Why You Should Never Paint Over Wallpaper
Professional painters sometimes run across a particular problem when they’re preparing surfaces for interior painting: wallpaper that’s been painted over. Exterior painting doesn’t have the same problem, since wallpaper isn’t applied to the outside of a building. Many homeowners in the past would simply paint over wallpaper rather than going through the rather tedious process of properly removing it before painting. That’s a mistake for several reasons. Hiring a painting company can help you remedy this problem.
When wallpaper is put up, it is attached directly to the wall’s surface with a special glue. When you no longer like the look of the wallpaper, it needs to be removed properly in order to prepare the surfaces to receive paint. Simply painting over the wallpaper creates an additional problem rather than resolving it. As the paint wears over time, the wallpaper will begin to emerge and the original problem of what to do about it returns. Painters know this and they have the professional tools and skills to clean and remove wallpaper from surfaces before laying down paint.
In fact, preparation is one of the key steps in a great paint job. In order for paint to look its best and last as long as it should, it must be applied to the right surface. Wallpaper was never intended to handle and hold paint. Professionals go through many steps before they ever take a brush, roller or sprayer to a surface for interior painting. Walls must be cleaned, sanded and primed. These steps can’t and shouldn’t be done on top of wallpaper. Paint applied to a properly prepped surface will produce the effect that you want.
A professional paint job can make an impressive difference in your home’s interior design, and it should only be attempted once the walls are free of any past decorative coverings. If you’re considering a new paint job and your interior spaces are currently decorated with wallpaper or have wallpaper that’s been painted over in the past, it’s a good idea to consult with your painters to choose the best way to proceed.