wallpaper over wallpaper

[Helene]

I have been wallpapering for a long time now and I have never wallpapered over wallpaper. However, I know it was a common thing to do in the early days. Is it okay to wallpaper over top of existing wallpaper? The existing wallpaper is only 2 years old.

[Jeff Evans]

Helene-
In the good old days, when this was common practice, the wallpapers were just that- paper. Nowadays they almost always have a coating on them which makes adhesion problematic without proper priming first. Also, the new job is subject to any weakness in the previous job, so if you're hanging paper for money in another person's home you sure don't want to take any risks. I decided to answer your question, specifically, because in spite of theses warnings I'm going over paper on a job this coming Monday.:eek: In this case, the sheetrock walls are so temperamental due to poor preparation, that removing the old paper will do considerable damage to them. My procedure will be to go over the paper in there presently with a fine tooth comb, looking for loose areas and sanding down seams that will telscope through. I looked at the job around Christmas time, and I noted that the paper was very tight still, so I will have a sound surface for the most part. I'm going to be sealing the walls with primer (Draw Tite), and installing a blank stock liner in preparation for the finish paper- an English pulp paper.

If I had my druthers, I'd never take a risk hanging over paper, but with proper care and preparation it can be done in certain cases. Maybe you could provide more details about your particular job, like the paper you're hanging as well as hanging over, and people on this bulletin board will chime in.

Jeff

[Chris Nelson]

Jeff says"If I had my druthers, I'd never take a risk hanging over paper, but with proper care and preparation it can be done in certain cases."

This is a great statement and should be taken to heart.:llama:

[cgreene]

I think I'm the loudest to say never hang over paper. But today I had to break all my own rules.
I removed a bathroom. I first found it had two layers, but they were shaving off together so I didn't mind. When I wet the paperbacking of the second layer and started to remove, I discovered a paper backed foil that had been primed over with white primer that was coming off with the backing paper after wet and soaked. The foil was not budging. It was on really tight. I soon discovered it was hung on unprimed drywall and after the owner said this was a model home in the beginning. I knew I would never get the foil off the walls that I calculated had to be hung in the 70's. The places that I did try and peel the foil, It came off in less than one inch pieces. I figure after about 3 days of picking and gouging this stuff off, the wall would be ruined and just attempting this would be opening a pandoras nightmare. I told the owner that I wasn't going to go any further than the foil and would prep the foil to hang over. He said he would acid was it down. I told him I had never heard of such a thing and he said he would do it and I said its all yours. He said he was going to do it tomorrow. I will be papering his kitchen while he will be doing this acid wash. I can't wait to see what this develops into.
So heres to saying never say never.