Wallpapering over Painted Wall

khublaikhan

OK,


So I have removed the old wallpaper (which was peeling) with an idea to put new wallpaper on it. I have washed it, sanded it and put up the first sheet of wallpaper and it has immediately bubbled. I took it off and a lot of the old paint came off with the new wallpaper.


Complete noob at DIY. Any ideas as to what I need to do to get the wallpaper up. I could simply get the whole room skimmed???


Thanks in advance

armchaireconomist

Can't see why wallpaper would bubble, there's not really anything on the surface to react. Have you hung wallpaper before?

Head_The_Ball

What type of wallpaper is it? Is it pre-pasted?

Maybe you are applying too much or too little paste or not allowing the paste to wet the paper sufficiently before putting it on the wall.

Some wallpaper can bubble when first applied but the bubbles shrink and disappear as the paste dries.

Do a test with a small piece and see if the bubbles disappear.

Make sure that you smooth the wallpaper with a wide wallpaper brush as you apply it.

Have you googled for advice on wallpapering?

bris

A painted wall shouldn't bubble. Bubbles are trapped air, this need brushed out. Make sure the paste is fully covering the paper so there are no dry spots, let it soak into the paper for about 8-12 minutes (depending on weight of paper) then hang it and smooth out all the bubbles.


It's not unusual for small bubble to appear then disappear later. The soak in time is important.

khublaikhan

Hi,


Thanks for the responses, I think I may have misled you guys. The problem isn't specifically the bubbles its the fact that the paint has immediately become loose upon placing the wallpaper with the paste on it. It flakes in big chunks and comes off the wall and sticks the paper. It's a very poor grip.


I am not using pre-pasted wallpaper and I have researched wallpapering - I wasn't expecting this issue however.


Thanks for your responses

Hoploz

Looks like you need to sand a bit more ... To get the old paint off.

Slinky

A bit more sanding, then perhaps 'size' the walls before papering, which is effectively painting the wall with a dilute coat of wallpaper paste which needs to dry thoroughly before you hang the wallpaper in the manner you have researched. Sizing helps stabilise the loose paint.


You shouldn't need to skim, what you're trying to do, paper over pre-painted flaky walls, is quite normal, you just need to go about it the right way.

armchaireconomist

OK, you need to prep the surface properly then. Get the sander back out, and scrape any loose bits off. You can't stick the wallpaper to something that isn't stuck to the wall.