If you have attempted to remove old wallpaper you are well aware of what a tough job it is. Although there are many products available to assist you in removing the wallpaper they never seem to work as well as they are supposed to. There may be a easier solution to this problem of removing wallpaper. If your wallpaper is still in decent shape, you can paint over the wallpaper. Before you decide to paint over your existing wallpaper you will need to look at it closely and determine if it is in good enough shape to paint over. If there are any loose areas they will need to be reglued prior to painting. If there are numerous loose areas or rips you should just go ahead and remove the wallpaper instead of attempting to paint over it.
There are several things that you will need to properly paint over wallpaper. You will need joint compound, a utility knife, paint brush, paint roller, paint tray, sandpaper, drop cloths or plastic sheeting and blue painters tape.
Begin by tapping all areas that lie next to the wallpapered surface that might get paint on them. Cover all of those areas with painter's blue masking tape. Place plastic sheeting or cloth drop cloths on the surrounding floors. If you can, try to attach the drop cloths to the tape on the baseboards, this should help keep paint off of the floor. Disposable plastic drop cloths are normally very inexpensive and easy to use. They are readily available at most paint or hardware stores. Next, remove all switch plates from light switches.
Once you have repaired any loose areas and are sure that they are firmly reattached you will then need to apply joint compound to all of the seams within the wallpaper. Apply a thin coat of joint compound to all of the seams and allow to fully dry. Once the joint compound has dried, use a fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the joint compound to a smooth finish.
You are now ready to apply a primer to the wallpaper. Using an oil based primer, roller and brush, prime the wallpaper using a thin coat of primer. Using a primer is crucial step in painting wallpaper because it helps the wallpaper to accept the paint and bond correctly. Failure to do so, may result in the wallpaper bubbling up and peeling off of the wall.
Next, it is time to apply the paint. I normally recommend a eggshell or satin latex paint for bathrooms and kitchens and a flat latex for all other areas. Eggshell and satin paints are more durable and tend to hold up better in bathrooms and kitchens. Apply the paint using the same method that you used to apply the primer, except if you are using latex paint, you can clean up with water and you will need paint thinner to clean up the oil based primer.
After the paint has dried overnight, if you have any bubbles you can repair any minor bubbles that may have formed by slitting them with a utility knife and then reglue them to the wall using wallpaper paste. Allow it to dry and wipe off any excess with a damp rag. Then touch up with your wall paint.
Painting over wallpaper is a great alternative to removing the wallpaper and using this method should result in a beautifully painted room.
Painting over wallpaper is a subject that is taboo amongst many in the professional painting industry, however if your wallpaper meets certain criteria you can paint over wallpaper with little or no problems. The first thing that you will need to do is determine if the wallpaper is in good enough condition to paint over. By this, I mean that you must check for any loose seams, rips or tears in your wallpaper. If you have any loose seams they must be glued prior to painting. If you have numerous rips or tears, then you will be well advised to go ahead and remove the wallpaper instead of trying to paint over it.
If you have determined that your wallpaper is in a condition where you can paint over it, there are a few items which you will need to to get started. You will need primer, paint, a paint roller and tray, joint compound, drop cloths, a utility knife and painters tape.
To begin, cover all flooring and counter tops with the drop cloths. If you don't have any drop cloths, then I would suggest using disposable plastic coverings. Tape all of the edges next to the counter tops and flooring using the painters tape. If you plan on painting doors and casings then you will need to tape the doors hardware including knobs and hinges. Also, take off all switch plate covers from all light switches and plugs.
At this point, you will need to reglue any loose seams. If you do need to reglue seams, you can purchase the glue at any hardware or paint store. Using your joint compound, apply a thin application of joint compound to all of the seams. Doing this will hide the seams after they are painted. Allow the compound to completely dry. After the joint compound has dried, using about a 120 grit sandpaper, sand the joints to where they are completely smooth.
Once the seams have been sanded, you can next apply a coat of oil based primer. Apply the primer by cutting out around all of the edges such as next to the flooring and ceiling. Apply a coat of primer on all of the walls using your roller. Since you are using an oil based primer, you will need paint thinner to clean your brush and roller. Let the primer to completely dry before you continue to the next step.
After the primer has dried you may now apply the paint. Apply the paint in the same fashion which you applied the primer. If you are painting in a bathroom or kitchen, a good choice of paint would be a latex satin or eggshell since they commonly hold up much better than a flat paint would.
Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Inspect the wallpaper for any bubbles which will sometimes form once the paint has dried. If you do find any bubbles, use your utility knife and cut a small slit in the bubble. Next, use your wallpaper glue and apply a small amount in the cut area. After the glue has fully dried, use a damp rag to remove any excess glue. Repaint the area that you just repaired using your topcoat paint.
If your wallpaper is in decent shape and you do not want to go through the hassle of removing it, painting over the wallpaper is a very good alternative.
Both Tim Evans & Tony Evans are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tim Evans has sinced written about articles on various topics from Kitchen Home Improvement, Painting and Install Flooring. The author is the owner of Evans Painting in Birmingham Alabama and has over twenty five years experience as a professional painting contractor. For more information visit. Tim Evans's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
Tony Evans has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Health and Family. The author has over thirty years experience as a professional painting contractor and is the owner of in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For mo. Tony Evans's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.