Can vinyl wallpaper be painted?

Renovation of an apartment is always associated with a complex choice of materials for finishing the premises. One of the most popular ways to diversify the look of walls is to wallpaper them. There are various types of wallpaper and vinyl is considered one of the most popular among them. On the market of building materials, various options for their colors and structures are presented, but if it did not work out to find the right ones, the best way out is to paint the wallpaper.

Vinyl wallpapers and their varieties

Vinyl wallpaper is a material of two layers - the bottom and the top. Depending on what they are made of, and classify vinyl coverings:

• bottom layer or base. It is thicker. Distinguish between non-woven and paper-based wallpaper;
• top layer or decorative.

There are several types of vinyl wall coverings. They are suitable for various premises. For example, for the kitchen and bathroom, denser and moisture-resistant varieties are made, consisting of several layers of polyvinyl chloride, and some options are made using hot stamping technology, applying various textures. Distinguish:

• foamed vinyl;
• flat vinyl;
• silk screen printing;
• polyplen;
• hard vinyl.

It is only possible to paint wallpaper made of foamed vinyl and non-woven backing, since they absorb paint and do not deform under the influence of the water contained in it. Currently, manufacturers indicate whether painting is possible, and also produce separate lines for painting, white or other light shades with various reliefs. When choosing a wall covering, it is worth considering its relief: the more complex and small the pattern is depicted on the wallpaper, the more difficult it is to paint it. A three-dimensional ornament will require more paint and layers.

If you are painting the walls yourself for the first time, it is better to opt for wallpaper with a small and simple pattern.

How to paint?

Along with a huge selection of wallpapers, there are many types of paint, and having decided on the first, you need to pay no less attention to the second. Basic rule: paint should not contain chemically active and toxic substances. Organic-based paints are not suitable for coloring: oil, alkyd, enamel. Adhesive and silicate options are also not the best option, not only for vinyl wallpaper, but also for wall coverings in the house in general.

Water-based paints work well, they are easy to apply, and you can buy a ready-made one of a certain color or give the desired shade yourself using special dyes. With its help, the surface can be made matte, glossy (semi-glossy) and satin. A matte finish looks great in large rooms, while a glossy finish will help visually expand small and dark rooms. The satin surface is suitable for any room size. Water-based paints are:

• water-based. Such a coating is antistatic, has many other advantages, but is not intended for wet cleaning: if you wipe the wall with a wet rag, the paint will remain on it;
• dispersive. Water based paint made from synthetic polymers (scraps or oil). After applying the mixture to the wall, the water evaporates, and the solid particles form a smooth and impermeable surface;

• acrylic. Such paint dries quickly, does not mix when applied in several shades, withstands washing, including the use of cleaning agents;
• latex. They are expensive but allow for a long-lasting, even, glossy finish. The paint can be used for walls covered with old wallpaper.

It is worth painting walls in a bedroom, nursery or living room with water-based paint, acrylic and latex paint - in any room, dispersion paint is ideal for the kitchen or bathroom. Before purchasing paint, calculate its required volume depending on the type of wallpaper, the area of ​​the room and the desired shade. If the paint is not tinted immediately, then it is worth purchasing a color scheme. Its amount depends on the brightness of the color that is required. After mixing paint and dye, apply the composition to a small area of ​​wallpaper or a wall and wait until it dries completely to determine the final color.

The paint is usually sold quite thick and difficult to apply to walls. It is enough to dilute it with plain clean water to a consistency reminiscent of sour cream. You can also repaint old walls with any kind of paint. So that it lies flat and does not peel off, you first need to process the existing coating, remove dust and dirt, and fill in flaws.

In some cases, additional priming may be required.

How to paint?

• before gluing wallpaper. In this case, the paint is applied to the wallpaper strips before they are glued to the wall. It is necessary to cut the panel of the required length from the roll, apply paint and, after drying (after about an hour), proceed to gluing;
• if the wallpaper is already glued, then it is worth waiting for the glue to dry completely (the drying time, as a rule, is indicated in the instructions for it), and then paint it.

Prepare all the necessary tools in advance. You can apply paint with a brush, roller, spray gun or spray gun. When choosing a roller, pay attention to the pile height: the deeper and stronger the pattern on the wallpaper, the longer the pile should be. It will be inconvenient to apply with a foam rubber coat, as it will ruin the texture and will not allow you to apply an even layer of paint. In addition, you need a paint tray, a soft cloth, masking tape.

It is better to cover the floors with foil or paper, newspapers, and for your own protection you need to wear gloves, a hat and glasses.

If the wallpaper to be painted is on the ceiling, then for convenience it is worth purchasing an extension telescope for the roller. It is best to paint the walls with a spray gun - this way the color will be even and uniform. If you don't have a spray gun, use a roller to paint the walls, or use a small brush to paint corners and joints. The procedure for painting vinyl wallpaper is as follows:

• masking tape seal all joints of the wall covering with doors, floor and baseboards;
• cover the floor and existing furniture in the room;
• remove any dust or dirt from the surfaces with a slightly damp cloth or vacuum cleaner;
• stir the paint in a jar and pour a small amount into the tray;
• the ceiling is painted first, then the walls;
• it is better to paint the pololok parallel to the incident light, so strokes will not be visible;
• walls are painted from bottom to top;
• when applying several layers of paint, it is necessary to wait for each of them to dry completely before applying a new one;
• the final color and gloss will be fully developed 3 days after staining.

Various methods of painting walls will help to diversify the look of the room. Please note that not all of them are available for execution, but some may well be applied without the help of a specialist.

• Wipe-down staining. Lightens the raised portion of vinyl wallpaper. After applying a layer of paint, they are “passed” over the entire canvas with a soft cloth, removing the top layer of paint. This process is laborious, it requires the participation of two people: one applies the paint, the second uses the fabric.
• Selective drawing. First, the desired number of layers of paint is applied to all walls, then with the help of a brush and paint of a different (often darker) shade, the pattern on the wallpaper is highlighted. This is a lengthy process that is suitable for wallpapers with unusual and beautiful reliefs.
• Colored base... The method involves decorating the wallpaper before gluing. The paint is applied to the wallpaper from the inside, after it has completely dried, they are glued to the walls. It turns out very impressive.

• Several colors. If the interior is dominated by several shades, then the walls can be painted with one of them. In order to separate the colors, masking tape is used. The method is suitable for wallpaper with a small or, conversely, a fairly large relief, since in places where the tape does not come into contact with the base, the paint will spread, and straight lines will not work. The same method is suitable if you have chosen two types of wallpaper or those that imitate the presence of a dividing plinth on the wall.
• Using a textured roller... In stores, you can find rollers with ornaments carved on them. This method is very easy, it allows you to easily apply a beautiful pattern to the wallpaper. The main rule of work is clarity of actions, because the stripes must be even.
• Using a sponge or wad of paper. They are used when applying the last layer. Soak the tool in the paint and lightly touch the wall. A textured print will remain on it. The method allows you to get a beautiful and unusual look, but it is time-consuming.