How to get rid of air bubbles in newly applied wallpaper?
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.41 PM
Living Room Walls in a Victorian era house were papered by a qualified Painter & Decorator through this site in Feb or March of this year. 'Bubbles/Air Pockets' began to appear very shortly afterwards, with more appearing over the following weeks. The walls now look a mess, as the 'bubbles' are very obvious.
Any helpful suggestions would be welcome, on how I can tackle this problem. Thank You.
***Reply to answer: Thank you so much for your reply. I honestly do not want to have to strip the paper, as the work was only completed by a Painter/Decorator through this site during Feb or March of this year. There is lime in the walls due to how old the house is. That was apparent at the time. I cannot believe I spent the money to have this done when now it seems the only answer is to strip the paper! I will try the damp cloth method first, and then take this matter further. Thank you!
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Rubbing with a damp cloth wont achieve anything. It's wallpaper !
I would estimate that there isn't anything drastic going on here, more that it's just a poorly carried out job especially in terms of prep.
1. Were the walls correctly prepped and most importantly sized prior to the paper being hung?
2. Was the correct wallpaper paste used in accordance with the manufacturer of the paper's recommendations
3. Was the paste evenly applied
4. Was each length given the correct amount of soaking or booking time if non-paste the wall paper.
It's possible to cut a small slit in each bubble and inject paste then flatten. But if you want it right it will need re-doing
Answered9 August 2021
7
Anonymous user
This unfortunately sounds like a reaction, possibly caused by the dampness of the wall paper paste activating lime in the walls.
You can try very gently rubbing with a damp cloth.
However I think the only way to remedy will be to strip the paper, seal the walls with shellac based sealer and paper again.
Unfortunately reactions on older houses are quite common with paints and pastes.
Update to answers: ordinarily I would agree poor job....but bubbles that clearly increase in number over a period of time is a reaction, and lime is a pain for this sort of problem....strip back, make good any clumps that come off the walls with the paper, seal with Zinsser BIN or bull's eye if no ventilation....but BIN better and jobs a gooden....hang it up!
I would agree that it does sound as if the job wasn't done properly. If there are as many bubbles as you say then slitting and pasting is probably just going to make a mess. Unfortunately that means the paper needs to come off and the job done again properly.
