Painting wallpapered walls - to strip or not

halfajack

Decided to finally redecorate the flat I've lived in for almost two years. I decided I wanted a really smooth finish on the walls in the living room so I started stripping the wallpaper. It's turned out to be quite a job. Took two of us about six hours to do one wall and we're not even bothering going above the picture rail. That's using a steam stripper. It's a tenement in Glasgow around 100 years old and I don't know how far back the layers of wallpaper go! The plaster underneath has some cracking and holes which I've managed to fill - although there are gaps where the wall meets the skirting board and picture rail which were previously hidden by paper - hoping I can just fill these over with polyfilla too. My point is, I'm thinking of not bothering to strip the wallpaper on the other walls as I'm not sure the finish is worth all the time and effort. If I apply a primer all over then paint, will the colour on the non-stripped walls look different to that on the stripped wall?

Also, around the light switch and plug points on the stripped wall there is some plaster work which is proud of the main wall - obviously mess made when installing new electrics - do you think it's OK just to sand this down?

I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks!

ValHaller

Once you start stripping, you are committed to sorting it out. You need either to finish what you have started or get some more paper put back up on all walls to get a common texture.

Yes, I suggest you sand down the plaster which is proud - but stop if you expose cable, conduit or channeling

cyclonebri1

Decorators caulk or acrylic sealant (better) for any gaps at skirting or ceiling etc, polyfilla or similar for cracks and holes in the plaster.;)

abankerbutnotafatcat

Our house is 110 years old. We painted wallpaper in our hall, first time I've done it and I'd rather not have done but it was that or do nothing for quite a while as it was low on the priorities list.

The wallpaper was blown in a few small areas (historic water damage), there we removed, sanded the edges and filled and sanded.

Some of the wallpaper was heavily patterned but we used Albany trade paint and that covered it.

All in all we're happy with the result and never look at it and notice a compromised finish. I think originally we were going to get a decorator round in a few years to do it 'properly' but we don't think there's any need now.