If you’re thinking of updating your walls with new wallpaper, you may be wondering if you can just put it over paint that has been water-dispersed. Owing to its longevity and ease of application, this kind of paint is frequently found in homes; however, it can present difficulties when attempting to get wallpaper to adhere correctly.
How well you prepare the surface will determine how successful you are. If you don’t follow the proper procedures, your wallpaper may not stick properly, which could result in bubbles, peeling, or even total failure. But a smooth and durable finish is totally achievable with the right planning.
We’ll walk you through the fundamental guidelines and methods in this post to make sure your wallpaper adheres firmly to paint, even when it’s applied over water-dispersion paint.
| Key Considerations | Explanation |
| Check Paint Condition | Ensure the water-dispersion paint is intact, not peeling or cracking. |
| Clean the Surface | Thoroughly clean the wall to remove dust, dirt, and grease. |
| Test Adhesion | Apply a small piece of wallpaper to test adhesion before proceeding. |
| Prime the Wall | If the paint is glossy, use a primer to improve wallpaper adhesion. |
| Choose the Right Wallpaper | Opt for wallpapers suitable for painted surfaces, like vinyl or non-woven types. |
- Surface preparation methods
- Removing non-waterproof paints
- Removing the waterproof coating
- Cleaning walls with a stripper
- Other methods of preparing walls
- Video on the topic
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- Is it possible to glue wallpaper on paint
- How to glue wallpaper on painted walls!
- Experiment. I glue wallpaper on water-based paint. Attention result
Surface preparation methods
Let’s start by pointing out that painting is a pretty dangerous task. When asked if wallpaper can be hung over water-based paint, many artisans say that it is possible because water-based paint is superior to coatings made of oil or alkyd compositions.
This is true, but it is impossible to ensure that the layer will behave consistently; it is possible for the finish to flake off with the paint after a year or for it to last for ten years.It is preferable to take out insurance to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances and complete the required tasks in compliance with technology. Although it will take some time, a dependable and long-lasting outcome is assured.
Removing non-waterproof paints
The following order should be followed to complete the easy task, which is best done if your walls are painted with standard paint that is not moisture resistant:
- The surface is moistened with water using a foam roller or sponge, this should be done carefully and evenly.
- After this, you need to wait 10-15 minutes and you can start removing the coating. You can do this with a spatula, but it is best to use a special scraper for removing paint, with its help the work will go much faster.
There are various kinds of scrapers in the picture; which one you choose will depend on your preferences and the amount of work involved.
- If there are areas with a coating left, moistening should be repeated and go over it with a scraper again.
- After this, you should carefully inspect the surface, if there is damage on it, they should be repaired with putty, after which the walls are sanded.
- The last stage is priming the surface with deep penetration compounds, you can choose any option, the main thing is that it is of high quality.
Removing the waterproof coating
The procedure will be a little more difficult if your walls are coated in washable or waterproof compounds.
Nonetheless, anyone can prepare the base with the appropriate methodology:
Counseling! Sandpaper removal of the entire coating is advised by some experts. Using other methods would be preferable for this operation because it requires a lot of labor and produces a lot of dust during the process.
- The surface must be treated with a metal brush. It is necessary that not a single untreated area remains, so carry out the work especially carefully.
- After this, the walls are moistened, and a draft is arranged in the room, as a rule, the base gets wet, and after half an hour the paint begins to peel off, after which it can be removed with a spatula or scraper. If difficult to remove areas remain, the whole process is repeated.
You can get decent paint removal speed with this technique.
- Next, everything is done as in the chapter described above – if necessary, the surface is puttied and the primer layer is applied last.
Cleaning walls with a stripper
Cleaning makes the task go much more quickly.
Considering how easy it is to use, this relatively new method has gained a lot of traction among repair technicians:
- The surfaces are cleaned of contaminants, after which a 1-2 millimeter layer of cleaning composition is applied to it and left for a period of 10 minutes to half an hour, depending on the layer and characteristics of the paint composition. The instructions will tell you what time period will be optimal.
- After this, the remover is removed along with the paint, and the surface is wiped with a rag. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated, the composition is safe for the bases and does not spoil them.
- The dried base is puttied if necessary, and then covered with a primer.
Other methods of preparing walls
When prepping the surface by hand, there are additional techniques that are employed as well:
- Processing with a grinder or electric drill and a wire cup. This way, the paint can be removed quite quickly, but a lot of dust is generated during the work, and without experience in carrying out such work, you can seriously damage not only the paint, but also the layer of plaster or putty. And in this case, you will have to carry out putty work on the entire surface, and the price of materials is quite significant.
This kind of brush will enable the drill to handle the paint layer.
- Another option for carrying out work is to use a building hair dryer. With its help, a small area of the surface is heated, and the paint layer is easily removed with a scraper or a narrow spatula.
Thus, we investigated the possibility of adhering wallpaper to water-based paint. As you can see, leaving the coating on will not be recommended; therefore, you will still need to work; otherwise, the layer may begin to peel off in whole sheets after a few months.
Counseling! Whichever technique you decide on, keep in mind that priming the walls is a necessary step before applying wallpaper glue. This process minimizes the base’s absorbency and increases the glue’s adherence.
Painting any metal surfaces—such as heating radiators—while simultaneously fixing the walls is a sensible course of action. Conductive paint Zinga is ideal for high humidity areas, while fire-retardant paints for metal Polistil are excellent for other rooms as well because they completely prevent fires in addition to providing excellent metal protection.
Good surface preparation is the only way to ensure that the wallpaper will last.
It is possible to glue wallpaper onto water-dispersion paint, but in order to guarantee good adhesion and long-lasting wallpaper, the surface needs to be properly prepared. This include cleaning the walls, checking the paint’s condition, and, if necessary, priming the walls. These instructions will assist you in getting a glossy, long-lasting finish.
If the surface is properly prepared, it is not only possible but also effective to apply wallpaper over water-dispersion paint. A smooth and durable finish depends on the painted surface being clean, dry, and well-adhered to.
It’s critical to test the paint’s adhesion and make any surface modifications—like sanding or priming—that are required. By following these instructions, you can improve the wallpaper’s adhesion and avoid peeling or bubbling in the future.
You can confidently move forward with your wallpaper project by adhering to these simple guidelines, knowing that the finished product will be both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting.
