How and what is the best way to prime walls before wallpapering?

Getting your walls ready before applying wallpaper is essential to getting a smooth, durable finish. In addition to ensuring a smooth finish and preventing the wall from absorbing too much adhesive, proper priming helps the wallpaper adhere more successfully. Here’s a guide to successfully priming your walls.

Thoroughly cleaning the walls is the first step. Using a moist cloth or sponge, remove any dust, dirt, or grease. This stage is crucial because it guarantees that the primer will stick to the surface properly. Pay special attention to places where dirt tends to collect, such as baseboards, corners, and areas close to light switches.

Next, look for any holes, cracks, or other flaws in the walls. After using a suitable filler or spackling compound, fill these and let it dry fully. After the patched areas are smooth with the surrounding wall surface, sand them down. This process guarantees that there won’t be any bumps or unevenness in the wallpaper and that it will lay flat and smoothly.

Selecting the appropriate primer is the next step after the walls are smooth and clean. The best primer for most wallpaper applications is one with an acrylic base. Acrylic primers are fast to dry, simple to use, and make an excellent foundation for paint and wallpaper. Verify that the primer is appropriate for the kind of wallpaper you plan to apply, whether it is made of fabric, vinyl, or another material.

Apply the primer uniformly with a brush or roller. Make your way down the wall in little segments, starting at the top. To prevent spills or uneven coverage, apply the primer evenly. Prior to wallpapering, let the primer completely dry in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Because it enables the primer to form a strong bond with the wall surface, this drying period is essential.

Do I need to prime the wall before wallpapering?

"Papas and grandfathers did not know what a primer was, and the wallpaper hung on the walls for decades," will protest thousands of doubters. They are partially correct. In fact, a few decades ago, if wall priming was necessary, it was either done with diluted PVA glue or extremely liquid homemade glue.

This assertion, however, ignores the fact that wallpaper was made of paper at the time and was therefore lightweight. As a result, long-lasting glue made of flour or starch held them firmly to the wall. Furthermore, there was little variation in the types of walls, which included concrete, brick, and wooden walls that required cement-sand mortar plastering. With the adhesive composition, they had good adhesion.

It is now very difficult to achieve good wallpaper adhesion using glue due to the introduction of new wallpaper types (heavy, with different bases), wall materials (aerated concrete, gas silicate, etc.), and the use of gypsum board (plasterboard), GVL (gypsum fiber sheets), OSB (oriented strand board), and plywood for dry plaster. The problem was resolved with a primer for walls covered in wallpaper.

Applying a unique liquid mixture to the surface to be adhered to ensures dependable wall and wallpaper glue adhesion is known as a primer (or simply "primer"). Is priming walls required before applying wallpaper always? Nearly always. When undertaking this kind of work is not feasible, there are three exceptions:

• repairs are temporary, for four to five years;
• purchased light paper wallpaper;
• Pasting is done in the utility room.

In other circumstances, using a primer enables you to:

• improve adhesion between the wall and the adhesive mass;
• bind dust microparticles that could not be removed during preparation of the wall for wallpapering;
• increase the resistance of the wall surface to mechanical damage and protect it from the occurrence of microcracks during operation;
• protect walls from damage during subsequent removal of old wallpaper (especially important for drywall);
• prevent the appearance of fungus and mold on the glue thanks to the drugs added to the solution;
• hide darker spots on the wall surface (a special pigment primer is used, which levels out the high contrast in the color scheme), which are visible through light or thin trellises;
• reduce wallpaper glue consumption by:

1. filling microcracks, pores and small irregularities with a primer composition (possessing a high dispersion of particles, primer solutions penetrate deep into the wall material and stop the pores and cracks into which glue would get);
2. creating a water-repellent layer on the wall, as a result of which concrete, plaster, putty, drywall do not draw moisture from the adhesive mass: as a result, premature drying of the glue is prevented and, therefore, it is not re-applied.

