Plastering, sometimes referred to as wall boarding, is the process of adding a layer of plaster to a substrate in order to create an even and smooth surface. This can be done on walls and ceilings, and the type of plaster used usually depends on the final intended use.
Today, there has been a debate on the issue and many still ask: Can you plaster over wallpaper? In a nutshell, yes, plastering over wallpaper is possible, although it would not adhere well for very long.
So for this reason, professional decorators do not recommend plastering over wallpaper. The biggest concern when skimming plaster over a wallpapered surface is that wallpaper is very dry, and plaster needs a tacky, adhesive surface to bond to.
What are the reasons to re-plaster a wall in the first place?
Many walls need to be re-plastered for a wide range of reasons: water leaks and dampness, to change the colour of walls or simply to repair the damage. The job can be physically demanding and at times dangerous, but with the right preparation and planning a wall can be plastered safely by anyone. Here are a few good reasons why people replaster their walls:
Cover Wallpaper
Plastering a wall is a great way to give it a make-over. If you have wallpaper on your walls then you are most likely going to have to cover the old wallpaper with plaster in order to put up new wallpaper or even just paint the walls. Sometimes you can remove the wallpaper but most of the time there are some repairs that will need to be done before re-plastering a wall.
Make sure to find out what your plasterer charges per hour. Most will charge per hour and the cost can easily add up, especially if there is damage you weren’t expecting!
Update Style
A wall plastered right after a home is built starts to age in no time. Ceilings stained with yellowing paint and walls damaged by sticky spills are just the beginning. To avoid flipping your home more than once, consider re-plastering walls in key rooms and living areas. Look for cracked or peeling paint as a sign that it’s time to redo your wall.
Cover Damage
If you’ve ever walked into a room with peeling wallpaper, chances are it has lost its ability to hold onto the wall due to damage. That damage could be as simple as a hole punched by a toddler or plaster siding that was never ground down around a new window. No matter how many times you attempt to place new wallpaper over damaged walls you’ll find that your new paper is soon discoloured, pulled down and damaged in the same fashion as the old paper. It’s important that you fix the wall before hanging new wallpaper for it to remain strong over time.
Cover Texture
It’s a little known fact that you can change the texture of your walls by simply reapplying a wall covering. While there are many reasons why this is useful to do, one of the most popular reasons is to cover up the unsightly texture.
Can you skim coat over textured wallpaper?
Yes, you can skim coat wallpaper. You need to seal it first with an oil-based primer and then you are good to go. A textured plaster coat is great especially if you have high traffic areas or children in the house and will hide any imperfections in your wall. Be sure to use a flat not a glossy finish for a better look.
Does all wallpaper need to be removed before plastering?
The answer to this question differs depending on whether you are hanging wallpaper for the first time, or have a wall that has previously been plastered. However, it is a good idea to remove all wallpaper before plastering. There are two reasons for this. First, wallpaper occasionally contains asbestos as an ingredient; this obviously is something to avoid. Another reason is that the adhesive between the paper and the wall can leave an unsightly stain on your fresh plaster finish.
How do you repair plaster walls after removing wallpaper?
Follow these guidelines below to repair drywall and plaster surfaces after stripping wallpaper.
Clean Off Old Wallpaper Glue
If you’re ready to hang new wallpaper in an area where previously a different type of paper was hung, it’s best to first scrape off the excess glue and paper remnants with a utility knife and a putty knife.
Sand Around the Edge of the Ripped Drywall or Plaster
What next you need to do is try sanding around the edge of the ripped drywall or plaster. Do that with a medium to fine sandpaper, and make sure that you just do it around the torn area as much as possible so as not to scratch or create an uneven surface.
Apply the Resurfacing Compound
Resurfacing compound is a plaster-like material that is used to cover surfaces prior to applying new wallpaper. It can also be used to smooth out existing plaster walls. The compound has a consistency similar to, but not as thick as, modelling clay.
Smooth Out the Compound
Use the plastic trowel to apply the plaster resurfacing compound to the wall. Smooth it over with a wooden-backed paint roller or standard paintbrush, being careful not to leave any gouges or lumps behind.
Sand the Repaired Spots
Start by sanding the spots that were covered with wallpaper. Gently apply downward pressure with your sanding pad, spending about 20 seconds on each section. This not only smoothes out the bumps and gets rid of the textured pattern leftover from the wallpaper’s backing, but also reduces any splintering or flaking caused by the adhesive pulling away from the wall’s surface.
Do I need to skim coat after removing wallpaper?
The decision to skim coat after removing wallpaper is ultimately up to you, but certain circumstances may affect your decision. For example, if the wall’s finish varies widely from section to section (i.e. smooth in some places and bumpy in others), the skim coat makes sense so that the new area blends with the old one as though it was done at the same time. If you go with a patch job instead of a complete wall covering, prepare your wall by brushing sanding compound over any seams that might show through the new paint.
