Is it possible to paste. Is it possible to glue new wallpapers on old ones and how to do it? Installation rules: what you need to know

If you do not have the relevant experience, then it is not recommended to glue new wallpapers over old ones. It would be good to carry out repairs quickly, in a short time, and even on a budget. And that means you have to do it on your own. Is it always possible? And will such savings affect the quality of work? If everything is done correctly, then the savings will be significant, and it is better to buy wallpaper more expensive and more beautiful than to give the extra money to the masters.

Problem: you can glue wallpaper on old wallpaper

The surface of the walls must always be prepared before pasting - any professional will tell you this. Gluing over old ones is a risky event. And it's not even that the new wallpaper can peel off or stick somehow not very well. The point, rather, is that the wall is not prepared for a new repair. But sometimes it needs to be leveled, primed.

But sometimes you just really need to stick brand new wallpapers without removing the old ones. In what situations does this happen? If there is very little time, and forces, means, time must be saved. If the walls are even, and preliminary alignment is not necessary.

New wallpapers can be glued on top of old ones if the old ones are thin and not seriously damaged.

But with this option, the following conditions must be met:

  • Old wallpaper must be only paper;
  • Old wallpaper, let it be very firmly, “tightly” attached to the wall;
  • The surface of the wallpaper should not be textured and embossed, they should be completely smooth;
  • Old wallpaper should be thin.

That is, as you can see, such a wallpaper sticker requires quite serious conditions. And not always the previous layer is paper wallpaper. And if you glue on vinyl, then definitely don’t expect good gluing. It will not take well, and even then, most likely, it will peel off in two layers at once.

Cons: wallpapering old wallpaper

Certain shortcomings, or, as the people call them, "jambs", most likely, cannot be avoided. And if you decide to save time, you should be prepared for them. Yet the technology of gluing is violated.

If you already glue new good wallpapers on top of the old ones:

  • The aesthetics of the selected pattern will decrease;
  • The quality of fastening new wallpaper will also be insufficient;
  • The risk of pasting defects is more than high - these are numerous "bubbles" and partial peeling;
  • Bacteria and mold can grow under the fibers, which are dangerous to your health.

If you stick new wallpapers on top of old ones, then after a while defects may form on them.

Well, if you glue white wallpaper, light and / or thin on top of the old ones, such a sticker is already doomed to failure. So you can’t stick it exactly - the previous layer will be too noticeable. There will be a feeling of dirty, sloppy work.

How to paste wallpaper on old wallpaper: the subtleties of the process

Suppose, nevertheless, your walls are covered with thin, smooth paper wallpaper, and you are going to glue new ones on them. However, before work, check that the old canvases do not have any defects, that there are no tears, and that all joints are carefully connected.

Another nuance: it is possible that the old wallpaper will suddenly show its coloring properties, this can be activated when wet from the new glue. And then, of course, all the work down the drain.

So, you have made sure that the old wallpaper is holding up perfectly. And yet, moisten the base, and tear off those pieces that fall off by themselves. And then the work goes on in the usual way, but only at first a test pasting is done. This means that you stick one strip and wait for it to dry. Wait at least an hour, if everything is fine - glue on.

Wall preparation: how to remove the old coating

But let's say it didn't work. You realized that high-quality gluing will not work, and nevertheless decided to free the wall from old wallpaper. Do not be afraid of this process, especially since it can be significantly accelerated.

Old wallpaper can be easily removed with a regular spatula.

You can quickly remove old wallpaper from the wall:

  • Making scratches on the wallpaper;
  • Wetting wallpaper;
  • Scraping off the old coating.

It is worth remembering that the degree of water permeability for different wallpapers is different. In order for water to penetrate as much as possible into the material, it is necessary to violate the entire integrity of the coating. For this, scratches are usually applied. Scratched in a large number of places, then the surface must be thoroughly moistened.

By the way, there is also a special composition on sale, a solution for removing old layers of wallpaper. It acts on the adhesive under the wallpaper, making it easy to peel off the wall. But this is usually necessary if the wallpaper is not removed by more traditional methods. If the glue is literally tightly held. And this does not always happen.

