Painting over wall paper

[sarah-marie]

Hi there, I want to paint the walls of new flat it's old Victorian conversion not been decorated for 35 years plus. The walls have paper on.. Some rooms it's plain paper other rooms it's got the little bits in.. Sorry can't think of correct term for that.. The colour paint I like is in farrow and ball which is a lot of money to me! I didn't really want to take the paper off as assuming massive job and maybe walls need then plastering. So wanted to ask advice.. If you recommend painting over the paper and yours turned out OK!? Or it's bad idea. No sign of mold and paper surprisingly in very good state not coming off anywhere.

[womanofdulwich]

Yes fine, you can also some normal paint on as a base coat. Many decorators prefer to use another brand of paint mixed to the f and b colour as they say f and b gives poor coverage.

[KidKruger]

Without seeing the wallpaper with bits in, I'd guess it may be what's called "Woodchip".

You can paint over that no problem.

However, when I've painted old wallpaper (including wood chip) that's been on the wall for many years, the weight/moisture of the paint caused, in some places, the ends of wallpaper or joins between rolls to curl-up. Not a good look after spending a day painting a room, especially with expensive paint.

There may be a way around that - pasting all joints and end of rolls with wallpaper paste and letting it dry first ?

Personally I'd strip the wallpaper, fill any blemishes in the plaster (it probably won't be perfect), and use my preferred ideal colour on what may turn out to be a slightly 'rustic' finish, with no curling. At least the paper's off (it'll have to come off one day anyway).

No reason to assume the whole room needs plastering. Perhaps try painting on the parts of the wall in worst condition as a test ?

[nxjen]

I bit the bullet and got rid of the woodchip in my flat about 10 / 15 years ago and very glad I did, there was something so irritating about the woodchip. There were only very small parts in the walls that needed remedial work though I guess all walls are different. Before then I had painted over the woodchip and experienced no problems.

[sarah-marie]

Thanks kidkruger that's great I noticed was one piece coming up at the top and thought might be weight of the paint.. So I will either stick it down any lose bits or maybe test a bit ie take off the wallpaper behind the door and see how it goes.. Might be easy to take off might just be the one layer and yes woodchip :) but just tiny few woodchip not ugly loads of it!do you think paint colour doesn't come up looking so good on the paper compared to the bare wall

[sarah-marie]

Thanks nxjen.. I may end up doing thst will test a bit first. Do you think paint doesn't look so nice over the paper aa it would if just on the walls

[sarah-marie]

Thanks womanofdulwich great tip maybe will mix white as with it as slightly lighter he even better

[KidKruger]

The wood chip will obviously have small shadows from the bits in the wallpaper, so you won?t get the smooth continuous colour of a painted wall. But then, you may not anyway if you strip the wallpaper and there are chunks of plaster missing!

-marie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks kidkruger that's great I noticed was one

> piece coming up at the top and thought might be

> weight of the paint.. So I will either stick it

> down any lose bits or maybe test a bit ie take off

> the wallpaper behind the door and see how it

> goes.. Might be easy to take off might just be the

> one layer and yes woodchip :) but just tiny few

> woodchip not ugly loads of it!do you think paint

> colour doesn't come up looking so good on the

> paper compared to the bare wall

[sarah-marie]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------thanks yes might end up with another woodchip wall without the woodchip paper

> The wood chip will obviously have small shadows

> from the bits in the wallpaper, so you won?t get

> the smooth continuous colour of a painted wall.

> But then, you may not anyway if you strip the

> wallpaper and there are chunks of plaster

> missing!

>

> -marie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Thanks kidkruger that's great I noticed was one

> > piece coming up at the top and thought might be

> > weight of the paint.. So I will either stick it

> > down any lose bits or maybe test a bit ie take

> off

> > the wallpaper behind the door and see how it

> > goes.. Might be easy to take off might just be

> the

> > one layer and yes woodchip :) but just tiny few

> > woodchip not ugly loads of it!do you think

> paint

> > colour doesn't come up looking so good on the

> > paper compared to the bare wall

[diable rouge]

Woodchip isn't used for aesthetic reasons, usually it's covering up crappy looking walls as it's cheaper than plaster skimming. It's a lottery as to what condition the walls might be in underneath, from a few minor blemishes and cracks to a complete re-plaster. If you can't afford the latter or don't want the inconvenience that would entail, then best to leave alone and paint over.

Solvite make a handy tube of wallpaper adhesive for sticking down loose edges etc which I've used successfully.

If you decide to keep the woodchip, any painting over will have to be done using a thick brush rather than a roller.

If you decide to remove the woodchip then be prepared that parts of it won't peel or scrape off easily, and you might need to hire a steamer.

I'd also go down the route of colour-matching the F&B colour you like.

Good luck!..

[sarah-marie]

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------thanks diable appreciated. Waa thinking and trying that re farrow and ball but no luck finding it yet in another paint or do you mean actually have that colour made up.. Is it homebase or b & q that do that..

> Woodchip isn't used for aesthetic reasons, usually

> it's covering up crappy looking walls as it's

> cheaper than plaster skimming. It's a lottery as

> to what condition the walls might be in

> underneath, from a few minor blemishes and cracks

> to a complete re-plaster. If you can't afford the

> latter or don't want the inconvenience that would

> entail, then best to leave alone and paint over.

