How to prepare walls for liquid wallpaper

Sometimes an apartment just categorically requires repair, but the need for complex preparatory work, long and laborious stages of repair do not cause enthusiasm. A stimulus may be some new, affordable technology for repair work, for example, liquid-based wallpaper. The process of applying the material, as well as preparing the walls for liquid wallpaper does not require a lot of time and effort, which can become a determining factor when choosing this particular type of finish.

What is liquid wallpaper?

Liquid wallpaper is a dry mixture of cotton, silk or cellulose fibers, supplemented with binders, plasticizers and dyes, diluted with water in the required proportions. This composition performs the function of a finishing decorative coating for walls and ceilings, therefore it is a very practical solution when repairing rooms with complex surfaces (angular, protruding). In addition, this unusual type of wallpaper:

• has no joints;
• environmentally friendly;
• does not fade;
• allows you to easily repair damaged areas.

It is possible to apply liquid-based wallpaper on any surface: concrete, drywall, oil paint, metal, wood. The main thing is that each of these types of framework should be suitably processed.

All you need to do

The main stages of decorating walls with liquid-based wallpaper:

• removal from the walls or ceiling of the fragile old coating;
• plastering deep cracks (for economical use of decorative material), smoothing surfaces with putty;
• primer for liquid wallpaper (used to reduce moisture absorption and increase strength);
• coating prepared surfaces with a mixture.

Surface preparation: general recommendations and rules

Liquid-based wallpapers do not impose exceptional requirements on work surfaces. However, the appearance of the decorative layer can be ruined:

• layers of old paint;
• metal fittings on the surface;
• exfoliated plaster.

Preparation of the bases for this decorative finishing material requires compliance with certain nuances in the work, facilitating the application of the composition and reducing the consumption of the mixture:

• the surface must be moisture resistant (this will minimize the absorption of water contained in significant quantities in the applied material), durable, dry and clean;
• the color of the walls is white or a repeating shade of decor.

The best option is when repairs are carried out in a new room, and there is no need to additionally clean the walls. However, even if the rooms underwent several repairs, it is possible to qualitatively prepare surfaces for decoration without much difficulty.

It is imperative to remove the following materials from surfaces:

• old roll wallpaper (paper absorbs moisture from the mixture and may lag behind the wall);
• whitewash;
• metal objects (when metal interacts with a liquid, rust forms, which later appears on the wallpaper).

Important! If the metal part cannot be removed, then it is coated with water-insoluble or oil paint for insulation.

Features of preparation for liquid wallpaper of four different types of surface

The material of the walls determines the specific requirements for the compositions necessary for the successful decoration of rooms with this modern type of wallpaper.

If it is visually difficult to determine the quality of the foundation (for example, if we are talking about partitions in old houses), then the best preparation of walls for liquid wallpaper is repeated primer.

Concrete-lime base

Concrete partitions and ceiling slabs need the following preparation:

1. Walls are pre-treated with plaster or starting putty. You can not be afraid of the formation of minor wall irregularities (up to 3 mm) - they will not have a noticeable effect on the final result.
2. The surface is carefully covered with a deep penetration primer, which fastens the putty and prevents the penetration of moisture.
3. After the primer dries, the wallpaper is applied.

Before applying the finishing material, any primer must be completely dry.

Drywall

For walls and ceilings sheathed with plasterboard, the following sequence of preparatory work will be required:

1. Plates are putty, special attention is paid to the seams and places of fastening screws. Since the absorption capacity of drywall differs from different manufacturers, it can be putty applied twice.
2. Drywall sheets are recommended to be double-coated with a deep penetration primer - moisture must not be allowed to penetrate the top cardboard layer of the sheet.
3. A decorative layer is applied to the dried walls.

Plywood, wood boards

For partitions of these natural materials, the following scheme applies:

1. Walls are treated with antifungal agents.
2. A waterproofing primer (not diluted with water) is applied.
3. A dry plane is painted with water-based paint to protect against the possible manifestation of a non-uniform color of the tree.
4. Dry walls are covered with a decorative layer.

Oil coated surface

Fortunately, there is no need to completely remove oil paint from the wall. The following actions will suffice:

1. Carefully remove swollen or exfoliated paint.
2. Putty cleaned places.
3. If at different levels of the wall the tone of the paint is different, you need to paint the room with one shade.
4. Cover the walls with a special primer containing silica dust. Due to the obtained rough surface, the finishing material will lie in an even layer without breaks.
5. Apply a decorative mixture.

In order to determine the correct stages of wall preparation, it is recommended to test building materials by treating a small area of ​​the wall.

If liquid wallpaper needs to be removed

Despite the fact that liquid-based wallpaper is a durable and practical material that can withstand multiple staining, sometimes there is a desire or need to get rid of them. How to remove liquid wallpaper? To remove it, it is enough to spray hot water on the wall section and after 8-10 minutes remove the wet material with a wide spatula. A thick layer of wallpaper can be moistened several times.

It is noteworthy that it is possible to reuse some brands of wallpaper. The removed layer is dried in an open ventilated place, then stored in a dry form until reuse.

You doubt your strength, but is the desire to change the interior of the apartment stronger? You can start the repair from small rooms. Try to use liquid wallpaper in the corridor - so you will immediately kill two birds with one stone: you will try out the new technology and interest and surprise your friends with an innovation in your apartment.