How do you paint a 27 year old wall that has had wallpaper on for 27 years.?

Question

I am about to remove wallpaper that has been on the walls since the house was built 27 years ago. We want to paint the walls, not repaper. I can see white gloss paint near the door frames on the walls under the paper. How does someone go about sorting this out and do a good job. Help!

Answer 1

See what it's like underneath. You might be lucky and have no problems or you might need to replaster. You can do some small plastering jobs yourself but if they are big then you'll need the whole room doing?

Answer 2

You have several options.
You can try and paint over the paper but if its been papered enough, that may be a poor result. One way to make it look better would be to try some of the textured painting techniques that would minimize inconsistencies in the texture.
You can strip the paper, but be prepared for a major undertaking and aching back. Then, if the surface isn't too bad, you can patch and paint. The textured painting techniques can help if the surface is a little uneven.
If you strip the wallpaper and the surface is awful, you may have to replace wallboard or re-plaster. In my book, that's a professional level job unless you really know what you're doing.
Good luck!
(Speaking from the "been there, done that" school of DIY)

Answer 3

Depends on how many layers of paper were applied over 27 years' if the walls were gloss painted before papering should help removal. I would use a steamer to remove the old paper this is tedious but would probably cause least damage to the wall plaster, will take time but end result would be worth the work.

Answer 4

strip the paper and fill any holes left in the wall with filler.
then give it all a good sand down with electric sander.
it might take a while to sand.
water down the paint really watery and paint go back over the wall and check for holes that you might off missed with filler. sand the filler down again until your happy that's there no holes left.
paint celling first
then paint the gloss on this way it will save cutting in the paint later and any paint from the walls that gets on the gloss is easy removed using a cloth.
then paint the wall with a couple of good coats of paint.

Answer 5

either strip the wallpaper and use lining paper if the walls are uneven then repaint (always 2 coats) for a great flat finish, dont have to worry about the gloss patches.
or
use easyfill after stripping, you local dec centre will sell this, then paint.
or
if the walls are flat enough use zinsser obliterating paint, this covers any stains or dark/light surfaces.

Answer 6

DO NOT USE A STEAM STRIPPER!!!!!. They are the 'plasterers friend'... cause the finishing coat to expand and 'blow' off the wall. If the paper is vynil, peel the top layer off then soak, if its been painted then you need to pierce the paint layer by scoring with a knife.
Either way, my favorite method is to use a garden 'killaspray'...pump up version to go round soak the paper....rub in with sponge, repeat.....When the paper starts to lift, encourage it with a scraper, carefully. When you have done, go over the walls with a flat sander to make sure you have no bits left......you may need to fill damage, then, paint

Answer 7

You strip the walls... Clean of the old paste etc... Fill hole to make it smooth. Then paint

If you want a really nice finish use a bog standard white paint as an undercoat. Then paint over the top when its dry of course.

I think you're making it more difficult than it needs to be.

Answer 8

Use warm water to help loosen the glue when you remove the paper. Then skim the walls with drywall mud and sand lightly. Then prime, paint, and reinstall your fixtures. Check the link...

Answer 9

the reason is he likes to **** little boys. Unless this guy rides a big tryke, there isn't a valid reason in the world for him to hang around with a 12 year old boy. Being short? I've never met a midget who preferred to hang out with children.

Answer 10

I'd sand it off with fine sand paper, or just paper the walls with lining paper and paint that

don't try and scratch it off with a knife, you'll just damage the plaster