Is it necessary to plaster the wall before gluing wallpaper: what is the best plaster in an apartment and what is needed for this

Plastering is sometimes used to prepare walls for new wallpaper, but is it really necessary? It’s a frequent query, particularly from people trying to save money or time on renovations.

The final appearance of your wallpaper is directly impacted by the smooth and even surface that plastering ensures. Nobody wants to see ugly bubbles, wrinkles, or gaps in their wallpaper due to uneven or rough walls.

This post will discuss the best plasters to use in apartments, whether plastering your walls is necessary before wallpapering, and what equipment and supplies are necessary for the task. Together, let’s ensure that your wallpapering project gets off to a great start!

Is it necessary to plaster before gluing wallpaper

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Plastering the surfaces to level them is required if the walls are uneven before pasting. It is only possible to achieve excellent wall alignment if the beacons are precisely positioned. It is simpler to apply wallpaper after the walls have been plastered.

What is plastered with

Gypsum or cement bases are used to make plastering surface mixtures.

Cement mixtures take longer to dry than gypsum plasters.

How to use your hands to correctly plaster walls beneath wallpaper

The subsequent actions are carried out:

1. The walls should be cleaned of old wallpaper, a layer of plaster. It is imperative to remove nails and screws.
2. Before applying a layer of plaster, the surfaces must be treated with the most suitable primer. It allows you to strengthen the adhesion of the wall to the plastering composition, and also prevents the appearance of fungus or mold. Afterwards, you need to make notches on the surface with a chisel, about 20 pieces on each wall.
3. Beacons can be made from a plaster mixture, which is applied in strips to the surface. The frozen strips of plaster are used as beacons. This method is cheap, but labor-intensive.
4. The selected plaster composition is diluted according to the instructions indicated on the packaging.

Tools

You’ll need the following instruments to use plaster to level the surfaces beneath the wallpaper:

• container;
• trowel;
• 2 spatulas of different sizes;
• corner spatula;
• special shovel;
• half-grater;
• rule and grater;
• chisel;
• beacons;
• brush.

Instructions

The plaster mixture is prepared and then thrown onto the walls. Every task is completed in phases, beginning at the wall’s base:

1. First, the composition is collected with a smaller spatula, then it is transferred to a larger spatula. The mixture is thrown in pieces from one installed beacon to the adjacent one.
2. Use the rule by installing the device from the bottom of the wall.
3. The rule is pulled up, while easily swaying it from side to side.
4. A mixture sticking to the rule is removed using a spatula.
5. Take another portion of the composition, which is leveled using a rule from bottom to top.

You should level the next strip after tightening the previous one. The room’s walls are thought to have been fully treated with composition once the first stage of plastering is finished. However, the surface is not sufficiently smooth after this. Consequently, use a more liquid solution to remove irregularities, enabling you to complete the surface’s final leveling. For the final coat, employ a gypsum-containing mixture.

Putty leveling can be done after the initial layer, which hasn’t had time to solidify, has dried. This is completed between two and four hours after the layer is applied. Use a more fluid solution and a wide spatula along with a rule to remove any defects.

After the composition has dried to the point where it starts to resemble thick plasticine and bends when fingers are applied, the beacons must be removed.

The beacons must be taken out since they may weaken the plaster layer that has been applied.

Since fresh plaster layers adhere perfectly to the previous ones, the gypsum plaster needs to be cut off with a rule at the beginning of the thickening process. The leveling process is deemed finished at this point.

After plastering the walls: what to do next under the wallpaper

The walls are treated with a thin layer of PVA-based emulsion prior to pasting the wallpaper because gypsum cannot withstand high humidity. A trowel is used to spread the mixture after it has been applied with a specialized spatula.

For a seamless and durable finish, plastering the wall is essential before applying wallpaper adhesive. It aids in leveling the surface and conceals flaws that might be seen through the wallpaper. The type of wall and the interior design of the apartment will determine which plaster is best; gypsum plaster is a common choice due to its ease of application and speedy drying time. To properly prepare the surface, you’ll need some basic tools to get started, like a trowel, mixing bucket, and sandpaper.

Features and recommendations

In order to increase the plaster mixture’s elasticity and surface adhesion, fillers are also added to the cement mixture. The polymer mesh cannot be mounted after adding these fillers. These stabilizers:

• plasticizers such as C-3 or liquid soap;
• PVA glue;
• non-metal fibers – these are thin fibers, for example, polypropylene, fiberglass, carbon.

To the entire mass of cement-based plaster, add 2-3% plasticizer C-3 and 10–20% PVA glue.

That is, before adhering the wallpaper, you should prime the surfaces, plaster them, and use PVA glue.

In order to achieve a smooth and long-lasting finish, plastering the wall must be done before applying wallpaper adhesive. It aids in leveling the surface and conceals flaws that the wallpaper might otherwise highlight. In addition to improving the look, this step guarantees improved adhesion, which is essential for the wallpaper’s longevity.

The particular requirements of the surface will determine which type of plaster is best for the walls in your apartment. Gypsum plaster’s smooth finish and ease of application make it a popular choice for interior walls. For most homeowners, it is a convenient option because of its quick drying time.

To get a professional finish, you’ll also need basic tools like a trowel, plastering float, and sandpaper in addition to the right plaster. Plastering your walls correctly the first time will prevent problems later on and ensure that your wallpaper looks fantastic for a longer period of time.

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