Is it a good idea to paint over wallpaper?

Question

If so what should I use? Also I have a baorder with wall paper under it will that work just to paint over it or will there be a line? How do I get the boarder off without takinbg all the wllpaper off?

Answer 1

You can texture and paint over wall paper but there are several things to consider. First, is the paper adhering well to the wall? Second, does the paper have a texture? Third, is the paper dark in color? These issues will be addressed throughout this response.


If there are any loose sections or bubbles in the paper, they will have to be glued. The best way to do this is to use Elmer's Glue and a syringe so the paper does not have to be pulled. If there are many areas that are loose, I would suggest removing it.

Usually, if the paper is removed, some of the drywall paper will come off too. These areas will have to be floated with joint compound, sanded, or washed, and primed with a sealer, like Kilz, before texture is applied.

Use the premixed compound and be sure to stir it up to make it smooth and workable. I prefer washing drywall floating in an occupied home because of the dust. Any large sponge and a bucket of water will do. You simply rub the area with the wet, almost dripping wet, sponge until the compound softens. With a little practice, you can smooth the compound very easily. Depending on the wall damage, you may have to apply more than one coat of compound.

There are commercial paper removers available at many rental stores that include a roller with pins on it to puncture the paper. You simply roll this all over the wall to fill the paper with holes. The system also includes an "iron" attached to a steam generator to inject steam behind the paper. As the steam is injected, the glue softens so the paper can be scraped off with a 3 or 4" putty knife. Care must be taken to avoid damaging the drywall. Ask the rental company for help before you begin.

If the paper is secure and small repairs are done, the first step is to float out the wallpaper seams with joint compound. You will have to sand or wash the compound after drying to give you a smooth wall. (See above for washing procedure) If the paper has a texture to it, you may have to float the whole wall. After you have the wall smooth, use a penetrating sealer, such as oil based Kilz, over the whole wall. If the paper is dark, you may have to apply 2 coats of sealer.

You are then ready to texture and paint. The best say to apply texture is to blow it on with a hopper and air compressor. This will give you the best uniform texture. The roll-on textures are very difficult to make uniform. Be sure to mask and cover everything you don't want to texture.

After drying, you are ready to paint. Any latex paint will do and many homeowners use an "eggshell" finish because it is easier to keep clean. The better paints will cost more but they will cover better and last longer.

Answer 2

You can paint over wallpaper but the worst thing about it is, what happens if you sometime want to get that wallpaper off? That will be a bear to remove!
If you have no plans of doing that, then just know that you will have lines where the wallpaper edges meet, including the border edge.
You might want to use some spackling compound (the pink kind that turns white when it's dry is great), thinly spread it over every
edge then sand lightly before painting. If you pull off the border and leave the backing, which sometimes happens, you'll still have an area that shows up, so I'd use the spackling. Timewise, you won't spend any more time doing the spackling than trying to remove the border.
I've never seen the bubbling problem, although I'm sure it could happen. If the wallpaper is still adhering well at the time you paint it, I don't think you'll have any trouble.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

Never paint over wallpaper, it will bubble, then you will have a real mess on your hands. You can use warm water and dish soap to remove the border and wallpaper, any kind of dish soap. Some people use vinegar, some people use fabric softener. I use dish soap and warm water with a good heavy sponge and wet the wall well, let sit for about ten minutes and remove with a scraper. The brown looking stuff under neath is the backing to the wall paper and must be removed as well. It may takes two or three washes, but, it will all come off with a little patience. Some people use whats called a paper tiger that perforates the paper prior to applying the soap and water. I don't recommend it be causes it makes little nicks in the drywall and then you have to fill in the nicks, sand and texture. I just take my time and let the soap and water do there thing. Allow the wall to dry out for at least 24 hours prior to painting or reapplying and kind of sheet goods.

Answer 4

It's not a good idea, but I don't think it's terrible, either. Here's how to do it without having it look too obvious.

1) Secure loose wallpaper seams with paste or glue.
2) Wash walls to remove dust and grease.
3) Using a TEXTURED roller, PRIME the wallpaper with primer that has been tinted to match your paint color. (PRIMING IS IMPORTANT WHEN PAINTING WALLPAPER OR THE WALLPAPER PRINT WILL SHOW THROUGH!)
4) Apply paint color using a TEXTURED ROLLER. The textured roller will help hide the seams.

TIP - YOU MUST ALLOW 8 hours dry time between coats of primer and paint. These are not normal walls you're painting and the paste underneath will get looser with every coat. So sufficient drying time is important for professional looking results.

And NEVER OVER SATURATE any wallpaper with too much paint. It will peel off and you will have a real mess!

Good luck! Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

Good Ideas To Paint

Answer 6

It is a very BAD idea to paint over wallpaper!! The paint will not stick well. It will be lumpy (no matter how much you try to make it smooth). And, most of all, it won't last. It will very quickly need to be redone. The best idea to spend the time to get all the wallpaper off, sand the walls down, and paint on a clean wall. Yes, it is time consuming. But that will prevent you from having to re-do it in a couple years.

Answer 7

my home was built in 1780 the whole first floor was wall papered.i was not about to remove it all. so i painted over it.here are a few tips. first scrape away any loose paper.then use some spackling to fill in and level that area.when the spackle dries,sand it with 120 grit sand paper.and fill any low spots(spackle shrinks a little when it dries,some times it needs a second coat)smooth that to.then,and this is very important! prime the walls with oil based primer only.you can buy low odor primer but it's still going to smell so you might want to leave for a while afterwards. then go ahead and paint with anything you like.but may i suggest an eggshell finish.it would help to hide any imperfections.where as a glossy paint may show them off. good luck.

Answer 8

Very bad idea. The wallpaper can mildew very easily, especially if you live in a humid climate. I would definately remove the wallpaper before you paint. It might seem like a lot of work now, but it will help you avoid a sticky mess later.

Answer 9

Honestly? It's not a great idea. I think there's wallpaper in my bathroom, because the paint on it started to crack and peel very soon after we painted it. If you live in an area with high humidity (or if it's a bathroom you're looking into painting), take the time to remove the wallpaper first.

A quick tip for removing wallpaper: spray it with fabric softener first! It really works.

Answer 10

Never. It can leave ghosting or unwanted textures. Also if the glue give out (usually from humidity and heat), it'll start to peel. Plus you'll end up using a lot more paint than if it is a bare wall.