What Should You Do About Old Wallpaper in Your New Jersey Home?

If you’re trying to figure out what to do with old wallpaper in your New Jersey home, the solution may not be obvious. Asking for advice from an experienced painting contractor is the best way to come up with workable solutions for outdated wallpaper. Interior painters will also know how to get the job done successfully, saving you from costly problems.

Even before you contact a residential painting contractor, you can start thinking about some of the possibilities. If the wallpaper is in poor condition, doesn’t reflect your personal tastes, or is making it harder for you to sell or rent out your home, consider the following:

Get Rid of It

Sometimes, the best solution is to remove all of the wallpaper. You want to make sure you get at every layer of wallpaper, thoroughly remove the adhesive residue, and avoid damaging the drywall.

Removal can become a time-consuming process. It requires careful work and the proper tools and chemical solutions. The approach you take also depends on the kind of wallpaper you’re dealing with. In some cases, it may peel more easily. In others, the wallpaper will be much more resistant to your attempts at removing it. Also, there may be parts of the wall, including corners, that are difficult to reach or work on.

To make sure the removal is complete, you need to hire inside house painters. It’s the best way to guarantee that you’ll have a clean surface to work on for a fresh paint job or whatever else you wish to do with your walls. Interior painters will also know how to repair various problems with the drywall, such as cracks and gouges. These problems may have been covered up by the wallpaper, and the removal process will reveal them.

Paint Over It

Whether or not it’s a good idea to paint over your wallpaper depends on multiple factors. If you have one thin layer of wallpaper that’s firmly attached, it may be simpler to paint over it. You may wind up saving time and minimizing the risk of drywall damage. Wallpaper is sometimes quite tricky to remove, which makes painting over it an attractive choice.

For this solution to work well, you need to understand how to prepare the wallpaper properly. Applying the right primer, for example, can help prevent wallpaper glue from damaging the paint job. Before painting, you also need to address problems with the wallpaper, such as tears, air bubbles, and loose edges.

Furthermore, the wallpaper needs to be free of dirt, dust, and grime. Vacuum cleaners, damp sponges, and wallpaper dough are among the tools you may need to perform a thorough cleaning job.

As for the paint job itself, you’ll typically need to apply multiple coats. The application of two or three coats helps ensure that the paint will mask the color and design of the underlying wallpaper.

Is painting over the wallpaper always a good choice? There are a number of situations when it really isn’t the best approach. If your wallpaper is relatively easy to remove, or if there are multiple layers, you may want to avoid painting over your outdated wallpaper. You should also avoid painting certain kinds of wallpaper materials, such as fabric-backed vinyl.

Paper Over It

What you’re currently struggling with in your home is old wallpaper. It may be in good condition, but it still looks outdated or clashes with your personal style. However, you don’t have to give up on the idea of wallpaper in general.

With new wallpaper, you can choose patterns, colors, and textures that you love. Newer kinds of wallpaper may also prove quite durable and easy to maintain.

If you want new wallpaper, one solution is to paper over whatever you currently have on your walls. Keep in mind that this solution works best if the old wallpaper is in decent condition. You need to address issues like tears, lumps, and peeling. Also, if you already have multiple layers of wallpaper, adding another layer may not be the best idea.

Another point to consider is the contrast between the old and new wallpaper. For example, if the old wallpaper is quite dark or has a bold pattern, it may show through a newer wallpaper that’s lighter in color.

It’s also crucial to get every step of the application process right. For example, once you apply the glue for the new wallpaper, you need to give it enough time to set. If you don’t, your new wallpaper may show bubbles and stains. A residential painting contractor will know how to time each step and apply each tool and technique with skill.

Use Beadboard

Beadboard paneling or sheets can be a beautiful choice for an interior space. Beadboard adds texture to surfaces and provides a unique stylistic touch to a room. Another benefit of using beadboard is the flexibility the material gives you. For example, you can use it to cover large areas of a wall or only the lower half.

As with other solutions described here, you need to make sure a surface undergoes thorough preparation before a beadboard application. For example, if you’re applying beadboard over old wallpaper, the wallpaper must be cleaned and its damage repaired.

If you’re not sure about using beadboard, interior painters can help you decide. Beadboard may not work well for the look or feel of a particular room, and there may be better solutions for you.

Contact J. Canabe Painting in Lyndhurst NJ

If you live in or around Lyndhurst NJ, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ve been in business for over a decade and have performed consistently successful work. Residents of Lyndhurst NJ and nearby communities are completely satisfied with the results we deliver and with the high quality of our customer service.

Whether you need help with old wallpaper or with other projects, please call us at 201-804-7600. We’re also available through our site. Along with performing superlative work, we can advise you on all decisions, including the colors and materials that work best for you. We look forward to enhancing the value and beauty of your home