Plenty of older Milwaukee homes still have wallpaper — sometimes several layers of it, sometimes hidden under a coat or two of paint. When it's time to update a room, painting straight over the paper can look like the quick option. In most cases it isn't.
Wet paint softens wallpaper paste. As it dries, the paper can bubble, lift at the seams or peel at the corners, and the seams themselves often show through the new colour. Fixing that later means removing paper that now has paint on it — which is harder than removing it in the first place.
Proper removal starts with scoring and soaking the paper so the adhesive releases, then stripping the top layer and the backing. The step people skip is washing off the leftover glue. Adhesive residue left on the wall can cause new paint to crack or wrinkle.
Next comes repair. Wallpaper removal sometimes tears the paper face of the drywall underneath, and older walls usually have nail holes, dents and cracks. Torn drywall paper needs to be sealed before it's patched — otherwise it bubbles — then everything is skimmed, sanded smooth and primed.
Only then is the wall ready for paint. It's more work up front, but the result is a smooth, modern wall that stays that way.
Castro Pro Painting removes wallpaper, repairs drywall and paints throughout the Milwaukee area. Call (414) 539-9920 for a free estimate.