In an Old Home, Is Wallpaper or Paint the Better Choice?

In an old home the condition of the wall decides. On walls with hairline cracks and unevenness, non-woven wallpaper or glass textile makes more sense because it covers the flaws. On walls with sound, even plaster, paint is enough and more economical.

Choosing by the condition of the wall

• Hairline cracks: non-woven wallpaper, or glass textile that is painted over.
• Uneven, patched plaster: a thick, textured paper; glossy paint shows every ripple.
• Even, sound plaster: paint; changing the colour later is easy.
• Damp wall: neither; the source of the damp is dealt with first.

The weak point of paint in an old home

Paint is a thin film; as the plaster underneath moves, the crack comes back. A new coat over many layers of old paint can also blister in time.

The weak point of wallpaper in an old home

It needs preparation: the old paper is stripped and the wall is primed. Wallpaper is not hung over crumbling plaster.

For those who want a paint colour and a cure for cracks

Glass textile is glued to the wall and painted in the colour you want; it reinforces the wall and, according to its manufacturer, can be repainted 10 to 15 times.

Can new wallpaper go over the old?

We do not recommend it; the old paper should be stripped. During the survey Erdağ Yapı tests the wall and makes a recommendation; see our wallpaper and glass textile application pages.