This probably qualifies as one of my dumber posts, but has anyone ever found any useful tricks for taking bubbles — just a few — out of cured wall paper? Was thinking a pin prick and a little H2O to flatten, or maybe a syringe (if I can get one). Anyone ever found a good way? We just started wallpapering a bathroom for a job last night (we do very little of this), and it was blindingly bright in the room this AM, exposing 3 small bubbles in one sheet. You’d a thought the client saw a rat!!
Brian
_____________________________
HomeBase
________ Kitchen & Bath Builders, LLC
Brian Roberts, Manager
Replies
Thats kinda funny because many people have stripped a room after they get done papering thinking they have done an awful job . There are some papers that naturally leave bubbles . First off this is what happens ;
When you wet paper it expands . Of course as it dries it shrinks like a skin over a pelt board. Sometimes when you wet the paper and slap it up, it continues to expand on the wall. [thats a no no] If paper [with a paper back we are assuming ] is allowed to set 15 minutes wet and then reglued or resurfaced with liguid it has performed its maximum expansion. When it dries it will stetch out all the bubbles flat . You may after 24 hrs do what you want to do with a disposable needle of the large variety. You can prick it , inject it , and relieve water and air by drawing it out. By the time you get this message it may have "shrunk to fit ".
Of course this information is directed at folks who havent left any bubbles at the time of installation.
Tim Mooney
On an early wallpaper job I did, I remember coming back in the next day and everything I hung the day before was full of bubbles. I don't remember what, if anything I tried to do about it, but I remember most of them were still there when I went home. The NEXT day every bubble was gone.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
Thanks guys, I'm heading back over tonight... so we'll see. Have you found any difference, Tim, b/w pre-pasted and plain papers?_____________________________HomeBase________ Kitchen & Bath Builders, LLC
Brian Roberts, Manager
best glue to "re-glue" the paper is plain old Elmers white.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
"Have you found any difference, Tim, b/w pre-pasted and plain papers?"
As long as its paper , it doesnt make any difference because its just paper. In the old days people used to buy cloth back vinyl. Now that stuff is the same wet or dry , with nice seams that are for the most part invisable. Its mostly to high today for people here to use . I guess in high dollar areas its still used at $ 75.00 a bolt range.
Tim Mooney
Well, it just goes to show ya... went back this AM and the bubbles were gone. Gentleman, your generosity and wisdom are exceeded only by... my lack of wisdom :).
Thanks all, I appreciate the assistance. "See Mr's... I told you they'd go away!" ;)
Brian_____________________________HomeBase________ Kitchen & Bath Builders, LLC
Brian Roberts, Manager
Your welcome . It happens all the time just like people questioning a paint job that is wet .
Tim Mooney
It often happens with the heavier papers if you haven't allowed them to 'soak' before you hang them. Some of them have to be folded up and left for 15-20 minutes before hanging but all papers should be floppy when they're hung.
As someone said, the bubbles often disappear when dry but if they don't use a hypodermic syringe with a big-bore needle to squirt some paste into the bubble, then use the syringe to draw out the air.
If that doesn't work, swear and cut the bubble open through the middle with a razor knife and re-stick it.
IanDG