Wallpaper is one of the fastest ways to transform your home. But if you don't know what you're doing when you're hanging it, installation can quickly turn into a days-long nightmare.
This post is intended to help people understand what different kinds of wallpaper adhesive are out there. As well as which ones are best for Raleigh, North Carolina climate.
Wallpaper with dried glue already on the back
Table of Contents
Prepasted Wallpaper
Prepasted wallpaper comes with the glue already dried on the back. To activate the glue, a warm water solution is used.
We do not recommend prepasted wallpaper in Raleigh. There is often not enough glue on the back to withstand the humidity of southern Florida.
To begin, always lay down a drop cloth to protect the floors. Measure your walls, and cut the wallpaper to the desired length. Make sure to leave a few extra inches so you can make clean cuts at the ceiling and floor.
Then lay the wallpaper face down either on the floor or a workbench. Thoroughly spray down the back of the wallpaper with a spray bottle full of hot water. Fold the wallpaper in on itself, like you are closing a book. This is called "booking".
Let the wallpaper sit for 10 minutes to activate the glue, then hang it up on your wall! Make sure to start at the ceiling.
An essential step for almost all wallcoverings
Wallpaper Primer
Wallpaper primer's job is simple; it makes a protective layer between the drywall and wallpaper. This means that removing the wallpaper down the road will be a quick and easy process.
Wallpaper primer also ensures the longevity of your wallpaper installation job. It will keep your new walls from peeling, which is so important in the Raleigh humidity!!! South Florida is so humid, it's like all your wallpapers are in a steamy bathroom.
Furthermore, there's the added benefit of covering up dark paint. So if you wall was a dark green or brown before wallpaper, it will not show through with primer applied, even if your chosen wallpaper is snow white.
There are a few kinds of primer. The type you'll need depends on what's currently covering your walls.
- Acrylic
- Alkyd
- PVA primer
- Shellac
- Latex
Our recomendation for Raleigh NC Weather
Paste The Wall
Unpasted wallpaper used to be the only kind of wallpaper for homes. In the old days, the glue used was 100% permanent, and was extremely difficult to remove.
Thankfully, modern glue is much better. It is easy to apply and remove when it comes time to update your walls. Especially if primer has been applied. Really, primer should always be applied!
To apply paste the wall wallpaper adhesive, use a paint roller. First, draw your plumb line from floor to ceiling so you hang the paper straight. Then roll the wallpaper adhesive out onto one section of you wall.
When painting on the adhesive, make sure to get a good layer on there. Not too thin, not too thick.
Starting at the top of the wall, carefully press the wallpaper up to the wall. Use a smoothing tool to smooth out the paper from the center to the edge.
Cut away any excess and repeat!
A giant plastic wrap nightmare
Peel and Stick Wallpaper
As professional paperhangers, we are not a fan of peel and stick wallpaper.
Manufacturers will try and sell it as "easy to apply" because there's no glue involved. But they are so wrong!
Once on the wall, it stays there. No room to adjust the wallpaper at all. If the paper is not very high quality, any adjustments can stretch it.
Plus it sticks to itself if given the opportunity. Like a giant plastic wrap disaster.
That being said, it is doable! For it to be easiest, you'll need two people.
First tip is to NOT remove the backing all at once. As one person sticks the paper to the wall, the other person will pull down the backing. Start at the ceiling and work your way down.
Second tip is to NOT use a traditional smoother. The sharp plastic edge will rough up the cheap paper. Instead, use a chalkboard eraser. That will gently push out the bubbles.
DIY or hire a pro
Conclusion
Now you know the basics of different types of wallpaper glue.
There's more to know still! We suggest doing some more in-depth research.
Or you could hire the pros at Raleigh Wallpaper, and we can take care of this work for you.