Types of primers and their characteristics

The type of material on the surface to which the primer is to be applied entirely dictates the wallpaper primer selection. Unfortunately, writers of popular educational works mislead consumers by claiming that there is a special primer for non-woven, vinyl, and paper wallpapers in a number of articles on this subject.

Why doesn’t a primer exist for a particular kind of wallpaper? Let’s solve it together. The wallpaper adhesive needs to have a unique ingredient for every kind of wall material in order for the adhesive mass to stick to that specific surface. These surfaces come in roughly twelve varieties. To make things easier, round up to ten.

Then, the producer of glue, for instance, for paper wallpaper, must make ten different kinds of it (per surface). Additionally, there are roughly ten wallpapers with various bases. It turns out that the market for building materials should carry at least 100 different kinds of adhesive mass. Neither producers nor sellers nor buyers can rationally justify this.

Since primer serves as a bridge between the wall and the glue, ten varieties of primer and ten varieties of adhesive mass are required for every kind of surface, along with corresponding wallpaper bases.

Sorting primers on the construction market based on factors like soil type, purpose, solvent type, and release form is possible. Having this knowledge will facilitate your search for the necessary product.

Through a release document. Available for purchase are:

• liquid solution, ready for use;
• concentrate that needs to be diluted;
• dry mixtures requiring preparation.

According to the kind of solvent. The following are employed as solvents in production:

• water (water-based primer);
• organic solvents (acetone, butyl alcohol, isopropanol, white spirit, etc.).

By intention. The primer is split into the following categories based on the tasks completed:

• penetrating (for concrete, brick, stone);
• strengthening (plasterboard, gypsum plasterboard, all types of cellular concrete, gas silicate, etc.d.);
• adhesive (for cases when you plan to stick wallpaper on glass, tiles, plastic).

According to the kind of soil. Mineral, alkyd, and acrylic primers are all possible.

Primer for acrylic (water-based). The most adaptable kind of primer is this one. Almost any kind of wall material, including concrete, brick, wood, plywood, cement-based plaster, etc., can be painted with acrylic. We create adhesive, deep penetration, and impregnating (strengthening) materials based on the intended use. rapidly dries, odorless, and readily soluble in water.

Accessible as a concentrate, ready-made solution, dry mixture, and can of primer mixture. The primer becomes pigmented (hides bright color spots) or gains antiseptic qualities (used in the kitchen) when specific substances are added. The brands "Alpina", "Ceresit", "Composite", "Knauf", "Perfecta", and "Starateli" are the most well-known.

Primer with alkyd. Alkyd resins diluted with organic solvents, primarily white spirit, form the basis of this type of primer. With the exception of plasterboard, gypsum plasterboard, putties, and plaster based on cement and gypsum (which alkyds destroy), the application is nearly universal.

Has a strong, disagreeable smell that lasts for 15 to 18 hours because of volatile materials released. Long-term ventilation thoroughly cleans the air. Drys in up to sixteen hours. The composition’s polymer content allows it to form a film on the wall surface that is resistant to mechanical stress and wide temperature variations (from -40 to +60 °C).

The primer can be used in the kitchen and bathroom because it has a water-repellent film. available only as prepared food. Whichever solvent is used in the primer, dilute if needed to achieve a more liquid consistency, and use white spirit for this purpose. One of the drawbacks is the composition’s toxicity, which goes away once the film polymerizes.

Glymphalic, perchlorovinyl, polystyrene, and polyvinyl acetate primer are among its variants. produced by reputable businesses, including "Kompozit," "Aura," and "Tikkurila."

Primer made of minerals. The mineral-based primer is composed of cement, gypsum, and lime. It is used to bind brick (gas silicate brick and blocks), concrete, expanded clay concrete, plaster, and putty using wallpaper glue. Not smelly, dries fast.

Produced by Caparol, Remmers, Ceresit, and so forth. Alkyd and mineral primers are very hard to come by. The rationale is that acrylic primers are significantly less expensive while simultaneously covering every issue that could arise prior to wallpapering.

