Hi JoVina, If the wallpaper has been added to the wallboard it can be stripped. Wallboard of the type which is manufactured with the paper as part of the finished board will usually have strips to cover the seams where the sheets meet, that is corner molding and some sort of strip to cover the point where sheets meet. If this is so then you won't get the paper off.
If the paper is patterned and you examine it carefully to find it is in strips about 16 inches or less wide then this is wallpaper which was applied over the plaster and it can probably be stripped. You will get a better finish if it is stripped and I read that the moisture in paint can cause it to loosen the paper allowing it to lift or bubble. You can paint over paper but you will usually get a better job if paper can be stripped and the wall cleaned before paint is applied. Look for loose or flaking paper and try to find a good way to stick it well down or remove it completely. The first thing to remember is that if the walls aren't in good condition you won't hide that with paint, usually it will show through worse. If there are dings, dents and other damage that wants to be improved before paint or paper is applied. You won't likely be getting the covering which is manufactured into the wall board off and you will make a mess if you try. Which ever sort of paper you can certainly paint over it successfully, people do it all of the time. You want to clean it very carefully, maybe TSP (trisodium phosphate) diluted as per manufacturer's instructions and rinse well. You might like to scrub gently with a wire brush, not enough to tear up the paper but enough to scratch up the surface a little to help the paint stick. A flat finish rather than a gloss finish will be better if the surface is textured or otherwise rough. Some paints are claimed to resist mildew. You might like to use that in the bathroom. Good latex paint dries quickly, skins over, is pretty durable and doesn't stink you out for a week. Acrylic paint may be a little more durable. Oil based paint is the toughest but it takes longer to dry and requires oil based solvents to clean up the brushes and/or rollers and other equipment. You can paint the trim too. I have googled this too, it seems to be a common problem for mobile home owners. The trick seems to be to buy good quality paint or you will find it is coming off when you wash or wipe it. Primer isn't absolutely necessary but you will need three coats usually to cover the original colour and primer covers better. There seems to be a product called Gripper, a particular sort of primer which apparently helps the paint to stick. Hope this is helpful and have a ball! Dale Leavens. ----- Original Message ----- From: JoVina Harris To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 11:32 AM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Looking for free advice Hi everyone! I am going to start working on a project to fix up my master bedroom and bathroom and I'm looking for advice. You see, I live in a trailer house and the walls are pre-papered sheet rock or what I would call wall board. ( the house was made in 1999) It's very thin and I want to paint over it and have been told that it won't work because I'll just be painting over the paper. I figured it could be primed or something to make it stick but I've been told that the humidity in the bathroom would mess it up and it's not going to work. Do any of you have any advice? I also want to paint the trim and it's cheap little thin pieces of crap that have some kind of veneer on them also. I'm interested in everything you have to say so let 'er rip! Jo V [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
