Can You Paint Over Very Old Wallpaper. While its usually better to remove your paper before painting there are some cases where painting over wallpaper may actually be beneficial. After all weve all heard horror stories about wallpaper removal ranging from drywall that crumbled as the paper was removed to homeowners who peeled away dozens of layers of paper only to find more underneath.
Install New Drywall Screw sheets of 38-inch drywall which is thinner than the conventional material and intended for just this purpose. This should keep the edges of the paper from showing through the final finish. This is something to be wary of in dated buildings that has exposed brickwork underneath.
If you prefer to paint over the old wallpaper or to install new wallpaper there are two ways to prepare the wall.
One if you want to take the paper down eventually its best to just bite the bullet and do that now. TSP can be applied with a sponge or even an extra paintbrush. As far as products go oil-based primer and paint. Old wallpaper is prone to ripping and fading over time.