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Does anyone have any suggestions on how to paint over wallpaper? The room was papered about 20 years ago over a plaster wall that was not primed. When I attempt to remove the wallpaper I pull off the plaster with it. I have spot tested this in small areas only but I’m sure the entire wall is the same. I think it would be easier to somehow plaster over the paper seams and then prime and paint over the paper. Any advice?
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You didn't say how you were trying to remove the paper. Plaster that hasn't crumbled from moisture behind it should be able to stand up to paper removal if done carefully and properly. Painting over a problem never makes it go away. Please share with us what you've done so far.
*Steve's right. Unfortunately, I've had a lot of experience with this. Painting the wall paper will make some of it come off, creating a bigger mess than removing it. If it's actually plaster and it's sound, I've had good luck scraping it with a 3" razor scraper. No water, just elbow grease. I've also had luck using Dif and Dif gel if you want to make the scraping job easier. It's a toss up as to whether cleaning up the soggy paper is better than the work involved with scraping dry. Either method will require some repair of the plaster underneath. On one job, I primed the paper with fast drying non-latex primer (bad smell, volatile stuff), then used joint compound to fair everything out, primed again and then painted. It was costly, time consuming and a royal pain. Also, as Steve said, if the plaster is coming off easily, something else could be wrong. If the house has plaster walls, presumably it has some character. Taking the time to do it right will pay greater dividends and satisfaction down the road.
*I used a product called "Glid-wall" many years ago. Its a fiberglass mesh that you pin over the entire wall, then paint with thick paint. Think of reinforced, structural paint. Depends on reasonably sound stuff under it. Actually worked well and looked good. If you must bury your walls, it would be worth looking into.
*It is very common to paint over wallpaper in UK -- in fact a lot of textured wall-papers are sold specifically to be painted after hanging.If it is vinyl-faced don't bother as it is difficult to paint over vinyl-faced wall-paper but ordinary paper should be OK provided it is not loose. Use latex paint.As to stripping, have you tried a steamer? usually the paper will just fall off when steamed.