Request: Painting Over Wallpaper
Archived on 08/03/2009
We have a mobile home with pre-papered wallboard. Can we paint over it and how? Elzadia from Beach Park, IL
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RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
First of all, use Kilz on all the walls, then primer over that then paint. You could just paint over the Kiltz, but I would use a primer first just to make sure the paint adheres to the wall properly since it is a mobile home. Good luck. (11/20/2006)
By grammaoftwo
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
We just finished a mobile home and I painted right over the wallpaper. I didn't use Kilz or a primer, that would be a waste of money. I just used plain old paint right over th paper, did the trick. The paint hid the old wallpaper and looked really nice. We also painted the paneling too. It looks so good, didn't primer it either. (11/20/2006)
By imaqt1962
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
I've painted both my bathrooms in my mobile home, and all I had to do is scuff up the walls completely with some light weight sand paper. Try not to skip any areas. I don't have the energy or money to do all the fancy stuff. I just scuff and paint, I used a good quality mold paint for my bathroom. I've had no problems at all of it staying on. It did take an extra coat where it soaked in though. I just allowed a little extra paint. This way will give you some "texture" also to your wall, which I like. I also applied border to it, and it held up fine. No problems. (11/21/2006)
By Glinda
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Kilz comes in colors now and it is available at Wal-mart. you don't have to do two coats with that. (11/21/2006)
By Carla B.
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Request: Painting Over Wallpaper
Archived on 11/20/2006
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. Our cupboards in the kitchen hide over half of the walls anyway.
We're giving our kitchen a makeover with new cupboards and counters so I wanted to add new paint or something to the old yellowish color wallpaper that's been up there forever.
Any suggestions on if this is possible or not?
Thank you,
Yvonne from Ontario
Answers:
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper?
You can paint on wallpaper. You do not have to prime the wall first. However you might have to do two coats of paint depending on the wallpaper color. You might even want to buy a Magic Roller (you can find them at WalMart) and use the Wallpaper as part of the background. It really is a neat tool. Good Luck and have Fun! (09/03/2003)
By Jo
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper?
The first time I painted over wallpaper, I did so because I didn't want to have to remove the paper. However, after applying the paint, the paper came loose and then it just peeled right off all in whole strips. I don't know why, as I have painted over some recently, and it stayed on the wall. Anyway, good luck! (10/19/2004)
By Aneita
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
An easy way to remove wallpaper is by using liquid fabric softener. I had some wallpaper cutouts on my wall & I poured some fabric softener on a wet sponge, wiped over the cutouts & within minutes, just peeled them off. For all over wallpaper, I'd suggest putting a mixture of 75% fabric softener & 25% water in a spray bottle & spraying the walls down. (08/03/2005)
By Petfinder
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
I'd be careful! The moisture from the paint will penetrate non-vinyl wallpaper. That's what would make it peel off the wall as Aneita stated. If it's vinyl wallpaper it wouldn't soak through, but you'd still have to watch out at the seams where it still could get underneath!
You really are better in the long run to remove it. The fabric softener trick really works good. Time consuming -- but not tough to do. (08/03/2005)
By carolb
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
I lay a towel at the bottom of the wall. The I pray water from a squirt bottle on the wall and walk away for a few. I may re-spray but it usually peels right off. (08/03/2005)
By Jill
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Please don't do this! i speak from experience. I bought a home that had professionally wall-papered bathroom. Although the paper was perfectly applied, I wanted to do another, more personal, look. i looked online for advice, and selected the easiest and spackled, sanded and primed the walls and seams; and then painted over. I have done this twice so far in 2 yrs. and am still unsatisfied with the results.
I then decided to remove the wallpaper, which is now all but impossible, and ended up damaging the wall board beneath. I am left with paying expensive professional painters fees to rectify my mistakes. had i taken the time and effort to remove the wallpaper in the first place I would be done with the job and saved money. some things are best left to the professionals. When you want a quality job done right, you can't cut corners to save a few bucks. It only ends up costing u more in the end. (08/03/2005)
By debbie
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Vinegar mixed with warm water in a squirt bottle works fabulous. White vinegar, about a cup, then fill bottle with warm/hot water. Spray on wallpaper, let sit for a few minute and peel right off. My daughter did 5 rooms in the same amount of time it took her to scrape 1 room. (08/03/2005)
By Barbara Lewis
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
My step-father repairs homes and apartments for a living. We live in a mobile home which uses prepared wall board, so there is no question of us being able to remove the "wall paper part" of it. He said there is a primer you can get at any major hardware store (Lowe's Home Improvement or Home Depot, etc.) that is specially made for priming vinyl wallpaper. Ask the people who work there about it. Maybe they can help you. I haven't tried it yet due to finances, but I will have to paint my daughter's bedroom soon. (08/04/2005)
By Charlene
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
If you paint over wallpaper and then some day decide you want to remove it, it's nearly impossible. I would take the time to remove the wallpaper before painting. (08/04/2005)
By Bonnie
Painting over Wallpaper
When painting over wallpaper is unavoidable, use an oil-based primer first and the paper will not buckle beneath the paint. (08/08/2005)
By Patricia
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
I have a friend who wanted a different look in a rental property and she starched fabric over the existing wallpaper and it turned out REALLY nice. Just saturate the fabric in full strength liquid starch and hang like wallpaper. Trim edges after dry. When you want to change your look it peels right off. (08/08/2005)
By Michelle
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
We've done that with our "old" house, and instead of using fabric softener, I used some diluted bleach in a old spray bottle. Just spray after you begin in a corner peel, and it starts peeling right off (01/13/2006)
By mom2miraclez
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
If you are redoing the whole kitchen with new cabinets, and countertops, why would you even want to just paint over wall paper. Why not take the time and do it right. (01/13/2006)
By Mary
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Our house is very old, and the wallpaper is even on the ceilings. In the past 12 years we have painted over the wallpaper twice. It does bubble a bit, but when the paint dries, it goes back to its original shape. We didn't prime it, but it did take two coats. (01/14/2006)
By PoPo
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Do the work to remove the paper, not only does paint not adhere well to wallpaper, but it actually dries out the paper making it more rigid and in the long run, it will begin to make the paper peel. Not to mention that under each layer of paper is probably a layer of dirt and Im sure dust mites. If you or anyone in your family has allergies, you are sure to feel much better without all that old glue and dust around. The other problem you have with painting paper is that the pattern or old stains beneath the current layer may bleed through one it becomes saturated with paint. I think you'll be happier you removed it in the long run. (01/15/2006)
By singleangel
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
There's a gadget called a "paper shark" that can be used to remove the wallpaper -- it's round and fits in the palm of your hand, and you run it over the wall with a circular motion. Sharp "teeth" on the bottom of the gadget cut through the paper. We recently removed wallpaper that was God-knows-how-old in our kitchen and painted and we are VERY happy with the results -- it was worth the extra work! (01/17/2006)
By Becki in Indiana
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
Yes, you can paint over wallpaper if it is still adhering very well (no loosening at seems, etc.). You have to prime first with a good oil based primer. Then paint with latex if you like. I also have a 90 year old home and am painting over vinyl wallpaper now and doing a faux finish using tissue paper (elephant skin) technique. It helps hide any plaster flaws. Then I will do a color wash over it. (03/28/2006)
By Betty P.
RE: Painting Over Wallpaper
I was taking down wall paper in my distinguished old Pasadena home. What a drag. In the dining room, there were numerous layers. So I called http://www.safeandsimple.com and they have the best products, but they also will send over a skilled remover person to do it. It was cheaper than a shrink. Really. (10/09/2006)
By the Oracle
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