Paint Ideas

You may run into a problem if you decide to paint your walls covered with old wallpaper. Should you remove the wallpaper before painting? You can paint over it in some cases. Here is how to do this and get great results with a new coat of paint:

Step 1 – Inspect the Wallpaper and Decide Whether to Remove It

Professional painters usually remove wallpaper before beginning to paint. This can be a tedious but necessary step to take. If the wallpaper is bubbled and is not smooth, it is necessary to remove it.

Try to remove the wallpaper since many styles come off easily. If it is glued firmly to the wall and will not come off without scraping, leave it in place and get a professional opinion. Your new paint will cover imperfections but not pieces of wallpaper backing left on the wall. 

Step 2 – Scrape Off Paper Scraps and Clean Your Walls

Walls must be clean and smooth before you paint them. For the paint to stick, you must first clean your walls with a damp cloth. Wipe off the dust because the primer will not stick to a dusty wall. Do not get the walls wet. Your cloth should have little water on it. Soaking the wallpaper may cause the glue and wallpaper to loosen.

Allow a couple of days for the wallpaper to dry. Your next steps in painting your walls can’t happen until it is completely dry.

Next, inspect your wallpaper to look for loose edges. The easiest way to repair these is to glue them down smoothly with wallpaper adhesive. Allow the edges to dry for a day or so.

Step 3 – Prime Your Walls

Next, apply an oil-based primer because it will not loosen your wallpaper like a water-based primer. Be sure that you have applied painter’s tape to the baseboard and ceilings to prevent splashes or mistakes.  

Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.

Step 4 – Apply Paint

When you are sure that the primer is completely dry, apply your paint as you normally would. Use the brush to get in corners and along the ceiling and baseboard.

Light-colored paint may need two coats especially if you are painting over dark wallpaper. The walls should be completely dry from the first coat before you apply the second coat.

Facts to Consider

Most professionals agree that wallpaper should be removed before painting. It becomes harder to strip when it has coats of paint on top of it. If it is difficult to remove, applying a wallpaper stripper will loosen the glue and the wallpaper will be easier to remove.

The professional interior painters in the Charlotte, NC area are Century Painting. Let these pros decide whether or not your wallpaper should be removed before painting. They have many satisfied customers and can make remodeling easy for you. You can schedule an online quote or call them at (704) 245-9409 to schedule a quote.