Can I Put Wallpaper Over My Textured Walls or Knockdown Ceilings?

Wallpaper use is on the upswing. Designers use wall coverings to create effects beyond the reach of most paint only applications. These include accent walls, textile coverings, murals, custom prints like company or family photos, and even ceilings. Architectural designs are very popular and geometrics like chevrons are the current rage. Home builders in many markets use textured wall finishes like popcorn, orange peel and knockdown. Textures create some additional challenges for wallpaper users. In this update, ProTect Painters looks at the use of wallpaper products on textured surfaces.

Popcorn Ceilings
We can get this one out of the way quickly. The answer is no. Popcorn ceilings are basically the same material as drywall compound. We use water to remove this product. If you want wall coverings on these areas, have the popcorn removed and keep reading below (see skim and sand). Popcorn removal is very messy and wet. Expect to pay $.75 to $1.50 a sq. ft. just to have popcorn removed.

Special Surfaces
Interior areas with paneling, wood, plywood, brick & block are not as common in newer Central Florida homes. Wall covering solutions for these areas are somewhat limited. It is best to consult a professional installer when considering this type of project. In many cases a liner (see below) will be required.

Ignore Orange Peel or Knockdown Texture?
Textured walls and ceilings are generally not suitable for wallpaper. A subtle or very light orange peel or knockdown surface may be acceptable providing there are no sharp protrusions. Run your hand over the surface. Are there any sharp areas or peaks? Wallpaper gets very wet during application. Sharp areas can cut or tear the paper. There are a few products on the market which may be suitable for use. These include the heavy weight paintables, vinyls and some commercial grade papers. Do not use or rely on pre-pasted products. You will need to apply a heavy coat of high quality paste for these applications (see paste below).

Skim and Sand for a Smooth Surface
Installing wall coverings over a smooth flat clean surface is the always best method of application. Textured walls or ceilings can be skim coated and sanded smooth. This is a messy process and normally not recommended for DIY projects. Depending on the level of texture, it can take several skim and sand coats to obtain the level of quality required for your wall covering. Delicate papers will show almost any imperfection. If the wall covering has a random pattern you may be able to get away with less preparation. The cost for these services can vary widely. The professional has to wait for the skim coat to dry before sanding and then skim again/repeat. It will take at least two coats but it could take many more. Expect to spend $1.25 to $5.50 a sq. ft. or more to have to step completed.

Prime Time
Wallpaper pastes are water reactive. They react much like yeast when baking bread.
It takes lukewarm water, patience and skill to obtain the best results. Papers are “booked” (folded over) loosely to allow papers to expand or cure to their full width and provide time for the paste to activate. The paper is going to be very wet when applied to the wall or ceiling. This is where you will have problems if the wall is not primed.

Latex coatings (i.e. most house paints); textures, drywall mud and drywall react to water. They may even become unstable. We recommend that all surfaces for wall covering applications be primed with an alkyd or oil based primer. This will assure there are no reactive or adhesion issues. Even a small area of poor adhesion can ruin your application. It is not worth the risk of skipping this step. And, if you ever decide to remove or change the wall covering, this step will make your life so much easier.

Alternative – Wall Liner
Wall liner is a requirement for some wall coverings like grass cloth. Its main purpose it to absorb excess moisture from the finish wall covering and control the expansion and contraction process of the finish wallpaper during the drying process. Non-woven wall liner is designed to smooth rough surfaces for the ultimate application of wallpaper or paint. Surfaces it was designed to cover include brick, wood paneling, laminate, ceramic tile, cement block, stucco, textured, and damaged walls. Wall liners are frequently installed by cross lining them horizontally or what for years has been called “railroading.” The appeal of cross lining is that you will never have a seam fall on top of another. Expect to pay $2.50 to $5.00 a sq. ft. for quality wall liner and another $2.50 to $5.50 for installation.

Paste Everything
Remember that yummy white Elmer’s school paste? You could not live without it and many of us even ate some. Well… you cannot live without wallpaper paste either. Do not under any circumstances rely solely on pre-pasted paper. If you are installing the paper over any texture at all, the pre-pasted areas will only stick to the tips of the peaks on the texture. Most likely the paper will peel off the wall or ceiling within a short period of time. Always use heavy duty high quality paste. Put it on thick enough to fill in the remaining gaps of the surface (if any). Working with heavily pasted papers can be difficult. It takes time, finesse and effort to get these on the surface correctly. If you are doing this DIY, make sure you allow for stretching and dry time in your project plan. Trying to overwork papers & pastes is a good way to mess up your project.

Summary
Yes, you can have wall coverings installed over textured walls and ceilings. The outcome is highly dependent on your objectives, the wall covering used, materials and the expectations for quality. And, of course, your cost is contingent on these as well.
Total cost for the wall or ceiling project varies greatly. A simple install might be around $3-4 per square foot. A high quality prep and mount with an expensive mural could be well over $50 a square foot.

Hiring a professional like ProTect Painters may be a better option than trying to DIY. Professional have the tools, know the requirements and have the experience to make the job come out right. Wall coverings provide a wide range of options for making your home or business look great. When installed correctly, there is nothing more appealing.

Wallpaper Sources Online
Please note: It is important to purchase high quality wall coverings in quantities required for the project. Always purchase from the same dye lot to assure print and material consistency. ProTect does not endorse any of the following providers. The non-exhaustive list is of sites is provided simply as an additional resource for customers.

http://wallpaperbordersdiscount.com/index.htm
http://www.americanblinds.com/wallpaper/
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/category/wallpaper/home-wallpaper.jsp
http://www.artistichomeowner.com
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Wallcovering-Wallpaper-c-2.html
http://www.eadeswallpaper.com
http://www.eco.se/main.aspx
http://www.fredswallpaper.com
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/designer-wallpapers
http://www.johnlewis.com
http://www.justkidswallpaper.com/
http://www.poeswallcoverings.com/
http://www.seabrookwallpaper.com
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/wallpaper/
http://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/
http://www.wallpaperstore.com/
http://www.wallpaperwholesaler.com/
https://www.wallpaperstogo.com/

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ProTect Painters of Oviedo ~ Winter Springs / 407-542-9036
Interior / Exterior – Residential / Commercial Painting Services

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