Painting over wallpaper proves a struggle. I remember two months ago when I needed to paint my wallpaper. I went through a tiresome painting process and used the wrong time of palmer and paint. When you plan to get your wallpaper painted, you need to get all the facts right. You need to follow through the painting process to the latter.
The painting material needs to be the right one to get perfectly done. After you have painted over your wallpaper, you will love the outcome. Your house, apartment, or office will be looking brand new. So before you strip that old wallpaper off your wall, consider painting it to look exactly how you want it. It might be cheaper than installing brand new wallpaper helping you save a few bucks.
Wallpapers work to cover a lot of imperfections which will take you a lot of time and resources to perfect. Painting it with a few layers of paint may make it very appealing. You also may be looking for a quick fix for your old wallpaper.
So, what is the wallpaper painting process?
You need to prepare the wallpaper and get to the painting part. You will need the following materials.
- Trisodium Phosphate(TSP)
- A sponge
- A bucket
- Primer sealer
- Paintbrush
- Oil-based paint
- A paint roller
Follow through with the following procedure to wash and clean the wall
Step 1: Uses diluted TSP and wash the wallpaper covered walls using a sponge
The TSP will help you remove any dirt and oil spills from the walls. Most wallpaper will even get used in kitchen and bathroom walls. This way, they may get dirty with stains and oils.
Mix two gallons of water with half a cup of TSP. This mixing will make the chemical less concentrated, and it will protect your arms from any chemical exposure. The room should stay well ventilated during this cleaning process. The proper protective gear will help you clean the wall effectively.
Clean the walls using a sponge or a different paintbrush if you possess one. After washing the walls, use a dump cloth to wide dry the wallpaper. Ensure you clean and wipe the chemical entirely. The chemical may interfere with the quality of the painting if not completely removed.
Step 2: Apply an extra adhesive on the wallpaper top and bottom
The wallpaper wears out by peeling off from various parts. The top near the ceiling and the bottom close to the ground prove most vulnerable. Apply an adhesive compound anywhere you may see it peels.
A primer-sealer will help minimize the chances of peeling. A prime sealer makes the wallpaper smooth enough for the paint to appear soft and perfect. This appearance creates an ideal barrier between the wallpaper and the coating paint. The oil-based paint will automatically appear as natural as possible with the base primer-sealer.
Step 3: Ensure the primer gets dry.
After applying the primer, the only thing preventing you from the painting will be the drying process. According to the sealer’s use instructions, check how long it would take for the primer sealer to dry. Keeping your windows and doors open will also help ventilate the room enough for the primer-sealer to dry quickly.
Step 4: It’s time to apply your first coat of paint.
After the prime sealer has dried, you will require applying your oil-based paint to your liking. The oil-based paint needs several coats to appear beautiful and furnished. Don’t overthink the process but do the painting as if you were painting an ordinary wall. People don’t know that the question behind how to paint over wallpaper gets solved at this stage. You will need your paintbrush to do the edges of the wallpaper perfectly. The roller will do an excellent painting job on the central part of the wallpaper.
Step 5: You will need to do a second coat
Give the first paint coat a humble time to dry. After the paint coat gets completely dry, apply the second coat covering all edges and corners nicely. Before you use your last coat of paint, consider sanding the wallpaper. Sanding will help minimize any bumps and imperfections on the wallpaper.
When you feel that the first coat feels smooth enough, apply the second coat of oil-based paint evenly. This second coat will make the wall appear dense with color. A power sander helps make the work perfect. You will enjoy standing and looking at your nicely done wallpaper.
So, have you learned how to do over wallpaper? The above procedure will guarantee your walls a fantastic new look.
Let’s look at the best products to purchase for this job.
Remember, you will need paint and primer-sealer to paint over your wallpaper effectively. Do you have to care what type of paint or palmer you need? Of course, yes. Choosing the wrong color will give you unsatisfactory results.
For instance, if you decide to paint over your wallpaper with water-based paint, it will not stick to the wallpaper even with the second coat. If someone leans on the wallpaper, they will carry almost all the paint with them. So, when planning on how to paint over your wallpaper, consider purchasing quality oil-based paints and the ideal primer sealers.
We will discuss some of the best oil-based paints and primer-sealers below.
The Zinsser 02004 Bulls Eye All Surface Primer
Made by Rust-Oleum, this white surface primer sealer will do a perfect job for your wallpaper print-over. Not only will you use this primer on your wallpaper, but it also applies to other wooden and metallic surfaces. It is item-friendly and ideal for your DIY painting or business projects.
This primer-sealer seals uniformly and will stick to the surface perfectly. You will not require sanding to make it uniform. The sealer will dry effectively to the touch within 35 minutes of application. This time will be appropriate for you to apply the other oil paint coats.
Pros
- Faster drying
- Interior and exterior user friendly
- It has a white color favoring the majority of oil-based paints
- Blocks all resistant stains completely
Cons
- May not effectively eradicate some stain odors
1 qt Zinsser 260925 Peel Stop Primer
Do you have your wallpaper surface peeled and worn out? Don’t panic. This primer sealer will do more for you. It will seal all those worn-out and peeled surfaces to allow a smooth after-paint look.
You will mix it nicely with water. Water-based primer-sealers don’t fit poorly with wallpapers since you will later apply an oil-based paint as a topper. This primer will also work on other peeling surfaces like wooden structures, metal, or concrete.
This product will penetrate those peeled regions and glue them while making the surface as smooth as new. You may use this item for all your office, home, or apartment painting needs.
Pros
- Produces a smooth white finishing
- Made by a professional brand
- Seals all pealed surfaces successfully
- Quality
- Durable
Cons
- Absorbs paint types differently
- Some people find it a bit costly
KILZ Restoration Maximum Stain and Odor Blocker
This primer operates like an oil-based product preventing all stains and odors from the wallpaper. It needs to sit on a well-cleaned wallpaper surface, preventing any bumps that may lead to sanding. This product will apply to all interior surfaces giving you a uniform and evenly furnished white appearance.
Pros
- Durable
- Quality oil-based primer
- It has a universal white color for topcoats
Cons
- Some people find the product expensive
Rust-Oleum Glossy-Black Paint
Do you need your surface glossy black? The Rust-Oleum brand produces different colors of oil-based paints that you may choose. After applying the recommended two coats of paint, the colors offer a shiny glossy appearance to your wallpaper paint-over procedure. Feel free to visit their Amazon site and search for their products.
This paint provides a corrosion-free look to even metal surfaces close to your wallpaper, giving them an interior decor theme.
Pros
- Guarantees a glossy finishing appearance
- Quality and durable
- It offers an odorless and stainless coating
Cons
- Some people find the product expensive
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paint do you use to paint over wallpaper? While painting over wallpaper, you will need quality oil-based top coating painting. Watercolor paints may not give you the excellent finishing as you would have wished.
Is painting over wallpaper a good idea? Painting over a wallpaper may be a good idea, especially if pealing the wallpaper out will expose you to a more damaged surface. Painting over wallpaper will guarantee you a smooth and colorful look to help you save on your finances.
Do you have to prime before painting on wallpaper? A primer-sealer will help you achieve a smooth coat on your wallpaper. Most primers seal pealed areas of your wallpaper, making the finishing more appealing.
Conclusion
If you have an ugly old wallpaper on your wall that needs removing, consider painting it over. This way, you will achieve a new look at a lower price. You will not also go to the struggle of facing a worse that led to the wallpaper solution initially. Buy your painting materials from Amazon.com and fix that wallpaper trouble today.
