Replace Old Wallpaper

Find out what to do when old wallpaper starts coming unglued from the wall. Learn why it is best to replace the wallpaper instead of constantly regluing it.

LESLIE: Sandy in Missouri is dealing with some cracky wallpaper. What can we do for you?

SANDY: Yeah, I’ve got some 23-year-old vinyl wallpaper that at the seams, it’s separating. And I’ve tried like four different types of adhesive and nothing will keep those edges down and I want to keep the wallpaper. What can I do?

TOM: You know, what ends up happening is the adhesive layer separates from the paper layer and so you’re just kind of dealing with a situation, Sandy, where it very often will delaminate. And being that it’s been on the walls for 23 years, you’re going to be fighting this now until you decide to replace it.

SANDY: Really?

TOM: Yeah. I mean you’re kind of – I’m trying to tell you in the nicest possible way that you’re fighting a losing battle and after 23 years, you ought to give it up.

There’s lots of options out there; there’s lots and lots of options. And I’m sure if you like wallpaper, you can find another beautiful wallpaper to replace this with. But you’re just going to keep regluing and regluing and regluing and if you get it to stop in one place, it’s going to open up somewhere else. So I think at that age, I would definitely think about replacing it.

SANDY: OK. Well, thank you for the advice.

TOM: You’re welcome, Sandy. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.