These pastes usually contain a fungicide to prevent mould growth. All-Purpose PasteĪll-purpose adhesives have been developed to be used with any type of paper and come either in powder form or ready-mixed.
It is also one of the easiest types of adhesive to remove, as it is water-soluble. However water-based pastes do have an advantage in that they tend to take the longest to dry, giving you more of a chance to correct mistakes.Ĭold water paste is suitable for most types of wallpaper and can be mixed to different strengths depending on the weight of the paper. Too runny and it will just slop everywhere and not stick, but too thick and you’ll get lumps. Mixing up the paste can be a bit tricky – getting the consistency right is the hard part. These pastes are made from a wheat or other starch-based powder. Cold Water PasteĬold water pastes come in powder form and require you to mix them yourself. You can buy specific Glue Size products, or some wallpaper adhesives can be diluted to do the same job – check the instructions on the packet for ‘sizing’ details. If you don’t do this, it is likely that the adhesive will just be soaked up by the porous new plaster, and the paper won’t stick. Glue Size (sometimes known as primer or sealer) will seal and prime the new plaster, stopping it from soaking up the adhesive and making the surface easier to paper on. If you are papering a newly plastered wall, you will need to prepare the wall first.
Some wallpaper manufacturers will advise you on what type of adhesive to use – if they specify a type, it is a good idea to follow their instructions. If the paper is printed, textured or flocked you’ll need to make sure you use the correct type and strength of adhesive. The type of wallpaper you have chosen will make a difference to the type of adhesive you use, too. Let our guide to wallpaper adhesives help you choose.Īpplying Wallpaper Paste What Should I Consider When Looking for Wallpaper Paste?ĭo you like to redecorate a lot? Are you in your forever home, or can you leave redecorating to the next residents? If you’re likely to want to remove the wallpaper in the future so you can redecorate, this will make a difference to the type of adhesive you use, as some are easier to remove than others. There are so many choices to make when decorating – as if choosing a wallpaper isn’t bad enough, now you need to decide on what you’re going to use to stick the paper to the wall.