How to Prepare Walls to Paint Wallpaper Paste

Preparing walls to paste

Before you paint wallpaper paste on the walls, you need to check for imperfections. Walls must be cleaned and repaired first. Washing dust and grime from walls will allow the paste to form a good bond, and repairing bumps or nail holes will provide a smooth surface. Bumps will show through wallpaper when it is dry, and wallpaper will sink into nail holes, leaving you disappointed with the appearance of the wallpaper. The time that you take to prepare walls prior to pasting and installing wallpaper is worth it.

Things You'll Need

• 2 5-gallon buckets
• Sponge
• Mild detergent
• 100-grit drywall sandpaper
• Putty knife
• Spackle

Instructions

1. Run your hands across each wall to feel for bumps or rough spots. Use the 100-grit sandpaper to sand the imperfections smooth and level with the surrounding wall area.

2. Fill one 5-gallon bucket with warm water and add several drops of mild detergent. Fill the second 5-gallon bucket with warm rinse water.

3. Wash one wall at a time with a sponge to remove dust, grime or grease. Rinse each wall thoroughly after you wash it with the detergent. Allow the walls to dry completely before you repair them.

4. Fill all nail holes with spackle. Scoop a small amount of spackle onto the end of a putty knife and smooth it over a nail hole. You only need enough spackle to fill the hole. A heavy application will create more sanding for you. Repeat this step for each nail hole. Allow the spackle to dry according to the manufacturer's directions

5. Lightly sand each nail hole repair with 100-grit drywall sandpaper. Sand the repaired areas smooth and level with the surrounding wall area. Apply more Spackle to any nail holes where the Spackle has sunk in after the first application. Large nail holes often need a second application of Spackle. Allow the repairs to dry and sand again.

6. Wipe off the sanding dust from the nail hole repairs with a damp rag or sponge. Check one more time for areas you may have missed, make the repairs, and prepare to paste the walls.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a light application of wallpaper paste. You only need enough to cover the wall. Heavy applications of paste will cause the seams to split when the paste is completely dry.

• Apply a light coat of sizing or primer and allow it to dry before pasting the walls. These materials will make it easier for you to slide the wallpaper in position, and easier to remove the wallpaper later on.

References

• That Painter Lady: "How to Prepare a Room For Wallpaper"
• Wallpapers To Go; "Wallpaper Installation-Preparing Your Walls"