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The Advantages of Painting Over Wallpaper

One of the biggest advantages of painting over wallpaper is that it eliminates the need to remove the wallpaper from the wall. This can save homeowners both time and money, as wallpaper removal can often be tedious and difficult. If a home is an older home, the drywall beneath the wallpaper layer may begin to crumble upon the wallpaper’s removal, in turn causing more problems than it prevents. Removing wallpaper can also cause damage to the drywall or plaster underneath it, especially if the wallpaper has been pasted to an unpainted, unsized wall. In cases such as this where walls may not be in pristine condition, it is more beneficial to paint over the wallpaper itself since the costs that will be endured as a result of extensive wall repair can be quite large. Homeowners may also find that there are multiple layers of wallpaper that need to be removed once they begin the removal process. Each layer will need to be removed separately, so as to not further jeopardize the drywall or plaster. Homeowners may also notice that painting walls can be accomplished more easily and more quickly if they are painted over wallpaper.

The Disadvantages of Painting Over Wallpaper

Just as there are many advantages to painting over wallpaper, so too are there drawbacks to it. Wallpaper should be removed before painting whenever possible. By doing so, homeowners will experience superior results and will avoid some potential problems in the future. Because wallpaper is applied in rows, the seams where the rows line up are often visible through the paint after the wall has been painted. When it is painted over, wallpaper can begin to bubble or separate from the wall due to the moisture that is found in the paint. Wallpaper that contains rips, holes, or that is detaching from the walls should always be removed prior to painting. If wallpaper that is experiencing any of those signs of wear is painted over, the paint job will not last, resulting in future repairs and low quality work. No matter how many layers of paint are applied over damaged wallpaper, the imperfections will always be noticeable. Wallpaper that has been painted over is usually increasingly difficult to remove as well. In dealing with situations such as this, it is not uncommon to see sections of drywall or plaster compromised upon removal of the paper.

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I have done it 100 times in renovations.If it's good quality paper & it's not peeling,go for it.At the end of the day sheetrock is only paper which you paint over.Best advice tho is use a suitable primer coat.IE wall board sealer.

I’ve painted over wallpaper and t he texture was beautiful! Unfortunately, wallpaper peels with time.  Good luck to you……….

Have done it on houses which I have known were not perm. homes and had no problems.  I have even seen it done and they supported it on some home shows.  Make sure it is free of dust, and greasy film, as paint will not cover, or last.  Vinyl seems to work better, as some water from latex paint makes paper wallcover bubble as it penetrates and reacts with the paste.