Can I paint on wallpaper?
In short, the answer is a solid YES!
Removing that old, outdated wallpaper that’s been stuck to your walls for eons can be quite a task, especially when you’re trying not to damage your walls in the process! As long as there are no signs of the glue coming off (the wallpaper is bubbling or coming off the wall), then you should leave the wallpaper against the wall and paint right on top of it.
Actually, by leaving the wallpaper on the wall, the wall will stay in better condition and you can start painting on it right away.
Do a little prep work before you start painting.
If you don’t prep the wall before painting, you’re in for a world of trouble! Follow these quick and easy steps for best results:
· Clean the entire surface with trisodium phosphate (TSP or a TSP alternative). It is sometimes used after mineral spirits, but can be used alone.
Rinse the wall with water and a clean cloth to remove the cleaner.
· Allow to dry after rinsing and cleaning.
Replace damaged areas and add adhesive to pieces of wallpaper that aren’t holding as tight as they used to. This will minimize the chances of the wallpaper falling off.
Caulk around the perimeter of the walls (just a thin line will do). Do this at the seam where the wallpaper meets the ceiling and floor to help seal the edges and prevent the wallpaper from peeling after painting.
· Do you have thick textured paper? No problem! Cover it with a thin layer of joint compound (putty). This will help smooth it out so it doesn’t show through the paint.
· Sand (120 grit can be used) along the wallpaper seams lightly so they are not too noticeable.
o Paint and primer adhere better to a sanded area than to a smooth area. If you didn’t sand hard enough, you’ll see some small air bubbles in the wall.
o After your final sanding, wipe the dust off with a tack cloth; You don’t want that dust ruining your paint job!
· Apply a coat of oil-based primer to all surfaces to be painted (prior to painting). This will help seal the glue into the paper and keep it away from the paint’s moisture.
· Tape the areas you don’t want to paint (windows, baseboards…). Paint can bleed through, so make sure there is no gap between what you want to paint and what you don’t want to paint.
· Now that you’ve done all this, you’re ready to paint! Be sure to use an oil-based paint so it doesn’t loosen the wallpaper’s adhesive (moisture in latex paint can sometimes do this).
o Two-coat application generally works best depending on the pattern and color of the wallpaper you are painting over.
o Wait a full day before applying the second coat and lightly sand the first coat for best results.
Now that you’re a wallpaper painting guru, get out there and get colorful!