Painting Over Wallpaper: Should You Do It?

Many homeowners love the look of wallpaper, since it covers wall imperfections, adds unique textures and patterns, and creates a finished wall surface that's difficult to replicate with paint. With wallpapers, your house walls can achieve unique variations with more accurate looks. If you are using high quality wallpapers, the wallpapers installed can last up to 15 years with little maintenance. However, for some people, wallpaper's durability can be a problem. Designs and patterns chosen decades ago simply don't work with a more modern decor. And you might want to décor it by painting it over the wallpapers since it is cheaper that way. Well, let me tell you this; even if you are using an airless spray gun to repaint your house walls, you might need to do some research first before giving it a go. So, should you do it or not?

If you've had enough of your old, outdated wallpaper, it can be tempting just to paint right over it. After all, we've all heard horror stories about wallpaper removal, ranging from drywall that crumbled as the paper was removed to homeowners who peeled away dozens of layers of paper only to find more underneath. Also, according to most home improvement experts, as well as the National Guild of Professional Paperhangers, wallpaper should be removed before painting whenever possible, as you'll experience better results and fewer problems down the road.

That being said, if you are looking to replace your existing wallpaper with paint, stripping the paper simply may not be the best option. You may find your walls not in good enough shape, and that removing the paper causes more problems than it prevents. If you think this is the case in your home, you may be right. In this case, painting over wallpaper may be the best choice. So, how do you know that you should paint over wallpapers or you should remove the wallpapers first before painting your walls?

The case where you need to remove wallpapers first

In general, removing wallpaper from your walls before painting will provide better quality and longer-lasting results than simply painting over it. Before deciding to remove your paper, you should consider this fact; wallpaper is generally applied in rows, so when it is painted over, the seams where these rows line up will often show through the paint. Aside from that, most wallpaper is textured, some quite noticeably, and the patterns and textures in the paper may show through the paint. Finally, the moisture in the paint can loosen the wallpaper's adhesive, causing sections of the paper to bubble or detach from the wall. Also, paper that is loose, ripped or has holes should always be removed before painting, as these are signs that the paper is beginning to fail. By painting over it, you're investing effort and money into a project that won't last.

When it is the best choice to paint over wallpapers

While it is usually better to remove your paper before painting, there are some cases where painting over wallpaper may actually be beneficial. First, and most importantly, the drywall or plaster walls under the paper will remain intact. If you remove the old paper, or many layers of paper, it can often cause unexpected damage to walls. By leaving the paper in place, your walls will stay in their current condition. Second, leaving the paper in place will allow you to paint your walls much more easily and quickly. Removing paper is difficult and time-consuming, so many people are eager to skip this task.

If you decide that you are going to go ahead and paint over your wallpaper after analyzing and inspecting your walls carefully, it is important to prep your walls carefully to ensure the best results possible. Start by securing the paper. Remove and replace damaged sections and add adhesive to loosen pieces to minimize the chance the paper will fall.