Yes, you can. But, to be sure that you successfully hide the printed pattern on the wallboard and that the paint adheres securely to the wall, it’s important to take the time to clean and prime the surface first before applying your paint color.

   Here’s the steps we recommend:

1. Clean the the walls with a TSP or mild detergent solution. Then spackle any dings and areas of minor wall damage.
2. Apply two coats of a stain-hiding primer, such as Zinsser 1-2-3, allowing the manufacturer’s recommended dry time between coats.
3. Apply two coats of paint. You might want to choose a paint with embedded  texture particles for a matte finish. 

   We don’t recommend removing the batten strips. The gap between boards has to be mudded with drywall joint compound, then sanded back flush to the adjacent wallboard surfaces, in order to eliminate the open seams. If you are a perfectionist, getting the seam line to completely disappear may drive you crazy. Applying a texture finish with a trowel and drywall mud over the entire wall surface is an alternative that eliminates some of the work trying to get the joints perfectly smooth; but texturing takes time too, and it may not be the look that you’re after.

    Also, see our blog posts Why are there cracks in the wallboard in a mobile home after its moved? and Why is the floor tile cracked in my mobile home? 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Want to learn more about inspecting
manufactured/mobile homes? 
Get our  Handbook for 
Manufactured Home Inspectors 
at amazon.com for $19.95

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Here’s links to a collection of our blog posts about MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES:

• Where can I file a complaint if I have problems with my new or used manufactured/mobile home in Florida?

• What are the most common defects in mobile/manufactured home foundation piers?

• How do I determine the age of a very old mobile home?

• What is a "HUD label verification letter" for a mobile/manufactured home?  

• When did a ground cover vapor barrier (plastic sheet) become required under a mobile/manufactured home? 

• Is it safe to go under a mobile home? 

• Are older mobile homes unsafe? 

• What do I need to know about buying a foreclosed mobile home? 

• Does it make sense to buy an older mobile home and remodel it? 

• Where do I find the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a mobile home? 

• How do I find out how old a mobile home is and who manufactured it?

• What is the right price for a used mobile home?

• How energy efficient is a mobile home?

• When were the first double-wide mobile homes manufactured?

• How do I upgrade my old (pre-1976) mobile home to meet HUD standards?

• What size air conditioner is right for my mobile home? 

• Can you move an older mobile home in Florida? 

• What does the HUD tag look like and where do I find it on a mobile home? 

• Can you put a zone 1 mobile home in Florida?

• How can I remove water under my mobile home?

• What's the differences between a trailer, a mobile home, a manufactured home, and a modular home? 

• What is a D-sticker mobile home? 

• What are the tie-down requirements for a mobile home?

• How fireproof is a mobile home?  

• Can I install a mobile home myself?

• What is a Park Model mobile home?  

• Does an addition to a mobile home have to comply with the HUD Code? 

• What walls can I remove in a mobile home?

• What can I do to prevent dampness and mold in my mobile home? 

• How can I tell if a mobile home is well constructed?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

       Visit our MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES  page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.