You want to paint a wall that has wallpaper on it. The question is always the same: strip the paper or paint over it? This guide explains why the sources we read say to strip it, how to do it with water or steam, what to do about the glue left behind, what changes with vinyl paper, and when to stop and ask for help.
Updated 4 November 2026. General information, not a substitute for a technician’s assessment.
The essentials
- Sherwin-Williams says to always remove wallpaper before painting. Resene (New Zealand) warns that paper that has been painted over is much harder to remove.
- The principle is to wet the paper until the glue softens: warm water with detergent, a dedicated stripping liquid, or a steamer.
- Vinyl paper resists water. Perforate or score the surface before wetting (Eroski Consumer).
- Once the paper is off, wash off the glue, rinse, let the wall dry fully, and only then apply primer (Sherwin-Williams).
- Paper that comes away with mould behind it, or signs of damp, mean the cause must be fixed before painting.
Why not paint over it
Painting over looks like the quick option. The sources we read do not recommend it. Sherwin-Williams says to remove the paper before painting. Resene explains that the harder the paper is to remove, the more preparation the wall needs afterwards. Eroski Consumer, in a 2002 text about paper being replaced, says old paper deteriorates and old glue can weaken and pull the new layer off.
We found no Portuguese paint data sheet (CIN, Robbialac, Barbot) that covers painting over wallpaper. So we give no drying or coverage figure for this case. For the primer, read the data sheet of the product you will use.
Which kind of paper you have
| Type | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Ordinary paper | Wet thoroughly and scrape with a spatula. Resene: “soak, soak and soak again”. Scoring the paper helps. |
| Vinyl (plastic surface) | Water does not get in. Perforate with a wire brush or perforating roller before using steam or liquid (Eroski Consumer). |
| Already painted over | Much harder, often comes off in small pieces (Resene). |
| Strong glue | Harder to remove (Resene, about hessian coverings). |
Eroski Consumer says that, with a spatula under the edge, paper may come off dry depending on the glue and its age. If it does not, move to the wet method.
Step by step: strip the paper and prepare the wall
- Protect the floor, skirting and sockets. Switch the power off at the consumer unit before wetting walls with sockets. This caution is ours, not from a source. See also preparing the home for painting.
- Score or perforate the paper (always, if vinyl), without cutting into the wall.
- Wet it. Three options described by Eroski Consumer: a steamer (hold the plate on the strip’s edge for a few seconds and peel with the spatula), a dedicated liquid applied with sponge or roller (leave it for a few minutes), or, lighter, warm water with detergent.
- Peel the strips with the spatula, carefully. If you use steam, test first whether the paper has dyes that could stain the wall.
- Wash off the glue. Sherwin-Williams says to wash off the old adhesive, rinse with water and let the wall dry completely before primer.
- Let it dry. Steam and liquids soak the wall, which must dry before it is covered (Eroski Consumer). How long depends on the room, the plaster and ventilation. We found no reliable figure.
- Repair what shows. Nail holes, torn patches and cracks: see skim and fill walls before painting and cracks and plaster before painting.
- Prime the whole wall. Sherwin-Williams warns against spot priming, which leaves the finish uneven. Resene suggests a sealer to give a uniform surface on walls that had paper. Follow the manufacturer’s sheet for the product you choose.
- Paint. To work out how much paint to buy, use the calculator or the guide how much paint do I need.
What can go wrong
The wall gets damaged. Hard scraping tears off plaster or paint. When old paint lifts, see peeling paint and stains. On plasterboard, too much water is a risk, covered in plasterboard, damp and painting. We found no official source on how much water the board’s paper facing tolerates, so wet such walls lightly.
Mould or damp behind the paper. The guide on mould in wardrobes cites the EPA: mould can be present on the back of wallpaper and on walls behind furniture. If the paper comes off with dark patches or a smell, or the wall is cold and damp, fix the cause before any paint. See mould on walls and the types of damp. Never paint over mould as a fix.
Old lead paint underneath. Sherwin-Williams warns that scraping or sanding old paint can release dust or fumes containing lead, and advises proper respiratory protection, containment and clean-up. In older homes, read old paint, lead and sanding safety before sanding bare wall.
Asbestos. We found no source saying wallpaper or its paste contains asbestos, and we do not claim it. What we know: DECO PROteste (20 February 2026) says asbestos has been banned in Portugal since 2005, that materials fitted earlier may stay in use, that the danger comes from damaged material, and that only companies authorised by the ACT (the labour conditions authority) may remove it. The HSE (UK) lists textured decorative coatings and insulating board that resembles plasterboard as possible locations in homes built before 2000. If under the paper you find a textured coating or an odd board in an old home, do not sand or drill: ask for an assessment.
When to call a professional
Call someone if the wall shows mould, salt or damp after the paper is off, if you suspect asbestos, or if the surface is badly damaged. If you would rather not do the job, ask in quotes whether paper removal is included: see how to compare painting quotes.
What we could not confirm
- Portuguese data sheets (CIN, Robbialac, Barbot) on painting over wallpaper or glue residue: we found none. The Robbialac Viplad sheet we opened is about plasterboard, not wallpaper.
- Wall drying time after wetting: no source gives a figure.
- Wallpaper or paste containing asbestos: no source, so we do not claim it.
- How much water plasterboard tolerates: no source.
- Sherwin-Williams, Resene and the HSE are from other countries. Eroski Consumer dates from 2002.
- The Idealista and Bunnings guides did not open (403).
Sources (read on 4 November 2026)
- Sherwin-Williams, Interior surface prep: removing the paper, washing off glue, priming the whole wall, lead warning. The page read shows no date.
- Resene, Prep skills: wetting the paper, paper painted over, sealer.
- Eroski Consumer, Técnicas para despegar papel pintado, 21 May 2002: steam, liquid, vinyl, dry removal. Old text.
- DECO PROteste, Materiais com amianto: quando remover?, 20 February 2026.
- HSE (UK), Asbestos FAQ: likely locations in homes and buildings from before 2000.
- Robbialac, Viplad data sheet (ROB_V44): read, not used for the method.
- Idealista, Remover papel de parede como um profissional and Bunnings: cited only through search results, not read directly.