Wallpaper Border-Can you put new border over old?

Maybe, but the result will probably be less than satisfactory.

The old border may come loose from the wall in spots when the new 'wet' border is applied because the moisture from the new border will re moisten the paste from the old border.

Best to remove the old border. If it is a strippable border it will come completely off w/o any problems. If it's a peelable border, the top vinyl layer will come off the wall leaving a paper backing. The paper backing can be removed after it is moistened. With a spray bottle of warm water, spray a 3' section and allow to soak for several minutes. Should peel away without much effort. If the original border was installed with additional adhesive you may need to moisten the paper backing with a solution of wallpaper stripper, found at any hardware store. At this point, you may also need to scape off the remoistened border with a 6" putty knife.

You could paint over the existing border and then put the new border on last if you want to do it really quick and the borders are the same size and will be in the same location. Also make sure the old border is on there good and not peeling anywhere or you'll have a headache redoing it after you are all done. I see people paint over wall paper all the time on HGTV and I think it is OK for a quick fix or if the paper is on really well. Some people also do it if the paper is textured and they like it but want to change the color.

Yes you can with alot of extra sticky glue. However it will look awful, I know I witnessed someone do it. the best way to go about doing a border is to completely strip the current border by scoring it and mixing 2 parts liquid fabric softener to 1 part warm water and spraying it on the border and scraping it off with a putty knife. then let it dry and put up the new border. Doing all this may take a little bit longer...not much but definitly will look fabulous in the end :) Good luck!

I would take the old one down, it's a pain but better in the long run. However, if you decide that taking it down is not for you, I would paint over the old one with a very good primer because it is not likely to stick to just the border itself and your basic wall paint is not likely to stick to the border very well either so that if you try to put the new border over just ordinary paint on border, it will proably cause the paint underneath to bubble and peel off which will also cause problems with the rest of the paint on the wall. hope that makes sense.

You can put new border on old border if it is stuck really good. But, if its not too hard to remove I would do that first to be on the safe side. No need to be careful about painting over the old border if you decide to keep it up. It will stick just as well to the old border as it would your painted wall. Good luck!!

Don't paint over the old border excesively, but a little wont hurt. Just use a vinal to vinal adhesive. Be very careful to wash all paste off the surface while it's still wet because final to final paste looks nasty if it dries on the paint or the surface of the border

Old Wallpaper

How To Put Wallpaper

Yes you can. But no you don't want to. Take the old down.

You can do it , but you may need special paste

so it will adhere to the old paper