Covering damaged walls with wallpaper is a practical way to refresh a room's look, but proper preparation is key to achieving a smooth, lasting finish.
Essential Steps Before You Wallpaper
Putting wallpaper directly over damaged walls can lead to imperfections showing through and potentially the wallpaper not adhering correctly. To avoid this, it's crucial to address the damage first.
According to a reference from September 15, 2022, it's better to smoothen the wall surface before putting the wallpaper. This foundational step ensures the best possible outcome, creating an even base for your chosen wall covering.
Preparing the Damaged Surface
Addressing wall damage involves several steps:
- Clean the Wall: Remove dust, grime, and any loose paint or old wallpaper remnants.
- Repair Imperfections: Fill cracks, holes, and dents with appropriate wall filler or joint compound. For larger areas of damage, patching may be necessary.
- Sand Smooth: Once the filler is dry, sand the patched areas smooth and flush with the surrounding wall surface. This is the 'smoothening' step mentioned in the reference.
- Prime the Wall: Apply a good quality primer. Primer helps seal the repaired areas, provides a uniform surface for the wallpaper adhesive, and can prevent stains from bleeding through.
- Clean Again: Wipe down the wall to remove any sanding dust before wallpapering.
Choosing the Right Wallpaper
While preparation is paramount, the type of wallpaper you choose can also help in camouflaging minor surface irregularities that remain after repair.
The same reference suggests you can also use a higher thickness wallpaper or use PVC-free wallpapers when dealing with less-than-perfect walls.
Wallpaper Options for Damaged Walls
Consider these types:
- Thicker Wallpapers: Vinyl or thicker non-woven wallpapers can be more forgiving and help hide slight imperfections better than thin paper-based options.
- Textured Wallpapers: Designs with texture, such as grasscloth or embossed patterns, naturally conceal minor surface flaws more effectively than smooth wallpapers.
- PVC-Free Wallpapers: As highlighted in the reference, PVC-free options are available. While they might be a bit more expensive, they are considered far less harmful to health than other wallpapers. They can also be thicker or textured, serving the dual purpose of covering damage and offering a healthier indoor environment.
By combining thorough wall preparation (especially smoothening the surface) with the selection of a suitable, perhaps thicker or textured, wallpaper (including healthier PVC-free alternatives), you can successfully cover damaged walls and achieve a beautiful, professional-looking result.
