The short answer is yes, but it is not recommended.
You may be considering a redecorating project and looking for ways to get the job done quickly. If your walls are already wallpapered but showing some signs of wear and tear, can you simply plaster over the top of them to achieve that smooth, ready to decorate finish?
You certainly can apply plaster directly to a wallpapered wall, but the majority of professional plasterers would recommend you didn’t.
Below we outline the reasons plaster should not be directly applied to wallpaper:
- Moisture absorption: Lining paper and wallpaper provide a dry surface. If wet plaster is applied on top of this dry surface it can absorb the water content of the plaster mix and interfere with the correct plaster mixture and its bonding process.
- Unsuitable base: Plaster needs a tacky surface to adhere to correctly. Wallpaper is smooth and dry. If the plaster does not stick to the wall surface consistently it may bubble and peel off alongside the paper upon drying.
- Weight of plaster: The dense plaster mixture when applied to the wallpaper may strain the underlying wallpaper and cause it to peel off from the wall surface.
Can you wallpaper over woodchip?
You can, but as we’ve mentioned already, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t.
Any paper applied over the top of woodchip would need to be thick in order to cover up the lumpy woodchip texture.
Adding an additional heavy layer of paper over the top of the woohttps://www.diy.com/hardware/door-furniture/door-seals.catdchip will increase the load and often result in the paper peeling and ripping from the wall.
The finished results are likely to be disappointing.
How should wallpapered walls be prepared for plaster?
Quite simply, remove it!
It may be tempting to plaster over the top, but as we’ve mentioned above, it is definitely not recommended. Instead, use a steamer and scraper to remove the wallpaper before you start and ensure long-lasting results for your plaster before it is applied.
Removing wallpaper yourself is an easy task and a great way to keep the cost of painting or decorating a room down.
If you must apply the plaster directly to the wallpapered wall, always ensure the wall is prepared correctly.
A base coat of PVA and emulsion mixture will help the plaster to stick to the paper and help to avoid the moisture absorption we discussed earlier. Your plaster can then be applied to the walls with a skim coat.
Want to compare costs for painting or plastering? Get matched with local painters or plasterers near you today and get your project underway!