ᐅ Install drywall over an existing wall to create a flush, even surface?

Good morning,

We will be moving soon. In our old apartment, we put up a lot of wallpaper. I don’t need to explain what that means: removing old wallpaper, filling, sanding, then a painter applies new wallpaper. We took this apartment over without renovation, so when we move out, we will probably just leave the wallpaper as is.

In the new apartment it would be the same process, but instead of removing wallpaper when moving out, we would just apply new textured wallpaper (woodchip wallpaper) on top as a replacement. Since I will be heavily pregnant at the time of the move and simply won’t be able to handle the physical effort, and because the financial cost is always quite high, I am looking for an alternative. Please don’t say “just don’t use wallpaper.”

I had this idea in my amateur mind: a wooden substructure fixed to the existing wall, then interior construction boards or something like Fermacell mounted on that, and after filling the joints, wallpaper applied on top. But I know that definitely won’t work as is, or that I probably forgot to consider something, or maybe there’s a simpler way, or there might not be enough air circulation behind it... So I really need input and advice from professionals!

How can you quickly get a smooth wall over woodchip wallpaper that can be removed again later?

Thanks for constructive answers!

Before considering an additional pre-wall installation, you should definitely consult your landlord first.

But maybe there is an affordable painting company just around the corner?

KPS

Hello KPS,

now that's a response I can work with. I wanted to know something about the practical implementation. Why should I ask the landlord? Everything will be removed when moving out, and the holes will be filled and painted over.

I didn’t sign up here for answers like that; they can be skipped, especially coming from a moderator.

So please, I ask for constructive answers that help me move forward and assist me with the implementation, thank you.

Hello,

sometimes I’m a bit slow to catch on, sorry.

You don’t want to apply wallpaper because it’s too exhausting for you? But installing a stud wall with Fermacell is okay?

Please clarify if I’ve hopefully misunderstood………

Regards

Good morning,

this might sound silly, I know. Here are the steps I’m thinking about:
1. Remove old wallpaper (woodchip texture)
2. Smooth out the surface with filler if needed—more or less depending on the condition since everything under fleece wallpaper shows
3. Prime the surface if necessary
4. Hang new wallpaper
5. When moving out, remove the wallpaper again—which should be quick with fleece wallpaper, I hope
6. Apply woodchip wallpaper again to restore the original condition

So I was wondering how to get the walls smooth and thought about materials like Fermacell, common interior wallboards, or recently I came across TOPAN® MDF Standard, which also comes pre-primed. A clear advantage is the large panel size possible, 2.80 x 2.00 meters (9.2 x 6.6 feet), and the light weight.

Here’s what I had in mind:

1. Screw a wooden frame onto the wall
2. Attach panels to the wooden frame; if the panels are light enough, maybe even glue them, otherwise screw them in
3. Fill screw holes and joints—this step is skipped if gluing
4. Apply wallpaper on top
5. When moving out, remove the wooden frame, fill the drill holes, and repaint

Maybe I’ve forgotten or overlooked some steps. The plan is basically similar to the Clickboard system from Parador.

The problem with removing old wallpaper is this:
- It’s difficult and annoying, especially with 2.80-meter (9.2-foot) ceilings. Believe me, I’ve stripped what felt like 20 layers of overpainted wallpaper in a 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) apartment, and nobody wants to do that.
- It’s unpredictable what condition the wall underneath will be in, which is bad if half the wall starts crumbling
- I can’t wallpaper myself—I’ve never tried and don’t really trust I could do it properly without professional guidance because it’s supposed to look nice afterward
- My husband unfortunately isn’t handy and works a lot; I do almost everything at home except wallpapering
- The biggest “problem” is that at the time of moving out I will be 1 to 1.5 months away from giving birth. Working hard with such a belly—scraping wallpaper, etc.—would be very taxing on breathing and circulation, and excessive strain might cause preterm labor or other complications

That’s why I considered option 2: install the wooden frame, which isn’t too hard; my husband can carry and hold the panels in place while I screw or glue them on. No harm done in filling the holes early, and then a painter or I, if brave enough, can put up the wallpaper.

The main goal is to reduce physical effort.
Have a nice day everyone

Hello,

…so I understood that correctly after all.

Putting aside that your landlord probably won’t allow this, this idea, sorry to say, is complete nonsense.

You want to install an expensive stud wall and then dismantle and dispose of it again after moving out?

If your husband isn’t handy and you’re also pregnant (all the best for that), it just won’t work out. Don’t underestimate how complicated this is. I won’t even start talking about the costs.

Even if you don’t add insulation inside this stud wall, this construction is already very risky from a building physics perspective. There is moisture in the indoor air, which will diffuse through your stud wall. The interior side of the exterior wall will cool down because it is now protected from heat by your stud wall. What happens to the moisture inside that cavity? Exactly, it turns into water and settles on the exterior wall. There is no ventilation either (which is also why you shouldn’t place furniture directly against the wall, by the way).

So you’re only damaging the building structure, which your landlord surely does not want.

My advice: Forget about the stud wall and put up some nice wallpaper instead. It saves money and trouble.

Best regards