The solution itself is applied to the wall, while it should not drain over the surface. After the surface is wetted, it must be left alone for half an hour. And then you can safely remove the old layers. Usually in such conditions, scraping takes a little time. And, by the way, the wallpaper can be removed not with some special spatula, but even with an ordinary ruler.

Expert answer: is it possible to glue wallpaper on old wallpaper (video)

Gluing new wallpaper over old wallpaper is always a risky undertaking. You can ruin the new wallpaper, because they can even move away with the old ones. New wallpapers can become covered with bubbles, with which there is almost nothing to be done. Is it worth the risk? Only under certain conditions. And these are old paper wallpapers, thin, smooth, and glued evenly and firmly.

Quality repair!

Often you have to make repairs with limited funds, lack of time and labor. In such cases, attempts are made to save on everything. Particularly attractive is the possibility of pasting wallpaper over old ones. No need to grind the walls, spend time removing the old coating, just attach a new layer on top. But is it possible to paste wallpaper on wallpaper and still get a high-quality result?

If you consider the issue fundamentally, then yes. You can glue wallpaper on wallpaper, but with a number of restrictions:

  1. If they stick well to the wall. It is especially worth checking all the joints, the corners of the room, where waste from the wall is most often possible.
  2. With a perfectly smooth surface. Corrugated will not be able to become a homogeneous base, the adhesion area will be reduced.
  3. The wall itself must be unequivocally intact. Sometimes whole pieces of plaster stick only to old paper and, if it is soaked, both will come off under the weight.
  4. It is better to glue dark ones with a large pattern. Then the previous layer will not be visible to the outside, and bumps and roughness will more reliably hide behind the large details of the new canvas.

A number of requirements are put forward for gluing a new canvas over an old one.

In addition, you need to take into account the types of wallpaper, both those that should serve as the basis, and new ones that should lie tightly on the wall.

Paper

It is with them that you can work again boldly. In Soviet times, it was easy to find whole “puffs” of all colors. Today, these building materials have become denser, you can’t stick many layers - they will fall off. But gluing paper wallpaper is quite permissible. As a base, they smooth out roughness, fit snugly against the wall. As a second layer, they get wet well, are not heavy, stick easily and reliably, so they last a relatively long time. The only problem is to choose a pattern darker than the previous one, since a thin canvas can turn out to be translucent and let bright colors through.

Paper wallpapers are the thinnest, so they are easy to mount over old ones.

You can also glue ordinary photo wallpapers on paper wallpapers. The main thing is the absence of roughness. They become very noticeable and spoil the appearance of the premises.

Before reinforcing paper sheets on old ones, it is necessary to check if there are any bubbles, if they are moving away in some places. If found, clean it so that the moisture from the glue does not aggravate the situation and spoil the new repair.

Vinyl

It is absolutely impossible to glue vinyl wallpapers on vinyl ones or use them as a basis for any other types. Their surface is not only corrugated, but also oilcloth. The glue will not hold well, they will simply fall off.

If wallpaper cannot be glued to vinyl wallpaper, then vice versa is possible if the paper version acts as the basis. They will keep, but:

  1. Not for long. A heavy layer can pull off a lighter paper one, tear it. It is necessary that the base is very firmly held on the wall.
  2. In the future, the appearance of pathological microflora is possible, since the oilcloth of the second layer does not let moisture out, and the base is saturated with glue (moisture) more than putty can do.

In order for vinyl wallpaper to please you with its beauty for a long time, it is better to remove the old coating

Sticking vinyl wallpaper without removing the previous one is a possible, but risky step. Instead of gluing new vinyl wallpaper over old ones, it is better to level the walls, tear off the old canvases and apply high-quality, expensive vinyl for a long time.

non-woven

How can you glue new wallpapers on old ones if a significant part of them is transparent? The bottom layer will be completely visible through the new pattern and ruin all efforts. Even opaque samples should be used only with a perfectly prepared wall - the applied patterns perfectly emphasize all the bumps, bends and roughness. Although they can stick to a paper base, since they are synthetic paper in structure, it is strongly not recommended to glue non-woven wallpaper on old ones.

