Many homeowners would sometimes want to have a wall with fresh look and there are many different ways to do it. sometimes by changing the wall art will do the trick. However, for some individuals, this may not be enough. If the wall is covered with wallpaper, most painters and decorators would advise removing the wallpaper before applying a coat of paint to the walls. In many cases, this may not always be possible.
Removing the wallpaper can be a tedious and messy job. the adhesive on the wallpaper may be strong making it difficult to remove without a considerable amount of effort. in this case, it is often easier to just cover the wallpaper with paint coating.
Steps in painting over wallpaper
It is not always recommended to remove the wallpaper if you want to paint your walls. if your walls have some damages or imperfections, then removing the wallpaper would just expose those flaws. If the wallpaper is installed directly over unsealed drywall, the best option may be to paint over it. if you want to have satisfying result, what you need is proper preparation. We have here steps on how to paint over wallpaper. Do not be tempted to skip some of the steps to save time or money, for you may not successfully achieve the desired result.
1. Prepare the wall by cleaning it first. With the use of a clean sponge and a mild detergent solution remove the grime and dust from the wallpaper. Rinse it with sponge and clear water.
2. Remove switch plates and outlet covers since these may be a hassle to paint around. In addition to this, if you decide to replace them later, the unpainted wallpaper might show around the new cover.
3. Remove any loose paper by simply tearing them away. if just and edge is lifting, you can secure it with fresh wallpaper paste. Make sure it is stuck down completely or it will lift again, taking the paint with it.
4. Priming is a necessity in painting the wall. Primers seal the wallpaper from moisture, which keeps the adhesive stuck firmly to the wall and prevents the inks in the paper from bleeding. Remember that shellac primers are smelly and messy, therefore be sure that the room is properly ventilated. If the smell starts to bother you, take a break time and again. Use denatured alcohol to clean up. Note that shellac primers are quick drying and will be completely dry within an hour.
If the wallpaper bubbles up, simply slit it with a razor knife and stick the paper back down. Seamseal or ordinary glue can be used to keep the paper from being loose again. Apply another coat of primer to the area once the paste is dry.
5. Patch flaws and seams with dry wall mud. The objective is to have a perfectly smooth surface for painting. Pay extra attention to the seams as these will show through the paint if not properly skimmed. Allow the dry wall compound to fully dry before continuing.
6. Sand smooth then prime patched areas with acrylic primer. Sand the puttied or skimmed areas smooth with a sanding sponge. if you are not satisfied with the smoothness of the area, apply another layer of mud and sand again. With the use of light or a flashlight, you can check a damaged area from several angles to make sure it is a flush.
7. Mask off any areas you do not want painted. use low adhesive tape to mask windowsills, doorjambs, moldings, baseboards, and anything else you do not want painted. Large areas can be covered with masking paper or plastic.
8. If you want to texture the wall, a coat of primer will be needed. Use latex primer, and be thorough. Once dry, apply two coats of latex paint with a roller. Use a medium to high napped roller for the best coverage.
9. Clean it up. latex paint is quite easy to clean as long as it is still wet. Remove the masking tape and replace the switch covers and outlets.