How and what to level the walls for wallpaper: materials and stages of work

Reaching a smooth surface is crucial when priming walls for wallpaper. Any lumps or flaws will show through and detract from the finished appearance. You’ll need to know what supplies to use and how to apply them correctly if you want that flawless finish.

Plaster and drywall are two of the materials available for leveling walls. The choice is based on the desired finish and the state of your walls. The wallpapering process will go more smoothly and professionally if the proper materials are used.

There are multiple crucial phases to the work, such as wall cleaning, leveling material application, and smooth sanding. For the best results, each step requires careful attention to detail. It will be much easier to handle the task and save time and effort if you know the proper sequence and techniques.

Drywall: for quick leveling

Advantages of the material

It will be fairly expensive to level the walls with plaster for wallpaper if they are noticeably uneven. Furthermore, this procedure will take a long time. You can level them much more quickly and easily with drywall:

• the work is much simpler, because its installation is a less labor-intensive process;
• you can level the wall with it yourself in a matter of hours;
• drywall is easy to cut and quickly mounted on the walls;
• you can easily lay any communications under it;
• the weight of the sheets is small, so you can level the surface with it yourself, without outside help;
• a minimum of dirt and debris is formed, since the work is carried out without plastering;
• the cost of drywall is low.

Stages of work

This material can be installed in two different ways:

1. using a frame: the plasterboard is attached to metal profiles, previously mounted on the wall; this is a simple way to align the walls, the only drawback of which is a slight reduction in the area of ​​​​the room;
2. gluing plasterboard to the walls without using profiles: this method can only be used if the walls are slightly uneven; fastening is done using gypsum putty or special cement-based glue.

The most popular and traditional method of installing gypsum board is the frame method. Let’s outline the phases of the project:

• the wall must be prepared: clean it from dirt and dust, and also knock off too large drips of old plaster;
• if the curvature of the walls is small, it is better to use a ceiling profile of small thickness, when hiding communications and large curvature of the walls, a rack profile is used;
• first, the places of its location are marked with a building level;
• the profiles are screwed to the walls and ceiling with dowels at 500 mm intervals;
• unlike the ceiling profile, the rack profile is attached to special hangers;
• if it is necessary to give the structure rigidity, for example, when further gluing tiles, horizontal crossbars must be mounted between the profiles;
• the plasterboard is screwed to the racks with self-tapping screws at 250 mm intervals, they should come out at a slight angle;
• to properly align the walls, each subsequent sheet of gypsum board must be shifted so that its corner falls on the center of the previous one, that is, the plasterboard is placed on the surface in a checkerboard pattern;
• before gluing the wallpaper, the joints formed between the sheets are glued with serpyanka (a thin strip of reinforcing mesh), and then putty; the heads of the screws also need to be putty.

Perfectly flat walls are those that have the plasterboard properly aligned. Even a novice craftsman will not have any trouble adhering wallpaper to this material.

You can view the following video to learn how to glue and attach gypsum board to profiles:

Work procedure

Putty is comfortable to work with, in contrast to traditional cement mortar. It does not harden as quickly, is very flexible, lays down on the surface better, and most compositions can even be diluted with water as they dry.

1. Before starting work, the surface must be prepared: remove old wallpaper and loose plaster, then remove dust; dust can be removed from the walls and ceiling using a regular vacuum cleaner or by washing the surface with a damp cloth;
2. dry mixture is diluted with water according to the technology indicated on the packaging;
3. the area that needs to be leveled is sprayed with water;
4. putty is applied to the required area with a spatula and carefully leveled;
5. small cracks can be filled with tile grout or an acrylic-based composition;
6. large cracks are first reinforced with self-adhesive tape, and then filled with mortar flush with the wall and leveled with a spatula;
7. after the layer has completely dried, all large irregularities are scraped off with a spatula and sanded with sandpaper;
8. having completed the work in this order, you can begin to wallpaper the room.

Examine the wall for any lumps, fissures, or uneven patches before leveling it for wallpaper. Make sure the wall is level and prepared for wallpaper by smoothing the surface with materials like plaster or putty. Clean the wall first, then spread thin layers of putty or plaster, using a base coat if needed. For a smooth finish, sand the surface once each layer has dried. Walls that are leveled properly will give your wallpaper a flawless finish and longer lifespan.

To guarantee a smooth and even finish, leveling walls before applying wallpaper is a crucial step. Even the most expensive wallpaper won’t look good on uneven surfaces if it isn’t properly prepared.

Selecting the appropriate materials, such as putty or plaster, is essential. Putty is the best material for final smoothing, but plaster is excellent for larger flaws. For optimal effects, always remember to apply several thin layers as opposed to one thick coat.

It’s crucial to complete the tasks in the right order. After the wall has been cleaned and primed, it should be leveled with plaster or putty, sanded, and then primed again. To guarantee that the wallpaper will adhere perfectly and look great, take your time at each step.

Any room can be transformed by leveling the walls with the right care and attention. Your wallpaper will have a polished, polished, and eye-catching appearance.

Video on the topic

Expert advice. How to prepare walls for painting.

APARTMENT RENOVATION. FIRST SCREED OR WALLS? #108

How to level walls for wallpaper, an easy way

Puttying walls for wallpaper. How to prepare WALLS FOR WALLPAPER EASILY AND QUICKLY with your own hands.

How to prepare walls for wallpapering