Under non-woven coatings, the walls must be carefully prepared

On non-woven fabric, all the more impossible. The surface is strongly corrugated, covered with a film, it is impossible to achieve a positive result.

fiberglass

Since the fiberglass itself requires subsequent plastering, it is unwise to install it on the old layer. No paper can withstand a layer of wet plaster. On the contrary - a great option, but after carrying out all the necessary work. Fiberglass actually represents a replacement for the reinforcing layer of plaster, simplifying alignment, strengthening, improving insulation. He will not be able to replace the wallpaper either, it will simply become the basis for painting, if covered with a high-quality primer.

Fiberglass has its own purpose in repair

There is no need to glue glass wallpaper on paper. Their main advantage is environmental friendliness, the complete absence of fungus under the top layer. Applying them to wet paper, diluting mold means losing an important advantage of high-quality building material. In addition, do not reduce the durability of new wallpaper. After all, cullets consist of the smallest strands of glass, withstand moisture, do not scratch or tear, and are great for painting.

Liquid

They are not intended to be applied over other surface coatings. The good thing is that the final putty can be carried out less carefully. They themselves perfectly perform this function, being both a putty and a beautiful decoration for the walls.

Liquid wallpaper gives a huge scope for independent creativity

It is convenient to glue wallpaper on liquid. By their very existence, they guarantee the absence of irregularities and roughness (if they are laid according to the right technologies, of course), and the cellulose will absorb the glue and will firmly hold the new layer. The main thing is to choose a darker tone, especially if color drawings were previously made. Otherwise, they will shine through.

Penoplex

Penoplex can be called a new generation of foam plastic, so it is impossible to lay it on an uncleaned old layer. It is recommended to lay a film under it by technology, which will lead to moisture retention in the paper coating and the appearance of fungus.

Penoplex - a self-sufficient option for wall decoration

It is possible to apply wallpaper on penoplex, but only after preparatory work has been carried out. The material is fragile, it must be reinforced with a top layer of putty. Then the usual actions are taken.

Insulations containing expanded polystyrene are best used on external walls, since a small part of the harmful substances are contained there.

Cork

This type of wall decoration is good for everyone. It is durable, looks great, environmentally friendly, saves heat, has fire-fighting properties and so on. Gluing cork wallpapers is a pleasure, since their bottom layer is akin to paper. Such a cork backing allows you to securely mount them on the wall, even if the bottom is old, paper.

Cork is an environmentally friendly and pleasant looking wall covering for any room.

Nothing can be applied to such a coating. With the exception of cheap, non-waxed and quickly deteriorating, cork wallpapers owe the outer layer to waxes and varnishes. Their presence guarantees durability, protecting from moisture, strengthening the soft natural substance. Naturally, sticking something on varnish or wax is unrealistic.

For painting

Gluing wallpaper on painted ones is the same as trying to attach it to paint. They just won't stick to paint.

If you plan to paint the coating, it is worth cleaning the surface first. One tone, small patterns - all this will expressively emphasize any unevenness. An exception is if before that they decided to stick paper ones on an excellent final putty, which is very rare. Painted wallpaper will not hold up if many layers of paint are applied. Therefore, not only glue wallpaper on painted, but vice versa is not worth it.

Finishing for painting - a relatively new word in design

Other cases

Ceiling materials are the most demanding. A small drawing will outline any bend, a heavy weight can fall off at any moment. Therefore, you can glue wallpaper on the ceiling only by bringing the surface into perfect condition. Naturally, tearing off the old coatings.

It is not necessary to glue photo wallpapers on old ceiling wallpapers. In the evening or in poor daylight, every joint will be visible. You can wallpaper newspapers if you are concerned about the ancient surface. They are thin, absorb moisture well and will merge reliably with the ceiling.

It is difficult to glue photo wallpapers correctly, it is better to call the master.

You can’t stick anything on washable ones, even if they are cheap and get wet from moisture themselves. All the same, they have a film on top that will not allow the glue to soak the bottom layer.

It is better to glue self-adhesive wallpapers on a flat surface without old layers, since they do not apply a lot of glue, which allows them to be stretched or soaked and slightly compressed during the drying process. Even if they put paper or vinyl on an adhesive base.