> Solvite make a handy tube of wallpaper adhesive

> for sticking down loose edges etc which I've used

> successfully.

> If you decide to keep the woodchip, any painting

> over will have to be done using a thick brush

> rather than a roller.

> If you decide to remove the woodchip then be

> prepared that parts of it won't peel or scrape off

> easily, and you might need to hire a steamer.

> I'd also go down the route of colour-matching the

> F&B colour you like.

> Good luck!..

[diable rouge]

sarah-marie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> -----thanks diable appreciated. Waa thinking and

> trying that re farrow and ball but no luck finding

> it yet in another paint or do you mean actually

> have that colour made up.. Is it homebase or b & q

> that do that..

B&Q will match a colour and even provide a tester pot in that colour... https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-use-the-valspar-paint-mixing-service/CC_npcart_2100010.art

[sarah-marie]

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> sarah-marie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > -----thanks diable appreciated. Waa thinking

> and

> > trying that re farrow and ball but no luck

> finding

> > it yet in another paint or do you mean actually

> > have that colour made up.. Is it homebase or b &

> q

> > that do that..

>

> B&Q will match a colour and even provide a tester

> pot in that colour...

> https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-use-the-va

> lspar-paint-mixing-service/CC_npcart_2100010.art

Thanks.. Have used that service before.. But I could physically take in the piece to colour match but with farrow and ball it's just on my phone.. Can they match from that.. I think I need buy sample farrow and ball.. Paint piece of card and take I'm? Do you think it works out cheaper..

Do you suggest the thick brush as roller will more likely pull paint off of the wall? .

[diable rouge]

According to their website B&Q stock F&B so they should have sample cards in store, but worth ringing to check as each store may be different. Failing that, Brewers in Peckham (along from Queens Road station)definitely stock F&B and have colour cards and sample pots, or they can get them in on order, they might even do a colour matching service, so again worth ringing to find out...

[sarah-marie]

diable rouge Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------thanks very much 🙂

> According to their website B&Q stock F&B so they

> should have sample cards in store, but worth

> ringing to check as each store may be different.

> Failing that, Brewers in Peckham (along from

> Queens Road station)definitely stock F&B and have

> colour cards and sample pots, or they can get them

> in on order, they might even do a colour matching

> service, so again worth ringing to find out...

[goodlizzie]

Hi Sarah-Marie

White's in Brockley also match F&B colours - might be best to call first.

H White & Son Ltd

ddress: 42-44 Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London SE23 1LJ

Hours:

Open ⋅ Closes 5PM

Phone: 020 8690 9040

[KidKruger]

Dulwich DIY on LL do colour-matching I believe (they certainly mix paint), as probably Plough DIY still do.

sarah-marie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> diable rouge Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----thanks diable appreciated. Waa thinking and

> trying that re farrow and ball but no luck finding

> it yet in another paint or do you mean actually

> have that colour made up.. Is it homebase or b & q

> that do that..

[sarah-marie]

goodlizzie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------ah that's great I have bought paint there before the dukux paint and got it mixed didn't know colour match other paint..

> Hi Sarah-Marie

>

> White's in Brockley also match F&B colours - might

> be best to call first.

>

> H White & Son Ltd

> ddress: 42-44 Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London

> SE23 1LJ

> Hours:

> Open ⋅ Closes 5PM

> Phone: 020 8690 9040

[sarah-marie]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------thanks very much that's great

> Dulwich DIY on LL do colour-matching I believe

> (they certainly mix paint), as probably Plough DIY

> still do.

>

> sarah-marie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > diable rouge Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----thanks diable appreciated. Waa thinking

> and

> > trying that re farrow and ball but no luck

> finding

> > it yet in another paint or do you mean actually

> > have that colour made up.. Is it homebase or b &

> q

> > that do that..

[alice]

Yes Dulwich DIY have the farrow and ball paint charts and will mix the colour for you - Theres nothing sneaky about it - its just that you cant trademark a colour.

[sarah-marie]

alice Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------are they in lordship Lane..

> Yes Dulwich DIY have the farrow and ball paint

> charts and will mix the colour for you - Theres

> nothing sneaky about it - its just that you cant

> trademark a colour.

[alice]

Yes down at the roundabout end. They are great on advice as well.

[KidKruger]

they are opposite the big Foxtons estate agent

sarah-marie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> alice Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----are they in lordship Lane..

> > Yes Dulwich DIY have the farrow and ball paint

> > charts and will mix the colour for you -

> Theres

> > nothing sneaky about it - its just that you

> cant

> > trademark a colour.

[sarah-marie]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------thanks very much for all your help

> they are opposite the big Foxtons estate agent

>

> sarah-marie Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > alice Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----are they in lordship Lane..

> > > Yes Dulwich DIY have the farrow and ball

> paint

> > > charts and will mix the colour for you -

> > Theres

> > > nothing sneaky about it - its just that you

> > cant

> > > trademark a colour.

[KidKruger]

Technically you can, as Anish Kapoor did with Black 3.0

alice Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes Dulwich DIY have the farrow and ball paint

> charts and will mix the colour for you - Theres

> nothing sneaky about it - its just that you cant

> trademark a colour.