How do I get a painted drywall look when I currently have the old wallpaper look?

1988 Doublewide manufactured home.


Hideous wallpaper throughout.


I want a smooth look.


No idea what is behind the wallpaper.





Do I remove it? If so, how?











Thanks!How do I get a painted drywall look when I currently have the old wallpaper look?
It depends on the wall paper. If it vinyl then no paint will not stick. Good news vinyl usually pulls right off. If the paper backing doesn't come right off just wet it with hot soapy water and pick pick pick till you get it off. In some cases the glue may stick so well it even pulls off the sheet rock paper some. If this happens use drywall compound, sometimes called mud to and skim a coat over the area to smooth it out. Make sure you sand the spot down smooth or it will show after you paint.





If you have paper type wall paper with no relief design (the old flocked stuff) you can paint over it. Be sure to wipe down the wall with soap and water to get any dirt and grease off. You will know during this step if your going to have problems with the wall paper. If you get the wallpaper too wet it may start peeling up, and then you will either have to skim coat it with drywall mud or remove the paper. You might want to skim coat over the seams of the paper so they don't show through the paint.


If you own this home one good thing to keep in mind, is that all of these improvements can be deducted off any profit you make when you sell. Just be sure you document with reciepts and possibly before and after pictures. This only applys if you change a surface: go from wallpaper to paint, or paint to wallpaper. THis may not seem like a big deal because you will probaby just roll your equity into your next home, but we are ate the point where we are downsizing and because I have kept all the reciepts on this house for 20 years we our taxable capitol gains will only be 25,000 instead of 95,000.How do I get a painted drywall look when I currently have the old wallpaper look?
Painting wallpaper usually makes it look worse, you can still see most of the patterns through the paint.


The best idea is to remove it if possible.


Many times you can steam it off.
If the paper is not peeling off anywhere,I would just prime the walls first and let it dry till the next day.Then paint it the color of your choice.Use interior paint with a satin or egg shell finish.
From watching all those HGTV home improvement shows, it sounds like it depends on the condition of the wallpaper. IF it's in good shape (and if it's paper, not plastic), use a good primer on it, let it dry, then paint it. However, if the wallpaper has any bumps or a raised pattern to it, it will all show up real clearly with the paint. If the wallpaper is in bad condition--torn, bubbles, etc.--then strip off the wallpaper (you'll need to score the wallpaper, then spray it will either wallpaper remover or Downy fabric softening which works just as well and smells good too, let it soak for an hour or so, then start peeling it off), sand whatever is underneath (hopefully, it won't be more wallpaper), prime and paint.
If the wallpaper is smooth and is not torn, peeling and cracking, then there should be no reason to remove it, if it is then it should be removed in those areas. any where that you remove the edge of the wallpaper will need to be coated with some all purpose drywall mud, and sanded down smooth, and unless you don't mind the seams in the wall paper showing if you look close, then you need to do the same to all the seams. it may seem like a lot but it's going to be easier than removing all that wallpaper, If you decide to remove the wallpaper, then one way is warm water and vinegar, using a spray bottle, spray it on let it set for a min. or so and try and pull it off, hopefully it will. good luck if it doesn't, if it's vinyl paper i will be better. make sure prior to painting you use a good quality primer over what ever you do first. more than likely whats behind the wallpaper is 3/8'; drywall.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURED HOME IS THAT IS HAS 3/8 IN SHEETROCK ON IT. THE OTHER THING IS THE REASON WHY U DONT SEE TO MUCH SMOOTH SHEETROCK PAINTED TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE COST OFGETTING THAT LOOK. WALLS SHOW BOWS IN THEM AND TEXTURE HIDES MOST OF THAT. THE WALLPAPER WALL YOU SEE ARE PROABLY 4 FT WIDE WITH A 1/2 STRIP ON TOP OF IT TO COVER THE FASTERNS USED TO HANG THAT SHEETROCK. USE A CLOSET AND OR UTILITY ROOM, PAINT IT AND SEE IF U LIKE IT TO YOUR SATISFACTION
I don't assume they used drywall in your mobile home, maybe some kind of paneling. Does it sound thin and hollow when you tap on the wall?





I would not paint over wallpaper, but it is possible. You have to prep the wallpaper though..can't just put paint over it.





They sell chemicals and steamers to remove wallpaper from walls.
here's a start for info:


www.doityourself.com/stry/howtoremovew鈥?br>







or if you dont want to remove it - clean the wallpaper and use a primer to prepaint it. Then you should beable to paint it with what ever you want to paint it with - should be as smooth as paint can be!
If the wallpaper is in good condition, I would start by trying to paint the wallpaper. If it doesn't look good, you can always remove the paper and try plan ';B';.

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