Home Interior Painting: Can I Paint During the Wintertime?
December 20, 2016Coordinating Colors Throughout Your Home
January 3, 2017Before answering the question about painting over wallpaper, we want to let potential customers know about the downside of painting over wallpaper.
Paint is a liquid and when it’s applied to wallpaper, it’s possible that the wallpaper will strip itself from the wall. It may bubble up in some very unusual places or even come down in sheets. If the wallpaper seems as if it was superglued to the interior wall, it can cause wall damage when taking it down. This is a good example of why most people prefer a professional painter in Lyndhurst, NJ to paint over wallpaper.
The wall surface needs to be in good condition. You can test your wallpaper by using a blunt kitchen knife or a small putty knife and going along each seam from the base to the ceiling. If there is the slightest lift of the wallpaper, it will need to be glued back to the wall with wallpaper paste. Rub your hand over the wall to feel any imperfections that will stick out if painted over. Imperfections and tiny tears can be lightly sanded by hand for a smooth conversion from the wallpaper to the wall.
Before a painting contractor comes in, test a small portion of the wallpaper to see if it will hold. You will then need to wait until the paint is fully dry to be to test the wallpaper’s durability. This can be done in different areas. If you notice the wallpaper falling off, at that point, there is no other option besides stripping the wallpaper. If it’s only a few areas, it can be torn off then repaired by using these next steps.
Clean interior walls as needed. Yes, it’s not everyone’s favorite choice but if the wallpaper is ancient, there is more than likely food stains, fingerprints, and dust covering it. For the best results, start on the cleanest surface area.
A professional painter can handle spackling all repairs and joints. Dampening the area of the imperfection to prime for spackle is ideal. Once it has dried, it can then be sanded smoothly. This is an important step that painting contractors avoid missing.
When the wall has been cleaned thoroughly and imperfections are repaired, it’s now time to prime before applying paint to the wallpaper. Painting professionals may need to apply more than one coat if the wallpaper has a dark print or if it’s a bleeding print. Wet wallpaper usually takes a little longer to dry rather than if you were to apply paint or primer directly to the wall. The primer will need a extra time to dry.
Now for the grand finale. Once the primer dries, you can see the wallpaper’s texture. The only way to be able to apply an interior paint color is to be sure that the wallpaper is smooth. If there is a noticeable texture, stripping may be recommended or faux painting that can usually cover up any imperfections.
