Paint Over Wallpaper

Proper preparation ensures smooth, consistent finish

At first, you might think there's just not a lot that can go wrong when you want to paint over wallpaper. There are, however, a few things you need to be aware of before actually painting.

1.) First ... Do A Little Prep Work

Always make sure that any loose seams, or other loose areas are firmly glued back into place. You want the paper to be firmly secured to the surface.

If there are bigger, wider places where paper is missing, smooth the edges out with some drywall mud, let dry for several hours, then sand.

If the area where the paper is missing is small, apply some mud over the whole area (where paper is absent), let dry, and then sand. The result should be a seamless transition. (in other words, like it was never there to begin with)

*note* If the areas are too large, you might want to consider removing all of the wallpaper as it would be simply too large an area to work with correctly.

2.) Now ... Prime The Surface

Prime the entire wall(s). If you desire, you can get the primer tinted (using tintable primer)to the same color of the finish paint you're going to use. In addition to blocking the colors and print on the original wallpaper, this step will provide a solid base upon which you apply the finish coat.

A good primer also promotes excellent adhesion for the finish coat to adhere to. In other words, your finish paint will roll on easily and smoothly.

3.) And Lastly ... Apply Finish Coat

Apply 1-2 finish coats as needed.

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