Painting Over Wallpaper

[Trixie2]

I would like to emulsion paint over long standing, patterned wallpaper. Should I first seal the wallpaper with something like diluted Uni-bond or just apply in normal way?

[marje]

We painted over our bedroom wallpaper with no problems. It looks fine after a couple of coats.

[theshedman]

The paper may or may not stay in place. As you say the paper has been in place for a while so when you emulsion it it may bubble or the seams may pull away from the walls as the old paste may start to give. It's always a risk you take when doing this. Not saying it won't work though. Using diluted Unibond or PVa will not help and can often cause problems as emulsion will not always adhere properly to it. The big paint companies don't recommend doing this. If you want to seal it then a mist coat or watered down coat of the emulsion will seal it to stop the top coats drying out too fast and maybe also stop the paint from peeling if it has gone on too thickly.

[heathfield]

I don't see a problem. After all, it's normal to decorate by using a lining paper, then, once it's dry, applying an emulsion paint. You may need a few coats of emulsion to stop the pattern on the existing paper from showing through. (And Unibond would mean you'd have a waterproof type layer, making it murder to remove the wallpaper at a later date.)

[carrust]

Try a test area 1st before buying the paint. Some vinyl paper's wont accept paint.