Preparing the wall surface for liquid wallpaper

Sometimes an apartment simply categorically requires repair, but the need for complex preparatory work, long and laborious stages of repair do not cause enthusiasm. The impetus may be some new, affordable repair technology, such as 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 be a determining factor when choosing this particular type of finish.

What is liquid wallpaper?

Liquid wallpaper - 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 burn out;
• makes it easy to repair damaged areas.

You can apply liquid-based wallpaper on any surface: concrete, drywall, oil paint, metal, wood. The main thing is that each of these types of bases be properly processed.

All that needs to be done

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

• removal from the walls or ceiling of a fragile old coating;
• sealing deep cracks with plaster (for economical use of decorative material), leveling 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 spoiled:

• layers of old paint;
• metal reinforcement on the surface;
• peeling plaster.

The preparation of the bases for this decorative finishing material requires the observance of some nuances in the work, which facilitate the application of the composition and reduce 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;
• wall color - white or repeating the shade of the 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 have gone through several repairs, it is possible to prepare surfaces for decoration without much difficulty.

The following materials must be removed from surfaces without fail:

• old roll wallpaper (paper will absorb moisture from the mixture and may lag behind the wall);
• whitewash;
• metal objects (during the interaction of metal with a liquid, rust is formed, which will later appear on the wallpaper).

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

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

The material of the walls determines the specific requirements for the compositions necessary to successfully decorate rooms with this modern type of wallpaper.

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

Concrete-lime base

Concrete partitions and ceiling slabs need the following preparation:

1. The 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 holds the putty together and prevents the penetration of moisture.
3. After the primer has dried, 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. The plates are puttied, special attention is paid to the seams and screw attachment points. Since the absorbency of drywall differs from different manufacturers, putty can be applied twice.
2. Drywall sheets are recommended to be coated twice with a deep penetration primer - it is necessary to prevent moisture from penetrating to the top cardboard layer of the sheet.
3. A decorative layer is applied to the dried walls.

Plywood, wood boards

For partitions made of these natural materials, the following scheme is applied:

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

Surface covered with oil paint

Fortunately, it is not necessary to completely remove the oil paint from the wall. The following steps will suffice:

1. Carefully remove any loose or peeling paint.
2. Putty cleaned places.
3. If the tone of the paint differs at different levels of the wall, it is necessary to paint the room in one shade.
4. Cover the walls with a special primer containing quartz dust. Thanks to the resulting rough surface, the finishing material will lie in an even layer without gaps.
5. Apply a decorative mixture.

In order to determine the correct stages of wall preparation, it is recommended to test the building material 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 repeated staining, sometimes there is a desire or need to get rid of them. How to remove liquid wallpaper? To remove, 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 wetted 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 dry until re-used.

Doubt your abilities, but the desire to change the interior of the apartment is stronger? You can start with small spaces. Try using liquid wallpaper in the hallway - this way you will kill two birds with one stone: you will try out new technology and interest and surprise your friends with an innovation in your apartment.