What is the most effective method for removing glue from paneling before spackling and painting?
Asked by Dunja Katić 
8 months ago
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
Hey, do you have any tips on removing this glue from the paneling so we can spackle and paint over it? We’re not sure what the best approach is. Thanks in advance for your help!
If it’s really stuck, grab a wire wheel or angle grinder. You might need to skim the walls afterwards.
I don’t think , we’ve already tried using an angle grinder for that.
Cut out the damaged part and replace it with new drywall.
Try using a heat gun along with a scraper.
It might be best to cut out the damaged area and replace it with new drywall. Anything else would just be a waste of time as you’ll end up having to skim and finish it anyway.
Hey Dewade, the tricky part is that the walls are made of plaster. Will that make things harder?
Hey, Jana! How are you?
Hey , maybe you should consider using the heat gun and scraper approach since it’s plaster. Not sure how effective it will be though.
Thanks! I’ll give that a shot.
You can definitely scrape it off, this material comes off easily. Just be careful not to remove the drywall paper along with it. If that happens, just use a heat gun to remove the rest.
Try using a heat gun along with a putty blade
I encountered a similar situation. By holding a slim putty knife at an angle against the glue spot and lightly tapping it with a hammer, I found it chipped off quite easily.
Swapping out the Sheetrock might be the simpler option, depending on the adhesive and thickness.
Another approach could be to attempt sanding and texturing to achieve a similar look.
Score gently around it with a utility knife, peel it off, apply primer, and then cover with 20-minute mud.
Cover it with drywall or consider removing it and then drywalling over.
Carefully scrape with a razor scraper, lift from one side, consider using acetone if needed, then scrape away. Fill any holes with joint compound, prime, and paint over.
I decided to use a heat gun to make it softer. I scraped off the raised areas and used a sanding sponge to remove the rest.
If you’re not sure what kind of glue was used, you might have to carefully chip or chisel it off. Sanding could also work, or as a last resort, scoring the paper around the glue and lifting off the top layer of paper. Just be sure to seal the exposed paper with a quick-drying spray paint like Kilz to prevent blisters. This paint dries in about 20 minutes. These repairs will likely involve plaster work, such as filling holes and applying a skim coat over most, if not all, of the wall to fix the issue. Depending on your plastering skills, it might be easier to just remove the wall and put up new drywall, then tape and plaster the joints and screw holes. Good luck!
I used a multi-tool with a scraper blade to tackle the wall, then finally covered it with 1/4″ rock after months of struggle, wasting both time and money!
Warm it up a bit and grab a wallpaper scraper with a long, sharp handle.
That paneling has a 70s vibe. Be cautious, as the glue might have asbestos. It’s best not to heat it up.