Wallpaper blown and peeling off

[markjg123]

Please see photos off wallpaper lifting away from a chimney breast wall of a friend's house. I'm not aware of any damp issues that might be causing this and the wallpaper has been up for several years. The whole area I've marked in red has lifted from the wall, including the lining paper. Is there any simple fix to salvage this?

 

[jamiesun]

Hey! It looks like the wallpaper's lifting, possibly due to the adhesive not sticking properly or some movement in the wall. Before you fix it, though, it’s worth checking for any signs of damp around the area just to be sure. If there’s no damp, that's great!

If it's just an issue with the adhesive, you can try peeling the wallpaper back gently, starting from the edges, and work your way to the middle. If some of the paper has lifted in the middle of the sections, you can carefully dampen the back of it with warm water or a wallpaper adhesive remover to loosen the adhesive. Let it sit for a few minutes, then peel it off slowly to avoid tearing.

Once you’ve removed the paper, check the wall underneath. If it’s still smooth, you can reapply the wallpaper with fresh adhesive. Make sure you press it down well to avoid it lifting again. If the lining paper is damaged, you might need to replace it. If the wall underneath is uneven, fill any gaps or imperfections before sticking it back down.

Make sure to use a strong or flexible wallpaper paste, and ensure you’re using enough to avoid it lifting again.

Let me know how it goes, and don’t forget to check for damp first!

 

[markjg123]

Hey! It looks like the wallpaper's lifting, possibly due to the adhesive not sticking properly or some movement in the wall. Before you fix it, though, it’s worth checking for any signs of damp around the area just to be sure. If there’s no damp, that's great!

If it's just an issue with the adhesive, you can try peeling the wallpaper back gently, starting from the edges, and work your way to the middle. If some of the paper has lifted in the middle of the sections, you can carefully dampen the back of it with warm water or a wallpaper adhesive remover to loosen the adhesive. Let it sit for a few minutes, then peel it off slowly to avoid tearing.

Once you’ve removed the paper, check the wall underneath. If it’s still smooth, you can reapply the wallpaper with fresh adhesive. Make sure you press it down well to avoid it lifting again. If the lining paper is damaged, you might need to replace it. If the wall underneath is uneven, fill any gaps or imperfections before sticking it back down.

Make sure to use a strong or flexible wallpaper paste, and ensure you’re using enough to avoid it lifting again.

Let me know how it goes, and don’t forget to check for damp first!

Thanks. Two questions:
1. Best way to check for damp?
2. Best wallpaper paste for this?

I should have said that the wallpaper appears to be fully stuck to the lining paper, if that makes any difference to the repair.

 

[Deleted member 265726]

So the wallpaper is lifting off the wall almost entirely in one piece next to the chimney breast. Has the fire been on a lot?

Is there any sign of wet or damp patches on the wallpaper or wall or any mould?

If not, I reckon it is just a case of the wallpaper adhesive drying out due to heat being generated from the fire. Just bog standard wallpaper adhesive should do it.

They make strong wallpaper adhesives too, if you think it needs it.

 

[markjg123]

So the wallpaper is lifting off the wall almost entirely in one piece next to the chimney breast. Has the fire been on a lot?

Is there any sign of wet or damp patches on the wallpaper or wall or any mould?

If not, I reckon it is just a case of the wallpaper adhesive drying out due to heat being generated from the fire. Just bog standard wallpaper adhesive should do it.

They make strong wallpaper adhesives too, if you think it needs it.

The wallpaper is lifting in several places on the chimney breast, either side of the fireplace. The gas living flame fire is rarely used. There's no sign of mould or damp on the wall but there are few water stains on the paper like the one in this additional photo. I can't see a stain on the back of the paper - only on the front. This one's at skirting level. I've lifted up the paper and can't see anything on the wall other than the white emulsion.

 

[Deleted member 265726]

Can you zoom out and take a pic of the entire chimney breast including the fire please.

 

[markjg123]

Can you zoom out and take a pic of the entire chimney breast including the fire please.

The paper either side of the bookcases is fine.

 

[Deleted member 265726]

Cheers. I couldn't work out if the fire surround had been papered or not but I can see you don't have one now. At this stage, I wouldn't worry about it. Those stains at skirt level may just be there from stuff being splashed on the paper. I'd just do your best to get the paper to re-adhere back onto the wall. If the chimney breast wall starts getting damp etc further down the line, the chimney may need looking at.

