Techniques for painting over wallpaper on paneling?

6 years ago

Before anyone tells me to just put up drywall let me explain that while we intend to do that in the future, we have a long list of things that need to take precedence in the remodeling of our old early 1900's farmhouse. We're looking for a quick fix for now to make the rooms more bearable until we can do it right. The back rooms in the upstairs are all awful dark floral/striped wallpapers over paneling, so even if we managed to strip off the wallpaper (a big IF) we'd still just have paneling, so painting over it seems to be the best short term solution.

I've been doing some research which suggests cleaning the walls, the applying a oil-based sealer primer then painting. I was wondering if:

1) just cleaning with a mild dish soap solution would be good enough? I've seen suggestions to use TSP but not only do I not want to use chemicals if I can help it, I've also seen TSP suggested for removing wallpaper, so I'm worried it would compromise it. I'm pretty sure it's vinyl wallpaper if that matters.

2) I was wondering about using texture. Like maybe a texture paint or paint additive. I figure once the busy wallpaper pattern is not there to distract your eye the wallpaper seams and the underlying paneling texture might pop out more, so perhaps a texture would be good. Has anyone tried this? What kinds/brands would you suggest? I'm assuming any texture would have to go on after the primer? Would that mean you'd have to prime yet again before painting? DH thinks we shouldn't bother since we'll be drywalling at some point. However, I suspect that really might be a long way off and want it as nice as can be made for now.

3) Lastly, what do you think the repainting possibility is of this? After it's been painted once would repainting be the same as any wall, or would their be issues? I ask because it might affect paint color choices, especially in my children's rooms. I'd be more inclined to pick a fun color that we'd want to change in a few years vs a neutral color meant to last until we can drywall if repainting would be easy.

I am trying to do this as inexpensively as possible, once again there are a lot of more urgent remodeling/repairs the primary budget has to go to. The kids keep asking to paint their room though so thought it would be a good Spring Break project.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

Not exactly your situation- we had our kitchen wallpaper painted over. They used one coat of primer and then two coats of paint. This isn't recommended unless the wallpaper is in great condition and it's not recommended for a bathroom. It turned out great and you would never know.

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Comments (10)

bossyvossy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
While painting over wall paper is not the hardest job you’ll ever do, you won’t get the satisfaction you are expecting with the quickie fix. When you look around you, you won’t think of how bright the room looks, you will think of what’s left to do it right. Do a room at a time, maybe from most important to least imp., or you can start with easiest to the hardest, or whatever.

