Sealing wall for papering ?

[DERYN]

Hi everybody, I am in the process of decorating our house and I tried to wallpaper the bedroom today. Easy enough you would say ? Ordinarily 'yes' but not so these walls ! Built by slate quarrymen our house is slate built with various forms of rendering throughout the house. In the bedroom in question I took off 5 layers of wallpaper. The various wallpaper designs were interesting but it was hard work. What I was left with is a white looking render with a very sandy/gritty texture, almost sandpaper like. I tried wallpapering straight on the wall, lots of bubbles resulted ! On removing the paper quite a lot of grit came off with it ! I decided to remove the paper and size the room with watered paper paste, then cover with backing paper. The results were the same. I think the render is just drawing the moisture straight out of the paste resulting in patches and bubbles. The backing paper has also been removed now and I'm scratching my head for a next move ? 'I'll ask the guys' I told the wife, so here I am guys, wotcha think ? Is sealing the wall going to be fruitless ? any ideas ?

Deryn

 

[JoceAndChris]

That happened here. The solution was very generous sizing of the walls, waiting, then lining paper (very generously pasted), then paper. Don't judge bubbles until 24 hours have elapsed - most shrink back. Really stubborn ones can be punctured and pasted down again, which is why lining paper is so important. Good luck!

 

[DERYN]

Hi, thanks. what about Unibond adhesive ? has anyone tried that in such a situation ?

Deryn

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Size the wall first. I generally use 1200 ml lining paper. I think I got the last lot from decorating direct-- good value and good quality paper. As Joce says, paste well-- you've got plenty of time with that paper, it won't tear. Then let it all dry back for a day. Should do the trick.

 

[DERYN]

I have sized the walls again and might do it again tomorrow. I have 800 lining paper but I'll pick some 1800 today and give it a try. I hope I'm not putting the inevitable off and will have to re-plaster in the end !

Give me bricks, blocks and 4x2 any day, but when it comes to simply wallpapering !?

Deryn

 

[Penners]

I'll pick some 1800 today and give it a try.... Give me bricks, blocks and 4x2 any day, but when it comes to simply wallpapering !?

Deryn

I'm with you, Deryn. But think of it this way - 1800mg paper should have the added advantage of making your house bullet-proof (although you may find that you'll need a bandsaw to cut it).

As Joce has mentioned above, lining paper bubbles can usually be punctured and rolled flat. If you suspect that there's insufficient paste inside the bubble (or that the paste has dried out) use a hypodermic syringe to inject some paste into it - thereby achieving the puncture at the same time as pasting.

 

[DERYN]

thanks again, I picked up some 1200 paper today which I think will do the trick. So, a couple of sizes, then on with the backing paper, any persistent bubbles I'll set to with a Stanley knife, the backing paper effectively becomes my wall surface so if I get that right I'll be back on track.

We came across some proposed modernization grant work plans while we were clearing the house out and I state 'proposed' because most of the work suggested never got done. I can only assume the proposals weren't approved. In fact very little of the work got done. Re-plastering was a proposed job that never happened, and that's why I'm having trouble now ! I was surprised to see that most of the work I have been doing was on the proposal plans. The final bill was quite hefty it seems to me and didn't reflect what work had been done. But hey ho, back to the papering I go.

Deryn

 

[jocelyn plummer]

glad you got the 1200, a happy medium I think!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Just a couple more points you may already be doing - make sure you give each length 5 mins to soak. We always set the timer. It can't be any more, or less. And have a very bright work lamp angled so you don't miss bits as you're pasting.

 

[Penners]

have a very bright work lamp angled so you don't miss bits as you're pasting.

That's a good tip, Joce. I find really effective lighting to be an absolute necessity for most jobs. It's amazing what boo-boos you can miss without it*. And, as you suggest, the lighting should be strategically placed to highlight any problems, without shining in your eyes.






* Or am I showing my age and crumbling faculties?

 

[middi]

I am so lucky, I hate wallpaper.( I paint a lot )

 

[Feltwell]

For lining paper, I've used this stuff - I think it's brilliant, I wouldn't go back to "ordinary" lining paper of any weight.

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/m/MAVNWLPV/

 

[DERYN]

Hi everybody and thanks for the further info.

So far so good ! After sizing the walls a couple of times, and letting the backing paper soak for 5 minutes, all looks good with the few pieces I have put up so far. Turning the radiator off seems to have helped too as I thought the heat was drying the paper out too quickly. I'm glad with your help I've sorted this problem out as I practically have the whole house to wallpaper !

Deryn

 

[Pford75]

I second Feltwell's recommendation of non-woven lining papers. Having used both this and heavyweight lining paper, it's no contest for me. Easier to cut, easier to hang, no shrinkage, butts easily etc. etc. The weight feels the same, but somehow (perhaps it's my eyes), it appears to do a better job of covering the imperfections in the wall. The plaster in our dining room was a bit of a state, but budget dictated that we couldn't replaster...so we lined the whole room and it's almost impossible to tell.

I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I have rarely been so impressed by such a simple product.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Wow! I'll definitely use it next time around.

Glad it's going better for you Deryn!

 

[Moo]

Me too!
That information couldn't have come at a better time - this year we've really got do to something about the walls in our hall, stairs and landings!

xxx M

 

[Penners]

this year we've really got do to something about the walls in our hall, stairs and landings!

What, all of them? That sounds exhausting, dangerous and expensive! I trust you will be employing the services of an interior decorator who is also a skilled mountaineer.

 

[Moo]

That's the reason for our years of procrastination, Penners. Both John and I suffer from debilitating vertigo so we'd have to do something really radical like actually paying someone to do it.

 

[Feltwell]

I second Feltwell's recommendation of non-woven lining papers. ........I know this sounds like a sales pitch, but I have rarely been so impressed by such a simple product.

I've not used it under wallpaper, only to create a good surface to paint on, but I was very impressed and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work under wallpaper. I also had a room that really needed plastering, but time and money dictated that lining paper was the way to go and the result was far better than I expected, the non-woven stuff really does cover less-than-perfect plaster well.

we'd have to do something really radical like actually paying someone to do it.

Steady on Moo, there's limits you know! I'm not looking forward to doing mine - the longest drop of wallpaper to hang must be close to 20', and that's then a good 10' above the stairs.

 

[Pford75]

Moo wrote:
we'd have to do something really radical like actually paying someone to do it.

Since I am lusting after some antiques at what I believe is one of your close neighbours...perhaps we could arrange a trade? I come and do your papering, in return I get my pick of furniture :wink: