Wallpaper was extremely popular in the 1920’s, then again from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. In the mid 1980’s the demand for wallpaper really dwindled. Today there are still many homes with this vintage wallpaper that people no longer want. We get many calls asking, is painting over wallpaper an option? Our answer is; Yes you can, but you really don’t want to!
Wallpaper History
Back in the 1920’s wallpaper was used in most rooms. It displayed lots of “romantic” cabbage rose and arabesque patterns. The 1920’s were touted as being the Golden Age of Wallpaper.
After World War II, plastic resins were added to wallpaper which then provided washability and strength. This addition was well liked by homeowners and started the spark of favorability again, until the mid 1980’s.
By the end of the 20th century however, wallpaper had lost its luster! Everyone wanted that wallpaper gone and tried removing it. When they discovered how challenging the removal of wallpaper was, the question became; Is painting over wallpaper an option?
Removing Wallpaper
So many homes today still have the older wallpaper. Clients complain that it’s not their style and they’d like to remove it or paint over it. They want a more modern, sleek look without the wallpaper. There are many different kinds of wallpaper and some are more easily removed than others. However, wallpaper removal can be really difficult and time consuming.
Since the removal of wallpaper is so tedious, the obvious question becomes, is painting over wallpaper an option to make the wall look better? We are professional painters who pride ourselves on the satisfaction of our clients. Because of this, we recommend against painting over wallpaper, if possible. There are certain circumstances where it might be a good idea to paint over, but overall it’s not a great option.
Does Existing Wallpaper Have Damage?
First, most vintage wallpaper has some type of edge lifting or bubbling going on. When these areas get painted over, it only highlights the mess underneath. It does not hide the damaged wallpaper, and certainly does not make the wall look better. Painting over old, damaged wallpaper can also cause more expensive problems down the road. It is much more difficult to remove wallpaper that has been painted over.
Textured or Patterned Wallpaper
Second, the texture of the wallpaper needs consideration when determining is painting over wallpaper an option or not. If the wallpaper has a texture or pattern, most times that pattern and/or texture will come through the paint.
Issues With Painting Over Wallpaper
Finally, paint contains moisture. Sometimes that moisture can leech through the wallpaper and cause the wallpaper adhesive to fail. When this happens, the paint can bubble and peel leaving a tremendous amount of work to fix!
If wallpaper removal is an option and you’d like to do it yourself, there are some products on the market to help. Products like wallpaper steamers, spray-on wallpaper strippers, and wallpaper scraping tools can be helpful. A company that specializes in wallpaper removal services can be another great resource. They can provide you with the best tips, and can usually be hired to do the job if it proves to be too much to tackle on your own!
While there have been some successes in painting over wallpaper, it typically turns out to be a disappointment. Therefore, our advice is “No” regarding the question “is painting over wallpaper an option?”. As a reputable professional painting company, our opinion is, it is better to remove the wallpaper for the best results. Then proceed with fully prepping the wall, and then paint for a beautiful, sleek looking room.
Paint Pals has been serving Northern Colorado since 2009. Contact us for a free estimate
