When adding wallpaper to your home, choosing a suitable adhesive is crucial as it is necessary to achieve a long-lasting, beautiful finish. Adding wallpaper can be a relatively cheaper option for renovating the way your house looks. There are best adhesives for wallpaper available options on the market, each with its own pros and cons, and deciding on the suitable adhesive to pick can be overwhelming.
You can get various wallpaper adhesives depending on the application type, like – non-pasted, pre-pasted, and self-adhesive, and for different material types like – vinyl, paper, fabric, and more. In this article, I’ll explore various types of wallpaper adhesives available and help you pick the best one suitable for you.
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Top 2 Best Adhesive for Wallpaper
1. Zinsser SureGrip 122 Heavy Duty Wall-Covering Adhesive
SureGrip 122 is a heavy-duty adhesive manufactured by Rust-Oleum and falls under their category of Zinsser adhesives. SureGrip 122 is an excellent product if you want high-quality glue to install your wallpaper. Zinsser SureGrip 122 provides excellent adhesion to standard vinyl wall coverings. However, you can also use the 122 for all kinds of traditional wall coverings like – lightweight, heavyweight, vinyl, or fabric wallpapers.
You can use various application methods to apply Zinsser SureGrip 122 to your walls, like – using a brush, roller, or pasting machine. Once you apply the SureGrip 122, the adhesive dries clear, so you don’t have to worry about any residue or marks on your wall. Furthermore, the SureGrip 122 also dries clear, which is suitable to use with various colors and designs of wallpapers you have.
You can use SureGrip 122 for wallpapers in your kitchen or bathroom as it’s moisture resistant. According to the Technical Data Sheet for SureGrip 122, you can use the product in temperatures ranging from 10°C to 38°C and when the relative humidity doesn’t exceed 85%. One gallon of SureGrip 122 can hang up to 4 to 5 double rolls of wallpaper ( 280 square feet).
SureGrip 122 provides long-lasting performance and is designed to provide a robust and reliable hold for your wallpaper without the risk of your wallpaper peeling or falling off. Furthermore, you can also remove it from fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings without damage to the surface, whether it’s primed or bare drywall.
Pros
- Easy to apply and mix.
- Dries Clear and leaves no residue on wallpaper or wall.
- Easily Strippable, easy to remove the wallpaper in the future.
- Clean Up using Water, non-staining.
- Low Odor.
Cons
- It may not work well with heavy and textured wallpaper.
2. Roman Products Pro-880 Wallpaper Adhesive and Paste
Roman Pro-880 is one of the best wallpaper adhesives you can find in the market, and it’s one of the most versatile adhesives of its kind. You can easily apply the adhesive using a roller, paintbrush, or pasting machine. The Pro-880 is versatile for surfaces it bonds well with, as you can use it with a range of wallpaper materials and textures, making it an ideal choice for professionals and DIY enthusiasts.
Roman Pro-880 bonds best with fabric, but it also works well with vinyl and heavyweight wall coverings. Furthermore, you can dilute the Pro-880 to use with pre-pasted wallcoverings. The Pro-880 can be used with the most available wallpaper types.
Once you apply the Roman Pro-880, it dries clear, making it ideal for use with a range of wallpaper materials and textures. Furthermore, you can clean any excess adhesive using water after you apply the Pro-880. The Pro-880 has a long working time, so there’s an extended margin of error, and you can easily adjust your wallpaper after you apply the adhesive.
Roman Pro-880 has excellent adhesive capabilities and is known for its strength and durability. It provides a strong, robust, and long-lasting bond between the wallpaper and the surface, and your wallpaper will stay in place for years to come. Furthermore, all Roman products have biocides included in them, which resist the growth of mold and mildew, which provides more durability.
Another excellent feature of the Pro-880 is its safety and eco-friendliness. The Roman Pro-880 is a low-odor and non–toxic adhesive, and it’s also VOC-Compliant, which means it has little to no risk to your health or the environment. You can use one gallon of Roman Pro-880 to cover up to 330 square feet of wallpaper.
Pros
- Professional Grade wallpaper adhesive meant to be used for heavy-duty applications.
- Versatile and bonds with a range of materials.
- Water-mixable, easy to apply, and to clean up.
- VOC-free, which means it has low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds and is safe to use.
- Includes Biodes, which resist the growth of molds and mildews.
Cons
- More expensive compared to other alternatives.
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Steps to Choosing the Best Adhesive for Wallpaper
Consider the Wallpaper Type
You can get Wallpaper made with different types of materials; depending on the materials, you might need different types of adhesives. For example, typically, vinyl adhesives require a heavy-duty adhesive, while lightweight paper/fabric wallpaper requires a lighter glue.
Consider the Surface
Another critical factor while deciding which wallpaper adhesive to get is the surface to which you will apply the wallpaper. For example, drywall has a porous surface and will require a different kind of adhesive than a painted wall with a non-porous surface.
Your Environment
The environment in which you’ll be using the wallpaper also impacts your decision about which adhesive you need to purchase. For example, high humidity or fluctuations in temperature can affect the performance of the adhesive you choose, and you need to get the suitable one for your environment and humidity level.
Skill Level
Some adhesives are comparatively more straightforward to use than their alternatives. Suppose you’re a beginner and have never used wallpaper adhesives. In that case, you may need glue that offers a long working time, allowing you to reposition the wallpaper, and has a more extended margin of error.
Generally, you can first apply and test your adhesive on a small area of your wall and wallpaper before applying it on a large scale, as it ensures it is suitable for both your wall and the wallpaper you’ll be using.
Last Opinion
Zinsser SureGrip 122 and Roman Products Pro-880 are excellent adhesives with favorable customer reviews. These products can be a perfect choice depending on which wallpaper and surfaces you use them on.
However, Roman Pro-880 has the upper hand compared to the SureGrip 122, as it’s more versatile and bonds well with more materials than SureGrip 122.
Furthermore, Roman Pro-880 is also more efficient regarding how much adhesive you need per square foot of your walls (330 square feet-per-gallon vs. 280 square feet-per-gallon).
However, the Pro-880 is also more expensive, and if you’re on a tighter budget, the SureGrip 122 might be a good choice for you.
Do you use paste or adhesive for wallpaper?
To hang wallpaper, you typically need to use adhesive or paste. Measure and cut the wallpaper, apply the adhesive, smooth it onto the wall, trim the excess, and clean up any leftover paste. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do you wet wallpaper before pasting?
Yes, you wet pre-pasted wallpaper to activate the adhesive. For unpasted wallpaper, you apply paste directly without wetting the paper. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