What problems may appear with the new coating

If we systematize the main ones, we get:

  1. It is not advisable to glue photo wallpapers on wallpapers due to the appearance of joints, irregularities, and roughness.
  2. If there are dark or bright patterns underneath, some of them may show through the lighter tones.
  3. It cannot be applied to old new ones if there are defects in their layer - peeling, bubbles, and so on. In such cases, it is imperative to remove old wallpaper at least in such places. If there are many defects, it is better to remove them all.
  4. Even a thin paper layer will not withstand heavy coatings. If you apply many layers of paint or paste over the old ceiling, the repair will not last long.

Fast pasting can lead to repeated work or poor-quality repairs in the future.

How to glue wallpaper over old ones

If the decision to glue wallpaper on wallpaper is still made, you must follow simple rules that will help solve some of the problems:

  1. The base must be firmly attached. There are no irregularities and areas of peeling from the wall.
  2. The bottom layer can only be paper with a flat surface. All others will be inappropriate coverage.
  3. The top pattern is darker than the bottom.
  4. Wallpaper pasting is carried out between the joints of the previous layer in order to fasten its parts.
  5. The adhesive is applied in an even layer to prevent bubbles or distortion of the glued coating.

Wallpaper glue

For high-quality and durable pasting, you need to choose an adhesive in accordance with the following criteria:

  • weight and coating material;
  • foundation features;
  • humidity level;
  • room temperature.

There are universal adhesives that are suitable for all types of wallpaper, and special ones. Most materials are glued universally, only for the mixture you need to take different proportions depending on the weight of the wallpaper and absorbency. However, when choosing which glue to glue vinyl wallpaper with, it is better to take a special one, for example, Super Vinyl, which contains antifungal components.

Many manufacturers that produce wall coverings also produce glue that is optimally suited to them. It is correct to glue the wallpaper in this way.

Materials and tools

To paste wallpaper on old wallpaper, you do not need a lot of materials or technical means. This is the most economical option in terms of time and preparatory work. A spatula is enough to check the base web. They also close up problem areas in the plaster, if any. It's good to have some putty with you to level the walls in such places. In addition, you need:

  • wide brushes for applying glue, some coatings require a roller, then this is indicated on the package;
  • a roller that expels air and ensures the tightness of the sheets;
  • oilcloth - coating for lubrication;
  • soft cloth to remove possible excess glue at the joints;
  • tape measure for measuring walls near doors and windows, with ledges and bevels;
  • stationery knife for cutting rolls;
  • the wallpaper itself and the glue suitable for them.

Preparatory work

You can start gluing only after the walls are completely cleared of poorly adhering islands, the cracks are frayed, the putty has dried out. If there are air bubbles, you can try to remove them with a hot iron (only through gauze). In order to increase the adhesion of the base to the wall, a deep penetration primer is used, which is impregnated with the entire surface. Once dry, you can start gluing.

Sticking technology

Depending on the type of canvas, the adhesive is applied only to the wall or to the wall and the corresponding piece of wallpaper. When cutting, you need to take into account the flow of the pattern, achieving a complete match between the canvases. Cut off parts should not be thrown away - they can be used near doorways, radiators and other things.

How to glue - step by step instructions

To glue wallpaper on wallpaper, you need to distribute the canvases so that the joints fall into the middle of the old canvases. Sticking should start from the ceiling down, gradually laying the cut in its permanent place. Then, with light movements of the roller, remove air bubbles and excess glue. Wipe the latter with a soft cloth.

Ideally, you need to strengthen one canvas and wait a day to check if the bottom layer will fall off. Only after that continue work.

The gluing process should take place at a stable temperature of 15-25 degrees, without drafts, so windows and doors should be tightly closed, air conditioners should be turned off. They can only be used after the glue has dried.

Such wall decoration, despite the measures taken, will still remain less durable in comparison with gluing on the finishing putty.

Pros and cons of the solution

You can glue wallpaper on wallpaper, but the disadvantages of fast pasting are obvious. There is a chance that repairs will have to be redone in a few years, and beautiful, modern materials may look unattractive due to bumps or the appearance of bulging parts. It also increases the risk of fungus.

In fact, the old layers are easily removed from the wall, for this there is a special tool - "wallpaper tiger", which easily removes the previous coating, leaving the plaster intact and intact. Priming with modern materials quickly. Therefore, pasting wallpaper on wallpaper does not save much time. An apartment or a house requires a more attentive attitude towards them. Unless the repair in the country, which you want to finish in a day, allows you to use the accelerated development of events.

