Paint over wallpaper?

Bofinger

Dear All - I've got a bathroom (relatively small) with Laura Ashley wallpaper (non-textured i.e. smooth) on the walls. It's seen better days and as I'm hopeless at wallpapering I was wondering whether it would be possible to simply paint over the paper? I suspect also that the walls under the paper are not good i.e. old plaster which will disintegrate if I were to strip the wallpaper.

Thanks

looktothefuture

Hi,

If you paint over the wall paper you run the risk of it lifting in places as it dries.

I'd strip the walls, sand them down/fix any bits that need fixing and paint!

DVardysShadow

Only useful as a temporary measure to put off the evil day. As looktothefuture says, you risk the paper lifting. Also, in th elong run, if the paper ahs seen better days, you risk the ink lifting from the paper and allowing the paint to flake away.

ormus

if you do try to paint it, make sure its not vinyl paper.

Torry_Quine

We painted over the paper in our living room. It's an embossed paper and has come up really well. No lifting and that was 18 months ago.

loracan1

Blimey I've painted over loads of wallpaper - all kinds and never had it lift, ink show through or paint flake away. Plus I don't really like the echoey effect of bare/painted walls in a room.

Only downside is the day I decide to strip/repaper...

Barneysmom

If you see any lifting as you are painting, all you have to do is get a needle and pin the paper down onto the wall and carry on painting. When it's dry, lift out the needle and the paper will be stuck down again, like magic! :cool:

we painted over ours in the back room about 2 years ago and no lifting, but bathrooms get damp so you might get a few bits that lift...do it on a really dry, warm day and don't bath or shower till it's dry.

laurel7172

I have also got away with painting over wallpaper-on numerous occasions. My first house was a terrace with really rough walls, and I don't really see the difference between an absorbent wallpaper and lining paper, quite frankly. It has bubbled when wet, but it has always settled when dry. So far!

If it is vinyl, if you pick at the edges you'll find that you can peel off the top layer and leave yourself with the absorbent backing-just like lining paper. It's a bit fiddly, but easier than sorting out troublesome walls...

[Deleted User]

Its very common to paint over wallpaper,
As long as its well adhered it should be fine.
If it does start coming off in the future then all you have lost is the cost of some paint and a few hours work!

dander

Never had any problems with paper lifting due to being painted over - it's only like using lining paper, only with more colour and pattern to cover up.