Installing Wallpaper
on New Plaster
Wallpapering Newly Plastered Walls
New plaster is very porous and absorbs water and moisture rapidly. In the past, plaster used to be applied to the wall in a thick layer, often as deep as 1 inch. If wallpaper paste was applied to the newly plastered walls before the plaster had dried, it would suck the moisture from the paste before it dried completely, weakening the strength of the bond between the paste and wall, causing the paper to peel off the wall.
Nowadays, it is far more common for walls to be skimmed rather than applying a thick layer. This results in a shorter time for the wall to dry, typically around 3 – 4 days.
If like most of us mere mortals you prefer to leave plastering to a professional, don’t forget to ask them how long it will take for the plaster to dry? If you have plastered the walls yourself, bravo. Remember to follow the plaster manufacturers instructions for how long it will take to dry?
Some people recommend using a heater or dehumidifier to speed up the drying process. Be cautious if you plan to use either of these methods, for if you remove moisture from the air too quickly, it can cause surface imperfections or cracks to appear in the plaster. Patience is perhaps your best choice, and simply let the plaster dry naturally.
Sizing Your Walls Before Wallpapering
How to seal the new plaster? The answer is to apply a coat of size before wallpapering. It is a very simple yet important step of adding a barrier between the plaster and the wallpaper paste, to prevent paste being absorbed into the plaster. Quick and easy to apply, a pasting brush or roller will do. Size has a short drying time, and once dry you can hang your wallpaper immediately.
Another benefit of sizing is it makes it easier to slide and position the wallpaper, and should you want a new look several years down the road, size makes it easier to remove the wallpaper from the wall.
Installing Lining Paper On New Plaster
Remember, lining paper is simply wallpaper without the pattern. So apply a coat of size to seal the wall just as you would for wallpaper.
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