Reliability is not rushed. If there is the slightest opportunity, it is necessary to use it and make repairs in accordance with all the rules. Then even walls will delight with an impeccable pattern for many years.

In one of the articles on the question of whether it is possible to stick new wallpapers on old ones, we answered this question in some detail. Is it possible to stick non-woven wallpaper on wallpaper - just a special case. But, nevertheless, it is worth it to once again focus on the need for careful preparation of the walls for wallpapering and not treat this construction and finishing work with disdain.

What are the benefits of non-woven fabric?

Non-woven base - namely, it gave the name to a whole group of wallpaper that is different in structure, density, relief and composition of the material, it is a semi-synthetic material based on natural cellulose. Unlike paper or fabric base, interlining has a number of advantages:

  • This is a very thin base.
  • In the process of wetting, the interlining does not stretch or deform.
  • Non-woven fabric is vapor and breathable.
  • Old non-woven wallpaper can be easily removed.
  • The service life of such wallpaper is 3-5 times longer than the service life of "traditional" wallpaper.

Why does non-woven wallpaper have so many advantages?

Interlining is a non-woven fabric consisting of cellulose fibers and fastened together with adhesive components or by pressing. Due to the manufacturing technology, it contains much less chemicals than ordinary paper.

Any composition material can be applied to the surface of the non-woven base: paper, vinyl, fabric, bamboo or cork. Most non-woven wallpapers have a paper coating, varying degrees of relief, and are intended for painting with water-dispersion paints. The paint can be washed after drying, or re-painted 2-3 times in a row. There are completely non-woven wallpapers - quite thick and heavy. They are easily recognizable by the small, shiny cellulose fibers on the outer surface of the web. They usually have a smooth surface and are used under paint.

Preparing the wall for the sticker

Before gluing non-woven wallpaper, if you do not want to lose all their wonderful qualities, you should prepare the wall very well. And here, without having to remove the old wallpaper and oil paint, you can not do. Firstly, old wallpaper over the years of operation absorbs a lot of chemicals from the surrounding air - including allergens contained in house dust. Secondly, they may have defects - gusts, abrasions, grease contamination or dried paint drops. All this will inevitably have an effect when you start gluing new wallpapers over these defects, especially thin non-woven ones that will repeat the relief of old wallpapers.

The third danger- swelling and lagging behind the wall of a layer of old wallpaper, soaked from the effects of glue for new wallpaper. This defect cannot be eliminated by anything and the newly pasted wallpaper can move away from the wall along with the old ones.

The fourth danger- thin non-woven wallpaper can be stained with paint from old wallpaper or soaked with grease that was on old wallpaper.

Fifth trouble- you deprive yourself of the main advantage of non-woven wallpaper - their vapor and air permeability. The more layers of old wallpaper you accumulate on the wall, the more heavy and stale air with the smell of wet paper will be in your apartment.

You cannot paint non-woven wallpaper pasted on old wallpaper or oil paint, because under the influence of moisture, old paper ones that have not fallen off when pasted, soaked in the water contained in the paint, will definitely peel off the wall.

How to stick non-woven wallpaper on plaster?

Sticking non-woven wallpaper on plaster is the most common way. It is only important to level the plaster with sandpaper before starting gluing (with an abrasive mesh on a bar and treat the surface of the plaster with putty. If you use finishing plaster with a fine grain size, you can do without puttying. But the plaster after sandpaper processing must be covered with a broom and treated with a primer (acrylic) .

It is desirable to use plaster as a basis for gluing non-woven wallpaper in order to maintain the “breathing” properties of the wallpaper. In damp rooms, PVA emulsion or liquid glass can be added to the plaster. This will increase the resistance to mold and wetting of the outer walls.

If the walls under the old wallpaper are already plastered, after removing the wallpaper, you should carefully inspect the plaster.

Carefully putty all cracks and defects, and treat the old plaster with a primer before gluing new wallpaper.

What to do if there is no way to remove old wallpaper?