Selecting a primer based on the type of wall surface

Depending on the kind of walls, "Ceresit" and "Knauf" primers are the most popular among purchasers. The table below compares their features (prices as of mid-summer 2019 taken in St. Petersburg).

Primer name	Packing	View primer	Surface type	Consumption per 1m2	Price from, rub.
Ceresit CT 17	10 l	acrylic	concrete, brick, plasterboard, wood, plaster and putty, gas silicate blocks	0.05-0.25 l	510
Ceresit CT 19	15 kg	acrylic adhesive	concrete walls, glass, tiles, plastic	0.3-0.75 kg	1165
Knauf "Tiefengrund"	10 kg	alkyd	GKL, GVL, gypsum putties and plasters	100 gr	690
Knauf "Grundirmittel"	15 kg	alkyd	gas and foam concrete, sand-lime brick	0.2-0.3 l	3000
"Optimist"	10 l	acrylic	tree	0.1 l	547

In summary: what is a primer for wallpaper and how do I choose one? This primer is acrylic; it’s non-toxic, odorless, and universally applicable.

You can prepare your own soil if you are dissatisfied with the selection or wish to save costs.

• boiling water – 7 l;
• drying oil – 0.1 kg;
• laundry soap – 0.15 kg;
• lime (slaked) – 2 kg;
• bucket – 2 pcs.;
• fine sieve – 1 pc.;
• grater – 1 piece.

Three liters of boiling water are used to dilute the finely grated soap. After it has all been distributed, add the drying oil and mix the mixture. Another bucket is filled with 4 liters of boiling water and lime.

Additionally, the solution is blended. Lime milk is combined with water that has been infused with soap and drying oil. A fine sieve is used to filter the homemade primer that has been slightly chilled. The mixture can be used for its intended purpose after it has cooled.

Flow calculation

You must compute the area of the walls less the openings for the doors and windows in order to establish the necessary amount of primer. The resulting amount should be multiplied by two (the number of passes) and then by 1.1 (unexpected losses of 10% are included).

Next, figure out (approximately) how many canisters or bags of primer there should be using the table below. When buying a primer, a more precise amount can be directly obtained as the packaging shows the consumption in g/m2 or ml/m2.

Type of primer	Wall type	Consumption in g/m2
Thinned acrylic	wood, iron	40
Unthinned acrylic	plywood, chipboard, OSB, sawn wood	140
Alkyd	brick, concrete	135-150
Acrylic	for all types of material except wood	100
Universal	for all types of walls	65-100

Materials and tools

Problem-free priming of the walls is possible if you possess:

• primer corresponding to the type of walls;
• a basin (bucket) for stirring the primer;
• cuvette for mixture;
• ladder;
• fur roller with a long handle;
• brush for treating areas inaccessible to a roller.

Instructions for applying primer to the wall

How should walls be primed before wallpapering? Three technical operations make up the entire process:

1. preparing the wall for taping;
2. preparing the primer mixture;
3. directly from the primer itself.

Preparatory work

Only after the walls have been prepped for wallpapering can their surface be treated with primer. However, there may be big differences between the prep work for a new building and an apartment that is occupied.

The walls of a newly constructed home are cleared of construction debris and, if required, leveled using gypsum board or plaster (GVL). Restoring the walls to functional condition will take a lot longer if renovations are being done on an existing living area. Essential:

• remove old finishes (paint or wallpaper);
• check the plaster, if it was previously applied, for any loose spots from the wall and, if necessary, remove it completely;
• inspect the walls for microcracks and repair them;
• plaster the surface of the walls.

The following material provides step-by-step instructions on how to prepare walls for wallpapering.

Preparing the priming mixture

The method used to prepare the mixture depends on the form that the primer is purchased in.

• The primer in its finished form does not require additional manipulations to bring it into working condition (just shake it). However, when working with concrete or reinforced concrete walls, experienced craftsmen dilute the primer for the first layer – acrylic compounds with water, alkyd compounds with white spirit.
• Concentrates are diluted according to the recommendations printed on the packaging.
• To prepare a primer solution from dry mixtures, you will need a mixer, a bucket and a solvent (water or white spirit). Pour the dry mixture into the poured water in the proportion specified in the instructions and stir with any object (trowel, stick, etc.).d.) until lumps of dry mixture disappear from the surface of the water. After this, the solution is kneaded with a mixer until a homogeneous mass is formed.

