Can you put TNT wallpaper on tiles?
Wallpapering the wall is the quickest and most economical way to renovate a bathroom, if you don't want to resort to a complete renovation. Modern wallpapers can safely be used in wet areas such as bathrooms, but if the wall is tiled, you may wonder if you can install the wallpaper on this type of surface. The most honest answer we can give you is that it depends on several factors: the type of tile you have, what the joints are like, and what your expectation is for the final result.
In this article we tell you everything you need to know about putting TNT wallpaper on tiles and the points you have to consider if you are thinking of wallpapering (and renovating!) your bathroom.
Do I have to prepare the wall to install TNT wallpaper on tiles?
If you want an excellent result and a perfect finish, yes: it is recommended Fill the joints by applying standard putty to the joints of the tiles, let them dry for 24 hours, sand to leave the surface smooth and uniform, clean the wall and wallpaper as usual.
If for whatever reason (rented apartment, you don't want to touch the tiles...) you want to remove the paper in the future and keep the tile, you can wallpaper directly on this surface only when the tile is smooth (without drawings or reliefs) and the joints little visible. On older tiles with thick joints the result will not be as satisfactory.
The adhesion of the glue: another point that you have to take into account when installing TNT wallpaper on tiles
A wall sanded with a A layer of white paint has much more roughness than a tile, which is smooth and slippery. Therefore, the glue does not adhere in the same way on these two surfaces. You have two solutions to improve the adhesion of TNT wallpaper on tiles:
- Before starting to wallpaper, apply a coat of primer and let it dry for 24 hours. Then begin the normal installation process. The primer makes the wall rougher and the paper adheres better to the surface.
- Use a glue with maximum adhesion: normally wallpaper glues can have more or less power, depending on the amount of water that is added when preparing the glue, whether powder or ready-to-use glues. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to prepare the glue with its maximum adhesion power, to ensure that the TNT wallpaper will stick well to the bathroom wall.
Does TNT wallpaper on tiles look good?
If you prepare the wall beforehand, following the steps mentioned above, the result is perfect, just like a smooth wall with wallpaper.
If you decide to install the wallpaper on tiles without covering the joints, you have to keep in mind that something will be noticeable. But if the tiles are smooth and the joints are small and inconspicuous, the result can be very satisfactory.
- Pros of installing TNT wallpaper on tiles without filling the joints:
- If you get tired of the wallpaper, you can remove it and recover your tile wall again.
- When you remove the wallpaper, the tile will be perfect (perhaps with traces of glue, which you can remove with a glue solvent). On a normal wall, however, the paint can chip along with the paper.
- Cons of installing TNT wallpaper on tiles without filling the joints:
- Something is always noticeable, the finish is not 100% perfect.
- Adhesion is less compared to a wall with a layer of paint, and with the humidity of the bathroom it may be that over time some areas begin to peel off. This is easily fixed by re-gluing it with wallpaper glue.