But, even in the most hopeless situations, there is a way out. To reduce the risk of peeling old wallpaper and achieve an acceptable result. To glue new non-woven wallpaper, you can create a waterproof coating on the surface of the old wallpaper. This can be done: either by treating the old wallpaper with an aqueous solution of PVA emulsion, or with silicate (liquid glass), and oil paint with sandpaper. In both cases, a thin waterproof film is formed on the surface of the paper wallpaper, which is susceptible to most types of wallpaper glue (based on modified starch).

You can add PVA emulsion or bustilate glue to standard glue before gluing new wallpapers - its adhesive characteristics will only increase. True - you have to forget about the breathability of the wallpaper.

It is not worth painting non-woven wallpaper pasted in this way.

Even despite the waterproofing layer, it is still very conditional. When applying paint to new wallpaper, old wallpaper can become soaked with moisture and peel off the wall.

As a result

Without exception, all master finishers never perform wallpapering work on walls if they have at least traces of old wallpaper on them. You should do the same if you undertook to glue the wallpaper yourself. Not so troublesome - to remove the old wallpaper. All the tools you need for this are a long-handled paint roller, a basin, a narrow metal spatula and a construction retractable knife. To remove the covers of sockets and switches, you will need a screwdriver.

To do this, you can purchase wallpaper remover and use it in accordance with the instructions on the package. Old wallpaper will easily peel off the wall surface, and it will be possible to remove them without much difficulty.

Gluing any wallpaper on old wallpaper is a risk. An unpredictable result and the likelihood (very high!) That you will have to redo all the work again, and yet, before re-gluing the wallpaper, remove the old ones.

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 5 minutes

Tired of old wallpapers? So, it's time to update the look of the room and start an easy one. The process of sticking wallpaper material itself is simple and does not take much time, the most tedious and time-consuming part of the work is often the removal of the old coating and surface preparation. Against this background, a natural question arises: is it possible to glue wallpaper on old wallpaper, and if so, in which case?

To get a decent result, the old canvases are removed, the wall is leveled, degreased and primed. But to save time, effort and finances, the preparatory stage is sometimes omitted by gluing new wallpapers onto the previous ones.

When can I glue new wallpaper on the old

In principle, it is possible to apply material to an already pasted wall, but only under the following conditions:

  • the existing finishing material, on top of which it is planned to mount a new one, must be paper;
  • previously glued canvases must be firmly attached to the wall, not move away at the joints and not have defects;
  • the surface on which new strips will be glued must be smooth, without a relief pattern;
  • it is highly desirable that the old material be thin and single-layered.

The requirements for an already applied wallpaper coating and the rules for gluing photo wallpapers on it are described in .

New wallpaper for vinyl flooring: is it possible or not?

You can not attach new wallpaper directly to it. Regardless of the type of adhesive you choose, it's likely that it just won't work because the synthetic coating is water-repellent. This is especially true for washable wallpaper. In addition, most vinyl materials have a textured pattern that will show through a fresh layer of finish.

How to choose material for pasting on old wallpaper

What wallpaper is suitable for gluing over the previous ones? When choosing, the intensity of the color and the brightness of the pattern on the old canvas are taken into account. If the new gluing material is lighter than the previous one, then the color of the bottom layer will show through. The following tips will help you choose:

  1. The material is selected darker than the coating glued earlier.
  2. Too thin canvases are not suitable, the old pattern will show through them.
  3. Non-woven wallpaper cannot be used for the top layer: they often have a translucent structure.
  4. Handle vinyl material with care as it is quite heavy and there is a risk of it falling off the wall along with the base layer.
  5. It is better to stay on a canvas of embossed paper, as in the next photo: on a smooth surface, possible flaws will be especially noticeable.

Gluing rules

Important! If a small amount of bubbles appear on the surface after gluing, do not despair. You can try to smooth them out with a special spatula or even a simple iron. No need to be too zealous - after the surface has completely dried, they can smooth out by themselves.

What to do with liquid wallpaper

After we have dealt with the paper, vinyl and non-woven base, we will find out whether it is possible to glue new canvases on liquid wallpaper. This is essentially not a wallpaper in the standard sense, in terms of properties they are more reminiscent of the presence of cellulose in common with a paper web. Since this material, applied in a layer of a few millimeters, creates a fairly even surface, it will serve as a suitable base for gluing a new finish. In addition, the cellulose will absorb some of the water from the adhesive, which will also help the material adhere well.

