Question on wallpaper paste

[michael]

I’m thinking of applying some very expensive wallpaper to one wall to make a decorative feature but I’m wondering if there’s such a thing as breathable wallpaper paste, otherwise would the paste which is effectively just a glue, perhaps with a fungicide additive, not act as a sealer and prevent breathability? Many of the ‘up market’ wallpaper manufactures such as Beaumont & Fletcher or Timney Fowler who offer some quite traditional designs recommend their own wallpaper pastes but are these actually suitable for old walls requiring breathability?

 

[Lime]

I'd use tub paste.

This link just demonstrates what I mean.
http://www.decoratorsdepot.co.uk/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=414&idcategory=9
it can be purchased cheaper elsewhere I expect.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I asked this question to the forum - and the response I got was there was only any point worrying about it if your wall is fully breathable in all other respects. Is yours? Of course long ago they made it from flour and water didn't they, whether that was a more breathable mixture than Solvite I don't know.

Moisture will find its way through wallpaper paste, and wallpaper, if it really wants to. When we moved here the wallpaper was really quite wet in the dining room (from outside to in is cement render, stone, lime plaster, wallpaper) Now we've removed the cement render from outside the dining room that 20 year old wallpaper has completely dried out, and could be stuck back on - except that particular 80s wallpaper isn't worth saving!

I've judged that as the walls bear evidence of modern paint there is little point worrying; I've used Solvite on my Farrow and Ball and it's holding up nicely!

 

[Penners]

When we moved here the wallpaper was really quite wet in the dining room

When we bought our last-but-one house (in Oxfordshire) the walls were so wet that the wallpaper was held on by a line of nails along the top.

Stripping the paper off was the work of minutes. Getting the flippin' nails out was another matter.

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol:

I have no doubt that by the time you left all was perfectly dry and beautifully neat.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I had a batch of walllpaper handprinted to order by Watts of Westminster fo my living room and they advised hanging with ready made tub paste.

It was the right advice. All wallpaper pastes are waterbased and reversible so breathability should not be an issue.

 

[Penners]

All wallpaper pastes are .....reversible

That's handy. If you don't like one side of the paste, just turn it over.











:roll:

 

[biffvernon]

Just because something is 'water based' ie the solvent is water, that doesn't mean it is 'breathable' cf acrylic paints.

But traditional wall-paper pastes, mostly starch, are fine. There'll be no interruption to vapour permeability.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Biff you are right of course, but my hypothesis is that if the paste is reversible it should be breathable because it cannot form a membrane which is inpervious to water.