Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
If you are going to put on more paste and wallpaper, do you have to remove all the old wallpaper and paste?
By Ray McDowell from Columbus, OH
I don't think anybody ever bothered to do that in the house that I grew up in. I don't know how many families lived in it before we did, but there was wallpaper on the walls when we moved in and my Mother repapered several times after that. We didn't paper real often because we were low income, the old paper had to be really bad before we repapered. If I remember right, my mother made home made paste for the job. My Aunt did the same thing putting it on over the top of the old. My folks moved out of their farm house in 1977 and the place is still standing, I don't know if the current owners have done anything different to the inside or not.
All the Pros will tell you that you are supposed to remove all the old wallpaper before putting up new wallpaper. But what a hassle! I've found that most of the time you don't really have to.
For example: When I moved in to my first home, back in the mid 1980's the previous owner had put up horrible gold-foil wallpaper & we didn't want to spend the time taking all that nasty wallpaper down, so we simply primed the wallpaper then painted over it. Well, several years later I wanted to go with an antique Victorian theme, so I put wallpaper up over the old paint & the previous wallpaper & it turned out perfectly & held up for many years. Of course every case is different!
The worse thing that can happen is, you may have a little of this wallpaper that may bubble or small bits may come away from the wall. But all these can easily be fixed! If you do get a bubble (I didn't) simply pop it with a pin. If your paper starts to come away from the wall, simply use a bit of Elmer's glue to put it back the way it was.
Before you paper over paper I would recommend you first use one of the new "high-adhesive" primers, preferably in a matte sheen (NOT Glossy or semi-gloss!) like Zinsser 1-2-3 or Gripper. The primer will help seal the old wallpaper & it's seams. This is really important if your old paper is dark in color. Make sure you won't be able to see through the new paper.
---> To be extra sure your old paper will hold the weight of the new paper, only paper one wall the first day, then wait overnight or for a day or 2 to make absolutely sure!
* Of course if you old paper is flocked or dimensional, then of course you wouldn't even attempt to paper over it!
I hate wallpaper; it's too hard to remove if you decide you don't want it and I don't see it much in the newer homes. I think it's becoming outdated. If you get tired of the color of a painted wall; no problem painting is easy and cheap. I just painted over wallpaper in my kitchen and in one bathroom. Just last week helped a neighbor paint over hers.
Yes, you can wallpaper over existing wallpaper. You just don't want the seams from the new wallpaper to end up in the same place as those of the existing wallpaper. The guy at Sherwin-Williams paint store said that as long as there are no loose seams on the existing wallpaper and you put a primer over the existing wallpaper, you will be fine.
I am repairing a wall that has been brown bag wallpapered and the brown bags are different shades of brown. Can I paint over this and just have textured wallpaper?
Nicole, is there a glossy finish on the wallpaper? Many paints have a hard time adhering to a high gloss finish. I would think that if you use a quality primer first, and then paint over it, that you would have good results.
We did the brown bag on my daughters walls and waited until all the glue was dry and then painted the color she wanted...which was a deep chocolate...it looks great.
I say go for it!
Good luck!
Sure can i did this at my farmhouse it was simple and looked like expensive treated walls!
Is it feasible to paint over wallpaper, since there are new paints out there?
I know you couldn't do it in the 1999 and beyond.
The condition of the wallpaper will be the determining factor as to whether this is a good idea. Generally, it may be a very good idea but be sure to plan the job carefully and try to have the area free for a few days.
I would recommend you paying a visit to a "real" paint store (not just a department in a store) and try to take a small piece of wallpaper with you so the sales clerk can tell you what paint would be best as well as giving you suggestions on how to best accomplish this task.
I have listed a couple of links that will give you suggestions so you will know what you are facing.
www.doityourself.com/
www2.benjaminmoore.com/
www.wikihow.com/
From Benjamin Moore:
www2.benjaminmoore.com/
You need to sand down the seams, and apply an oil-based primer to the entire surface.
I have been trying to remove the backing off an old plaster wall that had not been prepared properly. It is just not coming off. I tried all kinds of glue remover. It takes hours for one little spot. Could I paint over it?
By Carol
You can paint over wallpaper. It can not be peeling. If seams show, you may need to go over the seams with some sheet rock mud. If it is shiny or textured, you need to very lightly sand it.
You have to put a primer on the spot and paint over it.
I have a room that was painted over wallpaper and because I wanted a change of color I had it painted again. Now I find that most of the edges have lifted. What can I do apart from starting from scratch and probably doing more damage.
By Kathy from New Zealand
If you don't mind a bit of work, and a small amount of money, you can find really good deals on molding, both flat and corner. This will not only keep your edges from curling, but make it permanent once the paint if redone. If you want to repaint in the future, this molding comes off easy and goes back up just as easy.
I've covered a large cardboard box with wallpaper to make my grandson an army tank fancy costume. My problem is that now that I've spray painted it camouflage colors the paint won't dry. What can I do?
By Iris
Sounds as though you used a vinyl wallpaper-paint won't stick on vinyl wallpaper. Is there time for you to strip off the vinyl wallpaper and use a paper one? That will take paint; your grandson is going to love it!
Can I paint over thick bathroom paper, like tiling on a roll paper? I am looking to use proper bathroom paint. The walls are so bad in my old cottage, I would have to take all the paper off and have the walls replastered otherwise
By Chris from Wales
I am currently painting over a textured vinyl wallpaper. I have cut in the ceiling and edges with a brush. Then I rolled the rest of the wall. After drying, I am able to see all of the spots I cut in at first. I believe it is because in those areas, the paint is now thicker and the texture is not as deep. If I use a thicker roller will this even out the walls or how can I fix? If I brush it will it even out?
By debbiesz4
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
People often ask if wallpaper can be painted over. The answer is yes, if it is smooth with no tears. You might want to give it a good wiping down first with a good sized dry cloth.
Painting Over Wallpaper. We have a mobile home with pre-papered wallboard. Can we paint over it and how?
I'm just wondering if its possible to paint over old wallpaper? Our home is old and there must be 5 layers of wallpaper and we don't really want to have to go through all that trouble of stripping off wallpaper.
