Painting over wallpaper?

We have an entire first floor that is wallpapered. It is professionally done, but is 20 years old and outdated.
Can we paint over it? I dread the hassle and mess of stripping it....
  5 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 25, 2016
    To be honest painting over wall paper will even be more work as time goes by. The wall paper will bubble etc. I would recommend stripping ,prepping the walls and paint .
  • Lynne Forrestal Lynne Forrestal on Oct 25, 2016
    it can be done, but not a very good idea. I would strip it
  • William William on Oct 25, 2016
    Moisture from the paint can break down the adhesive and as Janet says, it can bubble or start peeling. Also the paint will seal the paper and making it more work down the line. Remove it. Lot of work, but you'll be happy you did.
  • Cas7068285 Cas7068285 on Oct 25, 2016
    I made the mistake of painting over wallpaper that was not as old as yours and within the month I had bubbles,peeling and a huge mess .Twice the work had to remove all of it . Wish I had done the job the right way the first time and that is REMOVE THE WALL PAPER FIRST!! PLEASE!!!
  • Cathy Cuff Coffman Cathy Cuff Coffman on Oct 26, 2016
    Thanks everyone...well, it is unanimous. Stripping, prepping, painting.