2nd question re: my spring painting..
A number of years ago, I painted over existing wallpaper in our kitchen area. A primer and them a coat of good paint. I'm going to repaint this room. Looking at the walls, the paper seems to be on there for life..I tried to peel of a piece which is currently hidden behind a dresser and ending up tearing off about a sq inch. Has anyone ever painted over wallpaper a 2nd time?

Thanks Liz

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Originally posted by liz 13171:
. Has anyone ever painted over wallpaper a 2nd time?

Thanks Liz

Yes, we did, 3 times. Used a paint with a rougher texture & actually it looks pretty good.
We "inherited" this problem & have just gone on with it...kitchen is very large & we just haven't had time/resources to try & get it off.

It has a few hinky places here & there but you really have to be looking for them...

I've never painted over wall paper so I can't help you out there but I have taken many many walls of wallpaper off. If you want to remove it you have to score the walls then use a combination of water and fabric softener spray onto the walls let it set for a while then go back and peel it off. I've used steamers to get wallpaper off in the past as well. Now they have some new kit out that you dip these strips of material in a combination of water and dish soap you put these strips up on your walls let it stand for about an hour go back and supposedly the paper will peel right off (You have to score the walls before doing that technique as well).

I have painted wall paper, and it lasted for years, but recently I wanted a change, so I put joint compound on it for texture and painted again. All together, it has primer, joint compound, more primer, and paint, on it this time around.

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I have painted wall paper, and it lasted for years, but recently I wanted a change, so I put joint compound on it for texture and painted again. All together, it has primer, joint compound, more primer, and paint, on it this time around.

So, the next home owner is stuck with this disaster? I really do not understandd the reasoning behind this, it is not thst difficult to do the job properly and remove the wallpaper in the first place.

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Originally posted by chris n:

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I have painted wall paper, and it lasted for years, but recently I wanted a change, so I put joint compound on it for texture and painted again. All together, it has primer, joint compound, more primer, and paint, on it this time around.

So, the next home owner is stuck with this disaster? I really do not understandd the reasoning behind this, it is not thst difficult to do the job properly and remove the wallpaper in the first place.

Well, Chris, what makes you think it's a disaster without having seen it? Also, the "proper" way to do the job, is perhaps a matter of opinion. As a matter of fact, I DID remove the paper in the adjoining area, and please don't tell me it's not that difficult. It was a disaster, and I opted to paint over the rest, and have NEVER regretted it for a moment. I thought you would've known that some wallpaper has been applied without "proper" preparation, and will tear sheetrock apart when attempting to remove it. It doesn't all come down as easily as portrayed here much of the time. You are a paper hanger, aren't you? Or do I have you confused with someone else?

I don't make my decisions based on what a future owner would like. This is MY house. If it belongs to someone else, they can do whatever THEY want. If they don't like what I've done, then they can buy someone else's house. I found it with tobacco spit and urine on the walls. If I can work through THAT, maybe a fictitious future owner can work through my "disaster" of painted wallpaper and joint compound.

[quote I don't make my decisions based on what a future owner would like.[/quote]

Yes,I can see that.That was my point.

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Originally posted by chris n:
[quote I don't make my decisions based on what a future owner would like.

Yes,I can see that.That was my point.[/QUOTE]
I should decorate my house, and live with it, to please a "possible" new owner in the future? I don't think so. Do you base ALL your professional (or otherwise) decisions on your opinion, without seeing/knowing the circumstances? I suppose if a DIYer tries to do this, and the wall starts crumbling, they'll panic and have to call in a professional. Right?

When one is trying to sell a house, it is recommended that walls be a white or neutral color. So, in order to decorate for future owners there would be no reason to even be on a faux painting website. I would have to agree that it is ignorant to own a house and decorate for POSSIBLE owners in the future. As for this poster I have seen pictures posted and would have to say that you might want to reconsider your choice of words when it comes to stating that her wall is a disaster. Trudi, you should post pics.

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Originally posted by chris n:

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I have painted wall paper, and it lasted for years, but recently I wanted a change, so I put joint compound on it for texture and painted again. All together, it has primer, joint compound, more primer, and paint, on it this time around.

So, the next home owner is stuck with this disaster? I really do not understandd the reasoning behind this, it is not thst difficult to do the job properly and remove the wallpaper in the first place.

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should decorate my house, and live with it, to please a "possible" new owner in the future?

OK,All I was trying to do to begin with was not encourage the average homeowner to paint over wall paper. 90% of the time this is not the right thing to do, as if not done properly,as you know, you will see the seams, it will bubble,etc.. Yes, there are occasions where it becomes necessary but the avarage home owner trys to remove a vinyl wall covering by spritzing it with water and wondering why it does not fall off the wall.I have removed thousands of rolls of wall paper and in my experience, most times,it is removable. I am sure what you have done is lovely but to the avarage home owner, it would not, or should not be something to take on (IMO)I am sorry to have offended anyone, that certainly was not my intent. I just have seen way to many situations where the home owner has done this and then wants it back to the original wall, trust me ,then you have a job.

