5 Tips For Painting Over Wallpaper in Denver Metro, CO

When you decide it’s time to change the look of a room and find that painting the walls will be a move in the right direction, it can sometimes be that wallpaper will be there to get in your way.

Of course, you can sometimes remove the wallpaper, and that can work quite well — but in some cases, it’s more difficult to remove it, and it’s so much easier to paint over it.

With that being the case, let’s look at and consider five tips for painting over wallpaper in Denver Metro, CO.

1. Clean First

When you’re going to be painting over wallpaper, the first thing you absolutely need to do is to clean every inch of the wallpaper — as you will be applying paint to it ultimately, and just like when you’re painting a wall, you need to start with a clean surface.

This should start with removing any dust on the wallpaper’s surface and good removal of any grease or grime that may have accumulated over time.

You can use a mild detergent and water to scrub down the wallpaper, being careful not to get it too wet to not possibly get the glue underneath the wallpaper sufficiently moist enough that it could come off the wall.

2. Caulk The Edges

Once you’ve finished cleaning the wallpaper and making sure that it is dry, you’re going to want to caulk the wallpaper’s top and bottom edges.

You’re going to want to do this using a clear caulk because you don’t want to allow for the possibility that your wallpaper will actually peel off the wall.

To make sure that this does not happen or reduce the chances of it happening, apply a thin layer of the clear caulk to the edges – specifically, the top and bottom edges.

3. The Right Primer Is Important

There are many primers out there, but you can’t just use any primer when painting over wallpaper.

The primer will be protecting your wallpaper from moisture, which is one of the key things used in removing it.

This being true, you will want to use only a primer that will not seep through the wallpaper and get it moist.

The best primer that you can use for painting over wallpaper is a good oil or alkyd-based primer.

4. Check Your Primer Work

Once you have applied a coat of primer to your wallpaper, you will, of course, need to allow it to dry.

When that is done, you should check the primer coat to see that it has fully covered the wall.

If it has fully covered the wall, great — you can move on to the next step.

If not, fret not — you can apply a second coat of primer to the wall and then allow that coat of primer to dry before moving on.

5. Wear Protective Gear

When you’re painting over your wallpaper, you’re going to want to make sure to have protective gear to keep yourself safe from some inherent risks associated with painting in general.

To start, you’ll want to be doing this while wearing long-sleeved clothing — and then, of course, using rubber or vinyl gloves to protect your hands.

You’ll also want to think about using a respirator mask to keep your lungs good and safe, and also have windows open nearby so that you will have fresh air going on during the painting process.

Lastly, think of your eyes — and how to best protect them — most likely in the form of goggles.

Don’t settle for just any painter when you can get the attention to detail and professionalism from Imhoff Fine Residential Painting in Denver Metro, CO. Call us today to speak with one of our professional color consultants.

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