Do I dare try to paint over wallpaper?

[dizagain]

I'm getting so many mixed answers on this one when I type it in using Google...thought I'd see if any of you have done this! I'll probably use the Home Depot guy as my final answer later today.

I have a bathroom that's papered in a medium blue/white stripe - the paper is in good condition at the seams, etc. I've heard about using the Killz stuff over it and then having my texture mixed into the actual paint. Some say it works great and some say it will be a nightmare in the future. Then there are those who say to take the paper off first...problem there is I have never done anything like that before and I'm scared! DH says he'll help paint, but he's not touching wallpaper going on or off!!! (Too many memories)

So, anyone out there have experience with either process? Let me know what you think! Especially let me know if someone with NO experience can handle the wallpaper removal thing because I sort of think it's the wiser thing to do! Thanks!

 

[Lars624]

I did it in my bedroom........we used Kilz & then painted over it & I think it looks fine

 

[jrydberg]

If the wallpaper is not too old, it shouldn't be difficult to remove it with a steamer. I'd look into that first. Painting over wallpaper shouldn't be done, IMO, unless there's no other option.

 

[alabamaalan]

I painted over the wallpaper in my kitchen using a good primer coat and then painting over it.

I asked lots of people too, and I was pleased with the results since I was also leary of trying to remove the wallpaper.

 

[4greatboys]

If your wallpaper is on really good you should have any problems with kiltzing it then painting it. They do have texture that you can mix right in with the paint.
If your wallpaper is starting to some loose in any area I would take it off before you paint. We painted over wallpaper in our dining room with good results. We had old paper in the kitchen that was loose in places so we tried to remove It was a huge PITA.

 

[my3kids]

I've done it a number of times with no problem. Make sure your initial, primer coat is an OIL BASED STAIN BLOCKER as well as primer. Do NOT use latex based primers because the water base moistens the glue on the wall paper and can cause bubbles of paper to unadhere to the wall. The oil based is a bit messier, but then ou are ready for good old latex wall paint.

 

[cabmom]

We have a 93 yr old house and I'm sure the wallpaper is as old as the house! We stripped one bedroom, it was very labourous as the wallpaper had been painted probably back in the 50's. I bought a scorer for $20 and some DIF spray. You are supposed to score the paper then spray, then scrap. It works, but it's a long process. Now, for our bedroom, there is stains under the wallpaper from soot coming out of the chimney, so we will use KILZ on it. I'm never scrapping paper off again! I'm priming over it in our room, then wallpapering again.
Good luck!

 

[Lars624]

We didn't have any other option when we did it........except maybe re-drywalling.....the guy who lived here before attached the wallcoverings to the wall board We took down wallpaper in DD's room & it took off the drywall too the guy was an idiot!

 

[FroggyinArk]

oh goody a chance to use my experteese and not get in trouble with the drs if the paper is solidly stuck, the seams are tight, and not an embossed pattern( raised) you can kilz and paint over it. You are right it is better to remove the paper altho if you have never tryed it, it might be daunting thing to do. Also if the paper is over sheet rock keep in mind that the walls under the paper may not be finished to a paint grade . in other words if its over sheet rock,, or you arent sure,, leave the paper kilz and paint it. you mentioned texture,, that i wouldnt reccommend using over paper. a good paint would be all i would say to use.

Owner operator of a Home Repair service

 

[dizagain]

that my house is about 8 years old and it has the original wallpaper from the builder. I'm really scared that underneath they didn't prime it and just put it right onto the sheetrock which I have also heard is really bad.
Thanks for the replies, keep em coming please!! Oh yeah! IF I remove the paper - where do I get a steamer? And how in the heck do I do it? Thanks!

 

[FroggyinArk]

Originally posted by my3kids
. Make sure your initial, primer coat is an OIL BASED STAIN BLOCKER as well as primer. Do NOT use latex based primers because the water base moistens the glue on the wall paper and can cause bubbles of paper to unadhere to the wall. The oil based is a bit messier, but then ou are ready for good old latex wall paint.

Thanks fo r pointing that out,. I hadnt thought to mention it but yeah the first coat over anypaper should be oil based primer. stain block.. i use kilz brand and have good luck. and just so you know,,, primer sealers are translucent,, you can see color through them, they are not sposed to give 100% coverage.

 

[LindaG4458]

If you paint over the paper it will be even harder to take down if you must do it in the future. My Mom did it - she was sorry later when it had to come down. .

