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The time has finally come and you need to re-do your walls with the existing wallpaper started to peel and has ghastly stains all over. Before you run off and grab another roll of wallpaper, consider the other (better, in our humble opinion) option – paint!. Which is best depends on what you prefer as the homeowner, but this article will cover some of the pros and cons of both wall paint and wallpaper. So you can make the best decision which suits you.
Preparation
While it doesn’t matter whether you want to get your walls painted or wallpapered, there is some preparation needed on both ends before you get started with the job.
Paint
When it comes to preparing your walls to be painted, it all depends on the condition and colour of the old paint. If there is cracking and peeling, you may need to scrape off those sections, and use gap filler or spackle for any cracking and hold. If the old paint is a darker colour, you may need to use a primer to get the desired result. Typically though, you can clean your walls over the old paint with a sugar soap solution, and then you’re ready to go.
Wallpaper
There is a bit of work involved in preparing your walls for new wallpaper. If your walls have previously been wallpapered, you’ll have a decent job ahead of you removing it. This means preparation time is going to be significantly longer.
First of all, you’re going to need the right tools and materials to remove the old wallpaper, like a scraping tool, and a chemical remover. This involves the tedious process of soaking the walls with the chemical remover and scraping away the old paper, all whilst being careful not to damage the wall underneath.
If you’re wallpapering in multiple rooms and walls, you need to make sure the colours beneath are uniform so they don’t tint the wallpaper with an undesired colour. To keep them all uniform in colour, you will need to prime them all the same colour, which involves extra work.
Advantage: Paint
If you previously had your walls wallpapered then you’ll see that it can take a long time to prepare them. If you wallpaper your walls again once they get old and scuffed, you’re going to need to go through this whole process again. Choosing to paint will save you time now and in the future. Wall paint can last from 5 to 7 years before it may need a new coat, and all you need to do is paint over the old paint. For this first round of wallpaper vs paint, we think, the best option for saving you preparation time is paint.
Cost
Thinking about price when getting your walls redone is important. Not only do you want them to look good, but you don’t want them to be too expensive, right?
Paint
Painting is usually a fairly economic option, as there aren’t as many materials and tools required. You can even paint it yourself if you’re really looking to save costs, but we do recommend getting a professional to do it. Like anything though, there are more expensive options when it comes to painting, which can depend on the brand, finish, and paint type.
Wallpaper
Modern wallpaper is fairly expensive as you have to buy it in rolls, and need some specific tools and solutions to apply it correctly. If you decide to apply the wallpaper yourself, the finished job may look off. There are a lot of things to take into consideration in making sure the design on the wallpaper matches the rest, and that you don’t leave any wrinkles or blemishes while applying it. You really do need a professional to apply wallpaper, and it usually costs more, because of that material cost we mentioned before.
Advantage: Paint
This round of Wallpaper vs paint is all about saving costs, and we have a clear winner; paint. Even if you get a professional to paint your walls, you’re still going to save money over getting it wallpapered. But if you need to save money, there isn’t any reason you can’t paint the walls yourself. Remember however there are a lot more benefits when getting a professional to paint your walls, ensuring a higher level of quality.
Selection
In this next section, we’re going to cover the material selection, the selection of colours, and the designs you get as a consumer.
Paint
There is an abundance of options when it comes to painting your walls. You don’t have to have a uniform colour throughout your house. You can incorporate accent colours, and a feature wall here or there throughout your home to give it a fresh, and lively feeling that will be unique to your tastes and needs. If you’re stuck for colours, Elite Painting has expert painters in Perth who will be more than happy to help.
Wallpaper
Much like paint colours, there is a myriad of colours, and designs to pick from. There are different finishes that provide your walls with a specific look that you may be after. You can mix up wallpaper designs, just like you can with paint, and interchange them throughout your home.
Advantage: Tie Breaker
This time we see a clear tie between both paint and wallpaper. The best option for this round really comes down to what you like design-wise. Paint offers a more modern and fresh look compared to wallpapers, but it depends on the look you’re going for.
Durability
You want your walls to last the long run! In this part, we’re going to be showing you the difference in durability when it comes to wallpaper vs paint.
Paint
Good quality paint for the most part should last you a long time. There’s no denying that high traffic areas, such as the lounge room or kitchen, are going to get more scuffs and stains. Typically a good paint job should last you around 5 to 7 years in those busy rooms. If you get your walls professionally painted by us at Elite Painting, we’ll guarantee a long and durable life for all your paint surfaces.
Wallpaper
Highly durable wallpaper should last a decent time on your walls, but there are a few factors to take into account. Any kind of spillage or high moisture rooms like a kitchen can cause damage to your wallpaper, and cause it to look bad pretty quickly. Seeing as it’s also applied with an adhesive, any kind of constant friction caused by foot traffic or furniture can cause it to wear and peel off easily.
Advantage: Paint
Paint is a long-lasting and durable material designed to work in any room in your home. A quality paint job will last you a lot longer than if you had your home wallpapered. Paint is the clear winner in this category.
And the winner is…
By a large margin, paint is triumphant! Not only is it more cost-effective, but it’s also more durable and takes less time to apply. So, if we’ve won you over and a you need a new paint job done, get in contact with us at Elite Painting. Our professional painters guarantee a quality paint job that is going to last a long time and keep your home looking fresh, clean and modern. Get in touch with us by phone: or by email at 0404 681 371 or email michael@elitepainting.com.au for a free quote.