Simple question: Should a new wall be primed before applying wallpaper? Or can I just do it over finished drywall.
asked Oct 14, 2013 at 17:15
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3 Answers
Please yes! I am literally 90% done doing a complete remodel of my house. Other than the aluminum wiring that I have replaced the #1 biggest stupid thing I have dealt with is the 20 (no exaggeration) different types of wallpaper put on the house in 1967 during the custom build. Out of the 20 only 3-4 types (2 specific rooms) had primer. Those two rooms took like 20 mins a piece to get the wallpaper down with very little repairing.
In the rooms without primer, I often looked back and thought it might have been easier to rip drywall out and start over - it was that bad. So please prime first. If not for you in a few years, for the next home owners.
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how did you know the wall was primed after peeling the old wallpaper off? I would imagine it would be so messy after peeling it off that you couldn't tell. Commented Oct 14, 2013 at 20:20
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Because every once in a while some of the wallpaper actually came off and you could see the outer layer of paper and sometimes see building notes... It might be me but it seemed where there was more sunlight the glue broke down a bit and the wallpaper would come off easier. Who knows. It sucked. I am not sure I will ever be able to wallpaper anything in my life after dealing with this mess - which is done now.– DMooreCommented Oct 14, 2013 at 20:26
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2Drywall is covered with paper. Paper is very porous and the glue of wallpaper fuses the wallpaper to the paper face of the unprimed drywall. Primed drywall is sealed, and the glue has a good surface to hold but not merge.– bibCommented Oct 14, 2013 at 22:42
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@bib - good comment. My house frustrations completely kept me from giving a technical answer. "Me mad at wallpaper" haha.– DMooreCommented Oct 15, 2013 at 20:49
Yes, you should use wall paper primer on drywall, because otherwise the drywall will suck up too much of the glue and the wall paper will not stick well, and you will have to use more glue. A good wall paper primer for drywall is simply diluted wall paper glue. The package of good wall paper glue should instruct you on how to use it as a primer.
I gave an up vote on "Yes, please prime", because I too have spent many hours scraping wallpaper off unprimed drywall. American tastes went though some tough times in the 60's and 70's with wallpaper. (Remember the DIAGONAL PHASE?). If your tastes ever change, it will be much easier to get off. Drywall primer also helps with positioning and keeping the seams glued down instead of curling up.
