You can paint over wallpaper, but it usually is not a good idea. Paint adds moisture that can loosen the paper and its glue, causing bubbles, peeling seams and visible pattern lines. In most homes, removing the wallpaper and repairing the wall first gives a smoother finish that lasts much longer.
Why Painting Over Wallpaper Often Fails
- Bubbling and lifting. Water in latex paint softens wallpaper paste, so sections can lift as the paint dries.
- Seams and texture show through. Edges, overlaps and embossed patterns are still visible under the paint, especially in raking light.
- Harder removal later. Once paper is sealed under paint, steaming it off becomes slower and messier, and the wall underneath is more likely to be damaged.
When You Can Paint Over Wallpaper
If the paper is tightly bonded, smooth, has no raised seams and the room is dry (not a bathroom), it can be sealed with an oil-based or shellac primer and then painted. We treat this as a short-term fix and only recommend it when removal would seriously damage old plaster.
How We Remove Wallpaper and Prepare the Wall
- Score and soak or steam the paper, then remove it along with the adhesive.
- Wash off remaining paste residue, which can otherwise crack the new paint.
- Repair torn drywall paper, gouges and cracks, then skim-coat and sand where needed.
- Prime with a primer made for previously papered walls before painting two finish coats.
A Recent Wakefield-Area Project
On a recent job, our team removed old wallpaper from a hallway, repaired and painted the walls, and stained a newly installed stair railing so it matched the existing one. The homeowner noted the crew worked quietly and cleaned up completely every evening.
Geovany did an amazing job removing the wallpaper and painting my hallway… he worked quietly and cleaned up completely every evening before leaving.
Dovid KGoogle review, 5 stars
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See our 5.0★ Google reviewsFrequently Asked Questions
A typical hallway or bedroom takes one to two days including wall repairs, depending on how many layers of paper there are and the condition of the wall underneath.
Yes, but plaster and older drywall are easy to gouge. If the paper is painted over or there are several layers, professional removal usually saves time and repair costs.
Yes. A dedicated primer seals leftover adhesive and gives the paint an even surface.
Learn more about our interior painting services.
Our Painting Services
Why Homeowners Choose GF Painting Services
GF Painting Services Inc. is a licensed and insured painting contractor based in Wakefield, MA, serving Reading, North Reading, Stoneham, Melrose, Woburn, Winchester, Saugus and Lynnfield.
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- Licensed & insured
- Careful prep, clean job sites
- Free, detailed estimates