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Originally posted by chris n:

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should decorate my house, and live with it, to please a "possible" new owner in the future?

OK,All I was trying to do to begin with was not encourage the average homeowner to paint over wall paper. 90% of the time this is not the right thing to do, as if not done properly,as you know, you will see the seams, it will bubble,etc.. Yes, there are occasions where it becomes necessary but the avarage home owner trys to remove a vinyl wall covering by spritzing it with water and wondering why it does not fall off the wall.I have removed thousands of rolls of wall paper and in my experience, most times,it is removable. I am sure what you have done is lovely but to the avarage home owner, it would not, or should not be something to take on (IMO)I am sorry to have offended anyone, that certainly was not my intent. I just have seen way to many situations where the home owner has done this and then wants it back to the original wall, trust me ,then you have a job.

Thank you for saying you weren't trying to be offensive. It was calling my room a disaster without seeing it that made it so. I agree, when paper CAN come down, it should, but it doesn't always happen that way unfortunately. I
just think people who ask questions here deserve to hear both sides.

Thank you, Court 25.

In 3 of our bedrooms there were SEVEN layers of painted over wallpaper.. wallpaper first then at least 3 different paint layers..

Believe me the first time or 2 I painted over the whole mess..

about 9 years ago I stripped ONE of the rooms down to the original bare unprimed horsehair plaster.. the plaster was in immaculate shape.. But a 13 X 8 room took THREE GALLONS of primer..

I STILL havent stripped the other 2 rooms and ya know what? I AIN'T gonna!!

future owners (in 30 years or so) be dammed. if they dont like it they can burn the house down..plenty of wallpaper for kindling.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kathy_in_wlsv,

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Originally posted by Kathy_in_wlsv:
In 3 of our bedrooms there were SEVEN layers of painted over wallpaper.. wallpaper first then at least 3 different paint layers..

Believe me the first time or 2 I painted over the whole mess..

about 9 years ago I stripped ONE of the rooms down to the original bare unprimed horsehair plaster.. the plaster was in immaculate shape.. But a 13 X 8 room took THREE GALLONS of primer..

I STILL havent stripped the other 2 rooms and ya know what? I AIN'T gonna!!

future owners (in 30 years or so) be dammed. if they dont like it they can burn the house down..plenty of wallpaper for kindling.

LOL! I hear ya Kathy. Whew! 3 gal. of primer? That plaster was thirsty wasn't it? It's good to remove it when it's REASONABLE, and sometimes it IS easy, but we gotta be realistic too. IT AIN'T ALWAYS EASY!!!! I can't imagine a person who would live for years in a house they've done for a future owner. I enjoyed your humor.

I've never painted over wallpaper and I really don't like the idea. A private contractor once told me that when I got tired of the wallpaper in my master bath (high ceiling, lots of angles, dark paper), I could have texture put over it. He said that primer goes on first, then the texture. The texture is then "knocked down" to look like what I think is referred to as "orange peel texture".

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Originally posted by strictlyamateur:
I've never painted over wallpaper and I really don't like the idea. A private contractor once told me that when I got tired of the wallpaper in my master bath (high ceiling, lots of angles, dark paper), I could have texture put over it. He said that primer goes on first, then the texture. The texture is then "knocked down" to look like what I think is referred to as "orange peel texture".

That's pretty much what I did this time. I primed, textured, primed again, (because joint compound absorbs paint if you don't prime it), then painted my textured wall. I really don't know anyone who LIKES the idea of painting over wallpaper, but sometimes there are reasons for making that decision. There is no ONE, cut and dried answer that is always right or wrong IMHO.

I just purchased my first home and have tried to remove the wallpaper in the bedrooms and the front room. There are atleast two layers of wallpaper that have been painted over. I have tried chemicals and a steamer (not together) and like others have mentioned here, I end up taking everything down including the sheet rock paper. And yes, I scored it first. I have now given up trying to remove the wallpaper, have repaired the walls and have primed the walls. I can still see the wallpaper seams. If I put texture over will it cover the seams completely? And do I have to prime again if I use a texture product (not joint compound)? At least the wallpaper in the kitchen and bathrooms came down.

A contractor told me that wallpaper can be covered pretty much the way you've already done it. Prime the wallpaper, then texture over that. You will have to prime after texture, otherwise your paint will just soak into the texture. Then paint. In order: wallpaper on wall, prime, texture, prime, paint.