What are the benefits of skim coating?
You may have reservations about skim coating. After all, when it comes to preparing a wall for fresh interior house paint, drywall repairs and priming usually suffice. While this is true in some cases, in others, more harsh measures are required.
If you don’t want to look at your popcorn ceiling anymore but don’t want to spend the time, energy, or money to have it removed, skim coating is a quick, easy, and inexpensive solution. Instead of removing the popcorn ceiling texture, a suitable skim coating is sprayed on top, sealing the texture and presenting a smooth surface that looks and feels like a brand new ceiling.
Aside from this specific situation, skim coatings also hide drywall flaws caused by water, impact, past repairs, loose joints, popped nails, wallpaper removal, and other factors. Applying skim coatings over these surfaces effectively erases them and, more crucially, provides a smooth surface for painting, as long as the underlying concerns have been resolved and the wall itself remains structurally sound.
Skim coating has extra aesthetic benefits as well. Skim coating, in particular, helps lessen drywall “flashing” (or “photographing”) in new drywall, a condition that happens in brightly light rooms when some paint is absorbed into the joint compound of the drywall, resulting in an uneven appearance. Paint is uniformly dispersed throughout the surface by using skim coats.
In a nutshell, skim coatings hide flaws in the surface, make painting easier, and produce better-looking results.
What does skim coating have to do with wallpaper?
So far, we’ve avoided discussing the topic of wall paper removal and skim coatings. Of course, if you’ve ever tried to remove your wallpaper yourself after looking up home remedies for wallpaper removal on the internet, you know where this is heading.
Otherwise, you might not understand how much drywall damage wallpaper removal can do. It’s preferable to hire professionals to remove wallpaper to avoid a mess and drywall damage, but even the best contractors can’t ensure that a wall will be free of harm. Wallpaper can, in fact, take chunks of the wall with it when it is removed from the surface due to its adhesive tendencies.
The underlying wall may appear like it’s been destroyed by a severe storm by the time the final bit of paper is removed. As a result, the first step in removing wall paper is frequently to fix the drywall. However, once those repairs have been performed, a skim coating can help to seal the deal, giving the drywall a fresh start and hiding any visible traces of damage.
Attempting to prime and paint your drywall without first applying this intermittent skim coating will result in inconsistent results that require many touch-ups. Apply a layer of PVA emulsion to your wall and once it dries, check how it feels. If it is completely dry, you will need to apply a second coat. If it is tacky, one coat should be sufficient.
How to skim coat textured wall after wallpaper removal
After pulling down your wallpaper, skim coating your textured walls is a crucial, if not necessary, step in repairing and prepping your walls for painting. In this context, let’s take a quick look at the skim coating process:
- Gather your supplies, which include a large drywall taping knife or trowel, a putty knife/scraper, thin drywall repair tape, a stainless steel drywall mud pan, and an all-purpose joint compound, which you’ll thin down to the consistency of a thick milkshake or yoghurt, good lighting, and, in some cases, a surface sealer to firmly press down any torn drywall, as well as a thin roller.
- Remove surface bubbles, leftover wallpaper, and loosened/torn textured wallpaper using a scraper.
- Using your little roller, completely coat the wall(s) with your surface sealer and allow it to dry.
- Use your normal-consistency drywall compound and trowel to bed the repair tape over the required sections and corners.
- Thin down your all-purpose compound for skim coating purposes once all repairs have been completed.
- Apply a reasonable amount of compound to the top of the surface with your trowel and smooth it out with a gentle scraping motion downwards, upwards, and side to side, always pulling away from corners.
- Long, smooth strokes downward, then horizontally, are used to smooth down the coating.
- Allow the first skim coat to dry completely before applying the second and allowing it to dry completely.
How can I plaster over a wallpaper without removing it?
Is the house taped and joined or is it just skimmed? The joints in the plasterboard are taped and joined, implying that the wallpaper will be applied directly to the plasterboard. If it’s skimmed, a steamer should do the trick because the steam penetrates the paper but not the skim, forcing the paper off.
If it’s taped and joined, you’re better off using a damp cloth/wet sponge and dilute the wallpaper paste, but It is hideous job to do, and the condition of the wall underneath may well make you weep. Professional decorators don’t recommended plastering on to textured wallpaper because no matter how well you prepare it, you’re still plastering on to a false background. So when the paper comes loose, the skim will too.
What’s the difference between plastering and skimming?
First, let’s talk about what plastering and skimming are. Plastering is the act of applying a thick layer of plaster over an existing rough surface, like drywall or a masonry wall. Skimming is the far thinner application of plaster over an existing surface while attempting to achieve a smooth finish. Skimming is usually reserved for walls or ceilings that don’t require the added strength of plaster.
