How To Repair Painted Wallpaper Seams

Wallpaper has always been a quick, colorful way to give a room style and visual interest. Unfortunately, ripped seams, bubbles, tears and other damage are common. And if you don't fix these problems right away, you'll end up having to replace the entire piece of wall covering.

The good news is, fixing wallpaper isn't especially difficult, though it does take a few specialized tools and techniques. We'll focus on the three most common wall-paper repairs: loose seams, punctures and trapped air bubbles. To make repairs as invisible as possible, work slowly and carefully. Rushing yields sloppy work that's much harder to fix the second time around.

Save seams

Vertical seams between strips of wallpaper become loose for a variety of reasons. Too much glue might have been squeezed out of the seam when it was rolled flat. Or, with pre-pasted vinyl wallcoverings, seams start to peel open because the factory-applied adhesive didn't stick to the vinyl. What's more, seams on outside wall corners are prone to bumps and abrasions.

No matter where the loose seam is or what caused it, the repair procedure is the same: Dip a small artist's brush into wallpaper-seam adhesive (about $3 for a 4-oz. tube at paint and wallcovering stores). Spread an even coat of adhesive onto the underside of the exposed seam (photo 1). Then use a wooden seam roller to flatten the seam (photo 2). Clean any excess adhesive with a damp sponge.

If a loose seam has a small, horizontal tear, be sure to roll the two flaps of the tear back down in their original position. Place the "top" piece—the one with the decorative vinyl surface—over the "bottom" flap to effectively hide the ragged white line of the backing paper.

<p>SMOOTH OUT THE paper using a wooden seam roller, then wipe off any excess adhesive with a damp sponge.</p> — SMOOTH OUT THE paper using a wooden seam roller, then wipe off any excess adhesive with a damp sponge.

Repair rips and punctures in wallpaper

Severe rips and punctures mean you'll have to cut out the damaged area, fix the drywall if needed and install a wallpaper patch. You'll need a piece of matching wallpaper to use as the patch. If you don't have a remnant, buy a small sample at a wall covering store. If the pattern is no longer available, steal a piece from inside a closet or hallway.

A double-cut patch is the best way to make the repair nearly invisible. Start by taping the wallpaper patch over the damaged area with its pattern perfectly aligned with the one on the wall. If the patterns don't line up precisely, don't panic; wallpaper tends to stretch a little once it's wet and rolled out. Simply align the patterns as close as possible.

With the patch taped in place, use a razor knife and straightedge to cut through both paper layers (photo 3). Be sure to completely cut through each corner. Remove the patch and set it aside. Next, carefully peel the damaged paper section off the wall. It probably will leave behind some felt backing; you can remove this sticky fuzz with a warm, damp sponge. Then patch any divots in the wall with a non-shrinking vinyl spackling compound (photo 4).

If the wallpaper patch is pre-pasted paper, soak it in warm water for 30 seconds. Then "book" it by folding it over, paste to paste, to activate the adhesive. Let it set for about five minutes, then peel it apart and press the patch to the wall. Use your fingertips to adjust the patch and align the pattern (Photo 5). Smooth the area with a damp sponge, then wipe off any excess paste.

If the patch isn't pre-pasted or if you lifted it from another location, apply it to the wall with wallpaper paste.

<p>FOR DOUBLE-CUT patches, use a sharp razor knife and steel straightedge guide to slice through both layers of the wallpaper.</p> — FOR DOUBLE-CUT patches, use a sharp razor knife and steel straightedge guide to slice through both layers of the wallpaper.

Get Rid of Bubbles in Wallpaper

Trapped air bubbles and blisters are almost always caused by an installation problem. Often, a speck of dirt or paint chip keeps the paper from bonding and allows a bubble to form with time and humidity. Or, the installer didn't force out all of the air. Either way, the only cure is to cut open the blister, release the air and re-glue the spot.

Most bubbles and blisters are just air pockets, but it pays to check. Press a finger against the bubble. Feel a speck of something? Cut an X through the paper and remove it with tweezers or a razor knife. Then, squeeze seam adhesive through the slit and roll the paper flat.

<p>FILL ANY HOLES with spackling compound after removing the patch and peeling off the damaged wallpaper section.</p> — FILL ANY HOLES with spackling compound after removing the patch and peeling off the damaged wallpaper section.

If the bubble really is just air, you can fix the problem with a glue-injecting syringe; it makes a less-conspicuous repair than cutting a slit. We bought ours, an Advance Equipment Co. model, at a Sherwin-Williams paint store for $5.50.

Fill the syringe with seam adhesive, push it directly into the bubble and press the plunger. On some vinyl wallcoverings, forcing in the needle will stretch the vinyl. If it does, cut a tiny slit with a razor knife. Then insert the needle and squirt in the adhesive. Finish off by flattening the repair with a seam roller and carefully wiping off any excess adhesive.

Where To Find It:

Advance Equipment Co.
4615 W. Chicago Ave., Dept. TH1198
Chicago, IL 60651
312/421-6452