Strip wallpaper or paint over??

[MissRyry]

Our master bath is super huge. And is covered in dusty blue wallpaper with calla lillies on it! uh, yucky! I want sage green in there so I can use my burgundy and green towels. Do you think I should texture and paint over the wallpaper with a dark sage green color or maybe olive? OR would it be best to strip the wallpaper??

>'.'<

[MandiDawn]

If it was my house, I would strip the wallpaper and then paint, but that's because I dont' like how wallpaper looks painted over. It's hard work, but worth it in the end (I believe). Do you like how textured walls look? If so then go for it. But it will be much harder to take the wallpaper down later if you paint over it now.

[CC21]

I would for sure take it down then paint. It would be a real pain to take down later if you wanted to. Plus I think the paint looks better if it's on a clean wall.

[Lisa_London_Ont]

I didnt know U could paint over wallpaper...LOL
I use to paint house's, never heard or even thought of painting over wallpaper..
I say put the extra effort in, pulling hair out, and crying along the way, by stripping it off, matching up whatever holes or dings, than prime and paint away.
LOL
I should take my own advice by mudding holes and dents, but I'm just pure lazy being PG right now.
I prime over colours and paint whatever new colour I picked, than I kick myself in the hiney when I see all the dings showing up!
HA

[andrea]

i tried to pull down the wall paper in one of our old houses and i will never try that again. I hate the extra bathroom in the house we are in now because of the wall paper, i thought about painting over it. but i'm just going to leave it alone, since we are just renting

[Turtleheadfred]

If the wallpaper is in good condition (or you can seal down any lifts) you CAN seal it with a good sealer (like Kilz, etc.) in order to paint over it. You can also try masking the seams with joint compound before sealing.

Regardless, if you HATE the wallpaper and can't remove it without having to completely redo the drywall (and can't afford to do that) just be sure to apply THIN coats of sealer and paint. You DON'T want the paper to get too wet beneath it because then it will wrinkle and loosen.

I've had to do it in a few renovations with the homeowners insisted... and it can work and still look good - but you need to be patient and take your time.

[MissRyry]

I got a GREAT estimate from a painter to remove the wallpaper, retexture and paint = $475 including the paint. And this is a HUGE bathroom. I think that's a great deal!! :clap:

>'.'<

[Turtleheadfred]

YEAH! Definitely what you want to do in a bathroom. It's just SO easy for the steam to "turn" the old wallpaper loose under any paint - you're going to be MUCH happier this way. Plus since they've included removing the paper and redoing the walls behind too... really a good deal!

Congrats!!!!! Plus - you don't have to do it yourself!!!!! ;)

[Anniet222]

I vote for taking it off. Just keep in mind that you will never have to do it again.

There is something the painters/wallpaper men use to score the paper first. It almost looks like a pastry wheel and it makes holes in the paper. Then you spray the wallpaper remover on and the stuff sinks down into the paper. Then you just take the paper off. If you are lucky maybe the last people primed the walls first so it will be really easy to remove. However, that has never been my luck:)