Should I strip wallpaper off my kitchen and bathroom walls?

Bernice Grace
by Bernice Grace
I have wallpaper half way up walls. We may have to sell house within next 5 years due to our age 77 and 70 and failing health. I want to get the most we can put of this house. Are should we just paint over it.
  7 answers
  • Tam13317878 Tam13317878 on Jun 05, 2017

    If the wallpaper is secured very well without wrinkles or tears I would try painting over it first.

  • CJ CJ on Jun 05, 2017

    If budget allows, have someone take it down, or paint over it...

  • Tammy J Kirby Thomas Tammy J Kirby Thomas on Jun 05, 2017

    If the wallpaper is sticking well and none of it seems to be coming loose, then you could probably paint over it. On newer wallpaper I've seen this done with good results. I might do a test area to see how well the paint laid over the wallpaper and if the wallpaper held up after painting. If the wallpaper has been there a long time, you might find that painting over it may cause it to come loose.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jun 05, 2017

    It would be in your best interest not to paint over it.Temporary fixes lead to drastic measures down the road.

  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Jun 05, 2017

    I agree, and with the proper tools, it isnt terribly difficult to strip the wallpaper in order to paint. Best of luck!

  • Sharon Sharon on Jun 05, 2017

    Myself I would not paint over it I would try to take it off there's a thing you can get at the hardware store that's got like little tax on it and circular you take it and you run it over the paper then you take a spray bottle and spray it with water and that's supposed to help get the wallpaper off

  • Patricia Patricia on Jun 06, 2017

    I'm not sure that painting over wallpaper will stand the test of time. If you don't want to remove the wallpaper, then you could try adding a wainscoting to the lower portion of the wall directly over the wallpaper.