How to glue cork wallpaper yourself correctly

A unique, organic appearance that gives warmth and texture to any space is provided by cork wallpaper. Not only is it durable and sound-absorbing, but it’s also environmentally friendly, which makes it a popular option for people looking to add a unique touch to their interior spaces.

To achieve a polished look, cork wallpaper installation calls for a little attention to detail and accuracy. In contrast to conventional wallpaper, cork has unique characteristics that should be taken into account before applying.

We’ll show you how to properly glue cork wallpaper to your walls in this guide, so your walls will look gorgeous and the material will stick to them. Regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects, following these instructions will ensure a quality finish.

Step Description
1. Prepare the walls Ensure the walls are clean, smooth, and dry before starting.
2. Measure and cut Cut the cork wallpaper to the needed lengths, leaving a little extra for adjustments.
3. Apply adhesive Spread the glue evenly on the back of the wallpaper or directly on the wall.
4. Position the wallpaper Carefully align the wallpaper to the wall, starting from the top.
5. Smooth out bubbles Use a smoothing tool to remove any air bubbles as you go.
6. Trim the excess Once the wallpaper is in place, trim the excess material at the edges.

What should be taken into account

You must ascertain how much they will fit you before considering how to apply cork wallpaper. Ultimately, the cost of the material is relatively elevated. It is therefore worthwhile to approach with extra caution.

The main advantages of cork wallpaper

Like other wallpaper styles, cork has benefits and drawbacks.

  • Their main advantage, of course, is their unrivaled environmental friendliness, because only natural materials are used in the production process. Naturally, this is not all of their advantages.
  • The bark of the cork oak tree, in itself, is highly durable. Therefore, the resulting wallpaper has a very high resistance to mechanical stress. Despite its natural origin, it is not flammable, as one might think. It has excellent dirt- and water-repellent properties. At the same time, when washing is still necessary, cork wallpaper will also show its high resistance to detergents.
  • Cork wallpaper is perfect for decorating even a child"s room, due to the fact that it is capable of a fairly high level of noise absorption. They are durable and antibacterial, and a large selection of colors and textures will allow you to choose the most suitable for any style.
  • Wallpaper made from cork oak bark is suitable not only for a child"s room, but also for decorating the kitchen and the house as a whole. They do not absorb odors, which means they will not absorb food odors when cooking. Their natural origin gives them thermoregulatory properties. In winter, they will help to retain heat, and in summer, a pleasant coolness. They do not electrify, which means they do not dry the air.
  • They can also be perfectly glued with your own hands. They will also act as an additional insulation and with the constant rise in the price of energy, this indicator must be taken into account.

Here is a rough summary of their primary benefits. Naturally, they also have drawbacks in addition to their benefits.

Disadvantages of cork wallpaper

There are some minor drawbacks to cork wallpaper, just like with any other type of wallpaper.

  • Cork wallpaper belongs to the high price category, because the materials from which they are made are completely natural. They do not like too much moisture, although, as written above, they are moisture resistant. That is, if you want to wash them, they will accept it quite well, but if you choose wallpaper for the bathroom, they will quickly deteriorate.
  • For the bathroom, you can also choose cork wallpaper, but in this case you need to choose wallpaper only with wax treatment.

Note: This material is prone to mechanical damage easily. Thus, consider your options carefully before selecting this style for high-traffic finishing rooms.

Finishing with cork wallpaper

A short list of tools for gluing cork wallpaper

The first thing you should think about is getting the right auxiliary tools and supplies when applying cork wallpaper.

  • So you will need such simple and everyday things as rags, sharp scissors, a pencil and a ruler.
  • Next, there will be items that not everyone has. This is a level or plumb line, as well as tools for applying glue. A small regular spatula is perfect for such tools to apply glue, and a notched (ribbed) spatula for applying it. It is this spatula that is able to apply glue to the surface most evenly and at the same time economically. It has peculiar teeth of different sizes.

Attention: As a result, make sure to ask the seller right away what kind of work it will be used for when you purchase it. Select a spatula with small teeth if you are working with glue. In essence, it makes no difference if they are made of rubber or metal.

Glue for gluing

After completing all required inventory, you should select the glue with extreme care. For correct gluing, cork wallpaper needs specialized glue or glue with similar ingredients and qualities. A lot of retail chains carry glue for cork wallpaper.

Note: If none, you can use acrylic glue, which works similarly to tile glue in terms of adhering wallpaper. Applying it with a spatula with teeth and firmly pressing the adhesive against the wall surface is the most practical method.