 

[markjg123]

Cheers. I couldn't work out if the fire surround had been papered or not but I can see you don't have one now. At this stage, I wouldn't worry about it. Those stains at skirt level may just be there from stuff being splashed on the paper. I'd just do your best to get the paper to re-adhere back onto the wall. If the chimney breast wall starts getting damp etc further down the line, the chimney may need looking at.

Any recommendations for a good adhesive?

 

[jamiesun]

Thanks. Two questions:
1. Best way to check for damp?
2. Best wallpaper paste for this?

I should have said that the wallpaper appears to be fully stuck to the lining paper, if that makes any difference to the repair.

1.
Moisture meter – If you wanna be sure, grab a moisture meter. The Protimeter Mini is a solid choice, but even a cheap one off Amazon will do the trick. Just press it against the wall and see if it freaks out.

Look & sniff test – Easiest way? Just have a look. Peeling wallpaper, weird stains, or a musty smell = probs damp. Feel the walls too, damp spots tend to be cold.

Hygrometer – This is more for checking humidity levels in general. If your place is constantly above 60%, you might have a damp issue. ThermoPro TP50 is a good cheap one.

2. Something stronger than standard if it's fully stuck to the lining.

Border & Overlap Adhesive (Everbuild or Solvite) – Even though it’s meant for seams, this stuff is super strong and works well for reattaching sections of lining paper that have lifted.

Heavy-Duty Ready-Mixed Wallpaper Adhesive (Solvite Extra Strong) – Since your lining paper is still intact, a proper wallpaper adhesive should work fine. You might need to gently lift the affected area with a thin knife and spread some behind it.

PVA Glue (Diluted, 1:4 with water) – If you’re in a pinch and don’t wanna buy special glue, PVA can work as long as you don’t go overboard—too much and it’ll make the paper too rigid.

If the edges are loose, use a small brush or syringe to get the glue behind the lining paper. Press it down with a clean roller or cloth, then wipe off any excess. If it’s a big section, you might need to score it slightly and reapply a fresh layer of adhesive underneath.

Might be worth checking for damp behind it too—if the lining paper has started to lift, there’s a chance moisture is the culprit.

 

[Deleted member 265726]

I've had a quick look for that wallpaper and I can see it is discontinued, which I expect is why you are nervous about re-sticking it? I think i've found one seller on eBay who has it for sale at £42.32 per roll plus delivery. Seller has 4 x rolls left.

NEW! LAURA ASHLEY Honeysuckle Grape Wallpaper 5 Available Price Per Roll | eBay UK

Original Laura Ashley Honeysuckle Grape Wallpaper bought from the original Laura Ashley stores. 5 rolls available price per roll

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Odds]

The paste probably dried out over the years
I use Solvite. Every time. Paste the wall stuff is good, applied liberally.

 

[markjg123]

1.
Moisture meter – If you wanna be sure, grab a moisture meter. The Protimeter Mini is a solid choice, but even a cheap one off Amazon will do the trick. Just press it against the wall and see if it freaks out.

Look & sniff test – Easiest way? Just have a look. Peeling wallpaper, weird stains, or a musty smell = probs damp. Feel the walls too, damp spots tend to be cold.

Hygrometer – This is more for checking humidity levels in general. If your place is constantly above 60%, you might have a damp issue. ThermoPro TP50 is a good cheap one.

2. Something stronger than standard if it's fully stuck to the lining.

Border & Overlap Adhesive (Everbuild or Solvite) – Even though it’s meant for seams, this stuff is super strong and works well for reattaching sections of lining paper that have lifted.

Heavy-Duty Ready-Mixed Wallpaper Adhesive (Solvite Extra Strong) – Since your lining paper is still intact, a proper wallpaper adhesive should work fine. You might need to gently lift the affected area with a thin knife and spread some behind it.

PVA Glue (Diluted, 1:4 with water) – If you’re in a pinch and don’t wanna buy special glue, PVA can work as long as you don’t go overboard—too much and it’ll make the paper too rigid.

If the edges are loose, use a small brush or syringe to get the glue behind the lining paper. Press it down with a clean roller or cloth, then wipe off any excess. If it’s a big section, you might need to score it slightly and reapply a fresh layer of adhesive underneath.

Might be worth checking for damp behind it too—if the lining paper has started to lift, there’s a chance moisture is the culprit.

The Protimeter Mini is about £180, unless I'm looking at the wrong one. There are much cheaper ones around £20 though.