When you have just applied wallpaper, or when it has been up for several years, you may find that it is peeling off either at a corner or directly at the edge of a wall or skirting board, for example. But why is your wallpaper peeling off? In this article, we will discuss all possible causes and all the steps to reapply peeling wallpaper.
Reasons for your wallpaper peeling off
1st reason: humidity
Humidity is one of the main causes of wallpaper peeling off. The reason is quite simple: when your wall is too humid, the glue that is supposed to hold, to attach your wallpaper to your wall, no longer sticks well enough for this purpose.
Similarly, excessive humidity can also cause mold or stains on your wallpaper, leading to total detachment.
2nd reason: lack of glue
A lack of glue on wallpaper application is somewhat rarer, but it can happen. This is generally the case when you apply the wallpaper yourself, but, unfortunately, it can also happen with professionals.
How to recognize a lack of glue on wallpaper? It is noticed because of small blisters that form between your wall and your wallpaper.
3rd reason: an issue during application
The issue with the application can directly relate to the glue. If your wallpaper is peeling off, it is likely that you missed one or more steps during its application.
This could be a lack of glue, but could also be, for example, a lack of wall preparation, or even a smoothing that wasn’t done properly. If your problem comes directly from the wallpaper application, it will appear only a few hours or days after the application.
4th reason: the quality of your walls
This might be the rarest case, but also the most serious. If your wall, for example, has a crack problem, related to the foundations of your dwelling, or if you have water infiltration directly in your wall, your wallpaper can also peel off. Unfortunately, I do not wish you to be in this situation, as it appears far more serious than a simple peeling of your wallpaper.
What equipment do you need to reattach your wallpaper?
You now know why your wallpaper is peeling off. We will give you the right method to reattach it.
But before that, discover what equipment you will need to carry out this task yourself. You will need:
- An adhesive (special seam adhesive) or another type (depending on your wallpaper type)
- A sponge
- A brush
- A seam roller
- A cutter
- A small syringe
Peeling wallpaper: what to do?
After listing the 4 main reasons for wallpaper peeling off, here are 3 simple methods to reattach it. Be aware, if the issue comes directly from one of your walls, you will need to schedule an appointment with a professional to assess the next steps to take before thinking about reattaching your wallpaper.
Method 1: the wallpaper is peeling off in a corner
This is perhaps the most likely case. It is also relatively easy to solve if your wall is of good quality. How to reattach your wallpaper in this specific case? Follow these steps one by one to achieve it:
- Carefully take your piece of wallpaper, and lift the entire part that is no longer sticking.
- Using your sponge (previously moistened), go over the entire peeled section (wall and wallpaper) to remove any adhesive residue.
- Wipe and dry your wall and wallpaper with a clean, dry cloth, then wait for both parts to be completely dry.
- Using your touch-up adhesive, you can now reapply it on the wall and on the wallpaper, making sure not to apply too much. The adhesive should not overflow once your wallpaper is back in place.
- Gently place the wallpaper back against the wall, removing any potential excess adhesive from the corners if necessary.
- Use your seam roller to go over the part of the wallpaper that has just been reattached.
- Wait a day, then check that your new application has adhered properly.
Method 2: your wallpaper strip is peeling off at the edge
As with a corner, it's quite simple to reattach a strip that has just peeled off at an edge. The methods are almost identical to those explored previously.
- Take the edge of your strip, then apply your moistened sponge and your clean, dry cloth.
- Apply the touch-up adhesive, on the wall and the back of your wallpaper.
- Gently press down on your paper to reattach it to the wall, removing any excess adhesive if necessary.
- Use your seam roller to achieve a perfect junction with your adjacent strip.
Method 3: Your wallpaper strip is peeling off from the inside
This is certainly the most delicate method to carry out. When your wallpaper strip is peeling from the inside, you can't simply remove an edge to reapply glue. You will need to make a small incision in your wallpaper itself. Here are the steps to follow:
- Using a cutter, make a small incision in the heart of the blister (where the wallpaper no longer sticks). This incision will later allow you to pass your syringe through to apply the glue.
- Put the touch-up glue in your syringe, then pass the tip of the syringe (as thin as possible) through the incision you just made. Apply the glue as delicately as possible.
- Use the seam roller over the blistered area, to evenly distribute your spot of glue.
- With your sponge and cloth, remove any trace of excess glue.
