:: Sad
:: Sadder
The inevitable has happened. The wallpaper failed. Turns out, it wasn’t our walls or wall prep that were the problem — or at least they weren’t the sole source of the problem. Unfortunately, the wrong type of adhesive was used in the paper’s application. The instructions that came with the wallpaper state that a heavy-duty, low-water-content vinyl adhesive is supposed to be used with this type of wallpaper. Instead, our contractor used a thin water-based adhesive.
The only areas that successfully adhered to the walls were (ironically) those that failed immediately after the wallpaper was installed. Our contractor reattached those areas using a heavy-duty vinyl-to-vinyl wallpaper paste. In the end, we had 90 percent failure (where the water-based adhesive was used) and 10 percent success (where the vinyl paste was used).
A 90 percent fail is still a complete fail where wallpaper is concerned. And to make our fail even worse, the areas glued back on with vinyl adhesive required a great deal of time and effort to remove because they adhered to the wall so effectively.
I removed all the paper over the weekend and have started priming the walls with two coats of white-pigmented shellac. Then we’ll have the walls skim-coated so they are ready for paint. I don’t think I’ll ever choose to have wallpaper in another house after this experience. Between the paper and labor for this room, coupled with the time and expense of removing the paper and starting over with bare walls, we’ve wasted thousands of dollars — money we couldn’t spare and didn’t anticipate spending.
That’s terrible. Sorry to hear that. Maybe paint it some neutral colors and stick some of those nice wall stickers on for decor?
Just paint from now on. Just. Paint. Paint has never let me down.
What a shame. I’ve never lived in a house with painted walls – always had wallpaper without any problems. (Apart from the fact that after thirty years or so it starts to look a little shabby!) It sounds as if the contractor let you down, not the paper.
The paper was lovely. It was very hard to tear it down.
I pretty much loathe wallpaper…having removing it from every conceivable surface, including ceilings.
But? That looks like really really, really beautiful paper. The background where it’s still in place around the white molding is gorgeous. If I were you I would be absolutely furious at the mess and the task and the expense.
It was handmade eco-friendly grasscloth wallpaper that used natural pigments as dyes. I’m not furious, but I am definitely beyond frustrated. As of today, I’ve cleaned, sanded and sealed the walls with two coats of shellac. I’m looking forward to having the skim-coating completed so we can paint the walls and move beyond this exhausting experience.
OH NO, Dana! You don’t strike me as the type of woman who would come “unglued” over this. Sorry, I couldn’t resist… but I’m sure this was such a huge disappointment. That paper is truly beautiful and like Victoria I’m not always a fan of the stuff. Of course you have great taste so I expect nothing less than gorgeous so this is such a downer. I know you’ll be happy to get the “painful” restoring over with. Good luck with the pretty paint…. yes, I already know it will be pretty!