In order for everything to work out as it should, consider a few important points:

  1. The layer of liquid wallpaper should not be damaged, any flaws must be corrected.
  2. If there are voids under separate sections of liquid wallpaper, they must be opened, smeared with glue and the surface dried.
  3. A primer applied to the wall will significantly improve the adhesion of materials.
  4. The relief structure of liquid wallpaper can cause poor-quality results; the new finish will look good only on a smooth base coat.
  5. On a surface with a pattern, it is better to glue a dense material of a saturated or dark color, but not light.

USEFUL INFORMATION: What wallpaper will make the bedroom beautiful and cozy


Repair in the apartment is an event that you want to finish as soon as possible. Therefore, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the time spent. The longest and most difficult work is preparing the walls for gluing, so at first glance it seems to be a good option not to free the surface of the walls from the old coating, but to glue the new one with the next layer. Is it possible to glue wallpaper on wallpaper? What do the professionals think about it?

Repair specialists who put the quality of work above all else will answer unequivocally - no. Before you glue the wallpaper, you need to carefully prepare the walls. Remove the old coating, level the surface, prime, degrease, only then the new wallpaper will look perfect and their service life will be long.

Why did they put newspapers on the walls?

Attentive readers may now ask a tricky question. If the answer of professionals is so categorical, then why did they glue newspapers under the wallpaper?

In Soviet times, newspapers solved several problems at the same time due to the shortage of high-quality building and finishing materials:

  1. Plaster replacement. With their help, curved walls were leveled. Now there are more suitable and convenient materials for this.
  2. Secure fixation. Another task of the newspapers was to keep the finish. Thin newsprint was well saturated with glue and stuck to concrete walls easily and reliably, so the wallpaper held up well.
  3. The last task - paper, pasted in several layers, served as a heater for the walls.

Now there are better methods and materials to solve these problems, so newspapers are no longer pasted. But if you want to make budgetary repairs, for example, in the country, then it is quite possible to use the experience of the Soviet era. Just keep in mind an important nuance - soaked printing ink can show through a light coating and ruin the picture.

Cases when wallpaper on wallpaper can be glued

However, there are no rules without exceptions. In the days of the Soviet Union, when only paper wallpapers were produced, it was permissible to stick up to 5 layers on the wall! Through these layers one could later trace the entire history of the apartment. Therefore, wallpaper on wallpaper can be glued if:

  • The old ones were paper, not vinyl, non-woven, washable.
  • The wallpaper is securely glued to the wall and does not leave it anywhere.
  • The texture of the old coating is smooth, there are no voluminous, eye-catching patterns that can show through as ugly bumps.
  • You can glue the wallpaper on the old ones, if the new ones are of a darker shade, otherwise the whole work will be ruined.
  • The old wallpaper was thin.

If you decide to glue vinyl wallpaper on paper, pay attention to the fact that the glue thoroughly saturates the wall and can hold all layers securely.

Why is it not worth gluing wallpaper over the old coating?

There are few advantages to gluing wallpaper over old ones - saving time and budget, but there are much more disadvantages:

  • Fastening wallpaper to the wall is less reliable, the risk that the coating will move away increases several times.
  • The appearance of the walls is worse.
  • Joints may be uneven.
  • The service life of new wallpaper is reduced.
  • The likelihood of mold growth increases.

Therefore, if the essence of the question is whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on wallpaper, it is only to save time and budget. Think about whether such savings will cost you more in the future?

How to do the best job possible?

If you've made the decision to keep the old wallpaper, here are a few tips to keep your room looking attractive.

Wet the walls with water and remove all those parts of the trim that move away from the wall. It is recommended that you do not paste over the entire wall at one time, but stick only one strip and leave it until the next day. Then check if the coating is firmly attached to the wall, if there is any peeling. If all is well, you can paste over the room completely. If the wallpaper has moved away from the wall, you will have to leave this idea and start preparing the surface.

During the execution of work, exclude the possibility of active movement of air around the room, both warm and cold. This means that the windows must be closed, the air conditioner or fan must not be turned on, and drafts must not be allowed. This important rule must also be followed if you are gluing wallpaper on clean walls. Otherwise, the coating will move away from the wall, and you will have to start the repair again.

