We had the contractor doing our kitchen also build a plywood wall across half of our basement 2 years ago to create a playroom for the kids and my wife wants to do something with it. She apparently went out and bought peel and stick wallpaper and I told her it will never stay on there unless I prep it first.

What would be the best way to do this? Primer? Then a glossy coat of white paint? Will regular latex work or should I use something else? The side facing outward is relatively smooth and doesn’t need much sanding or anything. It’s just I don’t think anything peel and stick will stay on that for very long just as is.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I'm no expert, but I think I'd mud and smooth the deeper divots and then use a quality primer over all of it. Paper over that.

How concerned are you about intentionally removing it later??
I would not bother prepping it. I would just get some gorilla spray adhesive and use that. It will hold well.

https://gorillatough.com/produ...illa-spray-adhesive/

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
I'm no expert, but I think I'd mud and smooth the deeper divots and then use a quality primer over all of it. Paper over that.

I'd do something along this line. The plywood joints and nail divots will show through unless you fill them. I'd at least fill them with wood putty then sand, then a coat of good quality 100% acrylic wood primer before putting the paper up.
Even so, the joints will likely show through later as the panels expand and contract, but if the wallpaper design is busy enough maybe not too noticeable.

What kind of “plywood”? That will determine what prep will be required.

It could be something as rough as OSB all the way to furniture grade A/A…

Don't use a water based paint or primer on the wood first. It will raise the grain.

Otherwise, have you looked at the manufacturer's website or called them to see what their advice is?

This isn't the advice you asked for, but I would think LONG and HARD before putting any form of wallpaper on a nice sheet of plywood. I removed enough of it in my first home that I will never have it in my house again.

Done correctly, a plywood wall can be very architecturally pleasing. Consider dressing it up perhaps with accents, different finish, new architectural fasteners, etc.

Take a look at the links below. Both of these would be replacements, and you could place over the existing plywood but might give you some ideas as to what you could do.
Plyboo
Forever Bamboo

It depends on how finished a look you want.

The correct way to do it is to cover the wall with 1/4" Sheetrock. Tape and joint compound over the seams,

Paint with sealing primer.

Put on the wallpaper.

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
This isn't the advice you asked for, but I would think LONG and HARD before putting any form of wallpaper on a nice sheet of plywood. I removed enough of it in my first home that I will never have it in my house again.

No kidding. It's not 1920.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by jcsabolt2:
This isn't the advice you asked for, but I would think LONG and HARD before putting any form of wallpaper on a nice sheet of plywood. I removed enough of it in my first home that I will never have it in my house again.

No kidding. It's not 1920.

C’mon guys

It’s a plywood wall dividing an unfinished cellar
in a 1951 house, and it’s for three kids to play in. It’s not my living room.

I just as soon as leave it the hell alone, it’s the wife that wants to spruce it up.

Id hit it with some Kilz primer.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I just as soon as leave it the hell alone, it’s the wife that wants to spruce it up.

Maybe get yourself a new wife?

If it's for kids, forget the wallpaper and just put up a lot of whiteboard and buy big boxes of dry-erase markers. The decorating will occur organically.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
C’mon guys

It’s a plywood wall dividing an unfinished cellar
in a 1951 house, and it’s for three kids to play in. It’s not my living room.

I just as soon as leave it the hell alone, it’s the wife that wants to spruce it up.

Paint it, put up 1/4" drywall, FRP panels, whatever. Wallpaper has to be very near the bottom of the list of desirable finishes.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
What kind of “plywood”? That will determine what prep will be required.

It could be something as rough as OSB all the way to furniture grade A/A…

This, what kind of plywood? Can you post a pic?

I think the thing is she’s already gone out and bought the wallpaper. He’s trying to damage control this.

I've ran Paint and Building Materials Depts in Retail.

Firstly I would Prim the surface with a mid quality Primer from brands such as Kilz or Zinsser. As mentioned above a Water based can raise wood grains but in your case this could be acceptable. Since it sounds like it will be more of a utility use for wallpaper or another coverup a satin or a semi gloss would be a usable finish base.

I am curious on the reason for the selection of wallpaper? Wallpaper was one of the declining items we had year over year.

DAP painters caulk in the joins and nail holes.

Kilz’s white primer with a smooth to semi smooth roller.

Wall paper and be happy.

quote:

Maybe get yourself a new wife?

We all know that's not the way that works.


I think the fill in the nail holes and low spots then primer it was good advice. However, checking the mfg website would be the first place to look on what they recommend. I've never done that, but I suspect you're not the first. How about a photo when you finish and it looks awesome?

How smooth or rough is the plywood? What are the recommendations for installation on the wallpaper? This is where I would start.

If your plywood is smooth it will come out better. Also, wallpaper is normally put on over paint not directly on unpainted drywall. I would be inclined to prime and paint the walls. While that's more steps and cost I would be worried about putting wallpaper directly on porous plywood.