We were intimidated the first time we removed wallpaper. If you'd rather not use a steamer there are chemical paper removers. You score the paper, spray the solution on with a spray bottle or garden sprayer (easier and faster), let it set, then use a wide putty knife to remove the paper. If you apply enough solution and let it set the paper practically falls off the wall. Afterward, wash down the wall with a diluted solution to remove any residual paste.

To see if the wall was primed under the paper you can try a small spot by the baseboard and see if it loosens easily before you tackle the entire room.

Good luck - it's not as bad as it sounds.

 

[floridafam]

I removed wallpaper in our nook because the previous owners didn't do it correctly.

Well, the first wall went fine. 2 other walls had 2 layers of wallpaper on them that looked like they were 100 yrs old.

DH had to sand the wallpaper off.

Now we're down to drywall so we are going to prime twice and paint.

Had we left the wallpaper on, we would have used an oil based primer over it before we painted.

We also purchased paintable wallpaper. We were just going to put that up but the guy at Sherwin Williams said to have all of the old wallpaper removed or else the paste would reactivate when we put the new wallpaper on. So we took that back.

Good luck and let us know how everything turns out.

 

[mickeyfan1]

To the OP - I have never painted over wall paper, but as you have found out it can be done.

To all those who have talked about removing wallpaper from the 90 year old walls and found painted paper and paint under, Please, please, please STOP. You may be removing lead based paint. Unless you are certified to remove it, you can be in leagal trouble, and you are putting your health at risk. Same thing if you want to remove old floor tiles or old non-wood siding from your house. These products were manufactured using asbestos fibers. These fibers are known to cause lung cancer. If you live in an old house, one that was built in the early 60s and before, please call a professional to find out if you can safely remove the old stuff. If you find you have asbestos tiles or lead paint, pay a pro to do the abatement, don't risk it yourself.

 

[floridafam]

I agree. We had the paint tested before we began removing it and it does not contain lead.

Thank goodness.

 

[Lanshark]

My house is 25 years old. When we moved it I started to strip the wallpaper off the bathroom first. No primer was under it. I ended up taking half the wall down with the paper. It was a mess. When I checked the dining room and kitchen it was the same thing. Old wallpaper with no primer. I went to home depot and got a primer that was made specifically to go over wallpaper and allow you to paint. The primer has very strong fumes so make sure you have a WELL ventilated area.

I got joint compound and filled in the seams of the wallpaper. When it dried I sanded it down. Then I painted. It looks wonderful.

I didn't want to paint this way but I also did not want to replace the wall board.

 

[dizagain]

O.k., I obviously have NO business doing any of this...
What's "joint compound"? Noone else mentioned this, but I did read it several other places. I need to do this before beginning? Just over the seams? Help again! Thanks

 

[ZachnElli]

I just did this. I just painted right over the wallpaper, no primer or anything. The wallpaper went up with the house and was not primed, just stuck right up on the wallboard. I got a pro estimate and it would have had to been all redrywalled. The previous owners had also painted over wallpaper in some other rooms too. The house was 10 years old when we bought it and we just sold it 5 years later. If I had thought I would be in that house forever, I would have done it right. But it was a beautiful house with a ton of problems, I DO NOT miss it! LOL! (new owners knew about the problems and bought as is and are just fixing it up and then selling again)

 

[Lanshark]

Joint compound or mud is the stuff drywallers use after they tape the seams in the drywall. It goes on very smoothly and fills in the small line that exists where the 2 pieces of wall paper meet. I used spackling (the stuff you repair nail holes with) on the first room I did. Someone then suggested the joint compound and I found it to go on much easier and sand down much smoother. I also used it to repair the first wall I removed the wall paper from.

You'll also need some very fine grade sandpaper to sand the stuff once it dries. I would suggest a mask too since it comes off the wall like powder. After sanding the seams whipe the wall down to get the dust off before you paint.

If you've done it right you can run your hand over the area and not be able to see or feel the seam. There's nothing difficult about it but it does take some patience and time.

 

[PattnFmly]

I guess I should forget about removing the wallpaper in my dining room then. My house is 100 yrs old and there is that horsehair board underneath. If I try to remove it, I might as well put up new wallboard. God knows what I might find! But I don't want to live here forever. We're trying to make a few improvements, but not overly expensive ones!