Before you can paint a previously wallpapered wall, you'll need to repair the Sheetrock.
Regardless of how careful you are, the process of removing wallpaper from Sheetrock can leave walls pitted and damaged. Sheetrock (or drywall) is created by setting the mineral gypsum between two sheets of paper. As an alternative to plastered walls, Sheetrock is much less expensive and easier to install. However, it can also be damaged fairly easily, such as when wallpaper has been scraped from its surface. Depending upon how and when the original wallpaper was applied, you may also find traces of the old paper and adhesive, which will have to be removed before you can repair the wall.
Instructions
1. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water in a bucket. Use a sponge to soak down the walls with the mixture. Then, use a wallpaper scraper to gently lift any large pieces of paper left on the walls. Also, remove any paper coming loose from the Sheetrock.
2. Use an abrasive pad to scrub the walls and free them from all remaining wallpaper pieces and its paste. The vinegar should remove the wallpaper paste residue. However, if it does not yield the result you're looking for (a completely clean wall), apply a mix of warm water and trisodium phosphate (TSP) to the walls.
3. Rinse the walls completely, dry with a towel and allow to fully dry before continuing.
4. Shine a flashlight along the surface of the walls. In a dimly lit room, the flashlight will help you detect wall damages and show you where to sand and where to repair. Mark areas needing repair with a pencil.
5. Don a face mask and sand the walls with 120-150 grit sanding sheets. Using a pole sander for large areas will give you better leverage and consistency with coverage. Sand using short, side-to-side strokes.
6. Fill any holes, cracks or defects with spackle. Use the edge of your wallpaper scrapper to fill in and then smooth the surface surrounding the damaged area. Allow to fully dry. Some spackle compounds start off one color (pink), then turn white to indicate that they are dry.
7. Sand repair areas with a fine sanding sheet (220--240 grit). Use the flashlight test and sand further if needed.
8. Vacuum the walls to remove any dust, then paint them with primer. Once the primer is dry, your walls will be ready for painting.
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