Replace paper ceilings and wallpaper..

[richardke]

We have a summer house built in 1911. Not winterized, only used in the summer and in need of refreshing. Interior ceilings and walls are still original stretched paper ceilings and wallpaper. The ceiling is painted paper (glue paint) and the walls are, as mentioned, wallpaper on stretched paper (original wallpaper from the time but now painted). Considering how to best freshen up a bit. What everyone says is "install renovation gypsum on both the ceiling and walls. Then paint the ceiling and wallpaper or paint the walls." That’s one way to do it, but gypsum is very heavy to transport (we live up on an island in the archipelago. All material is transported by boat and carried by hand up a steep, rocky hill), and I think similar houses from the time that have used gypsum on the walls and ceilings give a "dead" impression after renovation. Therefore, I'm considering a middle way: For the walls, I thought I'd put up a wainscoting in beadboard about 120 cm high, then stretched paper wallpaper up to the ceiling. This is manageable both in terms of transport and installation. For the ceiling, I'm thinking of installing MDF board ceiling panels and just putting mounting strips over the existing paper ceiling to screw the boards onto. (I agree that the ceiling is a compromise that will partly give the same dull impression as gypsum...)

Now to my questions where I need advice: Beadboard is available both as "fake beadboard" in larger MDF panels that are quick to install and easy to transport. In discussion with the seller, they were doubtful about putting these up in a summer house that remains unheated during winter due to it becoming too humid. Risk of mold and warping. They suggested using conventional beadboard planks instead. It takes a little longer to mount but may give a more "authentic" impression. What do you think, is there any practical difference in moisture sensitivity between the two options? I'm also thinking about what I should do on the walls that are exterior walls: Should I install some kind of windproof paper or other insulation between the inner wall and the beadboard? The inner wall (behind the stretched paper wallpaper) is a bare board wall today.

Regarding the ceiling, I was thinking of nailing mounting strips directly over the old paper ceiling. Then MDF board ceiling tiles on the strips. Same question here, is there a risk of problems with the ceiling during winter when the moisture in the house rises? I have also seen an alternative in some form of Treetex boards that are installed in the same way as the MDF board. Could that be an alternative? A third alternative, although it seems tedious, is to simply replace the existing stretched paper ceiling with a new one of the same design. It seems more tricky, though, and harder to do alone.

I also need tips for the stretched paper part of the wall. Does anyone know how this is done and what kind of paper should be used? Do you glue the seams between the paper sheets or just nail each sheet to the wall?

This post got long but I still hope someone with knowledge takes the time to read through and provide some tips!