A well done wallpaper job can make any room look beautiful, and can sometimes feel like a real labor of love! So it’s crushing then, when you take a closer look and see loose spots and bubbles. If the traditional style wallpaper is newly applied, the glue may still be moist and you should still be able to peel it off the wall and smooth out the bubbles before reapplying. Meanwhile, if you have peel and stick wallpaper you may be able to move the panel and get rid of the bubble. However, if the wallpaper has been up for quite some time then that will require a bit more work. In our article we’ll take a look at what causes bubbles in wallpaper, how to remove them, and how to prevent them. However, as bubbling in our peel and stick wallpaper is not a common thing, this time we will focus more on situations where traditional style wallpaper can bubble and how to fix that.
What Causes Bubbles In Traditional Wallpaper?
What Causes Bubbles In Peel and Stick Wallpaper?
Considering our peel and stick wallpaper is of a high quality made out of textile material that breathes once applied to the wall, the situation where bubbles can form is highly unlikely, especially if our step by step installation instructions are being followed. That being said, peel and stick wallpaper in general can get bubbly, especially if you choose to use vinyl type self adhesive wallpapers, which do not breathe thus trapping every bit of air underneath the wallpaper during installation and in general can be the hardest wallpaper to install perfectly and almost impossible to do so without bubbles. Bubbles may also be caused by paint, loose dirt, or other debris. However, as we mentioned before, if the wall is prepped correctly before and even better - if a proper primer has been used - there should be no reason to worry about bubbling.
5 Steps To Fix Traditional Wallpaper Bubbles
- Sharp snap-blade knife
- Wallpaper pasting syringe
- Wallpaper smoothing tool
- Wallpaper paste
- Damp sponge
How Do You Prevent Bubbles And Blisters In Wallpapers?
- Using incorrect paste or the incorrect mixing ratio of water and powder can weaken the adhesive and result in bubbles. Make sure to always evenly apply wallpaper paste on paper-based wallpaper, or on the wall if you’re working with non-woven wallpaper. Try not to apply the paste too thick or too thin, as both will weaken the adhesive.
- How the wallpaper dries can play a big part in bubbling. If your room is drafty, too hot, too cold, or too humid, this can lead to bubbles. The ideal temperature for a room with drying wallpaper is 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a hygrometer, you can tell if a room is very humid if it is damp and cool. However, keeping the windows and doors open can also be harmful. Instead, open the windows for about 10 minutes at regular intervals to let the humid air out.
- Individual, bigger bubbles can be removed by moving them to the side with a cloth that is clean, dry, and soft, or they can even be moved with your hands as long as they are clean. Too much paste can spill out of the edges of the wallpaper but can also be removed with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
- If you’re dealing with smaller air bubbles, you can smooth them out with a wallpaper brush. A wallpapering or seam roller is a great tool for removing bubbles, but it needs to be covered in a soft, foamy material. If you have a plastic roller, make sure to wrap it in some white paper to avoid damaging the wallpaper.
