How to Paint a Wall After Removing Wallpaper?

A few months back, I had to remove the wallpaper from my living room wall, and hired a painter to get it repainted. Hiring a painter was necessary as I had no idea how to paint walls after wallpaper removal. I think it is definitely not a DIY project, where you just need to use a paint roller and start painting. Even after the wallpaper is removed, moisture, wall imperfections and any remaining adhesive can all affect how well paint sticks.

How to Paint after Stripping Wallpaper?

The basic steps that you can follow are:

1. Using warm water and a mild detergent, remove all of the wallpaper and scrape away any remaining glue. 

2. To prevent moisture from being trapped beneath the paint, let the wall dry for at least 24 hours.

3. After applying joint compound to any holes, use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface.

4. If the wall has uneven textures or minor flaws, a skim coat of joint compound helps level the surface.

5. To guarantee a good paint bond, seal the wall with a high-adhesion primer.

6. For best effects, finish with the premium interior paint.

I’d say that residual glue can cause streaks and interfere with paint adhesion, therefore it's better not to paint over wallpaper glue. Also, prior to priming, always do a thorough cleaning.

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Hello Amit, I came across your query about how to paint after removing wallpaper. I can share the steps for the same with you. You should start by cleaning and filling any imperfections. I will share the rest of the steps below.

After Wallpaper Removal How to Paint Wall?

Here is how to paint your wall after removing wallpaper.

1. Take a sponge and dip it in a soap solution. Wipe the wall from top to bottom. Wet the sponge again and again as you move down and pay attention to the area with glue.

2. Let the wall air dry.  Then, look for any cracks and holes and clean them with a handheld vacuum cleaner. 

3. Apply the filler with a putty knife and seal the imperfections. Use a paint scraper to remove loose and flaking paint.

4. Then comes sanding the wall with sandpaper. Start with a medium-grit one, like 80 and then finish with a super fine 240-grit sandpaper. 

5. Clean the walls with a damp and soft cloth dipped in warm water and dish soap. 

6. Rinse the soap and pat dry. Let the wall completely dry before applying the primer coat.

7. Let the primer dry and then move on to painting. 

8. Paint two coats of your desired paint colour. Let the first coat dry before applying the second coat.

I hope you now understand how do you prepare walls for painting after removing wallpaper. 

I just removed the wallpapers in my bedroom, and there was quite a bit of residue on the walls. I was not able to paint them due to the residue. Hence, I called a friend of mine and asked him how to paint a wall after removing wallpaper. Here is what he told me.

How to Prepare Walls after Wallpaper Removal?

Here are the steps that he told me about 

Sand the Walls

He told me to start by removing rough spots and lightly sanding the areas until they’re smooth.

Patch the Walls

He told me to check for any damaged areas. If there are, then he told me to use drywall mud and a putty knife to fill in those holes. After that, he told me to wait until they dry and then sand those areas again for a smooth surface.

Prime the Walls

After that, he said once the surface is smooth, apply a coat of high-quality latex primer with a roller or paintbrush. This will make the surface smooth for your painting. 

And that’s about it. After that, he said that I can start painting. And that’s all