CAN I USE NORMAL GLUE TO APPLY WALLPAPER?
The adhesion of wallpaper to the substrate depends on the material used for it and also on the preparation of the substrate. For this reason, it is usually not advisable to use regular glue, but one should always use a specific glue for each type of paper and each surface.
Why shouldn't you use regular glue?
The disadvantages of using a regular glue to apply wallpaper are several. The first is that it is essential for the drying time of the adhesive product to be extended. This way, the strips can be placed calmly, ensuring they are perfectly aligned. In conventional adhesives, that drying time is very short.
When drying is fast, a small error can be a big problem. The paper will stick to the support almost immediately and when you lift it to rectify it could tear. That would require preparing a new strip, with the consequent extra cost of material.
Another drawback of using regular glue is that it may not offer adequate adhesion on all surfaces. We must not forget that wallpaper is not only placed on plastered surfaces, but also on other types of supports, such as tiles or wood. Each of them needs a type of glue that guarantees that the paper adheres perfectly.
And not only the wall, but also the wallpaper can be made with different materials. This implies that a specific type of glue must necessarily be used for each one of them, so so that the paper is not altered or damaged and ensures that it adheres perfectly to the surface.
In addition, wallpaper glues spread easily with a glue brush. This aspect makes it easier to avoid lumps. In any case, if there were any left, this longer drying time than that of normal glue would allow them to be undone while the paper is being placed or lifted to dissolve them.
For these reasons, it is advisable to avoid normal glue as much as possible and always use the one recommended by the wallpaper manufacturer. It is the best way to achieve a perfect finish without setbacks or waste of material. When can you use regular glue with wallpaper?
Although it is not recommended, there could be some exceptions. A normal glue, such as carpenter's glue, could be used on small surfaces or difficult finishes. This would be the case of the edge of a switch rosette, a door or window frame or even particularly complicated joining areas.
It is true that universal adhesives or a normal glue could be used on larger surfaces. However, in many cases it would be necessary to previously apply a layer of primer on the surface to guarantee adhesion, an aspect that involves greater expense in material and more work time. All this, without forgetting the inconvenience of the speed of drying already mentioned.
The advice: always use specific queues
There are different types of glue manufactured exclusively for wallpaper. The ideal is to always use the most suitable one for each type of paper according to its characteristics, that is, if it has a paper base, if it is heavy or textured, if it is textile or non-woven fabric , etc.
For finishing, instead of normal glue, you can use dispersion adhesives already prepared in containers of different sizes and tubes to facilitate their application. Its use would be indicated both for the edges and for those more complicated areas or even for small repairs to the wallpaper.
At Alf&Mabi you can find that perfect wallpaper you are looking for. You can purchase it directly on our website, so that transforming your home is an easy and comfortable task.
