After tackling my secondary bathroom, I unfortunately made some poor choices due to not being in the best state of mind. It's an old house from the 1940s, and I started stripping the lower wall tiles that were hidden under layers of paint without testing a small area first. The tile is now damaged beyond repair, leaving me with a mess of dried Citristrip residue on the walls, which has been neglected for several months now. I attempted to remove some tiles, but discovered there's thick wire mesh behind them, and further research suggests that's a huge hassle to tear off. My current thought is to scrub the residue off and then cover the lower portion of the walls with beadboard or similar paneling—I'm not sure if that's a good plan. It's also worth noting I'm pregnant, so I need to avoid harsh chemicals. Any suggestions on how to salvage this mess or faster ways to get my bathroom looking presentable again?
1 Answer
At this point, it might be best to cut a few inches above the tile and remove that entire lower wall section. I know it sounds intimidating, but honestly, that might save you time versus scrubbing all that gunk off. If you're not comfortable hanging drywall, you could always hire someone for that part. Long term, you'll be better off! But if you're looking for a quick solution, just go with the paneling and screw it into the existing tile—just be sure to get a drill bit made for tiles. It won’t be pretty underneath, but you can fill in the screw heads and paint over it!