wall paper damage

[Don Hines]

Before I state my problem I need help with, I would like to contribute to the cause and tell you what I have learned about 45 year old wall paper and sheetrock.....
1. Pull off all you can that is already lose.
2. Score the rest with one of those nifty tools from Home Depot Or lowes.
3. Soak it down with a 1/2 and 1/2 solution of fabric softener and warm water. Warm water is important. Don't skip it. We didn't have any hot water in this project and used a Fry Daddy to warm up the water.
4. Wait until the solution does it's job before you start pulling more off. #4 is important too.

Now for my question. My hired hand butchered the job in a bath and pulled a lot of the paper off of the sheetrock. It would cost me about a Million Dollars to fire her; so, in an effort to keep peace I smiled and said "I can fix that".
I have tried skim coating and am finding that any moisture from mud or primer causes blisters under the paper.
My last try is to primer the whole thing then sand the blisters back down, and skim coat over the primer. Am I on the right track before I break my own rules and replace the sheetrock entirely.
Thanks a bunch for any replies.
Don

[Wes S.]

Fire her Don! Just kidden...I've had this in a bath too, somewhat mangled it myself. I was at the same point of no return after pulling some wallpaper off and thought 'what the hell am I going to do' so I ended up skimcoating it. I use the 'Sheetrock' All Purpose Joint Compound, the blue lid: This stuff dries a little quicker and easier to sand.

If you kind of mix itself up in a tray, it softens up, and then I skim coated it. Don't get to fussy, just make sure you have all the paper rips cut off and do a nice level coat. Let it dry, hit it with some sand paper and then I did an Orange Peel texture to hid any other defects. Mine turned out really well.

I think I had bubbles but after I painted it, you can't tell...I think you just need to keep going and not give up....if all else fails Don, texture the hell out of it, maybe a knockdown, and roll with it. Good luck!