Hi..

I hope you can help me.

I live in a 105 yr old house that has 99% of the original plaster. Alas the plaster is in bad shape, so the previous owner covered every wall with wallpaper. The majority of the wallpaper is Grasscloth Wallpaper It has areas of staining and fading.

I was told I could paint the grasscloth, but I can't find any instructions on how to. I live in a tiny town in south Georgia, so I do not have access to many craftsmen; I am learning as I go!! Any advice on how to paint this paper??? Thanks, Carol

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Hi Carol…

You certainly can paint over grasscloth wallpaper. The wallpaper is obviously stuck very well on the wall… so painting shouldn't be a problem. Here are a few tips:

• Test…. test… test.  Take a sponge soaked with water and press it on the wallpaper in a few areas that are hidden. Try this on seams and edges along the ceiling and floor. Let this soak in and then dry. See if their is any wrinkling or shrinking or lifting. If not… your good to go onto the next step.
• The walls must be primed. Grasscloth wallpaper is porous… so you need to seal it with primer before applying paint.
• Because of the texture of the wall covering you will need a roller with a lot of nap. A textured wall roller is best.
• The texture of your walls are of a natural product… so stick with colors from nature. White won't do. Choose beige, sage greens or other muted natural colors.
• Don't you any paint that is shines. But I never recommend dead flat. Although it would look good on a texture such as this… flat paint will get dirty very fast. The dust in the air collects in those tiny grooves… plus it won't be washable with flat paint.
• A shiny paint will also look un-natural. So choose something in eggshell finish.

Good luck… it will be gorgeous.

Debra