What is best primer for dark wood walls & over wallpaper, AND what paint is most durable (4 kids)?

I need to paint over dark wood panel walls (looks real dark), and over striped wallpaper (mustard %26amp; pea green over off white - from the 70's). I want to make the dark wood a real light blue, and the wall paper a solid white. Both are in good like new condition (wallpaper looks like was just done and new although original since 1974. Looks like would be easier to paint over than to remove). What is the best primer to use on these?





Also, I have kids so what paint is best that is most scrubable %26amp; durable, and will not have lead in it? The rooms get alot of light so do I want to keep from using certain kinds of paint (ie will high gloss be too reflective with light, how about semi-gloss)? Do I need to prime a ceiling if painting that too? I am doing white over off white/lt. taupe.What is best primer for dark wood walls %26amp; over wallpaper, AND what paint is most durable (4 kids)?
First off No Wall paints have lead.


CEILINGFirstly remove the ceiling light base so that it is hanging(take the glass shade and put that away so it don't get broke) and unscrew the base so that it hangs down by the wires. Any ceiling stains from water leaks(I am assuming you have no problem there), get some latex ceiling paint(price govern quality generally)by measuring out the walls and taking those measurements with you and figure with 2 coats(as it has never been painted). Get adequate paint a roller and a suitable NYLON OR POLYESTER brush and do it. Go all the way across the room...and by the time you get to the end you probably can start again and do it (maybe starting in the opposite corner so you will be xing the first coat. 2 coats will give you an even finish. Now leave the ceiling alone...it will dry while you do the rest and leave the light alone hanging(and wash your brush out in water alot to get the paint out) Put it aside and wrap the bristles in a plastic bread bag(just in case it ain't clean enough, it won't dry).


WALLS The dark wood panelling needs some work before you can paint. First, wash the wall down with TSP solution. This will take off any grease and oil and grime on the wall. Paint does not stick to that stuff. Wash down the wall paper wall as well. It can't hurt it any.


Next after it dries, you need to get some sandpaper 100 or 120 grit and cut the large sheet in half and then fold into thirds so that it is a handy palm sized pack of cards. Now sand the woodpanel wall only; making scratches into the panelling. Go over the same spot in 3 to 4 swipes (that is about the amount of scratching you need to do) Do this over the whole wall.


When sandpaper surface in hand loses its ';bite'; just flip to a new face(you have 3 per handy card) and 2 ends per face so there is alot of surface to work with.


(Now I know what you are thinking....would it not be better for me to sand first and then wash the walls secondly?) NO and I will tell you why. Lets say you had a dab of grease on the smooth wall. Now you take your sandpaper(which cuts grooves into the wall) and you drag it over the wall into the grease and continue to drag it farther down the wall and back again. That grease which WAS ON smooth wall is now in the bottom of the grooves the ';sand'; made as it scratched its way across the wall and back again. How do you wash that out? You can't. The bottom of the grooves will continue to have the grease in them.


The reason for sanding is so that the paint could hang onto the bottom of those grooves(and thus stick to the wall like a mountain climber with his ';hook';) So wash off the gooey stuff first.


%26gt;So now that you have sanded the walls, you take another dry/damp rag and quickly wipe off the sanding dust...which most has fallen down anyways due to gravity so there is not much there in the first place.%26lt;


The paint I would use here...alkyd primer(its oil base and that is why I would use it here.)


This primer is also more forgiving for mediocre sanding jobs as it sticks better.


As for the wallpaper(I wish I knew the room, I could make a better guess but seeing as there is panelling, I am assuming it is a bedroom or dining room. I am thinking of if the wallpaper is vinyl coated......which should be stripped more than painted, but maybe it isn't.....so I am gambling here...you can put the same Alkyd primer over it as well.


If using a brush for any of this, for cutting in; you want a DIFFERENT BRUSH than used for the ceiling. You need a';pure bristle brush'; and you are needing paint thinner.


After using the brush for the day put it in a washed out dried out soup can and add a little bit of thinner overtop of the bristles and put a plastic bag overtop of the can/handle and put in a cool place so it does not evaporate or spill. Because you will need it again.


Let the walls dry overnight minimum.


Now you want a paint that is 100% ACRYLIC latex, EGG-SHELL FINISH will stand up to kids pretty good too(and look good too) and is the most durable.





// I mean, the most scrubbable and durable is epoxy-nitrocellulosebased paint that will stand up to surface to surface missles fair decently - (and rest assured - I do know that kids are more destructive than that - -but, too; I don't think you were implicating that they are THAT destructive//


Also, because it is dark wood(I am assuming black walnut), it may not look that blue color after just one coat. So, paint the walls (using the polyester brush), wait overnight to dry hard and do it again.


Paint takes 48 hours to get hard thru and thru.


While TV advertizing makes everything look so fast and easy, if you read the can and do as it says according to the surface conditions ; primer/dry overnight/first coat/dryovernight/second coat is normal procedure. And so is the multiple coats. Check with Benjamin Moore Paints or any other.What is best primer for dark wood walls %26amp; over wallpaper, AND what paint is most durable (4 kids)?
I recommend Zinsser http://www.zinsser.com/subcat.asp?Catego鈥?/a> It's the only thing we use. As far as paint i recommend Benjamin Moore http://www.benjaminmoore.com/
To answer your question, I always preferred to use Kilz. Even though their new formulas are not as good as their older ones, they still have a great product. You can get it also in ';odorless';. (there will be still an odor, but not as strong as the original) The thing that I would suggest though, is not to paint over the wallpaper. The glue behind the paper only lasts for so long, and then it will loosen up and create bubbles and splits where the seams are. This can be very noticeable. It is not really difficult to remove wallpaper.





As far as the paint, i would first stay away from wal-mart's ColorPlace. The best paint that I have used throughout over ten years experience is Olympic. It is cost-efficient, yet a great paint that will cover easy and is durable.





If painting in the kitchen or bathrooms, you can use a semi-gloss sheen. Semi-gloss is easy to keep clean and wont rub off as easy when you wipe it down with a wet cloth. In living rooms, dens, bedrooms, etc, I prefer to use a satin sheen. I leave utility rooms and closets flat or eggshell.





If you have any other questions about painting, feel free to e-mail me.