How To Paint Over Wallpaper

Copyright (c) 2008 Smoky Mountain Painting

Painting over wallpaper is a subject that is taboo amongst many in the professional painting industry, however if your wallpaper meets certain criteria you can paint over wallpaper with little or no problems. The first thing that you will need to do is determine if the wallpaper is in good enough condition to paint over. By this, I mean that you must check for any loose seams, rips or tears in your wallpaper. If you have any loose seams they must be glued prior to painting. If you have numerous rips or tears, then you will be well advised to go ahead and remove the wallpaper instead of trying to paint over it.

If you have determined that your wallpaper is in a condition where you can paint over it, there are a few items which you will need to to get started. You will need primer, paint, a paint roller and tray, joint compound, drop cloths, a utility knife and painters tape.

To begin, cover all flooring and counter tops with the drop cloths. If you don't have any drop cloths, then I would suggest using disposable plastic coverings. Tape all of the edges next to the counter tops and flooring using the painters tape. If you plan on painting doors and casings then you will need to tape the doors hardware including knobs and hinges. Also, take off all switch plate covers from all light switches and plugs.

At this point, you will need to reglue any loose seams. If you do need to reglue seams, you can purchase the glue at any hardware or paint store. Using your joint compound, apply a thin application of joint compound to all of the seams. Doing this will hide the seams after they are painted. Allow the compound to completely dry. After the joint compound has dried, using about a 120 grit sandpaper, sand the joints to where they are completely smooth.

Once the seams have been sanded, you can next apply a coat of oil based primer. Apply the primer by cutting out around all of the edges such as next to the flooring and ceiling. You can next roll a coat of primer on the walls. Since you are using an oil based primer, you will need paint thinner to clean your brush and roller. Allow the primer to fully dry before going to the next step.

After the primer has dried you may now apply the paint. Apply the paint in the same fashion which you applied the primer. If you are painting a kitchen or bathroom, a latex eggshell or satin paint who be a better choice for your finish coat since they tend to hold up better than a flat finish would.

Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours. Inspect the wallpaper for any bubbles which will sometimes form once the paint has dried. If you do find any bubbles, use your utility knife and cut a small slit in the bubble. Next, use your wallpaper glue and apply a small amount in the cut area. After the glue has fully dried, use a damp rag to remove any excess glue. Repaint the area that you just repaired using your topcoat paint.

If your wallpaper is in decent shape and you do not want to go through the hassle of removing it, painting over the wallpaper is a very good alternative.