peeling off the vinyl layer then painting?

[LindsayO]

I have just moved to my new flat - a big thank you to all those who helped me with my decorating questions in my old house - it sold and I'm ready to start again (sigh)

There is a lot to do, but by far the most pressing is the living room wallpaper
-its old vinyl covered in what looks like soot marks and painted in places.

I'm pulling off the vinyl layer and wondering if the advice on makeover TV shows really works, can I just paint the layer of paper underneath?

I suspect not, but they say it so often and the vinyl layer is coming off and leaving a pretty smooth even layer underneath

 

[Growler]

Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.
The chances are that whoever hung the vinyl in the first place, didn't soak it long enough, consequently if you emulsion over it, it will bubble up, these may go back though.

Risky...but...sometimes it's worth it.

Only 1 way to find out for sure.

 

[JohnD]

think how much happier you will be if you clean it all off, patch up the cracks in the wall, and do it properly.

 

[LindsayO]

Thank you both, JohnD, you are so right, it was just wishful thinking on my part I suppose, hoping someone would say, yes this is a great idea