Wallpaper Paste? ....... Wallpaper Glue? ....... What's the Diff? A sticky question answered!

As people search the internet with questions about wallpaper removal or about wallpaper border removal, you will often see people ask about 'wallpaper glue'.  

Well; in general, that is a misnomer.  For, you see, wallcoverings are most usually put up onto walls, ceilings and other surfaces (like columns) with 'wallpaper paste'.  There is a huge and important difference between 'paste' and 'glue' – one that may impact your wallpaper removal situation.

Wallpaper Paste–

This is the most common means of securing wallcovering of all types to any surface.  Wallpaper pastes are water-based and are SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED to permit later removal through use of water / moisture.  

Wallpaper pastes fall into several groups:

Cellulose-based dry mixes

Wheat-based dry mixes  

Clay-based 'pre-mixed' pastes (water and other additives have already been added and this is sold in 1 gallon to 5 gallon cans)

Wheat-based 'pre-mixed' pastes (water and other additives have already been added and this is sold in 1 gallon and 5 gallon cans) 

Wallpaper Glue–

Wallpaper 'glue' is a rather recent development and is primarily of two types:

Seam adhesive is meant to help hold the edges of wallcoverings in difficult bonding situations such as on an inside corner where wallcovering materials overlap about 1/4".  Quite often, wallcoverings (other than plain paper) do not 'stick' to each other when using plain paste... this is most true with vinyls, foils, some fabrics, etc.  Vinyl adhesive, although not 'sticky' when first applied, does dry into a very good bond that is similar to 'white glue' – and, like white glue – is water resistant / water proof.

Border adhesive is meant to enable one to hang a border over another wallcovering that ordinary wallpaper paste will not 'stick' to, such as: vinyls, foils, some fabrics, etc.  Border adhesive often dries with the consistency of 'rubber cement' – and, like rubber cement – is water resistant / water proof.

PLEASE NOTE:  Very often, wallpaper borders have been incorrectly hung using 'Border adhesive' directly upon painted wall surfaces.  This is NOT what this material was made for!  It is an incorrect use by the paper hanger.  Your border is now 'glued' onto your walls and must be handled in one of two special ways as outlined in my E-book under WALLPAPER BORDER REMOVAL and under When Bad Things Happen to Good People

For more information and detailed references please visit: >http://TotallyOffTheWall.com<

On Becoming Unglued

Hello.  My name is Michael Patrick Haluska and I own a successful and well-regarded wallpaper removal business called Totally Off The Wall !! with offices in Sarasota, FL and Herndon, VA.

While I am quite often praised for how creatively evocative the business name is, I am nearly as often kidded by my dear friends who say that it is indeed an apt description for my warm-but-eccentric personality.

Therefore, it came as little surprise to them when I announced that I was writing the 'definitive' book on wallpaper removal.  They were bemused, as they likely thought that I had set myself up for a mere 2-hour chore... at most.

Well– when I thought about the breadth and depth of the subject material that I chose to cover, I realized that unbeknownst to my friends, I had undertaken (and am continuously undertaking) a rather grand project.

Whether the wonderful folks who visit my blog site come to me from web queries such as: remove wallpaper border • remove wallpaper paste • removing wallpaper border • removing wallpaper paste • removing wallpaper glue • wallpaper removal • wallpaper removing • how do I remove wallpaper • how to remove wallpaper border • wallpaper border • wall paper removal • or • how to remove wallpaper, I will have to answer a wealth of questions from a plethora of personalties whilst addressing myriad skill levels from...  tool-savvy do-it-yourselfer's...  to never picked up a screwdriver new-moms trying to make their baby's room delightful.

Quite a task!  I hope that with the kindly input of my blog readers, I will one day find myself at that Holy Grail of being able to answer 'most' of the questions you guys will ask me! 

I graciously welcome your insights that allow me to improve my blog (and my E-book... see below).  Please email suggestions to: happymichael@mac.com

P.S.  I also remove wallpaper wherever YOU are, if the job is sufficiently large enough, and interesting enough, and you are nice enough and pleasant to be with... contact me: happymichael@mac.com

P.P.S.  Air fare, a spare room or couch and a bit of dinner is all that is required beyond my normal fee structure.  On a large job, it is indeed likely that you may 'save' money over having an inexperienced worker who may cause thousands of dollars of damage to your walls to the extent that they must be repaired by yet 'another' contractor.

For more information and detailed references please visit:  >http://TotallyOffTheWall.com<