Can You Paint Over Wallpaper?

Wallpaper can be pretty, or it can be outdated, not to your taste, or awful. Or it might be something your child loved when they were five... Many homeowners wonder if its possible to hide wallpaper by painting over it, rather than going to the trouble of removing it and redoing the surface before painting. It can seem like an easy shortcut to paint over wallpaper, quickly refreshing the room or wall.

In some cases, this is possible, but it carries risks. When painting over wallpaper, you increase the risk of your paint bubbling or peeling, of trapping moisture in the wall, and of the wallpaper texture remaining visible through the paint.

You have two options. The first is to remove the wallpaper. The second is to prepare the surface properly before painting. This often requires consulting with good professional painters near me.

How Professional Painters Evaluate Wallpaper

Professionals can give a good evaluation as to whether wallpaper should be painted over or if it should be removed. They will look at the following:

• Is the wallpaper peeling, bubbling, or damaged?
• Has the wall been covered multiple times with different wallpaper?
• Does the wallpaper have heavy texture or patterns?
• Are the seams separating from the wall?
• Is there moisture damage.

Painting over any of these can cause long-term paint failure and most residential painting services will recommend removing the wallpaper first. Otherwise, you run the very real risk of having to remove the wallpaper and paint again in a relatively short period of time.

Types of Wallpaper and How They Affect Painting

Another thing that heavily affects how well painting wallpaper works is the type of wallpaper you are trying to cover.

Vinyl Wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper is designed to resist moisture. It's usually found in kitchens and bathrooms. The surface is slick and is likely to also resist the paint you use, preventing it from binding properly. You should use a high-adhesion primer and also lightly sand the vinyl-coated paper to roughen the surface and help the paint grip.

This makes the process longer and a little bit more complicated. Additionally, the right paint should be used to maintain moisture resistance and handle the conditions in your bathroom or kitchen. Professionals can help you choose the perfect paint for every room.

Traditional Paper Wallpaper

This is typically the easiest to deal with. It is porous and paint adheres to it well. It will absorb paint and primer quickly. However, sometimes it absorbs too quickly. Make sure to use multiple thin coats and avoid heavy application to avoid moisture damage.

However, it is also less durable and more prone to damage, and also more likely to be damaged when you prepare it for painting. Wallpaper that looks fine may peel or fail when you attempt to clean it before priming.

Fabric-backed or Textured Wallpaper

Fabric-backed or textured wallpaper is heavier and more durable, and often in better condition. However, it can be very hard to cover it with paint. Often, the texture will remain visible, requiring more layers of primer to conceal it and potentially more layers of paint. This can increase the risk of moisture issues that cause paint failure. While you can sometimes reduce the visibility of patterns by choosing the paint color you use carefully, textures are another matter. Wallpaper textures are designed to last.

Potential Challenges When Painting Over Wallpaper

Even if you do everything right, you may still have issues that get in the way of a good result or shorten the life of the paint job. These include:

• Visible wallpaper seams, making it obvious you are hiding something.
• Textures or patterns showing through the paint.
• Increased moisture, loosening the wallpaper adhesive. The painted wallpaper can then peel away from the wall, typically meaning you then need to remove and repaint again.
• Challenges removing the wallpaper in the future, which may also impact selling your home.

Working with professional interior painting services is the best way to reduce these risks, but you should also listen to your painters if they recommend removal. Professionals will always give you an honest answer.

How Painters Prepare Wallpaper for Painting

Proper preparation really is key to painting over wallpaper. When painters do recommend painting, they typically include the following steps:

Surface Cleaning

The wallpaper will be cleaned to remove dust, grease, and residue. Vinyl wallpaper, because of its moisture-resistant qualities, can be wiped down. Paper wallpaper may not respond well to liquids, and may be best cleaned using a vacuum.

This ensures the surface is clean and the primer will adhere. As mentioned, we may sand vinyl wallpaper to increase adhesion by making the surface rougher. Without this, paint may peel away from the surface.

Repairing Seams and Imperfections

Any imperfections in the wallpaper will show through the paint. Loose edges are secured with adhesives. Seams and damaged areas are filled with joint compound and then lightly sanded. If wallpaper has a lot of damage, it may be easier to just remove it.

Priming the Wallpaper

Water-based primer does not work on any kind of wallpaper. With paper wallpaper it causes moisture problems, with vinyl paper designed to repel water, it will not bind. Instead, use a high-quality oil-based or shellac-based primer. The primer should thoroughly seal the wallpaper surface. Use lots of thin coats to avoid the primer sinking in and creating moisture problems.

Good primer creates a durable base for paint, and extra layers of primer may be needed to conceal minor imperfections.

Let Ace Hardware Painting Services Help with Your Painting Project

If you have ugly wallpaper you would like to cover, call Ace Hardware Painting Services. We will do a professional, honest appraisal and determine whether your wallpaper can be painted over or whether it should be removed. We can then ensure the highest results with professional knowledge combined with quality paints and primers, including advising as to the best color to hide wallpaper patterns.

Request a color consultation or estimate from Ace Hardware Painting Services and kiss that outdated wallpaper goodbye.