What Kind of Paper Do You Put on a Wall So You Can Paint Over It?

Need

• Plaster presents many minor challenges to homeowners preparing to paint. After wallpaper removal, you might find that the finish plaster has never been painted and looks gritty and riddled with tiny air pockets. Likewise, old plaster is sometimes riddled with hairline cracks that show through paint. If you have peeling or cracking paint or worn wallpapers on drywall or plaster, you might want to prepare them for painting without completely stripping the paint or wallpaper.

Wall Canvas

• Wall canvas covers up minor flaws on wall surfaces without skim coating with plaster or drywall compound. Because it is flexible, it works especially well on surface cracks that open and close seasonally. Once made of canvas or paper, these products are now made of spun synthetic fibers specially coated to accept new paint. You'll find wall canvasing products at paint stores and home centers.

Preparation

• Before applying a wall canvas, you'll need to prepare the walls by removing old wallpaper paste, loose paint and peeling paper. Also repair larger surface flaws such as cracks and dents. You may have to prime the walls or apply wallpaper sizing, according to manufacturer recommendations.

Tips

• If you can hang wallpaper, hanging wall canvas will be a breeze. You'll need to use the paste recommended by the manufacturer, though some products come pre-pasted and don't require it. Be careful not to stretch the canvas by trying to push it across the wall. Stretching causes buckling or tearing that cannot be remedied. Many wall canvases come pre-primed and ready to paint, but many do-it-yourselfers find that priming assures a smoother finish with fewer coats.