  • When gluing cork wallpaper, you should never forget about one important factor:. They should not be subjected to deformation and bending, and also do not glue them on top of each other in the corners. Cork wallpaper is glued only end to end, and cut with scissors.
  • Wallpaper made from cork oak bark, as a rule, is packed very tightly, which leads to their slight deformation. This is quite easy to fix, just let them lie down. All the same can be attributed to cork tiles
  • Now you will need a pencil, the entire wall should be carefully marked. Two perpendicular lines are drawn in the center of the wall using a plumb line and a level. If the trimming of the corners is planned to be done only at the bottom, the horizontal line is shifted slightly. When gluing wallpaper, and not tiles, only one straight vertical line is drawn, also using a plumb line, and from it, gluing is carried out in both directions. This will allow you to trim absolutely evenly.
  • When a thick, viscous glue is used for gluing, it will be easier to take it with a small spatula and apply it with a notched spatula. The glue is applied only to the place of gluing, cork tile or cork wallpaper sheet, otherwise it will dry out very quickly. After careful application of glue, the glued is pressed as tightly as possible to the wall. It is best to do this with an assistant, because it is not possible to press evenly alone.
  • Cork material is glued only joint to joint and only in this way and not in any other way. The glue should not crawl out from under the joint under any circumstances. The glue that has crawled out is not removed immediately, but carefully picked off after complete drying.
  • The excess is removed with scissors, not a knife, since a knife can accidentally damage the wallpaper wet from the glue. Wallpaper glued correctly according to all the technology has a very long service life, from 20 years or more, while maintaining a presentable appearance throughout this period. To care for cork wallpaper, going over it with a vacuum cleaner or occasional wet cleaning is enough.

Pasting process

Following all the setup and glue selection, you can get down to business with the actual work. It’s best to prime and level the walls a little (see. Wallpaper primer: which one to use and how to apply it), but cork wallpaper is not very difficult. Even on uneven walls, cork wallpaper will look great.

It’s highly recommended that you mark the wall because it will aid in maintaining symmetry when pasting. Additionally, pasting will be aided by the packaging. It frequently outlines the characteristics of using this specific brand of wallpaper that can be purchased.

Be aware that this material is now also patterned. You must therefore do all the calculations before making the purchase. There will be waste, after all. The waste will increase with the size of the pattern.

  • The glue is applied according to the instructions, if there are any, or if there are none, as you see fit. If you are confident in the quality and reliability of the glue, then it can be applied to only one surface, wall or wallpaper. At the same time, those who are professionally engaged in repairs still advise not to spare the glue and smear it immediately on both the wall and the sheet of wallpaper. Thick, viscous adhesives are applied to the wall surface exclusively with a notched spatula.
  • In addition, among cork wallpapers there are also those with self-adhesive film, when gluing which glue is completely unnecessary. They are glued dry without water, on a clean, well-leveled wall.
  • Wallpaper made from cork oak bark does not tolerate creases and bends very well, and if they are allowed, this will subsequently affect their durability. Cracks almost always appear in places of creases and bends. Therefore, maximum caution must be exercised when pasting the corners of a room.
  • Another factor that requires special mention is the decent weight of cork wallpaper compared to other types of wallpaper. Therefore, they should be glued not only with reliable glue, but also not alone. Trying to cope with heavy, inconvenient sheets of wallpaper alone, you will almost certainly waste a lot of material, ruining the wallpaper with creases and bends.
  • Gluing the joint to the joint in cases of cork wallpaper is not a tribute or something else, but a purely urgent need. Cork wallpapers differ in some thickness, and if we allow the edge to crawl to the edge, such places will be strongly bulging. Naturally, as when gluing ordinary wallpapers, you need to make sure that there are no bubbles. Missing bubbles are removed by a rubber roller, or syringe. Using the syringe, you first pierce the bubble itself, and already squeezes out a little glue for fastening, and then you can go in a roller.
  • Observing all the rules when gluing, you can achieve the longest declared service life of the wallpaper. After pushing them, you with minimal care, you can not change them for 20 years or more. That is why, if you are not sure that you can cope with this, you should contact professionals. Having overpaid a little to work, you will still win in the long run.

When done correctly, gluing cork wallpaper yourself can be a satisfying task. You can achieve a professional-looking result by carefully following each step, from priming the walls to applying the adhesive and smoothing the wallpaper.

Take your time and make sure that there are no wrinkles or bubbles in any of the pieces as you work. A little perseverance goes a long way toward creating a polished and long-lasting final product.

Cork wallpaper adds a warm, natural touch to your walls and can last for years with the right maintenance. Along with improving your house, you’ve learned a new skill that you can use on other projects.

To properly apply cork wallpaper by yourself, you must first make sure the wall is smooth, clean, and dry. Evenly coat the wall and the back of the wallpaper with an appropriate adhesive, then gently place the cork sheet and press it down firmly to remove any air bubbles. To achieve a polished finish, take your time precisely aligning the seams and trimming any excess material. It is possible to create a stunning and long-lasting cork wall covering with patience and attention to detail.

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Dmitry Stepanov

Professional decorator with 10 years of experience. I know everything about renovating apartments, houses and offices. I will be happy to share my knowledge and experience with you.

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