Can you paint over wallpaper? This can be a very tricky subject for some people. You want to keep your walls in great condition, but at the same time you don’t want to repaint the whole thing. Yes, you can, but usually it is best to take it off completely, rather than trying to get it to look nice. However there can be times when simply removing wallpaper is not practical or worth it, so in these cases painting over wallpaper is often a great option.

You first need to start by making sure – any loose or damaged wallpaper is properly removed. This is best done with a damp cloth. If you have to, sand paper can be used but again it needs to be fairly lightly sanded off. Once this has been done, you then need to work on finding the areas that are most damaged. These will often be tight areas like the sides of picture frames and the baseboards.

Now it is time to deal with the damaged areas: One of the problems many people face when painting over wallpaper is the loose or crumbled edges around the picture frame. Often these can be quite easily fixed by rubbing some sort of chemical or primer onto the area. Once this has been done, you can then lightly sand the frame until you have it as close a match as possible. You can then reapply the primer if necessary or just paint on another coat of paint.

One of the problems faced – when removing wallpaper is the imperfections on the walls. Often these can be fixed quite easily, either by using paint or primer. In many cases these imperfections can be made to disappear by simply painting over them with a new paint color, which can give your walls a whole new look.

If you are having trouble removing wallpaper – then perhaps it is better to use a wallpaper removal product such as latex paint or epoxy adhesive. Using these products will generally leave your walls in as good condition as when you first applied the wallpaper. As with using a paint roller or brush, it is always advisable to read the instructions on the product before you start. Depending on the type of product you choose, some products can be applied with only a clean wet sponge, while others require you to actually wet the wallpaper with water. It is best to test the product on a small section of wall to see if you get the results you want before attempting to fully remove the wallpaper.

The final option for those wanting to know – how to remove wallpaper that is in a very bad condition is to resort to oil based products. These work very well on older wallpaper that is beyond repair, but may not be a good idea for replacing a wall with new artwork. The process works by applying a thin layer of the oil based product to the wall, followed by a second layer of clear finishing oil.

The second coating seals the damaged area and helps to protect it from future water damage and stains.