What Wallpaper Should I Put On A Concrete Wall?
What Wallpaper Should I Put On A Concrete Wall?
Vinyl and vinyl-coated wallpapers are the most common solutions for wallpapering a concrete wall. They are generally affordable, lasting, and simple to apply and remove.
Other coverings, such as foil, grass cloth, flocked, and embossed, are more costly and more difficult to hang on cement.
Consider how simple it is to clean the paper in high-traffic areas. Washable papers can be washed off with a moist sponge on occasion, while scrubbable papers can withstand more regular cleanings.
Before you buy, double-check the label and directions for your paper. You’ll have more possibilities if you hang a thick liner on the concrete wall before the wallpaper.
Because the liner protects the paper, it might be a little thinner. Wallpaper is also simpler to hang on a liner rather than straight on concrete.
How Do I Prepare Concrete Walls For Wallpaper?
First, remove any projecting concrete parts from the wall with a grinder or chisel. Then fill in any holes or damage with new cement, mortar, or concrete.
Run your hands up and down the wall. Any lumps you feel will show through the paper, so use the grinder to smooth them down.
The wall surface should be well-cleaned and dried, with no mildew, grease, stains, or loose paint. If the wall is unclean, the glue will not adhere, and you will get peeling paper or bubbles.
Consider using lining paper if the wall is uneven or has exposed stones showing through the concrete.
Before you put the wallpaper or liner, apply a primer to the concrete. A primer protects and seals the concrete and aids in the adhesion of the wallpaper to the surface.
It also makes shifting the paper into place simpler. If you used a primer, removing the paper will be even easier. Once the wall has been primed and dried, you may begin placing the liner or wallpaper.
Is It Easier To Wallpaper Certain Concrete Walls Than Others?
Yes. Concrete varies widely in texture, porosity, condition, age, and grit. Some walls are smooth, whilst others are rough and gritty, with exposed stones.
Some may have several projecting regions generated by forms. Because each concrete wall is unique, you must spend time checking and repairing the wall before you begin wallpapering.
Remove any projecting concrete using a grinder or chisel, and then fix it as needed. Before hanging any paper or a liner, make sure the wall is as flat and even as possible.
It is recommended to use a liner if this is your first experience wallpapering on concrete. It simplifies the work because the liner preserves the paper and provides more wallpaper alternatives, such as prepasted or peel-and-stick.
Before you begin cutting and hanging your strips, plan them out. If you have patterned wallpaper, decide where the seams will go and cut strips of paper depending on the pattern.
How Do I Hang Straight Wallpaper On Concrete Wall?
It is critical to hang wallpaper on a concrete wall completely straight since it is more difficult to change when working on a smooth surface.
Because the concrete surface is rough and gritty, shifting the paper might rip it. This is true even if a liner is used.
At your beginning point, draw a plumb line, which is a straight vertical line. A plumb line is required for hanging wallpaper, so sketch it using a level. Align your first strip with the line exactly.
Begin from the manufacturer’s edge to ensure the wallpaper’s edge is straight. Your wallpaper will be off if you use an edge that is not straight against the plumb line.
What Is A Cold Joint In A Concrete Wall?
A cold joint occurs when new concrete is placed on top of old concrete. It seems a large crack, and some property buyers mistake it for structural faults or movement. Cold joints seldom cause structural integrity difficulties, especially if they are squeezed.
Each batch of concrete normally necessitates some physical labor. As a result, significant time can occur between subsequent pours. Before the next concrete pour, the lower pour will cure and solidify. Because each layer’s chemical makeup varies, it may contract and expand at various rates.
The relationship between the two concrete pours will likely degrade with time, potentially resulting in a brittle zone in the voids.
If you suspect something is incorrect, contact your foundation contractor. They can locate where the concrete was poured into, determining the position and pattern of a cold pour joint and how it slopes.
