Finishing drywall for wallpaper: doing it right

For interior walls, drywall is a common option because it provides a level, smooth surface that works well with a range of finishes. A few essential steps are all that are needed to achieve a perfect finish when priming drywall for wallpaper. Whether you’re a professional or a do-it-yourself enthusiast, knowing how to finish drywall correctly before applying wallpaper is essential.

Rushing or skipping steps can cause problems later on, such as wrinkles, bubbles, or even peeling wallpaper. You can guarantee that your wallpaper will stick well and look fantastic for many years to come with the correct preparation. We’ll walk you through each crucial step in this guide, from taping and mudding to sanding and priming, when finishing drywall for wallpaper.

You’ll have no trouble producing a stunning, long-lasting finish that improves the appearance and feel of your room if you pay attention to these pointers. Now let’s get started and do it correctly!

Practical approach

What’s left is a nearly perfectly flat, rectangular room after the technician who installed the drywall leaves. There are black screw heads all over the walls and ceiling. Next steps for all of this:

  • You can choose two wall decoration options. Either it will be puttying followed by painting, or finishing with wallpaper or any other decorative materials.
  • The choice of wallpaper will be very practical. Since finishing the walls and finishing the ceiling with plasterboard wallpaper will save you effort and money, do without dirty and hard work, and at the same time get a decent result. Using your imagination, you can create something like this.

  • The average price of a roll of wallpaper, perhaps, cannot be determined. Today, the market offers a variety of options, all sorts of colors and textures, and the cost of one roll can range from 100 to 2,500 rubles.
    There are even more expensive options, such as those made from exclusive or natural materials.
  • To do this work, you do not need professional skills. The work will also be easier if the walls and ceiling are even, and the corners of the room are 90 degrees.

Start of finishing

Consequently, we must first putty the drywall, or more accurately, cover the screw heads and sheet joints:

  • For work, you will need the following tools: a large spatula for filling large surfaces; a small spatula for working with hard-to-reach places, as well as cleaning a large spatula; an angled spatula; an electric drill and a mixer attachment for mixing mixtures; a roller or brush.
  • The list of consumables will be as follows: primer for walls, serpyanka, mixtures. For puttying seams, it is best to use KNAUF FUGENFULLER or UNIFLOT mixtures.
    If you decide to do a full puttying of the walls, then use the finishing putty SATENTEK for this.
  • When preparing mixtures, carefully study the instructions, since the properties of different brands are individual. Mix with a mixer, because it is much more difficult to achieve a homogeneous mass manually, and the drying time of the mixture increases.

Puttying

It is necessary to apply a primer, also known as "Concrete Contact," to the surface before beginning any work. This is required for improved drywall and building mixture adhesion. Applying the primer requires the use of a roller or a standard brush. To ensure that there are no dry patches, the surface needs to be carefully treated. Particular attention should be paid to the gypsum board sheet seams. Thus:

  • A good primer is absorbed almost instantly, so there is no need to go over the same place several times if it has already dried.

  • Next, we glue a special reinforcing tape made of fiberglass, popularly called serpyanka, to the joints of the drywall sheets. Do not forget to glue the serpyanka not only in the corners of the room, but also on the side of the adjoining wall.
  • This action is necessary in order to avoid the appearance of cracks in these places in the future. The reinforcing tape is glued so that its center coincides with the seam.
  • Next, we take the prepared mixture and fill the seam with putty with transverse movements. After this, with a longitudinal movement from top to bottom, spread the putty along the seam, leveling the surface and removing its excess.
    The amount of mixture should be such that after application, the serpyanka is not visible.
  • Next, it is necessary to cover the screw heads with putty. But before you start, you need to make sure that they are all screwed on correctly. The screw head should be recessed into the surface of the plasterboard sheet by no more than 1 mm.
    But it shouldn"t stick out, otherwise you simply won"t be able to putty it.
  • Run a spatula along the place where the screw is attached. If the spatula catches the head, then you need to tighten the screw.
    Also, if the cardboard surface is torn, then remove the screw and attach a new one, at a distance of at least 5 cm.
  • After preparing the wall, cover all the heads with putty, and give it time to dry completely. After drying, the surface of the drywall looks like this.

Further finishing

It is theoretically possible to paste the wallpaper at this point, but there are a few things to keep in mind. After the seams have dried, it is best to plaster the entire surface of the walls and ceiling. You might wonder, why? It’s easy. Remember that you’ll want to switch up the wallpaper at some point. You’ll later regret not spending more money on a complete plaster. Thus:

  • Wallpaper glue holds the wallpaper very firmly on the surface of the drywall. During dismantling, in places of contact with cardboard, the wallpaper will come off together with the plaster.
    You have two options left, either glue new wallpaper over the old ones, or re-cover the walls with plasterboard, which, as we understand, is completely unacceptable. Also, if your wallpaper is too thin, then the putty seams will be visible through them.
  • Therefore, before gluing, apply a finishing layer of putty and let it dry. If you still decide to do without finishing, then glue textured wallpaper for painting and update your interior as much as your heart desires, simply repainting the walls.
  • After the finishing layer of putty has dried, clean the surface of all irregularities using an abrasive mesh. It is much more convenient to use a mesh on a special holder.

It takes more than just slathering paint on drywall to prepare it for wallpaper; it also involves making sure the surface is smooth and resilient enough to last over time. Sanding, priming, applying several coats of joint compound, taping joints, and finishing drywall correctly are all necessary steps before wallpapering. These actions are necessary to guarantee that the wallpaper adheres correctly and to stop flaws from showing through it. Making the effort to complete this correctly now will pay off in the long run by preventing headaches and producing a polished appearance.

Step Description
1. Surface Preparation Ensure drywall is clean, smooth, and free of dust. Fill any holes or cracks with joint compound.
2. Apply Primer Apply a drywall primer to create a uniform surface that helps the wallpaper adhere better.
3. Sand the Surface Lightly sand the primed drywall to remove any rough spots, ensuring a smooth finish.
4. Apply a Second Coat of Primer After sanding, apply a second coat of primer to seal the surface completely.
5. Check for Imperfections Inspect the drywall for any remaining imperfections and touch them up as needed.
6. Install Wallpaper Once the surface is properly prepared and primed, you can proceed to install the wallpaper according to the manufacturer"s instructions.

Accurately preparing drywall for wallpaper application requires careful attention to detail. Your wallpaper will look its best and last longer on a well-finished surface. You can create the ideal environment for a perfect wallpaper application by carefully smoothing out imperfections and using an appropriate primer.

Although it may seem laborious, taking the time to properly clean, sand, and prime the drywall will pay off. These procedures improve wallpaper adhesion and guard against bubbles and peeling in the future. Making the correct decision from the beginning is worthwhile.

Once the drywall has been properly prepared, you can proceed with your wallpapering project with assurance, knowing that the base is sound. The end product will be a sleek, appealing wall that improves the way your room looks overall.

Video on the topic

Puttying external corners

Sealing the seams of plasterboard in one day, how to work with shrinkage-free putty!

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Veronica Gerasimova

Interior designer, author of books on the design of residential premises. I will help you make your home not only functional, but also beautiful.

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