Wallpaper Wall Preparation:
Skimming and Sizing
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
Wallpaper wall preparation. OK, that sound’s a bit redundant. But the fact is, that to
end up with a great looking papered wall, you've got to start with a great foundation.
New Construction or Remodel?
This pretty much covers it. Either you're starting from scratch, or it's a
remodel project.
If this is new construction, feel free to skip down to the sizing sub-heading below. Otherwise, strip off
the old wallpaper if that’s your current situation.
Don’t want to tackle the job yourself? I always refer homeowners to
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This is usually easier to do using a wet sponge to loosen the old wallpaper adhesive. A
spray bottle of warm water helps as well.
If it's a textured wall, you'll need to get rid of the old texture. Depending on your
situation, this can be done by scraping and/or sanding. If sanding, use a drywall finishing sanding
pole.
Skim with Drywall Compound
The purpose of this step is to make sure that the wall surface is smooth, so the finished wall
will be smooth as well. If you’re well-versed in
drywall taping and floating
you won’t have a problem with this step.
Use your wide floating knife for the open spaces and your narrower taping knife for smaller
spots. You'll probably need a small putty knife for even smaller areas, especially in a
bathroom remodel or inside some window insets.
Sand the Wall with a Drywall Sanding Pole
In this step you’ll be smoothing the wall surface and making sure everything is flush. Inpect it
carefully and re-skim as needed. The best thing to use is a drywall sanding screen, not regular
sand paper.
Don't forget your dust mask. And make an effort to get all the drywall compound dust off the wall.
Wallpaper Sizing Prevents Future Woes
No, this has nothing to do with measuement. Sizing the wall simply means sealing the wall
prior to hanging the wallpaper. This both helps in the drying process (so the glue doesn't simply
soak into the wall) and it also adds a barrier so the paper can be removed later.
For sizing, either use a commercially available sizing product or thinned-out wallpaper
adhesive. Once it’s dry, you’re ready to
hang wallpaper and borders
like a pro!
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