I have recently moved into an older modular home and all the walls are covered in a vinyl paper. Any ideas for change?
by
Connie Z
+15
cannot afford to completely wallpaper every wall, nor can afford new drywall...
18 answers
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would be very helpful if you could share a photo to help us all give an opinion!
Designs by BSB
on Jul 10, 2012
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@Designs by BSB...I would supply a photo if I could, but I can't. All I can say about the vinyl paper is that it is in every room, very light vertical linear pattern, like a grasscloth wannabe....is there a paint that I could use on top of the vinyl or maybe stencil another design?
Connie Z
on Jul 11, 2012
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Connie, you can paint over wall paper, especially if it's a heavy vinyl wall paper. You just want to make sure all of the seams are glued down really well, so the paint doesn't soak under the wall paper. Also give the seems a light sanding and anywhere there are nail holes fill them in and lightly sand those spots. this will keep your surface as smooth as possible. When applying the paint use light coats, don't try to overload the walls with paint. This will keep the paint from soaking through and pulling the paper off of the wall. You might still see see the "seams" of the wall paper but if you really hate what is one there now, it will still look much better! ~Heather Down the road if you want something different you could always cover some of the walls with sheets of bead board or something similar for a cottage feel. :)
At The Picket Fence
on Jul 13, 2012
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@Picket Fence - What kind or brand of paint would you recommend?
Connie Z
on Jul 13, 2012
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I would use a quality latex satin paint. I would stay away from semi-gloss because it tends to show off any "wall flaws" when the light bounces off of it. I normally use flat, but I wouldn't use a flat over wallpaper. I am partial to Sherwin Williams BUT any better quality paint from your "box stores" would be fine. i.e. Valspar, Olympic, etc. You might even use a primer + paint combo if you want to help eliminate any "lines" from the wallpaper design. Just remember LIGHT coats several times versus over saturating your walls. This will make sure that the paper stays on the wall and doesn't get so soaked it starts to peel off. :)
At The Picket Fence
on Jul 15, 2012
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If some of your "seams" are raised you could easily do a smooth coat of drywall mud...with new mud it is important to prime then paint.
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 16, 2012
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Thanks to those of you that have taken the time to respond...keep those ideas comin'!!!!
Connie Z
on Jul 16, 2012
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@KMS Woodworks, recently visited Nederland for a few days and it is BEAUTIFUL!
Connie Z
on Jul 16, 2012
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@ connie...a bit different than the plains eh?
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 17, 2012
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@kms Woodworks....have just moved here from MO and it is some adjustment, but not too bad except on those days when it is 100+ and NO WIND!
Connie Z
on Jul 17, 2012
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@connie...wait til winter when it is -20 and there is lots of wind....it can't be perfect weather all the time...that would be boring.
KMS Woodworks
on Jul 18, 2012
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Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
Connie Z
on Jul 23, 2012
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Hi Connie, this is my first time at Home Talk and I stumbled across your post. I have lived in a mobile home before that had vinyl wallpaper which I could not stand so I painted over it. Since it's vinyl it's very durable and will take to paint unlike paper wallpaper. I took down the seam strips (I hate those strips. They are what make it look like a mobile home instead of a house) and filled in the gaps with drywall putty. Once dry, I sanded the puttied areas until smooth applied a coat of the cheapest primer on the market and then painted with a satin finish paint. I used cheap ol' Wal-mart paint and it looked fine. We had many compliments of how no one could tell that we lived in a mobile home. Plus it was an inexpensive fix. Good luck on your endeavors.
Sheila
on Jul 23, 2012
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@Sheila, thank you fellow-Missourian! I just moved to rural Colorado from Columbia, Mo. I appreciate the time you took to offer so much detail. It was a similar response to a few previous ones and since "great minds think alike", I will take these suggestions and go with the paint! I am very excited and grateful for the input! PS this was my first time at HOMETALK, too, and I really like it!
Connie Z
on Jul 23, 2012
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I also live in a modular home with horrid walls. I read you have to sand the walls first, then prime , then paint. If it is not sanded properly the paint can peel off the vinyl. I am so happy to hear the primer works. I want to do the kitchen first, still nervous about the peeling.
Kim McGrew
on Feb 16, 2013
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Hey Connie,If you do as Shelia said..you will end-up with a beautiful kitchen..I know because I have did the very same thing.Good luck..and post some after pictures.
Gloria Strickland Holden
on Jan 08, 2016
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I live in a mobile home and just primed and painted over the ugliest of the walls.
Susie Rufener
on Jan 12, 2016
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Valspar paint with primer covers those ugly walls in one coat!
Cyndi Tinsley
on Jan 19, 2016
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