Surface preparation can be extremely time consuming, especially in old buildings. Nevertheless, it is worth taking every trouble at this stage in order to achieve the best results. The following points should be observed:
- Old wallpaper and soluble paints should be completely removed.
- Old emulsion paints should be tested for stability and removed if necessary.
- Cracks and holes should be filled with putty or polyester filler, and particularly absorbent surfaces should be pre-coated with wallpaper paste.
- Prime old, sandy plaster, ideally using a water-based primer (see photo).
For wallpapers with extremely smooth surfaces, it is often advisable to use a lining paper. As a general rule, the surface must be dry, stable, evenly absorbent, clean, plain and smooth.