CAN I USE NORMAL GLUE TO APPLY WALLPAPER?
The adhesion of the 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 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 of these 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 that they fit perfectly. 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 provide adequate adhesion on all surfaces. It should not be forgotten that wallpaper is not only applied to plastered surfaces, but also to other types of substrates, such as tiles or wood. Each of them requires a type of glue that ensures the wallpaper is perfectly adhered.
And not only the wall, but also the wallpaper can be made from different materials. This implies that a specific type of glue must necessarily be used for each of them, so that the paper is not altered or damaged and it is ensured that it adheres perfectly to the surface.
"In addition, the queues for wallpaper easily extend with a brush for gluing. This aspect makes it easy to avoid lumps. In any case, if any were to remain, that longer drying time than normal glue would allow for them to be dissolved while the paper is being placed or to lift it 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 manufacturer of the wallpaper. It is the best way to achieve a perfect finish without setbacks or material waste. When can normal glue be used with wallpaper?
"Although it is not recommended, there could be some exceptions. A regular glue, such as glue, could be used on small surfaces or difficult finishes. This would be the case for the edge of a switch plate, a door or window frame, or even particularly complicated joint 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 made exclusively for wallpaper. The ideal is to always use the most suitable one for each type of paper according to its characteristics, that is, whether it has a paper base, if it is heavy or has texture, if it is textile or non-woven, etc.
For the finishes, instead of a regular glue, ready-made dispersion adhesives can be used in containers of different sizes and tubes to facilitate their application. Their use would be indicated for both edges and those more complicated areas or even for small repairs on the wallpaper.
At Alf&Mabi you can find that perfect wallpaper you are looking for. You can purchase it directly on our website, making it easy and convenient to transform your home.
