Wallpaper on Plywood.

[paulrichardson]

Hi Guys,

On one or two of the walls in my conversion I'm planning on putting up some wallpaper onto plywood.

I seem to remember that you have to do something to the ply, before wallpapering, but I can't remember what.

Just wondered what you guys had done.

Regards,

Paul

[TIMO]

Seal it with a coat of pva adhesive mate .

[Northwest2go]

I "sized" my porta loo room with a coat of wallpaper paste and let it dry. Then wallpapered over the top. Sticks great.

[paulrichardson]

I "sized" my porta loo room with a coat of wallpaper paste and let it dry. Then wallpapered over the top. Sticks great.

Hi there,

Do you use a normal thickness of wallpaper paste for "sizing".

Regards,

Paul

[TIMO]

I "sized" my porta loo room with a coat of wallpaper paste and let it dry. Then wallpapered over the top. Sticks great.

Hi there,

Do you use a normal thickness of wallpaper paste for "sizing".

Regards,

Paul

PVA (neat ) dries much much quicker thus having much less chance of the ply swelling or "blowing".

[Northwest2go]

I "sized" my porta loo room with a coat of wallpaper paste and let it dry. Then wallpapered over the top. Sticks great.

Hi there,

Do you use a normal thickness of wallpaper paste for "sizing".

Regards,

Paul

Yes, just mix some up, (not too thick) brush it on and then let it dry. Use two coats if you like.
I used PVA on my MDF before painting it.

[limitedblack]

It's more dependant on what ply you use. I always use Marine ply if its having anything on it and may be near damp, at worst WBP if I can't get marine. Cheap stuff delaminates when wet.

[paulrichardson]

Hi Guys,

My ply is described as "Exterior" so I'm hoping it's slightly waterproof.

I'm not sure whether to go for the wall paper paste or the PVA.

PVA is a bit thick, not sure if I will be able to "paint" it on OK.

Regards,

Paul

[paulrichardson]

Hi Guys,

Just had a thought.

What about painting it with a coat of wood primer (the white stuff).

That might protect the plywood a bit.

Regards,

Paul

[limitedblack]

If I am unsure then I always call the people that make the adhesive (paste), they should tell you what is recommended. Exterior ply is usually WBP, and that's not marine, marine is the only ply you can actually plaster on, so I would say you need something on it first. PVA is best to water right down generally if your putting something wet on it, otherwise it just lifts up, the idea of a really wet mix is to get it into the wood, not onto the wood.

[Northwest2go]

I think that everything is getting too deep in speculation here.
PVA is too thick to use neat and needs diluting, as you would in any constructional application.
Wallpaper paste (Which you need to buy anyway) works exactly the same and doesn't blow, swell or other oddities and you don't need exterior ply.
Ordinary ply will absorb the chosen "sizing" product and leave a suitable surface to wallpaper. Job done!

[paulrichardson]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replies, I didn't mean to start a fight, sorry.

I think I'll go with the wallpaper paste option.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again,

Paul

[limitedblack]

We just love giving opinions

[TIMO]

I have no ego .... your idea of a solvent based primer is probably the best solution tbh ... water and wood is never a brilliant idea ... and you answered your own question ,,, so in essence, caused an argument for f,kall deffo oil/solvent based as waterbased will just loosen the glue that bonds the veneers together .

[Northwest2go]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your replies, I didn't mean to start a fight, sorry.

I think I'll go with the wallpaper paste option.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again,

Paul

No fights here. We all have varying opinions up for debate which go some way to making an interesting forum.