If you love beautifully textured stucco walls but hate the thought of the work, expense and limitations connected with producing that finish, then you’re going to love paintable textured wallpaper.
This versatile wallpaper is not entirely new to the marketplace. In its early days the wall covering was available just in white and in only about a half-dozen flat textured styles. Over time, finish options expanded exponentially to include styles as textured as Anaglypta, an intricate embossed ornamentation, and even Gothic, made of molded linoleum and available in dado panels that snap together like a puzzle.
The expanded selection has renewed interest and grown the paper’s popularity, said Tanya Levrone, an associate at Lowe’s. “We have a lot more samples on display now, and you can also order from a sample book.”
The best news is wall blemishes can disappear behind the paper design, which is manufactured to withstand repeated painting. “The paper can be installed over nearly any wall surface to hide problems,” Levrone said.
Any kind of paint can be used on the paintable wallpaper. However, the best results for some styles require painting before installation, and other styles may require an oil-based paint as the first coat before applying final latex coats.
The wall covering’s versatility attracts Jessica Wang, an artist, designer and retail window-dresser who says she is anxious to try it out on her next window design job. “It would be great, especially when you have to change scenes and colors several times a year. You can just change the color to get a new look.”
Walls with plywood paneling with grooves as deep as a quarter-inch or more can get the paintable wallpaper treatment as well. The paneling should be spackled or covered with a heavy wallpaper liner before applying the paintable wall covering. Stucco walls should be inspected for big bumps that should be removed so they don’t poke through the new surface.
If the drywall is really damaged, it must be fixed first. All wall surfaces should be prepared with a coat of primer prior to hanging. Once you get past the prep stage, the paintable wallpaper is easy to install. It is washable, peelable, comes pre-pasted and plain and is installed with typical wallpaper adhesive.
“If you like stucco, this is easier than worrying about the mud (compound),” said Levrone. “Get the wallpaper, put it up, and you’re done.”
