Is it possible to glue wallpaper on plaster: expert advice

Do it yourself repair is a very expensive undertaking. And both financially and from the point of view of the expenditure of own forces and time. Often it results in a complete cessation of normal life, and all households are forced to live in the same room with bags of cement, rolls of wallpaper, buckets of paint, impregnation and a primer and other building materials. And in the process of protracted repairs there comes a point of no return, when the landlord decides to complete it in record time and skip several important stages of the finishing work.

In this regard, the question arises as to whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on plaster? After all, it is no secret to anyone that a putty is usually applied over a layer of plaster, and then a thin layer of primer. So can you do without it, or is it better not to save money at this stage of the work?

Types of plaster

Before deciding whether it is possible to glue the wallpaper on the plaster, you should find out exactly what material is applied to the wall. Everyone knows what plaster is. It looks like a thick paste and is designed to align walls and close up significant defects. Sold in the form of dry mixes that need to be diluted with water. Or already finished.

All plasters differ in the type of base. Among them are:

• Cement. A mixture of cement and sand or cement and lime. The most popular, inexpensive plaster with high strength and good adhesion. The mixture is universal and suitable for any type of room, including with high humidity. The main disadvantages of cement mortar is a large load on the wall due to the severity of the material and a long curing time (up to 3-4 weeks).

• Gypsum. The main component, as the name implies, is gypsum. Various modifiers have been added to it to improve adhesion. Gypsum plaster is used for roughing as a base for paint or wallpaper. The advantages of the mixture are a minimum of shrinkage without cracks, high viscosity and elasticity, good vapor permeability (the material “breathes”), environmental friendliness. The disadvantages include the fact that the mixture can not be used in wet rooms, it has lower strength compared to the cement base.
• Polymer plaster. Basis - polymer resins. Appointment - finishing. Polymer paste is not intended for deep leveling of walls. It dries quickly, has high resistance to moisture and temperature changes, does not require additional decorative finishes. Minus - high price
• Silicone Basis - silicone resin with various impurities. It is used as a decorative coating on all types of walls, even on wooden ones. The mixture is very elastic, it is not affected by high humidity, the coating is durable and vapor permeable. Disadvantages - high cost.

By appointment, you can select rough and finish plaster. The latter is found in a dozen varieties - Venetian, mineral, relief, etc.

So is it possible to glue wallpaper on plaster? In fact, it all depends on the type of foundation and a couple of nuances.

Decorative

Decorative plaster is a very beautiful and unusual option for wall decoration for most of the inhabitants of our country. Among other things, quite expensive. But she bothers over time, and the soul requires something more fresh.

So is it possible to glue wallpaper on decorative plaster? Experts do not advise doing this. The decorative layer may be too fragile, and the wallpaper will fall off with it. In addition, the finishing plaster is often made embossed, and a thin canvas will not block all the bumps.

However, some still give the green light to this procedure, but with reservations. First, you need to make sure that the plaster adheres well to the wall. Secondly, smooth out all roughness to a mirror shine.

Cement

Is it possible to glue wallpaper on cement plaster? It is possible, but the result will be doubtful. Frozen cement plaster is a large-porous structure of an unappealing dark color. Even after sanding it has a lot of bumps. And this creates certain problems. The glue will go into the pores, and the adhesion of the wallpaper to the wall will not be up to par. And if the wallpaper is light and thin, then the gray color of the cement will be visible through them.

Putty solves all these problems. In fact, it is the same plaster, but more finely dispersed. And she will block all the large pores and make the surface white. If there is no desire to mess with the putty, then on the cement base it is necessary to apply a primer - in several layers.

Gypsum plaster

Is it possible to glue wallpaper on gypsum plaster? It lays in a smoother layer than cement. And at first glance, there should not be a problem with it. But this is a false impression.

Of course, if you sand the gypsum layer, it will be quite even and smooth. But there remains the risk that the web will fall off due to low adhesion. In addition, sticking wallpaper directly on top of the “Rotband” and similar mixtures, after some time you can see the emerging red. So gypsum plaster must be pre-putty and primed.

Wallpaper on a concrete wall

The question remains as to whether it is possible to glue wallpaper without plastering on the wall. It is theoretically possible. And they will even hold on, especially if they pre-grind bare concrete. But the aesthetic side is in question.

Plaster is needed to align the walls. And without this finish, the wallpaper depicts all the bumps and flaws. It will look especially bad if you stick thin and light wallpapers.

In addition, all the same problems arise as when wallpapering on cement plaster.

So the question of whether it is possible to glue wallpaper without plaster directly on concrete walls, should nevertheless be answered with a categorical refusal.

Wall Instructions

To properly stick the wallpaper, you must adhere to the following instructions:

1. Remove the old decorative coating - remove the wallpaper, tile or plaster.
2. Remove all metal nails, self-tapping screws and other foreign objects from the wall.
3. Assess the condition of the old plaster. If necessary, remove everything that does not hold well.
4. To plaster large irregularities, if necessary, level the surface. Wait for drying.
5. Strip off any irregularities with a sanding net or sandpaper.
6. Prime the wall. Wait for drying.
7. Apply a layer of putty. Wait for drying.
8. Primer the surface again. Wait for drying.
9. Proceed to sticker wallpaper.

If you answered yes to the question of whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on plaster, then you should take advantage of useful tips from construction specialists.

Useful tips from the masters

If it was decided not to complicate the repair work, and get rid of the putty surface, then you can use the following recommendations:

1. Assess the condition of the plaster - if there are too many pores, irregularities and defects on it, then it is better to abandon the undertaking.
2. Before sticking, you need to carefully clean the entire surface, so that it becomes even and smooth.
3. The primer should not be neglected - it will improve adhesion.
4. It is better to glue thick foam wallpaper on the plaster - they will block the defects of the base.
   

Materials and Tools

To prepare the walls and wallpaper stickers, you will need the following tools and materials:

• metal spatula - narrow and wide;
• long ruler;
• sharp knife;
• scissors;
• pencil for marking;
• roulette;
• wallpaper;
• wallpaper glue;
• plaster;
• putty;
• primer;
• paint roller and container - for glue;
• rubber roller - for wallpaper;
• clean light rags;
• level;
• sandpaper or mesh.

If we summarize the conversation about whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on plaster, then we can conclude the following: this technology has the right to life, but only under certain conditions. In other cases, you always need to pre-ground and putty the walls.