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Can I Paint Over Wallpaper? The Best Way to Cover Old Wallpaper
Removing wallpaper is the best way to update your walls and prepare them for a fresh coat of paint. Stripping wallpaper can be tedious, so painting over it is a tempting alternative. However, painting over wallpaper is not as easy as it might seem and can be more expensive than hiring a professional to remove it.
The best way to cover old wallpaper
Wallpaper has been around for centuries, and there are many different types. But textured wallpaper – which has a “tooth” to the surface, much like paint and plaster – is the most difficult to paint over. The most successful way to cover textured wallpaper is to paint the entire surface with a thin, even layer of paint. This can be done without sanding or priming, although you should use high-quality paint designed for walls.
If you cover the whole surface with paint, you will not notice the texture of the wallpaper below. But you need to paint the entire surface so there will be no gaps or cracks between the wallpaper and the new paint.
If you are painting only a portion of the wall, you can also paint the new paint over the textured wallpaper. But you will have to sand the wallpaper to make the surface less textured. The more you sand, the smoother the surface will become.
How to prepare your walls for painting
The surface should be dry—but not too dry for the best results when painting over wallpaper. In other words, you want the paper to be pliable but not brittle.
If your wallpaper is still damp, let it dry for an hour or two. If it’s wet, it will likely take longer to dry. You can test it by placing a damp cloth on top of the wallpaper and weighing it down with a warm, dry iron. If the paper is pliable, you can paint.
Clean the surface with a damp cloth to remove dust and cobweb filth. Paper and glue residue left on the walls will interfere with the adhesion of the new paint.
The best type of paint to use for covering wallpaper
Oil-based paint creates a tough, hard finish that is perfect for covering wallpapers. Only oil-based paint will be thick enough to fill in gaps between the paper and the wall and create a smooth, sturdy surface.
Some types of wallpaper will work better with oil-based paint than others. For example, oil-based paint works best on lightly textured paper wall coverings. The rough surface of the paper creates plenty of places for oil-based paint to grip, so it doesn’t fall off easily. The paint also adheres well to paper that is not too thick or too thin.
But oil-based paint can be too thick and too harsh for some other wallpapers. It can make thin, delicate papers stiff and dull the sheen of pearlized or metallic wallpapers. For these wallpapers, you should use water-based paint.
The benefits of painting over wallpaper
If you think of painting over wallpaper, you will probably be pleased with the results. Painting can provide a fresh, modern finish that can breathe new life into an outdated pattern.
Painting over wallpaper is hard. You will have to deal with loose pieces that refuse to stick to the wall. You may also need to paint around good areas or partially damaged areas. Seeped paint under the wallpaper.
The best way to cover old wallpaper is with a professional finish. This can be a labor-intensive project, so it is not something to take lightly. But if you are willing to put in the time and effort, you can be sure that you will have a neat, tidy, and pristine surface.
The drawbacks of painting over wallpaper
The biggest problem with painting over wallpaper is the number of layers often present on the surface. You might have to paint over two, three, or more layers of wallpaper. And the more layers you have to paint over, the more chances you have to create a seam in your paint job. The seam will look like a ridge in your wall paint higher than the rest of the surface.
Imagine that you are painting over wallpaper that is three layers thick. You will also be painting over the first layer of paint on the wall and the surface varnish or paint sealer that adhered to the wallpaper. That means you will have to create a smooth surface over five layers of paint. That is a challenging task to achieve.
If you can avoid creating a wallpaper seam, the chances are that the surface will still have an uneven, bumpy texture. This will create an effect similar to installing new wallpaper over the paint job.
Tips for painting over wallpaper
Even if you have carefully removed your wallpaper and found no glue residue, you may still find some areas of paint underneath the paper that are not sticking well. This is a common problem, and you may still need to scrape the paint carefully to remove all loose bits.
In many cases, however, you can paint right over wallpaper. The trick is to ensure that you get the wallpaper glue thoroughly wet so it dissolves. The best way to do this is to create a slurry of wallpaper glue and warm water. Mix the glue and water in a ratio of 1:1.
With a putty knife, apply the slurry to the wallpaper and let it sit for five minutes. The glue will absorb the water and begin to dissolve. Now you can wipe off the wallpaper glue with a soft cloth. If you still find areas that are not sticking well, add a small amount of mineral spirits to the wallpaper slurry. Mineral spirits are a type of paint thinner. Adding a small amount of mineral spirits to the wallpaper slurry will make the glue more soluble.
If you’re considering painting over wallpaper, you should keep a few things in mind. First, you’ll need to ensure the wallpaper is in good condition and is well-adhered to the wall. If not, you may end up with paint peeling off along with the wallpaper. Second, you’ll need to choose the right type of paint. A latex primer and paint will work best. Third, you’ll need to take your time and use a brush or roller designed explicitly for painting wallpaper. With the proper preparation, you can successfully paint over wallpaper and give your walls a fresh, new look.
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