Primer of walls

The priming phase is comprised of a series of consecutive tasks.

• Polyethylene film should be spread along the wall to protect the floor from splashes that are formed when working with a roller or brush.
• The primer is poured into the cuvette up to the level of the ribbed area.
• A roller is lowered into the primer solution and wetted around the entire circumference.
• The roller is wrung out on the ribbed surface of the bath – otherwise a lot of the mixture will end up on the floor.

• Priming starts from the bottom and goes up – in this case, drops of primer flow down the wall and do not fly to the floor.
• The soil must be rolled out into a thin film, avoiding traces of drips. It is necessary to go over the leaked solution with a roller again.
• In corners and hard-to-reach places, the wall is primed with a paint brush.
• The second layer is applied after the first has dried.

Painting comes to an end once the primer dries.

When can you start wallpapering?

Many inexperienced finishers make a major mistake by gluing the wallpaper right away after applying multiple layers of primer. Then it makes sense to ask: How long can wallpaper be adhered to after priming? only once the primer has had time to fully dry.

This time can range from two to fifteen hours for aqueous solutions and up to thirty-five hours for alkyd primers. The package will always state how long the solution should take to dry. Nevertheless, it is subject to considerable fluctuations due to a multitude of factors.

In real life, professionals assess the wall’s suitability for applying water droplets. You will have to wait a bit longer if it spreads like a stain. If the surface is dry, it will slide down.

In conclusion, some tips

If the wallpaper is glued down for an extended period of time, you should follow these guidelines:

• Do not use wallpaper glue and PVA glue, fine dispersion and water-based paints for priming.
• The primer must dry thoroughly. It’s better to wait an extra day and only then stick the wallpaper.
• Spare no expense and apply at least 2 layers of primer, even if the packaging indicates that one pass is enough. This way the areas missed during the first priming will be treated.
• When purchasing a primer, correctly determine the type of wall material. It may turn out to be different. For example, cement plaster and gypsum board.
• Carefully study the composition of the primer and recommendations for application. PVA glue may appear to be a good primer or, like Ceresit CT 19, the primer should only be applied with a brush.
• Primer for liquid wallpaper, if no glue is used, is applied at least 4 times.
• Approach the choice of primer brand conservatively – buy products from familiar brands.

Getting a smooth and durable finish on wallpaper requires careful wall preparation before applying the wallpaper. Priming the walls increases the application’s overall durability and promotes better wallpaper adhesion.

First and foremost, a thorough cleaning of the walls eliminates any debris, oil, or outdated wallpaper adhesive that could hinder the adhesion of the wallpaper. Before continuing, use a warm water and mild detergent solution and let the walls completely dry.

Subsequently, priming the walls ensures that the wallpaper adhesive spreads and adheres uniformly by sealing the surface and leveling out its absorbency. Select a premium primer that is appropriate for the type of wall you have—plaster, drywall, or surfaces that have already been painted.

Uniform coverage is ensured by using a roller or brush to apply the primer evenly. Pay close attention to the corners and edges as they require careful priming in order to keep the wallpaper from peeling or lifting over time.

Lastly, before hanging the wallpaper, let the primer dry completely in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. In order to achieve a polished and faultless finish, this step is essential to ensuring a strong bond between the wallpaper adhesive and the wall surface.

Wall preparation is essential for a smooth, durable wallpaper application. An even surface, better wallpaper adherence, and increased durability are all benefits of properly priming the walls. This article examines the finest techniques and supplies for priming, stressing the significance of selecting the appropriate primer according to the type of wall and type of wallpaper. Homeowners and do-it-yourselfers can make sure their wallpaper looks fantastic and remains in place for many years by following these instructions.

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