I need to paint over wall paper!?

Question

I'm moving into a four bedroom house, and there is wall paper in every bedroom, all of it is very outdated and "girly" I have two boys who are super upset about the bedrooms so I need to change it right away and don't have time to steam it all down and then repaint or paper, so I need to paint over it right away. (My daughter is fine with her 1970's daisy pattern cause she's 4.) so.. though I'll do it "right" eventually, right now, I just need to cover up all the pink and purple flowers. How do I do this and make it look good for the next year?

Answer 1

It has been my experience and learning that one would not have any good results from painting over wall paper.

On the other hand, if your boys are old enough to bi ----, Uh, I mean gripe about the wall paper they are old enough to learn how to take it down and learn to paint! Sounds like a wonderful bonding and learning job to me!  Not that expensive either.   I recently took some household junk to my county recycle yard -- Sacramento, Cal.   I found several hundred cans of paint, some stain, some spackle, lots of "hazardous" stuff free for the taking.  The county finds it much cheaper to give the stuff to others than to have to break it down for recycle.

The paint brushes and rollers from dollar store or Big Lots work almost  good as the stuff from more expensive paint stores. It may be better to buy from Home Depot or somewhere because the clerk might be very knowledgable and full of advice to get U started.

Answer 2

the guy above me is honestly right. Painting over wallpaper will make it look a mess. I'm not sure if the big posters will help as much as you would like, but the best thing to do would be to take the wallpaper down before painting. Sorry.

Answer 3

Yes  IVe painted over it many times. The first coat may cause a temporary bubbling, but dont worry, it'll disappear.a flat paint wont show the seams as much, but hey its just in akids room.they re glad to have a new room.In a finer room I use a taping blade and drywall compound to cover the seams. then at least spot prime  

Answer 4

You know u cant paint over wall paper! Its gonna make more of a problem later on plus its going to look tacky! And u dont need to steam it down, if its old anyway u just need some vingear and water,,, and soak it and peel!,, easy ! i've done it 100 times it wont take that long!

Im not gettin on u but h**l the boys can do that much,

bonnie j

Answer 5

In order to paint over wall paper you have to first use an oil based primer...  If you use a water based primer it can actually cause the wall paper to release from the wall.

If you do not use a primer your paint will eventually flake and peel off of the wall, and it will take many coats of paint to cover.  Primer runs about $12.00 for Kilz, and paint costs around $25.00 a gallon.  So it is more economical to prime first, instead of going through many gallons of paint.

They now make oil based primers that you can paint a latex paint over for a nice finish.

Oil based products are not fun to paint, and they will take a full day to dry.  The water based paint can be applied the next day.

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Big warning however..   To take off wallpaper that has paint on it is a huge pain in the butt...  So make sure this is what you want to do, because next year it will take forever to get it down.

One more comment about using oil based primer...  It sounds like your wallpaper is from the 1970's...  They did not have vinyl coated wallpaper back then... it was actual paper.. and if you use a water based primer it will come off.

The metalic wallpaper the person below me is speaking of , has to have a coating on it to keep it metalic. That is why she was able to use water based primer.

And please do not buy paint from Walmart, Sears, or Menards.  Inexpensive paint is thin and does not cover.

The best "bang for your buck" is Home Depot's Behr's paint.  It has won Consumer Reports best paint, and JD Powers best paint this year.  And unlike Shermin Williams or Benjermin Moore at $40.00 a gallon, it ranges in the the low $20...  depending on the sheen of paint you like.  (flat, eggshell, satin)

Answer 6

I agree with love2diy, I have painted over the wall paper in my bedroom 3 times in the past 15 years and the wall paper , I also used a latex primer and paint. I did have a few edges that were pealing before I started and I just re glued them before I started.

Answer 7

Yes, you CAN paint over wallpaper... we just finished 3 rooms and a hallway with the same problem you have. Granted, they don't look as good as I would've liked, but it would've been a much worse nightmare to deal with what's underneath the wallpaper. I found out some helpful tricks a little too late. :(

Our wallpaper had some ugly girly stripes that had a metalic sheen to them and the paint still stuck to it. We used a normal latex primer from Lowes (2 coats) and then covered it with our choice of paint. (Don't purchase the Color Place brand of paint from walmart... it SUCKS! took 3 coats to cover over the primer.) anyway, we were told to use the oil based primers as well, but it wasn't necessary (even on a metalic sheen wallpaper).

Here's what I learned though: you need to examine your walls carefully. if there's any seams or boarders that are showing, you need to care for them otherwise the paint will only highlight the problem. if you can pull off the areas that are troublesome, then you'll be fine with covering them up with primer. if you can't, then you need to go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy this mesh tape that they use to seal the gaps between drywall... it's almost like a big sticky mesh bandage, all you have to do is tape it over the wallpaper seam (follow directions, you might need to spackle lightly) then paint with primer and paint. that'll make sure your edges are taped down and not look bad after painting.

Hope that helps.

Answer 8

Painting over it will make it worse,the paint will peel of the wallpaper.Try getting some big posters for the boys room for the time being to cover the girly patterns.

Answer 9

Who owns this house.  Do you rent?  Or is it yours?  Either way its a mistake to paint over wall paper.  If the house is less than 30 years old a warm wet sponge and a putty knife, you might be surprised and remove the paper in a couple of hrs per room.  

Answer 10

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