Painting over wallpaper?

Rot 911 · 11-13-2008, 06:18 AM

Anyone had success with this? Reason I am asking is that I want to paint the walls in one bathroom. Wallpaper was put up in late 60's over plaster and in all that time none of it has peeled. It is a nice flat satin type paper that looks like paint would adhere well to. I would first primer it. I really don't want to strip it if I don't have to as stripping wall paper never goes as smoothly as it does on those tv shows.

legion · 11-13-2008, 06:28 AM

Don't do it.

The previous owners did this all over my house. I hate them for it.

Christien · Christien's Garage

I recently did a wallpaper removal job at my in-laws - what a nightmare. I can't answer your question directly, but if it's at all possible to paint over it, do it. We destroyed a lot of the drywall in removing the paper. Uggh. Never again. I think my only concern would be that the seams of the wallpaper would show through the paint. Maybe drywall mud the seams so they don't show through?

competentone · 11-13-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

Wallpaper was put up in late 60's over plaster and in all that time none of it has peeled.

Painting over it can be done, but if you have plaster, don't.

Removing it from plaster should be a breeze.

Save the "painting over" routine for situations where the wallpaper doesn't come off of drywall well.

legion · 11-13-2008, 06:36 AM

I bought a wallpaper remover/steamer from Lowe's for $50 a few years ago.

Worth every penny.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Did this a few years ago. I covered the existing wallpaper with Shieldz Universal Primer, and then let that dry.

After I did that, I applied a real thin skim-coat of plaster over the whole thing and gave that a light sanding to smooth it out.. This will fill in any seams that exist and give you a real nice appearance when the job is complete.

Just my own $.02.

Randy

Rot 911 · 11-13-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by competentone

Painting over it can be done, but if you have plaster, don't.
Removing it from plaster should be a breeze.
Save the "painting over" routine for situations where the wallpaper doesn't come off of drywall well.

I wish it was a breeze. We are just finishing up the removal in the other bathroom. It was peeling in a couple of places, but in others it was a PIA to get off. Still working at getting off all the little pieces. Back then they never envisioned removing the wall paper.

competentone · 11-13-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt V

I wish it was a breeze. We are just finishing up the removal in the other bathroom. It was peeling in a couple of places, but in others it was a PIA to get off. Still working at getting off all the little pieces. Back then they never envisioned removing the wall paper.

How are you removing it? Steamer? Glue solvents?

You can be "rough" with plaster in ways you can't with drywall.

Rot 911 · 11-13-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by competentone

How are you removing it? Steamer? Glue solvents?

You can be "rough" with plaster in ways you can't with drywall.

All of the above and steel putty knives and scotch pads. It came off, now just dealing with all the little pieces of paper about the size of a small fingernail that are still there. What a pain it is. Which is why I am looking at alternatives.

rick-l · 11-13-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

I bought a wallpaper remover/steamer from Lowe's for $50 a few years ago.

Worth every penny.

Like this one? (I don't think they have the orange one like I got 10 years ago)
http://www.wagnerspraytech.com/portal/wagner_705_spray,43321,747.html

It boils water and the steam escapes into that paddle.

stomachmonkey · 10:26 AM

Just toss up 1/8 sheetrock over it.

legion · 11-13-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

Like this one? (I don't think they have the orange one like I got 10 years ago)
http://www.wagnerspraytech.com/portal/wagner_705_spray,43321,747.html

It boils water and the steam escapes into that paddle.

Yes, that is the exact model I have.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-13-2008, 09:23 AM

Don't do it. I've seen it done a number of times, it never looks right. Buy or rent a GOOD steamer and go to work. It's probably the most unpleasant job on earth, but at least that way it's done right. My last house was build in 1961 and had wallpaper in EVERY room, so I feel your pain. After trying everything, the steamer was by far the easiest. If you're patient and fully saturate one section at a time, it will come off in large pieces or strips. Thank God my current home only has two rooms with wallpaper, and I'm already done with one of them.

Rot 911 · 11-13-2008, 10:14 AM

I've got a good steamer (the one in the link Rick I posted) and yes the paper does come off in huge strips. All except the little pieces left behind stuck on with god knows what. I suppose I just need to be resigned to getting it all cleaned off. Like most home projects there is no easy way to do it.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-13-2008, 10:15 AM

Lots of water and a scraper, that's really the only answer.

Dennis Kalma · Dennis Kalma's Garage

I have seen 1/8 inch drywall, I would glue that on to the wall, tape the joints (not that difficult), then you have a nice substrate for painting that ought to last. If you were anal, you could put a few screws in here and there.

Not too much work to do...safer result.

Dennis

trekkor · 11-13-2008, 10:28 AM

I used to work at a hotel years ago. ( Embassy Suites, Napa )The wallpaper in every room was pink with grooves.
Think vertical pink corduroy. We painted a room every night for as long as I worked there.

High quality paint with high hide/solids properties will get you through it.

KT

Bill Douglas · 11-13-2008, 10:43 AM

I do it all the time. No problems. Of course if the wallpaper is falling off remove it first. I do a skim coat of plaster over the rough bits.

Heel n Toe · 11-13-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trekkor

I used to work at a hotel years ago. ( Embassy Suites, Napa )The wallpaper in every room was pink with grooves.
Think vertical pink corduroy. We painted a room every night for as long as I worked there.

High quality paint with high hide/solids properties will get you through it.

The problem comes later, when the wallpaper gets a mind of its own and starts to get air pockets underneath.

It is in a bathroom, ya know. Yukyukyukyukyuk.

Kurt, another option is to find someone who works out of their home installing and removing wallpaper and pay them to to remove it. If you can get it done for $75-100, it might be the best money you ever spent. With the economy the way it is, they might be willing to do it for a good price to have the bidness.

Have any of you ever wondered who was the first idiot who thought putting wallpaper in a bathroom was a good idea? Holy s#iT.

MBAtarga · 11-13-2008, 05:13 PM

I've done it several times - in bathrooms and kitchens. Just this week I finished painting over the wallpaper in the master bath. We bought the house three years ago and finally got around to updating the bathroom.

If the paper is already showing signs of peeling, you'll run into problems and removal is required. If that's the case, use a "paper tiger" and DIF solution.
http://www.zinsser.com/projectdetails.asp?projectid=23

Otherwise, if the paper is in good shape and still well adhered, prime with an oil based primer - not latex. If there are small, loose spots, use white glue to glue those areas back down.