Asked on Dec 12, 2016

How do I fix wallpaper that's peeling off?

Yaron
by Yaron
The wallpaper on the corner of a wall in my house is starting to peel off. Any advice about the best way to glue it back?
  32 answers
  • William William on Dec 12, 2016

    Vertical seams between strips of wallpaper become loose for a variety of reasons. Too much glue might have been squeezed out of the seam when it was rolled flat. Or, with prepasted vinyl wallcoverings, seams start to peel open because the factory-applied adhesive didn't stick to the vinyl. What's more, seams on outside wall corners are prone to bumps and abrasions. No matter where the loose seam is or what caused it, the repair procedure is the same: Dip a small artist's brush into wallpaper-seam adhesive (about $3 for a 4-oz. tube at paint and wallcovering stores). Spread an even coat of adhesive onto the underside of the exposed seam. Then use a damp sponge to flatten the seam and clean off any excess adhesive.

  • Chr4787838 Chr4787838 on Dec 12, 2016

    Even simpler just use some white glue. You can apply with a brush . Then wipe excess off with a barely damp sponge. But white glue dries clear. Simple and you probably already have it on hand

  • Laura Williams-May Laura Williams-May on Dec 12, 2016

    contact cement works best because it is the most "sticky". Apply and wait for tackiness before sticking down. Then use several strips of removable painters' tape applied around the corner to hold it down a couple of hours until it is dry. White glue will usually, in my experience, peel up again before it dries enough to hold.

    • See 2 previous
    • Michael Julian Michael Julian on Jul 17, 2020

      Yeah the grass cloth wallpaper is a job that I'm fixing for a customer. You'd most definitely have to remove it before anything else could be applied.

  • Mfbandit769 Mfbandit769 on Dec 13, 2016

    Glue it back on???

  • Shawna Bailey Shawna Bailey on Dec 13, 2016

    White glue is a good quick fix, but it looks like it may be in a bathroom. White glue won't hold up to steam or dampness in the air, but wallpaper adhesive and contact cement will.

  • Shojdik Shojdik on Dec 13, 2016

    We had this problem a couple years back. My husband made up a very small batch of wall paper paste and used a thin art brush to restick the paper to the wall. Then he put on clear plastic corner covers down the wall to cover and protect the paper from being brushed up again. It's sold at hardware and big box stores.

  • Becky Miller Becky Miller on Dec 13, 2016

    A word of caution about using any glue except the wallpaper seam glue. Any glue will work, but when it's time to change the wallpaper, that glue will NOT let go easily! I've tried the "other glue" method and when I tried to remove it, I damaged the sheetrock. BTW, the seam glue does work!

  • Chr4787838 Chr4787838 on Dec 13, 2016

    Your welcome glad to be able to help.

  • Georgia Bowers Georgia Bowers on Dec 14, 2016

    Sometimes, it is just a matter of re-moisturising the glue that is already there. Try using a steam iron with a tea towel protecting the paper, first before applying any more glue. And keep the kids anyway from the area for 24 hours to allow it to cure. That includes you, DON'T test it for 24 hours.

  • Cathy Cathy on Dec 14, 2016

    Don't use white glue! Painters tape is a must to hold it down while drying 😀

  • Yaron Yaron on Dec 15, 2016

    Thanks

  • Chr4787838 Chr4787838 on Dec 15, 2016

    Hope this helps . You know bathrooms are very moist and that. Is part of thee reason why wallpaper unsticks in bathrooms so. Remember to use the air vents or leave the door open for awhile after each bath or shower.

  • Jim L Jim L on Dec 15, 2016

    I know that you do not want to hear this...call a wallpaper hanger and have him/her take a look at it and see WHY it is coming unglued. He will be able to fix it so that it doesn't show and will not ruin the drywall/sheet-rock when the time comes to take it down. Shouldn't cost much, but it will be worth every penny!

    Good luck!

  • Chr4787838 Chr4787838 on Dec 15, 2016

    Some people just cannot afford to hire a professional for small problems. White glue will work and will come off without damaging the sheetrock. It is water soluble.Im talking about good old school glue and the person who told me this trick is a professional wallpaper hanger.

    • Joanie Joanie on Dec 16, 2016

      Yep....when ready to remove the paper.......steam it and it will come off, without the wall coming too.......

  • Georgia Bowers Georgia Bowers on Dec 16, 2016

    Home Depot sells a wallpaper seam adhesive for $4.99, which dries in an hour.

  • Birdz of a Feather Birdz of a Feather on Dec 16, 2016

    Instead of a brush which I find takes forever to apply, I use a glue syringe to inject the paste along the seam. Once it's loaded up, I find it works better and faster for me.

  • Robert Robert on Dec 16, 2016

    I have used flour and water and with the right consistancy it works good

  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Dec 16, 2016

    I used clear nail polish once to fix a small area on my wall paper once.

  • Chr4787838 Chr4787838 on Dec 16, 2016

    Thank you ,The Duke 1234. You sound like a sensible person. Not one to spend money when you don't need too. Or have to run out to the home improvement store for special products when you may have what you need on hand.

  • Charly Charly on Dec 17, 2016

    If I were to take anyone's advice here it would be William from Burbank. He is very knowledgeable and experienced. And no I don't know him. I just know that he always gives the best advice. And it's usually the same advice that I would give. In this case the only 6 I would change is I would use a small hard plastic roper to press the edges back down. Good luck.

  • Charly Charly on Dec 17, 2016

    Sorry about the typo. It should read . The only thing I would change and roller.

  • Buc13125853 Buc13125853 on Dec 17, 2016

    My only advice is not to use anything permanent. I made that mistake once, used some glue I had around to glue the edges down. When we tried to remove the wallpaper years later, everything came off except the edges I had glued down.


  • Beth Allen Beth Allen on Dec 17, 2016

    works great elmers glue

  • Ginny Ginny on Dec 19, 2016

    School glue, Gorilla glue - anything inexpensive and that you already have should work. Also, try Q-tips to apply in corners where wallpaper meets wood.

  • Shelly McGee Pilcher Shelly McGee Pilcher on Dec 19, 2016

    Simple Elmers school glue

  • Margo Margo on Jul 29, 2020

    I use glue for paper. Same glue kids using at school

  • Deb K Deb K on Jun 10, 2023

    Hello, this looks like a corner, if it is, you can get a piece of molding to put on it that covers the corner and holds down the paper.

  • I've done small repairs with a little Elmer's glue.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 12, 2023

    Both pre-pasted and traditional wallpaper may begin to peel in the places where two strips meet. With pre-pasted paper, the adhesive may not have been fully applied during manufacture. Seams may also become loose if too much paste was squeezed out of the seam during installation. Start by gently pulling the wallpaper back to where it fully adheres to the wall. Then, using a small artist’s paintbrush, spread some wallpaper seam adhesive onto the wall under the seam. Smooth the wallpaper back down over the adhesive and use a small seam roller. Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe up any errant adhesive that may have squeezed out onto the wallpaper.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Nov 05, 2023

    Cover edge with a trim.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 05, 2023

    For loose edges, start by pulling the wallpaper away from the wall. Continue to pull until you reach the point at which the peeling ends and the rest is still securely attached. Next, take a small paintbrush and apply a thin layer of repair glue to the loose piece's back end. Applying too much glue is liable to result in the formation of air bubbles, so when performing this step, thinness is key. Once your glue has been properly applied, firmly press the loose piece of paper back into place, and wipe away any excess adhesive.

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jan 30, 2024

    Use a small paint brush with wallpaper paste or glue, and it will be as good as new!