Painting over wallpaper question… Again! Now you know why I am constantly questioning the practicality of wallpaper.
With proper preparation, wallpaper is very easy to remove. It is the wallpaper that is already on the walls, put up by who knows who and who know when. It is the wallpaper that just doesn't want to come off the walls without a fight. What do we do, if we just don't want the fight?
I purchased a 1980's home that the previous owner updated in the early 90's by wallpapering over wood paneling. The wall paper is a shiny vinyl with a raised relief pattern. Also there is shiny vinyl border over the paper above the chair rail. Can I paint over this and how can I get the paint to A) Stick and B) not bubble the paper.
Another option I am considering is just faux painting the relief. The paper is dull white with a shiny white plastic / vinyl relief. Can I lightly sponge over the shiny vinyl relief with a contemporary color I like, such as mocha, allowing the dull white non relief portions to show through? If so, what faux technique and paint would be best suited for this? Thank you in advance. tw
Prime… Prime… Prime. If we can paint over plastic laminate with primer and have it adhere well… the we can certainly paint over plastic wall paper. And I will bet that you won't have any bubbling problems, plastic is impervious to liquids.
Faux Painting is always an option if you like the relief. You can always try ragging on a color wash and then lightly wipe off the color, leaving the raised areas white and the impressions colored. Or… base coat the wall a color and then faux over it leaving the raised areas a great color.
This technique might look good with a yellow ocher base coat and brown faux color like a stain over the top. Or greens or yellows…. hmmm the possibilities are endless.
The trick is to get really creative with painting over this wallpaper (so you love your results)… or your going to be tearing it off those walls with an ax.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes is right I use to prime over wall paper many many times but the primer should be oil base…I know is strong fumes..
Also I find your articles very handy and usefull
Best Regards,
Adrian
Thanks Adrian… I am glad that this site is useful for so many.
Primer that is oil based does have strong fumes, and isn’t necessary for painting over wallpaper, unless you find that the paper or wood paneling underneath is bleeding through. Then yes you should use an oil based primer.
Debra,
I have to agree with Adrian: I use ONLY oil primer to paint over wallpaper.
My reasoning is that if water will lift the wallpaper even slightly, then so will a water-based primer. I like Zinser’s adhesion test: http://www.zinsser.com/faq_details.asp?FAQID=57 It’s designed to check for paint adhesion, but the principle is the same.
I only had to re-do one customer’s kitchen walls after water-based primer lifted the wallpaper to learn my lesson!
Wes
I’am going to paint my kitchen, i have vinyl wall paneling ,when i done my bathroom it bubble up in the corners. My kitchen is the same paneling. I don’t want it to bubble up in the corners, oh by the way my bathroom is a half BR so there is no steam. Do you have any suggestion i could use? Thank You