Painting - Painting wallpaper
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bdav
04-20-03, 08:15 AM
I need to know how wallpaper can be painted. Originally the walls were papered directly over new drywall-no way to strip it off. The ceiling was also papered. Can it be primed and painted. The wallpaper is textured.
chfite
04-20-03, 07:17 PM
Despite all the work and mess, it is still better to remove the wall paper. Having said that....
Wall paper needs to be cleaned thoroughly, then primed and painted. The texture in the wall paper will show through. Paint changes the color of the surface, not the surface. Zinsser 123 is a good primer for this sort of application. As with any other job, top quality tools and materials and preparation will make all the difference.
Hope this helps.
Wall paper needs to be cleaned thoroughly, then primed and painted. The texture in the wall paper will show through. Paint changes the color of the surface, not the surface. Zinsser 123 is a good primer for this sort of application. As with any other job, top quality tools and materials and preparation will make all the difference.
Hope this helps.
toptosher
04-25-03, 02:23 PM
Ahhh...sounds interesting...might try that!! Thanks
Evan M.
04-25-03, 09:21 PM
You mention that the wallpaper is directly the sheetrock. I know it sounds like an impossible mess but I would still attempt to take the peper off. I have the same exact problem at my house and I was able to take the wallpaper off the sheetrock with hardly any damage. When i say say damage i mean the only thing that happened was that a little of the paper covering the sheetrock ripped. This is nothing majow at all. If you choose to take the paper off use DIFF. Score the wallpaper a bit. soak the wallpaper well with DIFF. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Soak it again and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Soak it 1 more time and start peeling. You will notice a very sticky grayish white substance. This is some of the wallpaper backing and A LOT of glue. This all needs to come off too. Soak the glue and backing with DIFF again and take a wide putty knife and GENTLY scrape off the glue. Try not to rip through the sheetrock. After glue is off wash the walls very well with hot water and let dry out for 1 night. The next day lightly sand the walls with a very fine paper to get rid of any bits of wallpaper balls that tends to collect. When complete spackle any hole or low spots. Prime with a good quality, prefferably oil based primer. Sherwin williams Pro-Block is a fantastic primer for this application. It dries within 1 and a half hours, them paint with a good quality latex paint.
I know you are probably thinking "What drug is this dude on" but I have seen too many problems with painting wallpaper that if you just bought this house and plan on living there for any amount of time, then do the job right the first time. This way you will never have to look back and say "Why didn't I just take the extra 3 days out of my life and do it right the first time." The above methods may sound like a lot (and it is) but you develop a routine after awhile and it really isn't as bad as it may sound. I did a 14 x 16' bedroom, a 5x6' half bath and a 12 x 14' dining room in a totlal of three weeks time from start to finish. Sounds like a long time but I did it after work for about 3 to 4 hours a day with a few days off in between. I say this just to give you an idea of time. Good luck in whatever you choose.
I know you are probably thinking "What drug is this dude on" but I have seen too many problems with painting wallpaper that if you just bought this house and plan on living there for any amount of time, then do the job right the first time. This way you will never have to look back and say "Why didn't I just take the extra 3 days out of my life and do it right the first time." The above methods may sound like a lot (and it is) but you develop a routine after awhile and it really isn't as bad as it may sound. I did a 14 x 16' bedroom, a 5x6' half bath and a 12 x 14' dining room in a totlal of three weeks time from start to finish. Sounds like a long time but I did it after work for about 3 to 4 hours a day with a few days off in between. I say this just to give you an idea of time. Good luck in whatever you choose.