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Tips on Painting Your Interior After Removing Wallpaper

Newtown, PA

02/25/2022 08:20 AM

Tips on Painting Your Interior After Removing Wallpaper in Newtown, PA

Painting your interior after having wallpaper for a time can be difficult - removing the wallpaper off of your interior walls alone is tricky enough, and having to paint over your walls after removing wallpaper is just tedious and complicated.

However, just because it is hard doesn't mean it is impossible.

So, to help you in your quest of painting your interior, here are Tips on Painting Your Interior After Removing Wallpaper in Newtown, PA.

1. Inspect For Remaining Glue

After you've successfully removed the wallpaper off of your wall, you will want to inspect for stubborn, remaining glue and adhesive stuck on your wall, which you'll need to remove before you start painting.

Giving your wall a good scrub can help remove some of the adhesive, but using TSP (trisodium phosphate) or a vinegar and water solution to wash and scrub down your walls will be better in removing the remaining glue and giving it a smooth, muck-free surface.

Just keep in mind that TSP may be harsh on your hands, so use gloves while doing so.

2. Sand The Area

After brushing the area clean, you'll want to sand the entire surface to make it even cleaner.

This will guarantee that all of the muck and residue from the wallpaper glue will be completely removed and that your surface is smooth and level, ready for painting.

But be careful not to overdo it, or you'll end up with an uneven surface, which would be an altogether separate problem for you to worry about and manage.

3. Patch Holes or Cracks Present

Before painting, inspect the surface for any holes or cracks and repair them as needed.

Since your wall has been covered by wallpaper for a long time, it is important that you inspect it for any damage or cracks that might have happened in that duration, but you haven't noticed since it is covered by wallpaper.

Also, this is vital since if you don't patch the holes or cracks right away, painting over them will certainly not be a viable solution, as paint won't be able to conceal them, and these could possibly cause more paint problems later on.

To do this, use a joint compound and a broad putty knife or a drywall knife to fill up any holes or gaps in your surface.

4. Apply a Coat of Primer

After you've cleaned the surface and made it spotless and ideal for painting on, you'll now need to apply a layer of primer.

Primer is necessary because it provides your paint with the best, most ideal surface for painting - it will make your paint color seem brighter and more brilliant, and it will help your paint adhere to the surface better, allowing it to stay longer.

The majority of paint issues are caused by not using priming or skipping primer, therefore if you want your paint to stay vibrant and sturdy for a long time, don't forget to apply a coat of primer first.

5. Paint From The Top First

Finally, once you've removed all of the gunk from your wallpaper and the surface has been primed, you can now start painting - and it's best to start painting from the top.

This is to avoid drip marks running down your fresh layer of paint, which can possibly occur if you start painting from the bottom, and will be more difficult to correct later.

Painting from the top allows paint marks to trickle down the surface you'll technically be painting over later as you work your way down, which is easier to fix than the other way around.