Re-gluing wallpaper may seem like a difficult undertaking, but done correctly, it can be an easy and fulfilling way to update your room. Whether you want to replace a few sheets completely, repair a damaged area, or remove ugly scratches, being aware of the proper procedures will help you save time and effort.
Although wallpaper can give a room personality, mishaps do happen. Re-gluing may be necessary due to a small tear here, a scratch there, or even just a desire for a different appearance. Fortunately, excellent results can be obtained without the need for expertise.
Whether you need to replace the wallpaper entirely or just make minor repairs, this guide will show you how to re-glue wallpaper. Your walls can appear brand new with a little perseverance and the appropriate equipment.
Task | Steps |
Replacing one or more sheets entirely | 1. Carefully cut the damaged wallpaper section using a sharp knife. 2. Gently peel off the old wallpaper, starting at the corner. 3. Apply adhesive to the new wallpaper sheet and the wall. 4. Align the new sheet with the edges and smooth it out with a brush or roller. |
Re-gluing the damaged part of the coating | 1. Cut out the damaged area with a knife. 2. Apply adhesive to the patch and the exposed wall. 3. Press the patch into place, matching the pattern if necessary. 4. Smooth out any air bubbles and clean the edges. |
Removing scratches | 1. Use a damp cloth to gently rub the scratch. 2. If the scratch persists, apply a small amount of wallpaper paste to the area. 3. Press the wallpaper back into place and smooth it out. 4. Wipe away any excess adhesive and let it dry. |
- What you need for repairs
- Main types of repair work
- Replacing one or more sheets entirely
- Re-gluing the damaged part of the coating
- Removing scratches
- Video on the topic
- How to glue wallpaper alone without an assistant #wallpapergluing #DIYrepair #paintingwork #repair
- partial replacement of wallpaper
- How to properly glue wallpaper in the corners
What you need for repairs
As with any other kind of work, you should gather all the supplies you’ll need before you begin:
- Adhesive composition, PVA is suitable for most coatings – a high-quality composition, the price of which is low, but if the work will be carried out with vinyl wallpaper, silk-screen printing and other dense coatings, it is better to purchase a special mixture so that the fastening is truly strong and durable. As a last resort, you can prepare a little paste from flour or starch, this process is described in sufficient detail in one of the articles.
PVA glue is a flexible solution that works well in most situations.
- Spatula will be needed to carefully separate all precariously held areas and clean the wall from glue residues – you just need to scrape them off the surface.
- Several soft clean rags will also not be superfluous, a special spatula is not needed, a rag is enough.
- You may need a brush to apply the glue, and if the damage is very small, you can use a cotton swab.
Whether you’re repairing damaged sections or replacing entire sheets, re-gluing wallpaper can be a simple process. You don’t have to redecorate the entire room to update your space—just carefully remove the old paper, prepare the wall, and apply fresh adhesive. Even if you’re just patching up a small area, this guide will walk you through every step, making it easy to achieve a seamless finish.
Main types of repair work
While each kind of repair has unique qualities, we will only focus on the most prevalent and typical ones here.
Replacing one or more sheets entirely
These situations are the ones where this issue most frequently arises:
- When, when doing the work yourself, the joints of the drawings or patterns were made carelessly, and the surface does not look very attractive.
- In cases where the base was not covered with a strengthening primer, and yellow spots appeared on the surface of the wallpaper, or the entire surface turned yellow.
This is what happens when the base isn’t prepared properly.
- If the putty or plaster was of poor quality, and some areas of the wallpaper began to fall off right along with pieces of finishing.
Many people are curious about how to reapply the coating after removing it, especially if non-woven wallpaper can be reglued. Actually, it all depends on your ability to remove the coating from the wall without causing any damage; some people are able to do this, while others are unable to. Everything is dependent on a number of variables, including the kind and caliber of glue, the features of the base, and the caliber of the final product.
Counseling! Recall that your chances of removing the wallpaper unharmed increase with the amount of time that has passed since pasting. While it is best to avoid doing this altogether, it is also preferable to fix any errors you find in the work right away.
If you were able to remove the required sections without compromising the coating’s foundation, let’s talk about how to correctly re-glue the wallpaper so that you are no longer bothered by this problem:
- The back side of the wallpaper is cleaned of dirt and stuck pieces of glue and plaster, if any.
- The wall is also thoroughly cleaned, and if there are defects on it, they must be repaired.
It is impossible to fix such base flaws without strengthening the base and removing the sheets.
- Then the surface must be treated with a strengthening primer, which will prevent uneven absorption of the surface and significantly improve the adhesion of the glue to the base.
- Then the desired surfaces are smeared with glue (in some types of wallpaper, it is necessary to treat the walls, in extreme cases, the instructions on the adhesive composition will tell you all the nuances), and the sheets are glued.
Once more, if the wallpaper was damaged but you bought the same type, the surface is prepped in the same manner as previously mentioned, and the wallpaper is then re-glued.
Re-gluing the damaged part of the coating
You can create a patch if any part of the damaged area—for instance, if a child had drawn on it a lot, tore it off, or otherwise damaged—but you will need a piece of the same wallpaper for this.
The following is how the work is completed:
- The area to be removed for replacement is marked on the surface.
- Then, along the line, the material is carefully cut along the entire perimeter with a construction knife.
- It is best to remove this area with a special scraper or spatula, if the material is firmly attached, it is carefully moistened with warm water and only then work begins.
- After removal, the surface is thoroughly cleaned.
- A piece of wallpaper is cut out, while not forgetting about the pattern, which should match perfectly. The piece should be a few centimeters larger than the cut out area. Next, the wall and wallpaper are smeared with PVA glue, and the patch is put in place.
The patch can be trimmed to the appropriate size as shown in the figure.
- At the joint, the excess part is cut off, and the patch fits perfectly into place, after which it must be carefully smoothed with a rag.
Removing scratches
These patches detract from the wall’s appearance, but they can be removed without re-gluing.
It is very easy to remove scratches:
- The damaged part of the wallpaper is moved aside and carefully coated with PVA glue using a cotton swab.
- After this, the area is smoothed out well and pressed with a rag, as a rule, the damaged area is still visible.
- Next, you should thoroughly warm up the area with an ordinary hair dryer, then carefully press the wallpaper with a rag, after which the scratch will be almost indistinguishable.
Counseling! Recall that, once the repair is finished, you should still have a piece of wallpaper. This will make future repairs much easier in case something unforeseen comes up.
Wallpaper re-gluing doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking. A little patience and attention to detail can go a long way when replacing entire sheets, repairing damaged areas, or just handling scratches. It all comes down to taking your time and making sure the new wallpaper blends in flawlessly with the old.
Examine the damage before beginning any repair. Re-gluing a corner can sometimes solve the problem; in other cases, a new sheet might be required. Recall that preparation is essential. Maintain a spotless environment, a smooth surface, and readily available tools at all times.
Your walls can appear like new again with the appropriate method. Take your time matching patterns and taming bubbles; don’t rush the process. And keep in mind that putting in a little extra work now will save you a lot of headaches down the road if you ever find yourself stuck.