Do you have to remove texture to wallpaper?

Author: Catharine Windler  |  Last update: Thursday, August 7, 2025

Textured wall surfaces, like knock-down and orange-peel, are very popular in some areas, but as with any design element, they can grow old after a few years. If you want to wallpaper over these areas, you will need to make the walls relatively smooth again prior to hanging the new wallpaper.

Can you wallpaper over texture?

In the majority of situations, a textured wall won't be an issue when it comes to your wallpaper sticking. However, a flat wall is always better to work with. The wallpaper will perform better and it will look better.

Can textured walls be smoothed?

The process of smoothing textured walls with skim coating is fairly common. It refers to spreading a layer of joint compound over the walls to fill in the bumps and valleys in the texture, effectively creating a smooth surface.

How to remove wall texture for wallpaper?

Method 2: Apply a Skim Coat on Textured Walls
  1. Cover the Floor and Remove Trim. ...
  2. Lightly Sand the Painted Texture. ...
  3. Mix the Joint Compound. ...
  4. Roll the Joint Compound Onto the Wall. ...
  5. Skim the Compound Smooth. ...
  6. Keep the Surface Wet. ...
  7. Dry and Repeat (If Needed). ...
  8. Sand the Wall Smooth.

What happens if you paint over textured wallpaper?

Textured wallpaper can be hard to remove, so it's not surprising that many people choose to paint over it. If you paint over it, there's no way to cover up the texture completely, which will show through your paint.

How To Remove Wallpaper

How do you cover textured wallpaper without removing it?

Cover heavily textured paper with a thin coat of joint compound (spackle). This material will help smooth out the surface so that the texture won't show through the paint. Gently sand down the seams of the wallpaper so they're not as noticeable.

Can you paint directly over texture?

If you have textured wall surfaces or wallpaper, you might hesitate about painting over them. However, while it can take a little more time and requires a little more effort compared to smooth walls, painting textured walls really isn't as difficult as you might imagine.

How to sand down textured walls for wallpaper?

Rinse the walls with clean water and let them dry completely. If you have any holes or cracks in the walls, now is the time to fill them. Use a joint compound paste to fill the holes, and sand them smooth once dry. Use a sanding block or an orbital sander to smooth out the texture of the walls if they are too textured.

Can you put wallpaper on plywood?

Plywood & Hardwood

The surfaces of raw plywood and hardboard are too porous for wallpaper to stick to them. But if you prime these two materials properly, any wallpaper material can be used. This gives you plenty of wallpaper on plywood options for garages, sheds, cabins and more.

How to remove texture from walls without sanding?

The easiest way to remove texture from walls is the soak-and-scrape method. You'll need to spray a section of the wall with water and let the water soak in and soften the texture. Then, you need to scrape the texture off using a drywall taping knife.

How to make textured walls smooth for wallpaper?

How to clean textured walls before applying wallpaper? To ensure wallpaper sticks well to walls, it must be smooth. Sanding can create the ideal area by removing imperfections, allowing the wallpaper to adhere properly. If needed, peel away old layers before starting the sanding process.

Are textured walls outdated?

While certain types of wall texture are considered outdated, it would be unfair to call all textured walls out of step with modern trends. Like many things with interior design, textured walls are what you make of them, and they can certainly take on a more modern spin when paired with of-the-moment decor.

How do you fix overly textured walls?

If the texture is too deep for complete removal, you can level the walls with drywall compound. After the initial coat has dried, apply a second coat to ensure proper leveling of the surface. Once the second coat has dried completely, use 120 to 150 grit sandpaper to achieve a smooth, flat surface.

Will peel-and-stick wallpaper stay on textured walls?

While materials such as SmartStick® work very well on smooth surfaces, peel-and-stick wallpaper is not recommended for textured walls. The wall texture can show through the wallpaper, and the adhesive often has difficulties properly sticking to the wall, resulting in a fallen heap on the floor.

Is textured wallpaper a good idea?

Whether used as an accent or all-over, these textured wallpaper designs are a contemporary dream. They complement an existing colour scheme and create a great base for a room. For these reasons, they are the most versatile and broadest group to choose from.

What type of wallpaper has a bumpy texture?

Anaglypta wallpaper is a type of duplex paper that is heavily embossed, meaning that it is thick with a raised textured effect. Some of us get this type of wallpaper because it covers a range of bumps and cracks in the wall's surface, but most of us get it for painting on.

What will wallpaper not stick to?

But any shiny surfaces such as laminate, metal or glass are not porous and so when wallpaper paste is applied it does not have anything to adhere to and can't dry. Therefore the wallpaper will literally slide off the surface!

Can you wallpaper over bad walls?

Repair Any Cracks and Holes

If the wall surfaces are really poor, consider getting them skimmed with a layer of plaster, or use a thick grade of lining paper to provide a smooth surface for the wallpaper.

Will wallpaper damage wood paneling?

YES. With proper prep and priming, and quality wallpaper paste and tools, you can install wallpaper over wood paneling. Fortunately, ROMAN Products has the necessary primers, adhesives, and tools to prepare and apply wallpaper to wood surfaces.

How do you remove wallpaper texture?

Step-by-step guide
  1. If dealing with moderately stubborn or textured wallpapers, mix equal parts fabric softener and warm water in a bucket. ...
  2. Saturate the wallpaper with your chosen solution using a sponge or soft cloth. ...
  3. Use a plastic scraper or putty knife to peel off the wallpaper carefully.

What do you put on textured walls before wallpaper?

That means you will need to apply a skim coat over the entire textured surface that will receive the wallpaper. Even though helpful online videos make it look easy, it is not. It is one thing to skim coat a 2' by 2' area and make it look good.

How to remove texture from walls?

Stand on a sturdy step ladder to reach the top and work your way down with a 10-inch drywall taping knife. To remove texture without gouging the drywall, hold the blade approximately 30-degrees to the wall, and scrape in whatever motion feels most comfortable to you, using long slow strokes.

Can you texture over wallpaper?

This task can be daunting, yet if done correctly, texture painting over wallpaper is possible and even enjoyable!

What paint roller to use on textured wallpaper?

Using a long pile roller on a textured surface helps the paint get into the low points of the texture, whereas a medium or short pile roller just skims over the high points.

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