Why Is My Wallpaper Coming Away From The Wall?

You’ve spent the time, effort and money creating a fresh new look for your room and everything is looking great. That is until you notice that your wallpaper is starting to lift. There is nothing more frustrating but many people aren’t sure what they have done wrong. So, if you’ve found yourself asking why is my wallpaper coming away from the wall, you’re in the right place. 

There are several reasons that your wallpaper might be coming away from the wall including not having used a strong enough paste when applying the paper, problems with condensation, hanging wallpaper over gloss paint and not having sized the wall. 

In some cases, it may be possible to simply add a little more adhesive and stick down any areas that have begun to lift. However, in more severe cases, you may need to take off the entire piece of wallpaper and start from scratch. 

It can be hugely annoying to find that your wallpaper has started to lift and it’s a lesson that many of us have to learn the hard way. For this reason, it’s essential that you take the time to properly prep the wall and ensure that you are using the right strength paste for the wallpaper you are hanging. 

What Happens When The Adhesive Dries?

One of the other main reasons that DIYers have problems with wallpaper coming away from the walls is that this can happen naturally once the adhesive begins to dry. In this case, you will notice that the wallpaper starts to curl at the corners, lifting from the wall. 

It’s important to ensure proper preparation of the wall by cleaning it and priming it. This is especially important on freshly installed drywall as the material will naturally soak up much of the adhesive leaving very little for the paper. Without a primer, this problem only becomes worse and you’ll find that once things begin to dry, the end result isn’t quite what you had in mind. 

If you have noticed problems like this, it is possible to use a wallpaper repair adhesive. These products are widely available in DIY stores and come in a small tube for patch repairs. When applying this repair adhesive, we would suggest slightly dampening the wallpaper, particularly if it is thick or heavily textured as this will improve the flexibility and make the paper easier to work with. 

Removing Too Much Adhesive During Application

When hanging wallpaper, you need to wipe away any excess adhesive that comes through the seams or risk that adhesive spoiling the surface of the wallpaper. However, one of the most common mistakes we see being made is people squeezing out too much of the adhesive when smoothing the seams. This leaves little for the paper to actually bond to the wall and as it dries, that pesky peeling will begin. 

Fortunately, this is a pretty simple fix and can be done in a very similar way to what we have already discussed. You’ll need some additional adhesive which you can carefully apply using a small brush underneath any lifted seams. Then, you will use a roller to flatten the seams and press them to the wall before wiping off any excess with a damp cloth. 

Air Bubbles

Another common issue that can cause your wallpaper to lift is when a foreign object becomes trapped underneath the paper, forming an air bubble. This air bubble can spread over time, causing a larger section of the paper to come away from the wall. 

What’s surprising is that something as small as a speck of dust can be the culprit which is why it is so important to properly prep and clean the wall before you begin.

That said, these problems can’t be avoided 100% of the time so if you do find yourself with an air bubble, you’ll need to inject some new adhesive to solve the issue. Before you start, it’s a good idea to determine what the foreign object is and whether it can be removed. If it can, take a sharp blade to create a small slit in the paper which will allow you to remove the offending object. Now, you’re ready to add additional adhesive. 

You’ll need a small syringe which you can fill with adhesive and then carefully poke this through the paper to inject the product. Use your roller to smooth things out and keep in mind that this is delicate work so don’t feel the need to rush.

Related Article: What Can I Put Over Textured Wallpaper

Preventing Wallpaper From Coming Away From The Walls

Here’s our quick tips guide on how to avoid problems with peeling wallpaper and get your installation looking professional and smooth. 

• Double check that the wall is free of debris and dust before beginning. If necessary, give it another clean using sugar soap just before you begin the application.
• To avoid air bubbles, smooth the paper onto the wall from the centre outwards as opposed to top to bottom.
• Try to make sure that as little adhesive as possible is squeezed out from behind the wallpaper when smoothing it.
• Humid conditions can cause wallpaper to lift over the course of time so make sure the room is as dry as possible. Using a dehumidifier can be helpful. 

Conclusion

There are many reasons that your wallpaper may have begun peeling away from the wall, even if you have only just applied it. The key to successful wallpaper hanging is to thoroughly prep the area to ensure a smooth, clean surface for the paper to bond to. 

However, you may still experience problems with foreign objects or a lack of adhesive which can cause the paper to lift as it dries. Fortunately, for the most part, these are relatively easy fixes although there may be times when things are so severe you need to start again.