What kind of paint do you use to paint over wallpaper? (2023)

What paint is best for painting over wallpaper?

You don't need to use special paint for wallpaper. A good quality wall paint will cover the wallpaper and leave you with an even finish. You don't always need to use a primer when you're painting wallpaper.

You can use the paint you prefer to paint over wallpaper, whether it's oil-based or water-based. However, before your topcoat goes on, you'll need to use an oil-based primer on the walls. Never use a water-based primer because it can cause the wallpaper to become loose – which is definitely what you don't want.

Prime. It's essential to get your wallpaper ready for those colorful coats of paint by priming. But according to Spillane, not just any primer will do. “Prime with an alkyd-based primer such as Benjamin Moore Fresh Start All Purpose Alkyd Primer, rather than a latex primer,” he cautions.

If you're tired of looking at your outdated wallpaper, it can be quite tempting to paint right over it. However, whenever possible, you should always remove the wallpaper before painting to ensure better results. For homeowners who want to replace wallpaper with paint, stripping down the wallpaper may not be an option.

If the old wallpaper is embossed or otherwise rough, apply a very thin layer of joint compound over the entire wall and sand it smooth once dry. As far as products go, oil-based primer and paint are ideal, as they won't loosen the wallpaper adhesive. Matte paint is preferable, as it disguises any minor imperfections.

Simply add a thin line of clear caulk around the perimeter of the walls, at the joint seam where the paper meets the floor and ceiling. This will help seal the edges and keep the paper from peeling after you've painted.

Primed Walls

Walls that have only paint primer should be primed with wallpaper primer. Paint primer is flat, so it will readily soak up the wallpaper glue.

A primer formulated to hang wallpaper on drywall will differ from one designed to promote adhesion on glass. No matter the surface, priming the wall before hanging will help you achieve a better installation.

According to most home improvement experts, wallpaper should be removed before painting whenever possible, as you'll experience better results and fewer problems down the road [source: HomeAdvisor].

Why do people paint over wallpaper?

Painting sounded much easier than stripping wallpaper, cleaning the glue and residue off the walls and THEN painting. Their crazy Aunt Martha assured them it would work. They were afraid of what they would find under the wallpaper: cracks, crumbling walls, or (gasp) even more wallpaper!

You'll want to use an oil-based primer over the wallpaper before you paint. Oil-based primers can take longer to dry, and the smell will be overbearing, but some fast drying options are now available. “Oil-based primer will block anything coming through,” Snyder says.

Any acrylic paint is fine for painting over primed wallpaper. I prefer Duration from Sherwin Williams. The paint is very durable and washes well. I use the matte and eggshell finish, but flat paint does a better job of hiding imperfections on the wallpaper underneath.

Use a scoring tool to create holes in the wallpaper. Use a spray bottle to soak the paper. Spray water into the slits so it can work its way behind the covering. Wait about 10 minutes and then scrape off the paper with a putty knife.

Plywood. If you're looking for cheap panels for walls, plywood is inexpensive, easy to install, and durable. The wood grain will warm up a space and can be stained or painted to coordinate with any decor.

In fact, paint on top of wallpaper will make it much harder to remove the wallpaper down the line. You'll also want to take a good look at the texture of your wallpapered wall. "If the paper itself has texture you can expect to see it through the paint," she points out.

At its core, a wall primer is available in three different types – oil-based, latex, or shellac. Depending on your needs and your wall surfaces, you can look for interior or exterior wall primers. One of the most common wall primers is an oil-based primer as they can go on a lot of different surfaces.

Latex paint may act as a suitable replacement for primer on drywall. Jeff Croft, a professional drywall installer and owner of Tape Finish Texture Drywall, warns against using latex paint watered down. The concept involves mixing latex paint with a small amount of water, creating a thinned version of the paint.

It is recommended that you use a primer to seal the substrate before top-coating with paint. Without a proper primer-sealer, you could be wasting time, money and energy applying multiple coats of paint on your porous surface. Tile, PVC, glass, or any other hard, smooth surface requires a bonding primer.

The basic difference between paint and primer is that paint is typically made up of resins pigments whereas primers are resins. The primer's basic function is to provide a sealed and stable surface for your topcoat (paint) and the resins contained in primers seal porous surfaces and provide that bond to the surface.

Is paint with primer better than regular paint?

Additionally, primers can cover porosity and imperfections to deliver a sealed, even, smooth, and stable foundation for the topcoat. Coverage – When repainting already painted walls, 2 in 1 paint and primer products work quite well, providing a much better coverage in one coat than regular wall paint.

Air bubbles in wallpaper may also indicate an imperfection in the wall surface, like dirt, paint chips, or holes. By ensuring you have a clean and smooth wall surface and allowing sufficient “booking” time for wallpaper panels, you can prevent bubbling wallpaper from occurring.

It Depends On What You Choose.

If it is too high tack and the wall was not properly primed, it does not have the correct type of paint or it is not a smooth surface it may rip the paint. Regardless, removable wallpaper has it will always be way easier to remove when you compare it to regular wallpaper.

Yes, using 2 coats of Kilz, and then 2 coats of paint should do it.