How do I paint walls after wallpaper is removed?

Kat33595469
by Kat33595469

I stripped the wallpaper off to paint my walls instead of reappearing but paint that was already on them came off with the wallpaper

  8 answers
  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Aug 30, 2018

    Kat, you can just sand the walls down a bit. I recommend using a pole sander. Then paint as you wish.

  • Gardengraz Gardengraz on Aug 30, 2018

    I would recommend priming before paint if paint has has come off when removing the wallpaper.


  • Cynthia Smith Cynthia Smith on Aug 30, 2018

    Although it is extra work you might want to consider hanging textured, paintable wallpaper. We had to do this on a house that we purchased to flip that had 5 layers of paper. I could never get the walls smooth enough to paint.


    • Terri Terri on Aug 30, 2018

      Can I ask you, Cynthia, how easy was the wallpaper to work with? I plan on doing this soon!

  • Budworthy Budworthy on Aug 30, 2018

    It is probably impossible to ever expect to get a smooth paint job on it but you need to sand it to where it feels smoother and use the primer to help or it will just soak in and leave blotches that are noticeable.

  • Deborah Deborah on Oct 01, 2018

    Wash walls to remove any left over glue. Putty any holes or where any gouged areas. Sand area where you putty til smooth . Wipe entire wall again . Prime walls . Have your primer tinted the same color of your paint . Paint away

  • Kat33595469 Kat33595469 on Oct 02, 2018

    Thank you for your advice everyone, I tried sanding on a small area then painted it but you could still see where the paint had come off so I have decided to put paper back on, more expensive than painting the walls but no other choice, again thank you for everyone's advice

  • Sharon Sharon on Oct 02, 2018

    You could just skim coat the walls with joint compound to get them smooth, then prime and paint.

    Not hard to do..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dPFr-fzhgY

    I do this for all my pro paper removal jobs..... cause clients want a nice smooth painted wall.

  • Maura White Maura White on Oct 19, 2019

    sand the walls until they are nice and smooth before you paint.