Spec Me Wallpaper Paste

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:29

I have the enviable task of wallpapering my hallway next week, and need some decent, nay, the best (I can easily get) wallpaper paste.

I did one wall with packet mix of some kind from Wickes a few months ago, and most of the edges are coming away. It's also coming away behind the radiator, so I have no faith in their product at all.

Can anyone recommend a really good, slow-drying (i.e. soaks in really well) paste that I don't need to be a member of some guild of master wallpaperers and have completed a 2000 mile journey up the side of a mountain to some mystic wallpapering prophet to gain enlightenment in order to purchase?

Cheers!

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:35

Well I said wallpapering. What I really meant is lining them and painting the lining paper. The wall surfaces are too shabby to just repaint.

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:46

[FnG]magnolia;21633345 said:
Aren't they still all made by two suppliers : Bostick and Henkel? These are who made the B&Q, Homebase et all own brands as well as labelled stuff in 2003- 2006.

I guessed they'd be mostly from same manufacturers, just trying to weedle out the best stuff really.

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:52

Nightglow said:
Ah! Use 1000 gauge lining paper then, Wickes do this gauge.

Would you say 1400 is too heavy, as that's what we bought and have a couple of rolls of?

peterattheboro said:
Get Solvite.

I'd avoid anything branded by B&Q because it's utter ****.

I'll try to find some Solvite then. B&Q is a swear word in our house ATM, so we won't be giving them any business.

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:55

Nightglow said:
If your walls are porous, it pays to seal them first before lining otherwise the wall will soak up the adhesive, & the paper will not stay on the wall.

Yeah, we did this with watered-down paste. But then the paste we used was terrible, so it probably didn't help!

Is ready-mixed paste any cop?

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 11:58

No DIY section AFAIK...

*goes to check*

...nope.

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 12:04

peterattheboro said:
I agree we should have a Home and Garden section

Fo' sho.

I am able to advise in several techniques that you should never use to hang a radiator, and several methods to use when fitting a new roof to your garage that will have you stand back and say 'why the hell did I do it like that?'.

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 12:31

[FnG]magnolia;21633580 said:
Pretty sure I can advise about how why you should not spill 8 litres of oil based paint on your child's brand new carpet.

This might be why we need experts

Whoops!

danza · 7 Apr 2012 at 23:54

*Moangroan* said:
....maybe if you are having trouble try some size (I dunno the spelling) but you put it on b4 the wallpaper let it dry...not long then wallpaper over it....ohhh and its cheap

We sized the walls last time, so it's either bad luck, pap wallpaper paste or something else I've missed.

Mark A said:
The finish after a few coats of paint looks pretty much like a painted plaster wall. Its very important to remove anything you can feel with a finger nail, as it will show up through the paper. Use fine sand paper and a decent filler to get the walls nice and smooth, then wipe them down with a damp cloth a few times to remove any debris.

I've got a vacuum sander that I'll be going over the walls with prior to papering. It's one of the best things I've ever bought, and makes plaster repairs a doddle for someone inexperienced like myself.

Nightglow said:
Nothing wrong with 1400 gauge.

where did you find such a heavy gauge?

Wickes.

Cheers for all your comments chaps.