Can You Paint Over Vinyl Wall Decals

Whether you want the look of painted drywall.

Can you paint over vinyl wall decals.

Depending on the type of wall paint. Paint will not stick to a dirty surface. Carefully paint the varnish over the sticker with a clean paintbrush using smooth even strokes. If you have a wall decal matte finish and not super strong adhesive use a very light coat of polyurethane.

Be sure your vinyl is clean before applying paint by washing it with soap and water and rinsing well. The vinyl has a tendency to want to lift up if you don t have a surface that s perfectly smooth. If you can still feel the edges of the stickers apply another thin layer of varnish. Unfortunately decals are not suited for adhesion and require specific preparation before they will accept paint.

The best way to get wall decals or most any other decals off is to use a bit of heat as you peel the sticker. If your vinyl surface is clean the paint or primer will adhere to the vinyl rather than the dirt and you will have a longer lasting finish. A show car or custom chopper and you ve did some testing and you can t easily or cost effectively do it with only paint or vinyl graphics. Mod podge is another product that i have heard customers state they have used over their wall decal stickers.

You want to make sure that your vinyl adheres well and that nothing comes up with the transfer paper. There are several methods to cover up the vinyl without tearing it out or replacing it entirely. If you have any other questions about vinyl wall decals please check out our faq page. When making signs using vinyl letters and logos we always use oil based paints as they last longer.

If on the other hand you are using an oil based paint not common in most areas nowadays you can apply vinyl graphics or decals or stickers within a week or so as oil paints dry from the outside in. As a low budget alternative you can also cover up the damage by hanging a poster or moving furniture. Use heat as you remove the wall decal off. If you need to paint but are unable to remove existing decals from the surface you are working on paint over the stickers using the proper techniques.

If you don t have a textured wall you can also use sandpaper. Once you have the sticker covered with a light layer of varnish let the surface dry for 30 minutes to an hour. A hair dryer on high heat setting or a heat gun on low heat setting should help the glue release easily. I ve seen many with custom motorcycles attempt a clear coat over top of the vinyl decals and with excellent success.

You can also use a primer between the vinyl and the paint. The polyurethane tends to curl the edges of a vinyl sticker and with the lighter adhesive the strength of the adhesive can break down. Prepare thoroughly or the decals will inevitably shed their new finish. On a wall decal sticker.

Vinyl wall paneling can look dated in a modern home.