Paint Over Wallpaper
Professional painters and home remodelers will suggest that the best option for painting a wall is to first remove any wallpaper from the surface. However, wallpaper with a strong adhesive can be hard to remove. Painting over the wallpaper may be the better option under these circumstances. Here are a few tips for painting over wallpaper.
Contents
Steps
Cleaning and Prepping the Wallpaper
- Clean the entire surface thoroughly with TSP or a TSP substitute. TSP stands for tri-sodium phosphate; it's an excellent cleaning agent that is often used after mineral spirits, but can absolutely be used on its own.
- TSP substitutes, often sodium carbonate based, are used largely for environmental reasons, but are less effective at removing oil and grime than TSP. Still, they are perfectly acceptable to use in this instance.
- Rinse off the entire surface with water and a clean cloth to remove your cleaner. Make sure you give wall adequate time to dry after rinsing and wiping.
- Check the condition of the wall. Imperfections will be much more visible after the wallpaper is painted, so it's a good idea to hit those before you apply a coat of primer or paint.
- Rub your hand along the wall to feel for bumps and tears in the paper.
- All of the wallpaper should be securely attached to the wall. Check all seams and edges to ensure that no pieces are peeling or loose.
- Use wallpaper paste to glue down any sections that are coming loose.
- Cover any damaged areas and seams with spackle or joint compound. You may need to apply several layers of joint compound, as the compound often shrinks when dried. You can always sand away excess compound — you can't add more once you begin painting.
- Use fine sandpaper (about 120-grit) to go over the walls to ensure a smooth surface before painting. Primer and paint attaches better to sanded areas. A symptom of inadequate sanding is the appearance of small air bubbles on the surface of the wall; this is a clear sign that you haven't sanded the wallpaper enough.
- Wipe off all dust with tack cloth after final sanding. Dust and grit will mar the final look of the wall if too much is left while painting.
Applying Sealer, Primer, and Coats of Paint
- Apply a sealer to the wallpaper (optional). This will help prevent the wallpaper from possibly loosening after it is painted. Make sure to use an oil-based or shellac sealer, not a water-based sealer. Water-based sealers may cause the wallpaper to loosen from its bearing, defeating the purpose of sealing.
- Tape areas where you do not want to paint, such as baseboards and window trim. Make sure that no spaces exist in these areas, as paint may bleed through, covering unwanted edges and corners.
- Prime the entire wallpapered area with an oil-based or shellac primer. Again, stay away from water-based primers. Once dry, give the wallpaper a light sand using fine-grit sandpaper, paying special attention to the areas where spackle or compound was applied.
- Follow manufacturer instructions for application methods and drying time.
- Check over walls after primer is dry for any possible damage that might have been missed earlier. If holes or tears are detected, apply spackle again and re-coat the area with primer.
- Paint the walls following manufacturer recommendations for application and drying time. Instead of a latex-based paint, many professionals prefer using an oil-based paint for these situations, as the moisture in latex may eventually unhinge some of the wallpaper under the coat of paint.
- Apply two coats of paint for best results. Wait one full day before applying the second coat, and lightly sand the first coat for best results.
- Remove the painter's tape from the wall and inspect your work. You should have a beautifully painted wall, in which the wallpaper underneath is no longer visible.
Tips
- Have your primer tinted the color that you are planning to paint the wall. This service is typically free and will give you better coverage of your hue.
Warnings
- Some wallpaper may be too brittle for painting and can peel away when painted. Test a small area of your wall and check the results before painting the entire piece.
Things You'll Need
- Wallpaper paste
- Sandpaper
- Wall mud
- Damp cloth
- Painter's tape
- Stain-blocking primer
- Paint brush
- Paint roller
- Box blade
- Interior wall paint
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