A liquid “wallpaper protection fluid” can be used to seal non-washable wallpaper surfaces, making them dirt-repellent and washable. For design and pattern wall décor in spaces that are moderately to heavily used, such as kitchens, bathrooms, stairways, children’s rooms, or public buildings with high visitor traffic, the transparent protective coating is ideal. Alternatively, transparent wallpaper protection foil is available on the market. This is glued onto the wallpaper.
The appropriate wallpaper surfaces and types, when this kind of coating is appropriate, and important considerations are all covered in this guide. In addition we will list the differences between liquid, i. e. spreadable products, and transparent foil.
If your favorite wallpaper is appropriate, our detailed instructions for applying the protective fluid will assist you in coating it. Finally, we will give you advice on how to maintain sealed wallpaper and how to remove either the coating or the wallpaper itself.
I want to replace the obnoxious, filthy carpeting in my living room with sturdy flooring that can withstand dogs and children.
I have old counter tops and lined with contact paper. Can I pour epoxy over it?.
Hi there yall, first time here but hopefully not last as were finally going to be homeowners! Yay! Now on to my question, the house well be moving into has the… See more
I have seen many live wood projects installed right over laminate counters. I have been dreaming of live edge butcher block counters since I was 20..I am now 60 and t… See more
My kitchen has ugly old brown laminate kitchen countertop/snack bar. Im on a very low budget so decided to try covering them with contact paper. I found a nice light… See more
Begin with the Right Tool for the Job
The method used to apply epoxy to a vertical surface will significantly affect the results. I prefer our West System® 800 Roller Covers. Their 1/8″-thick foam provides excellent control over film thickness. They leave less stipple on the coated surface and are less likely than thicker (paint) rollers to cause the epoxy to overheat. For tipping off epoxy coatings that haven’t fully cured, the 800 Roller Covers are simple to cut into smaller sections.
Use a cut section of the foam roller to tip off the epoxy coating after applying it to the surface with the roller. This makes the epoxy coat more uniform and enables you to regulate how much epoxy remains on the surface.
I chose to roll coats of West System Epoxy onto a vertical surface as an experiment to see if it would run.
I grabbed our “wet film thickness gauge,” also known as a mil gauge, to calculate how much epoxy I was applying. Despite being primarily used in the painting industry, it was suitable for my application. Simply put, a “mil” is a thickness measurement equal to one thousandth of an inch ( 001″). The higher the mil thickness, the thicker the coating. A 4-mil coating is comparable to a sheet of notebook paper in thickness, while a 6-mil coating is equivalent to the thickness of a kitchen trash bag. We determined 2, 4, and 6 mils as the minimum and maximum thicknesses at which to test apply epoxy coatings to vertical surfaces after consulting with the other technical advisors.
To make the epoxy’s color contrast with the wooden surface, I combined 105 Resin® with 207 Special Clear Hardener® and added 501 White Pigment. I applied the epoxy with an 800 Roller Cover and tipped the rolled epoxy with a piece I cut from another 800 Roller Cover. I applied the epoxy in three distinct locations at thicknesses of 2 mil, 4 mil, and 6 mil, separating each section with a dry space. In this manner, when one coat ran, it did not drag its nearby coat along with it. I applied the epoxy evenly to each section in both directions. In order to avoid a thick, running, or sagging epoxy build-up, I finished by rolling and tipping the epoxy coating horizontally. To prevent dragging the wet epoxy, which can also result in sagging, use horizontal tipping. I wanted to let gravity take its course so that any runs or sags would appear naturally.
Regardless of the temperature at which you are working, aim for a film thickness of 2 to 4 mils when rolling out epoxy. The impact of working temperatures on epoxy coatings on vertical surfaces will be discussed next.
Small excursion: Water-, wash- and scrub-resistant wallpapers
In terms of cleaning/care characteristics, there are the following distinctions:
The term “water-resistant” stands for the lowest level of cleanability. The only surface coating that can be removed from water-resistant wallpaper is the occasional splatter of wallpapering paste. In other words: they are not washable. Other classifications, ranging from highly scrub-resistant to washable, imply that they can be cleaned with a damp cloth. The classification determines how much of this is true, as well as what kinds of cleaning supplies and detergents can be used. You can read more about the different cleaning classifications in our guide blog, Washable Wallpaper – A Clean Solution.
Water-resistant paper-based models or washable non-woven models are the only types of wallpaper that are suitable for sealing with a wallpaper protection fluid or foil. Wallpaper made of vinyl already has a protective coating, so sealing is not necessary.
You might think about adding some sort of surface protection if you recently installed new wallpaper but later realize that it might not be sturdy enough for the particular room and that a certain level of washability and dirt-resistance is required. You may have chosen your wallpaper because it perfectly matches your tastes without thinking about whether it has a washable surface, which is a good reason to consider using a protective coating. But there are a few things to think about before you start the process. There are some exceptions to the rule that most wallpaper protection products have the statement “Suitable for all types of wallpaper” Because there are so many different wallpaper surfaces, the choice should be based on information.
There are two options for adding a permanent protective coating: transparent “wallpaper protection fluid,” which is liquid, or transparent wall protection foil, which is available in rolls or per running meter. Another common term is “elephant skin,” which derives from the thick and durable hide of these enormous proboscideans.
Since the liquid form is much simpler to apply, most laypeople favor it. It has demonstrated to be perfect for paper-only wall décor. Protective foil application is better suited for smaller areas because it requires a lot more skill, patience, and practice. g. a wallpapered fireplace surround, a feature wall, or accent wallpaper pieces