Painting over Wallpaper - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

RussellF · 09-12-2006, 01:56 PM

It really doesn't sound right to me, but here goes anyway. I need some information on if I can paint over wallpaper. I talked with my paint supply guy and he said that there is a primer that can go over the wallpaper in order to paint it. I was going to go through sanding the seams and hitting them with light weight spackle.......sanding........priming and then finally painting. One other reason for just painting it is that it was installed directly over the drywall......we all know that is a nightmare in the making. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Russ

Posting in the DIYer too.

donb1959 · 09-12-2006, 02:34 PM

I never paint over paper. This year we have had some really hard paper to remove...hung over bare sheetrock. I walked on two jobs because they insisted I paint over the paper.

**ProWallGuy** · 09-12-2006, 04:27 PM

Painting over wallpaper is ALWAYS the very last-ditch resort. I won't do it unless forced to. If you do decide to do it, get the customer to sign off on any liability if it starts to fail down the road.

Murphy · 09-12-2006, 07:01 PM

I just had to do the same type of job. Sheilds is the best primer I have found for this.
Float over all seams with Joint Compound. Forget spackling.

But make sure the customer understands that the paper could fall at any time.
Sometimes you just have to leave it up to the customer.
Removing wallpaper from bare drywall will remove lots of drywall paper.

If the customer doesn't want to pay to float the walls twice and sand.
Painting over may be the only option. But plan on being there a while trying to remove those seams.
Good Luck. It aint fun.
Murph

hangit · 09-12-2006, 09:28 PM

paper should be primed with an oil based primer first as latex paints can sometimes re-wet paper.

shave seams, patch, prime, cut out any bubbles caused by primer, patch them, prime them, paint.

RussellF · 09-12-2006, 10:46 PM

Well I guess I will give it a go of it. I do have a few edges to reglue before some of the other prep work begins.

I will make sure she knows the deal on the warranty...

Russ

Finishing Touch · 09-26-2006, 10:09 PM

Hangit, how do you "Shave the seams"

**ProWallGuy** · 09-26-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finishing Touch

Hangit, how do you "Shave the seams"

Hold a razor blade at a very shallow angle to the wallpaper, and run it down the seam. Harder to explain than it is to do.

hangit · 09-28-2006, 08:45 PM

like pro said, with an olfa knife, lay the side of the blade almost flat against the paper with a slight bow in it. not too much of a bow or you'll snap the whole blade off.

the seam should be in the middle of the blade, and just bring it down the seam.

you'll only need to do this on any over lapped seams, otherwise it's not necessary.