Sizing walls

[Jeebsy]

I'm in the process of redecorating my hall - have stripped all the old layers of wallpaper and paint off but not sure if the walls need sized prior to new paper going up - the walls are the old plaster which has been filled in places. It's a 1910 or so tenement.

They have obviously been papered before so it's not a fresh surface, and I watched one video where a guy seemed to do a test by wetting his finger and running it across the wall to see if it left a mark (although he didn't properly explain it) - have done this on mine and it doesn't show.

Reckon I'm ok to crack on and get the paper up? Or best to size them?

 

[blup]

If the walls are dry and damp free then pasting the paper should suffice. If the plaster is not smooth consider skimming or using lining paper, as imperfections do show up

 

[Jeebsy]

I am using lining paper - sorry if wasn't clear but my question was if i would need to use a diluted coat of adhesive to prep the walls before actually getting the paper up.

 

[opps]

If you were to wet unsized plaster, the plaster would become darker (until the water dries).

How did you strip the old paper? If you soaked and scraped it off, you may have removed some of the old size. If you intend to do any more filling/sanding, I would recommend resizing it.

The powder wallpaper paste is a very cheap product. When lining walls, I roll full fat paste over the walls and on the paper as I go. It helps to ensure that I get no dry spots on hot days. It also helps when doing awkward or long drops.

When I first started decorating, the builder that I worked for would size the walls and then hang the lining paper. When we painted over the lining paper, he would assure the homeowner that any bubbles would disappear, whilst that is true, I decided that I didn't want any bubbles, temporary or not. Hence I apply wet paper to wet walls.

I also use a paper smoother to remove any air or excess glue (you don't get much excess glue if you use a roller to apply the glue though). When I leave at the end of the day, because I have not used a pasting brush, the lining paper looks as smooth as it will when the glue has dried.

I mix the paste in a skuttle and try to ensure that the skuttle is roughly the same height off the ground as the top of the pasting table- saves on bending down.

Edge trimming, I use variously sized filling knives (up to 12") and run a sharp (snap-off) blade along the edge of the skirting/ceiling.