repaired.

[Diane]

Have it done. If you are truly flying blind and not used to doing reno it's not worth your time, well it's not worth the cost of fixing something you shouldn't have done aka a mistake. You will pay to have mistakes fixed as well as hear over and over about how you should have done this or that in the first place. This is a one time deal. Have it done.

[Mahubah]

My sympathies -- sounds like a tough job! Arson comes to mind as a quick solution (it's one I've thought of for my own clutter from time to time), but I don't think law enforcement would approve....

Unless you're pretty used to handling do-it-yourself jobs, I'd vote with Diane -- get a pro to do it. The initial cost might look high, but it'll be cheap compared to the time and expense you put into doing it yourself, then having mistakes fixed.

[xfactor fan]

Hiring it done is always a good option. Once when faced with replacing a glued down kitchen carpet, advised to have it done. She was of the opinion that we would do the work ourselves, but it would be faster and less stressful to have it done by someone who already had the tools, and knew what they were doing.

We ended up having the floor guy in to take a look at the job, and the cheapest option was for us to pull the carpet, and scrape the old glue off the floor.

You may find a similar type of solution may be an option. Pull off the cork, and pegboard, then have a pro come in to do the finishing work.

In any event good luck.

[madelyn]

That is what the OP SAID they were planning to do. They were looking for suggestions on how to get the old stuff off the walls.

[Toccet02]

Just a note to let you know we're in the homestretch. Cork did go with a combination of frightening chemicals (couldn't change sister's mind but we had goggles and respirator masks) and hammer, chisel. All has been plastered and painted over and looks remarkably good. Don't think we used a sander on anything. Although perhaps workmen did.

[madelyn]

Good for you!