Can you successfully paint over kitchen wall paper that' s 30+ years?

Ter7781283
by Ter7781283
  10 answers
  • Janet Panos Janet Panos on Aug 28, 2017

    Absolutely! Here is what you need to do -- and this comes from the Benjamin Moore Paint Company:


    http://www2.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/for-your-home/painting-over-wallpaper


  • Danni Smith Danni Smith on Aug 29, 2017

    no, no, don't do it-you will live to regret it. Remember, some house jobs when rushed cost more in time in the long run. Remove the paper, get all the old glue off-I have stripped a lot of paper and liquid tide was the best. Use a tool called a tiger-use it very, very gently so you don't go through the paper to the wall-it makes tiny little holes so the soapy water can penetrate. Get the paper very wet and let it soak in. Paper will remove much more easily. Watch for water running down the wall over wall switches and outlets so you don't create an electrical problem. Wash walls thoroughly and repair any damage. Prime coat, let dry and then paint. If you ever plan to sell, painted wallpaper is a big negative. Ok, now you hate me.


    • See 1 previous
    • Bob N Deb Bob N Deb on Aug 29, 2017

      Too many what ifs, like what if the wet paint makes the paper start to swell and rumple? why do that when you can do it right?

  • 17335038 17335038 on Aug 29, 2017

    I agree with the comment above saying, No,no, don't do it!


    While wallpaper can sometimes be painted over, spending time and money trying to paint over 30 yr old wallpaper is not a sensible idea at all.

    Think about the layers of dirt, greese, and gunk that has accumilated on, and permeated through 30 yr old paper!


    There have been huge changes in wallpaper quality and materials in even the last 10 years. Just a heads up about wallpaper as old as yours, depending on the backing it has, when you start to scrape and chip away at removing it, parts of the drywall, or drywall top layer may very likely come off also.

    If you plan to paint the walls, then the damage to the drywall will have to be repaired, sanded, smoothed out, etc. in preparation for painting.


    If you do not want to look and live with the wallpaper anymore, and want painted walls,then, yes, it will be some work, however, sometimes there is no equal to doing a project correctly.

  • Mil14255899 Mil14255899 on Aug 29, 2017

    i used plaster to cover wallpaper and made a design or there is tinted plaster products as well. turned out great. i love it


  • Judy Escue Guereschi Judy Escue Guereschi on Aug 29, 2017

    I painted over mine that was 25 years old and it came out great. I washed the walls then used sparkling or sheetrock joint filler on the wall paper joints. I then painted the walls with oil base Kilz. I then very lightly ran some fine saND paper over the walls. I then used latex paint to finish. Turned out wonderful and much easier than scraping Wall paper and repairing the sheetrock.


  • Gary B Gary B on Aug 29, 2017

    Only if it's stuck real good and you never want to remove it. If it isn't really stuck to the wall then it may peal off when you are painting it. Painting over wallpaper makes it almost impossible to remove because you have sealed the surface

  • Polly Fuller Polly Fuller on Aug 29, 2017

    follow benjamin moore instructions. you must use a primer. caution*** do not overload your roller or brush. you never want to saturate the paper. if it makes a bubble, just let it dry and it will flatten out. don't touch it or try to take the air out, just let it dry. better to have two thin coats than to get it too wet.

  • Danni Smith Danni Smith on Aug 29, 2017

    Pegalee-thanks for the affirmation. You know how sometimes you just know enough about something to know you are 100% correct? There is a post here about doing it, with benjy moore products and work and fixing and priming and painting and when I read it, it seems to me that it is the same amount, if not, more work than just doing it the correct way from the start.

  • KatAych KatAych on Aug 29, 2017

    Use a really good primer and you'll be fine.

  • Sharon Sharon on Aug 29, 2017

    I would never recommend painting over wallpaper. I do lots of wall paper removal jobs, and if its been painted, I start by tripling my price cause its a pain the you know what. They it usually rips up the wall board underneath to get it off, and then you have to skim coat it with joint compound, sand and double prime it to make it paintable.

    Then there is the fact that most people call me, cause it was painted and bubbles and peels at the seams.

    So my answer would be NO.