You’ll probably want to try skimming before moving on to plasterers’ work. It shows off the design features of your home and can often be used as part of a more advanced technique.
What can I put over old wallpaper?
Apply a very thin layer of joint compound over the entire wall if the original wallpaper is embossed or otherwise rough, then sand it smooth once dry. Oil-based primer and paint are good in terms of products because they won’t dislodge the wallpaper adhesive. Matte paint is ideal since it hides any tiny flaws.
How do you cover textured wallpaper?
Wallpapering directly over textured walls will result in some very unattractive, bumpy wallpaper. However, for overlaying textured wallpaper, a good quality lining paper would be excellent. Lining paper can be used to hide patterned wallpaper by covering any faults on the wall underneath it. Lining paper is installed in the same way as regular wallpaper, but you must always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Can you skim over blown plaster?
Blown plaster should never be skimmed over because it doesn’t address the problem of the old plaster and the weight of fresh plaster can exacerbate the problem; instead, the blown component should be removed and the area filled before being skimmed.
Should I prime before skim coating?
Before applying the skim coat, make sure the primer has dried. Mix water into your joint compound to thin it out and make it simpler to apply in thin layers to the wall.
Can you skim over backing paper?
Do not skim plaster over your wallpaper as the plaster will crack and fall off. You must remove ALL traces of backing paper etc, even little bits of it left stuck to the surface can cause new plaster to blister as the paper expands with moisture. Any damaged plasterboard must be replaced or let a plasterer look at it or a painter look at your job to see what he can do with it.
Do I need to sand between skim coats?
You don’t need to sand between coats; simply use a 5- or 6-in. putty knife to knock off lumps or proud mud lines to avoid streaks in the following coat. After brushing off the wall, you’re ready to apply the second coat.
Can I skim coat over primer?
You certainly have the option to skim. (Many people purposefully prime in order to detect flaws that aren’t immediately apparent.) If possible, use topping mud instead of all-purpose mud since it sands easier and leaves a better feathery edge.
Can you plaster on top of paint?
Skimming over the paint with plaster is entirely acceptable if the paint is of good quality and does not require any upkeep. The first step in plastering over painted walls that are in good condition is to carefully clean the surface and make sure they feel dry, then a professional will likely be able to start the plastering process straight away.
Can you skim over Artex?
If you have patterned Artex, you can cover it with PVA to get a smooth surface before skimming it. Stippled Artex cannot be adequately treated in this manner. One tip you need to ensure you follow when applying plaster over artex, is to apply a new layer of plaster only when the previous layer is damp.
Can joint compound be used as a skim coat?
Skim coating with joint compound is straightforward since it produces high-quality, quick-drying, durable results that can be sanded without striping or tackiness. In one to two hours, this joint compound will give a smooth finish that is ready for final coatings.
Can you skim over a papered ceiling?
The biggest concern when skimming plaster over a wallpapered surface is that wallpaper is very dry, and plaster needs a tacky, adhesive surface to bond to. Plastering over paper is never a good idea. Your new plaster is almost certainly going to fail. If it doesn’t fall off right away, it will in the near future. The paper absorbs the moisture from the skim, pulling it away from the wall and spilling it all over your lovely carpet.
How thick should skim coat be?
The average thickness is around a quarter of an inch, although up to twelve centimetres is usually fine. However, in most circumstances, the first layer placed with a standard light compound will be much thinner, usually around eight millimetres.
Do you have to remove wallpaper before skimming?
Yes, you must first remove the wallpaper in your house before plastering the walls. You can do it yourself if you have a decent steamer and a wallpaper scraper, and the job will just take a few hours. If you’re unsure, you can contact a professional to help you.
Do you need to sand walls before plastering?
The answer is contingent on the quality of your plasterer’s work. Sanding the walls using a medium grade sandpaper can guarantee that the surface is clear of any flaws, such as spilled plaster and grit/dust, and that the paint adheres properly.
Can you skim over old wallpaper paste?
Yes. It is possible for you to do it. But first, seal the adhesive. You can begin skim coating the wall after securing the wallpaper glue.
Conclusion
Based on the findings, it wasn’t possible to plaster over wallpaper. It will just wreck the plaster. To eliminate most of the design and style issues discussed above, you must remove the wallpaper first. This usually requires stripping the paper by hand, which is painstaking to say the least.
However, there is another option in which you can plaster over wallpaper, but keep in mind that it doesn’t have a great track record for remodelling projects, as it takes a lot of skill. If you are planning on this, you will need to locate an experienced plasterer who can apply a thick coat of plaster over your walls.