Can wallpaper be glued to water-based paint?

One of the important aspects to look out for when wallpapering is the condition of the walls. Very often, such materials are applied to old surfaces previously treated with paints or other solutions. But not all of these substances have high adhesion to wallpaper glue. Many users ask the question whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on a water-based emulsion. We will try to understand this work in this article.

Wall decoration is carried out using various types of paints with universal parameters. This is where classic enamel and water dispersion meet. These formulations fill all pores well. The latter type of mixtures is very often used for painting walls, since they practically do not emit strong odors and dry quickly.

• Acrylic paints. These products contain acrylic resins and latex. The last component is needed to increase the resistance of the solution to moisture. Many types of materials can be painted with these waterproof mixtures, from wood and plywood to plaster or concrete.
• Silicone compounds. The peculiarity of this paint is that it can close cracks up to 2 mm wide. The substance prevents the development of fungus, which makes it in demand on the market. With the help of such paints, it is possible to whitewash even damp substrates.

• Silicate compounds. The paint is intended for use in relatively dry rooms. Constant exposure to moisture can lead to rapid destruction of the structure of the substance and a decrease in service life.
• Mineral paints. The structure of this product contains cement or lime. The main purpose of such solutions is to paint concrete or brick walls. Mineral paints serve for a relatively short time, which is one of the significant disadvantages of the product, therefore they are not so common in residential premises.

Water-based paints are safe products that practically do not emit harmful substances. They cover the walls with a fairly dense layer that is not easy to remove. The film does not peel off, but crumbles, as it were, upon physical impact. This distinguishes them from oil solutions. At the same time, it is much more difficult to remove the water-based layer than its oil-based counterparts.

Oil paints are very often used in the treatment of interior walls. Their main advantage is good protection against moisture penetration. The film that forms on the surface is practically impervious to moisture. But over time, this substance will begin to flake off if moisture or air gets under the paint, destroying the top layer of the wall. A feature of oil formulations is that they are torn off in small whole pieces.

The paint on the walls forms a kind of protective layer that prevents the wallpaper glue from adhering to the cement screed. Therefore, before pasting canvases on surfaces painted with water emulsion, you need to properly prepare them.

First of all, the surface of the painted walls should be examined.In this case, it is important to identify paint peeling, as well as places with the presence of fungus, irregularities, cracks and other damage. If the paint has already begun to peel off, then such places must be cleaned. This will increase the adhesion of the adhesive to the wall. In this case, it is advisable to remove the layer completely to the concrete base.

In order for the wallpaper to stick well, some experts recommend sanding the surface with fine sandpaper. If the paint is well adhered and does not flake off, then oil stains and other contaminants can simply be removed. But it is still better to create a roughness, since over time the solution may begin to deteriorate.

If the surface of the wall is uneven or covered with large cracks, it can be leveled with special mixtures. They are applied with a spatula to the wall in certain places. But before these procedures, it is advisable to treat the entire surface with an impregnating primer. It will bond the paint to the concrete base, making the structure stronger.

To obtain a positive result, experts recommend covering the walls with a primer in several layers. This can be done both before and after filling. Use formulations that strengthen the structure of the paint and also prevent the development of fungi and mold. After the liquid has dried, the surfaces are treated with putties. To create an even base, the places with solutions are leveled with fine graters.

Pasting wallpaper on walls with paint is relatively simple. This procedure consists of sequential operations.

• Markup. Vertical lines should be drawn on the previously prepared walls, which will indicate the boundaries of each sheet. This is necessary to get a strictly vertical layout of the picture. The easiest way to solve this problem is to use a plumb line and a pencil. If the room has perfectly flat door frames, then you can place the sheets relative to them. But this option is suitable when the walls do not have distortions, and the wallpaper itself has the correct geometric shape.

• Glue preparation. The proportions and composition of the products depends only on the material of the wallpaper. When preparing the glue, it is important not to put the entire mixture into the water at once, but to do it evenly, constantly stirring the composition.

• Preparing wallpaper. After the glue is prepared, a sheet of the desired length should be cut from the roll. It is advisable to start with long pieces to the maximum height of the wall. These blanks can be cut with a small margin, as everything else can then be cut.

• Sticking. The initial step is to apply glue to the inside of the wallpaper. This is done with a small roller or brush, spreading the mixture evenly over the entire surface. Please note that for some types of wallpaper, you need to apply glue over the paint on the walls. This can be found in the instructions for the material.

When the canvas is ready, you should carefully glue it to the wall. The procedure is started from the top, gradually lowering the sheet to the bottom. Try to set the wallpaper as accurately as possible according to the markup. Do not peel off the canvas under any circumstances, as this can lead to peeling of the paint and the impossibility of carrying out further operations. If you still need to move the sheet, do it carefully, or try to move it on the wall itself without tearing off the material.

• Air removal. Use a rubber trowel to level the blade. The air is expelled, starting from the middle of the sheet and gradually moving to its edges.

All other sheets are glued in the same way. If you have chosen wallpaper with a complex pattern, then you need to combine all subsequent canvases with the previous one. This is taken into account even at the stage of cutting the workpiece. When the wallpaper is dry, you can cut off the excess parts with a clerical knife.After that, the plinth is attached or decorative moldings are glued.

Pasting wallpaper on walls painted with water-based paints is a fairly standard operation.

To get a strong and durable structure, several nuances should be considered:

• Before gluing wallpaper to such surfaces, it is important to check the adhesion of the paint to the wall. To do this, simply wet the base and wait a little. If bubbles appear after this, then such walls must be completely cleaned of this substance. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that the wallpaper will last long on such surfaces.

• Use non-woven wallpaper for walls covered with water-based paints.

• Wallpapering should be carried out only when the power supply is disconnected. In this case, it is important to pay attention to the wiring, which must be reliably protected from the effects of glue. It is advisable to hide the cable in closed strobes or special plastic boxes. When working with sockets and switches, they must be removed. This will allow you to properly align the canvas. When it is necessary to install an outlet, then a hole of a certain size is simply cut out in the right place.

• If there is a window in the room, you need to start gluing from it. This will make the seams less visible.
• The wallpaper is dried at a temperature of about 18 degrees. Do not apply materials near batteries, as excessive heat contributes to the rapid drying of the glue, and this will not allow the elements to grasp properly. It is best to turn off the heating devices.

• If the room has high humidity, it is not recommended to glue the wallpaper. The walls must be completely dry, so prepare them first.
• Large clumps should not be present on the surface, as they will tear the paper or leave ugly bumps. Therefore, it is advisable to grind such places thoroughly.
• When gluing heavy wallpaper, it is imperative to glue a paper backing under them. Previously, newspapers were used for such purposes, but today the material can be found in any specialized store.

Walls painted with water-based paints can be covered with wallpaper. But before that, it is necessary to carefully check and evaluate the water-based paint. Painted walls are suitable for applying wallpaper, for which expensive and high-quality compositions were used. The additional use of primers will increase adhesion (adhesion), which is important for such structures.

If you are not sure that the material will be able to withstand heavy canvases, then it is better to completely remove it mechanically. Sometimes hot water can also help with this, which dissolves the water emulsion well. The high-quality result of wallpapering depends on the preparation of the wall, the type of wallpaper and the structure of the glue. Only the right combination of these components will allow you to get a durable and high-quality coating.

In the next video, a professional designer will tell you if wallpaper can be glued to whitewash.