LESLIE: Bob in New York needs some help with a tiling project. What can we do for you today?
BOB: I have a small bathroom on the lower level that’s covered with vinyl wallpaper.
TOM: OK.
BOB: And I’m thinking about tiling the walls and I was wondering if I must remove that sheetrock or that wallpaper prior to doing the job.
TOM: Oh, I would definitely remove the vinyl wallpaper.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Yeah.
TOM: That would be, you know, like having an insulator in between that’s not going to stick.
BOB: Got you. OK.
LESLIE: It’s like putting a ton of weight on a piece of paper.
TOM: Yeah, exactly. If that paste dries out and pulls off, you’re in trouble. So I would definitely pull off the vinyl paper – and actually it shouldn’t be that big of a deal to do that – and then I would use a good-quality adhesive and affix the tile right to the wall.
BOB: Right to the wall? Now, if there’s any paper backing left when I remove the wallpaper, must that all be stripped clean from the sheetrock?
TOM: I don’t think you’re going to find a paper backing. You may find some sizing. I would sand it lightly and make sure that we’re getting anything that’s loose and dusty off of there.
BOB: Got you.
TOM: But then, at that point, if you put the tile adhesive on it should stick very, very well.
BOB: Appreciate it. Thank you.
TOM: Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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