Trim the first strip so that the joints of the old and new coating do not match, then the appearance will be neater, and the wall will be more even.

Can wallpaper be glued onto wallpaper?

At first glance, photo wallpapers are not so demanding on the quality of the walls, the picture masks the bumps. But this is only at first glance. Photo wallpapers are produced on a different basis: paper, vinyl, fabric. Vinyl wallpapers are quite dense and thick, so they can be pasted over the old coating. If the photo wallpaper is made on the basis of paper or fabric, then the irregularities of the wall will show through the pattern and spoil the appearance of the room.

You can paste wallpaper over old ones only after making sure that the surface is even and smooth, there are no wrinkles, swelling anywhere on it, and the wallpaper does not lag behind the wall anywhere.

Is it possible to glue wallpaper on wallpaper if the walls were originally prepared in accordance with all the rules? If during the previous repair the surface was perfectly leveled and covered with paper wallpaper, finishing with a second layer is a valid option.

How to quickly clean the walls?

Special solvents help save time on removing the old coating. The solution must be prepared according to the instructions on the package, and then thoroughly moisten the walls with liquid. After a while, the solution will saturate the coating, and it will be much easier to remove it. If the wallpaper is dense, then you will need to apply the solution several times. In order to make it easier for him to penetrate the structure of the coating, walk along the wall with a toothed roller, then the solution will quickly saturate the wall.

There are situations when the wallpaper itself can be removed from the wall, but a thin paper layer remains. The question arises, can it be left? If it is firmly attached to the wall, it will not interfere with new wallpaper.

Using a wallpaper base

There are a number of cases when a base is glued under the finish:

  • The walls have minor imperfections.
  • There are dark spots on the wall, and the wallpaper is light.
  • The room needs heat and sound insulation.

The use of a base helps to distribute the adhesive evenly over the wall surface, facilitates the process of aligning the joints of the canvases, and promotes uniform drying without the formation of bubbles.

What can be glued under the wallpaper? The base material can be different, ranging from paper to different types of insulating material.

How to insulate walls with wallpaper?

If it is cold in your apartment in winter due to thin walls devoid of thermal insulation, then you can solve the problem by sticking insulation on the walls. This is a simple and convenient way to save heat in the apartment, while maintaining the usable area of ​​​​the room.

There are two main types of insulation: rolled insulation and heat-insulating plaster. Roll insulation can be found on the basis of different materials:

  • Expanded polystyrene - for reliable fixation of the finish, it is better to choose a heater with a top cardboard layer.
  • Foamed polyethylene foam, it is covered on both sides with a layer of paper, so it is easy to glue it to the wall and the wallpaper adheres well to it.
  • Cork insulation is a natural material that can also be used as a finish.
  • Ready-made self-adhesive wallpaper for insulation made of non-woven fabric and aluminum foil.

All these materials provide not only thermal insulation, but also sound insulation, and also make the walls more even. You can glue the wallpaper on top of the insulation repeatedly, it is not necessary to remove it from the walls with each subsequent repair. But under the wall insulation itself, it will still need to be prepared - cleaned of the old coating, plastered and primed, only after that stick the insulation.

You need to glue the material like ordinary wallpaper, carefully smoothing it to the sides, as well as from top to bottom. The strips need to be fixed end-to-end. It is recommended to glue the seams with paper tape or masking tape. Drying time will take from one day to three days. Only then it will be possible to stick on top of the finish.

This type of insulation is cheaper and takes less time than standard methods with frame installation and cladding. Another important advantage - the area of ​​​​the room does not become smaller.

What decision to make?

Let's sum up the discussion of the topic - is it possible to glue wallpaper on wallpaper. If we are talking about budget repairs (for example, in the country) and the quality does not bother you much, if during the previous repair the walls in the apartment were put in perfect order, and before that only paper and lighter wallpapers were used, then paste over the walls without prior cleaning can.

If the walls are uneven, the wallpaper is embossed, not made of paper, dark, if you don’t want to think about repairs for several years, if the quality of work is important to you, then it’s worth the effort to carefully prepare the surface. It will pay off with the pleasure of contemplating flawless walls!

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