few people are happy taking the lazy or mediocre route.
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I'm not sure if the OP is reading this anymore, but I did want to offer advice. I've been scraping (and scraping and scraping, you get the idea) wallpaper for so long. We're in the process of redoing my daughter's room and there were many many layers of wallpaper on the walls. I assumed the layers started in the 1930's, but on one wall, they put sheetrock over the plasterwall. It's some bizarre cardboard-like substance, so I guess in the 1950's- late 60's they just redecorated a lot. Anyway, long story shortened, when I got to the last layer on that cardbaord wall, it's stuck like glue over it. I got off all I could, scrubbed it, and my husband put a layer of plaster over the whole thing and it's now smooth as glass. I don't think this would work with many many layers, but my father in law has done this in the past, and after 20 years all is still good. I wouldn't recommend doing this in the more public areas of the home, but in the bedrooms it might work for you. It sounds like from your post that you are a thoughtful remodeler. I, like so many on this forum, cringe when thinking of "flippers" and the lack of care for history that many have. However, there are people who remodel who do a great job and do it not only to make money, but to improve their community. Those people are to be commended, because their vision helps create a longer history for that house in that community. I hope that you are able to bring that home to its former glory and find a family to love it.
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Please tell us there's no "velour"-fuzz on the paper??!?! (then...a blowtorch is required...) Yeah, there's no way to win this battle sometimes... * Because the walls weren't sized/primed-for-paper, it can be a HELL of a job. * As Colorcrazy pointed out, there may not be much payback either. It would depend on the market, etc., and other features of the house. * As I mentioned, I'd consider Oil-priming the ceiling and/or walls...AFTER CLEANING THEM! Then, hire someone to either smooth-coat or texture-spray. Prime again with normal Latex primer when sanding-dust is removed.... * NOW...you've at least got a "new" surface, ready-for-paint!! This may be appealing to some as a selling-point. Faron
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I removed the wallpaper from an entire house of similar age and style, although on a smaller scale. Other than one small storage space and bedroom closets, every wall in the house was unpainted plaster under the wallpaper. I had one guy who did the quality of work I wanted at a reasonable price and I kept him occupied for many months, now going on 12 years of personal and business projects. When you own a beautiful vintage home, it is important to find someone who will honor the quality and craftsmanship and be happy to have the opportunity to work on your house. Owning a beautiful vintage home is a lifestyle choice and I was willing to spend the money and devote the hours required for many years. It is expensive to do the work right and cheap fixes cause more problems and cost more money in the long run. There are many competent painters out there but many of them are focused on the profit side and historic house projects are more difficult to predict and manage. I would be looking for a small company where the owner runs the jobs himself and stay away from companies with multiple crews doing different projects. Rarely does the attention to detail extend equally to every member of a large crew and I want the boss on site. In my house, only the ceilings were canvassed. We ended up removing the canvas in a couple rooms because once the canvas is torn, it is quite common for the problem to spread. We were able to repair one portion of the living room ceiling but it was not guaranteed to work. That room was about 350 sq ft and I was willing to take the chance rather than pay more to remove to bare plaster and skim coat. I did a good portion of the wallpaper removal myself, working with the painter on a time and materials basis. He was not comfortable giving me a bid for that part of the work because wallpaper removal is just too variable. One benefit of plaster walls is the surface is more forgiving than drywall. If you are relatively handy and healthy enough for the work, it is not difficult, just time consuming and boring. Turn up the music, protect the floors and woodwork and just get busy. I was very fortunate that only the crown molding in the foyer, main floor hallway and back hallway had been painted. We stripped that paint and it was a good decision despite the amount of work involved. It is expensive, but done right, it will never need to be done again.
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Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
6 years ago
One coat of quality oil primer and 2 top coats of finish paint and it's done for what you want to do.
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User
6 years ago
I get it. You plan on remodeling the area eventually but it may be a few years. Life Is too short to stare at a wall you hate when you could spend $50 to make it bareable until you get to fully remodel. It isn't the best spent $50, but if it makes you happy, then go for it.
I was in a temporary living situation where the wallpaper was halfway falling off the wall. I couldnt stabd it so I tore off what I could and removed a good bit by spraying and scraping. I sanded and used kilz and was very impressed at how smooth the wall was. I did a lot of prep work but kilz did way more than I expected. The only thing I wish I knew ahead of time was that it makes the wall color more intense when you paint over it. My "sunny yellow" looked like big bird yellow.
Forever Now
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you.

Christopher - is cleaning unnecessary do you think?

Lisa - the wallpaper in the room I want to do first is in in really good condition., The paper in the hallway is not, and there is a bathroom with awful pinkish wallpaper with fans on it, and a bright red rug, I just have no idea right now what to do about that. I doubt I'd bother to paint it as just a little coat of paint won't help it. We just use another bathroom for now because no one can stand to go in that one!

Bossy - I get what your saying, but we have major things that need addressed first (we just had a huge retaining wall next to the house fail for instance), spending money and time on a cosmetic fix like drywall just isn't up there in priority right now, especially because it's complicated by really nice woodwork that could potentially be damaged by removing. However, I really don't want to look at the dark ugly wallpaper anymore and my kids really want their room decorated a way they like. This is work and money for a less than perfect solution but when I know the perfect solution is a loooong way off, it's acceptable to me. I don't want to be looking at this paper 5 years from now because we intended to get to it "soon". While I hope we can, I don't want to count on it at this point. When I married my DH the walls the bedroom in his house were painted over wallpaper. I never even noticed until he pointed it out to me, so I do have an idea of what it will look like if I can do it right.
paintguy22
6 years ago
I don't really know that I would bother cleaning it unless it's visibly dirty. If you do clean it, use Dirtex. TSP is overkill.
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drdeb1234
6 years ago
I painted over some LOVELY floral wallpaper in a cottage last summer. One coat of (very smelly) oil based primer and 2 coats of white paint. Reasonably sloppy job I must admit, but WAY better after.
drdeb1234
6 years ago
And I did not pre-clean.
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Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
6 years ago
As paintguy said
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Forever Now
Original Author
6 years ago
So has anyone tried using texture over wallpaper? A part of me keeps thinking it would look really nice, but I'm not too confident in my abilities to apply it either. I've used texture paint, but only on small projects and I'm not looking for a course sandy look.

Techniques for painting over wallpaper on paneling?

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