Remove gummy material from bathroom walls


  #1  
Old 07-28-17, 09:41 PM
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Remove gummy material from bathroom walls

I've been working on removing the tiles on my bathroom wall for a couple days. They were these old ugly plastic tiles. They cover the perimeter of my bathroom. Whatever sorted of adhesive was used to adhere the tiles to the wall didn't come off with the tiles. It's mostly all left on the wall. It's very gummy and putty like and won't scrape off with a scraper. I have no idea how to get this crud off my walls or what tool would help me with this job. I don't want to completely ruin my drywall. In the process of removing the tiles, some nicks and divers were made but nothing I can't patch. Anyhow, somebody please help me figure out how to get this old gummy, tacky tile adhesive off my walls. Thank you so much!!Name:  IMG_0966.jpg
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Old 07-29-17, 04:09 AM
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Go ahead and remove and replace the drywall. In the end it's faster and easier than tediously scraping and sanding to remove the old glue and then repairing your gouges and scratches. With remove and replace it all goes away in 15 minutes.
 
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Old 07-29-17, 05:11 AM
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Not so sure it's drywall! Those plastic tiles were in style back when drywall was first coming on the scene. You might want to experiment using a hair dryer to help soften the mastic and maybe it will scrape off easier.
 
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Old 08-14-17, 04:07 AM
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Thanks guys. I think the walls may be plaster? I don't know how to tell. Does anyone have a way to distinguish? Sorry if that's a silly question. I haven't done this type of project before. I tried the hair dryer, but man, this stuff is just too tacky. It does NOT want to scrape off.
 
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Old 08-14-17, 04:17 AM
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I remember the plastic tiles, my father had a house built just after WWII that had them ... plaster walls.

I'd scrape, chisel whatever it takes to remove the mastic - then repair the wall as needed.
 
 

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