The best-painted walls are only as good as their preparation. Time spent cleaning and making good walk and ceilings prior to receiving their finish is time well spent. As a general rule, although some paint finishes will disguise an uneven wall, the aim of careful preparation is to ensure that walls and other surfaces are as flat and smooth as possible. Paint and wallpaper are not just decorations; they also protect the surfaces from wear and tear. But these finishes may crack, flake, tear or fall off the wall if the surface is not prepared carefully. For a perfect finish, make sure the surfaces are clean, dry and free from crumbling plaster and flaking paint.
The first task is to clear the room of furniture and furnishings: take down curtains and, where possible, roll up carpets. This will give you a clear space in which to work, and will avoid damage should there be an accidental spill. Don't forget to remove light fittings and shelves, and if there is anything left in the room, move it to the centre and cover it with a dustsheet. Cover the floor with newspaper - but not in areas where you will be heat-stripping paint.
Painting over wallpaper is a quick-fix solution, but the results aren't always very good, because paint can soften the existing adhesive and cause it to start 'bubbling'. Stripping away old wallpaper can seem a daunting task, but some modern wallpapers, including most vinyls, are called 'easy strip', which means you can simply pull away the wallpaper leaving the backing paper in place.
Try lifting a strip of wallpaper in one corner to see if it will pull away. If it does and the under paper is in good condition, leave the under paper on the walls to serve as your lining paper. If the under paper is damaged or creased, then you'll have to strip this off as well.
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