Wallpaper Ideas: Use to Cover Paneled or Cement Block Walls

If your home has paneled or cement block walls, then paint isn't your only option when it comes to updating the look of the room. With a little preparation work, both of these types of surfaces can be covered effectively with wallpaper. By following these simple tips the room you thought you were stuck with forever can breathe new life again!

Before attempting to wallpaper your paneled or cement block walls, you must first find wallpaper liner at your local home improvement or wallpaper store. Wallpaper liner is essentially a heavy-duty unprinted paper that is applied to the wall before you put the printed paper on the walls. The wallpaper liner leaves a smooth surface for the wallpaper to grip, and because of it's thickness it can cover a lot of unevenness in the walls. However, the wallpaper liner alone won't cover everything, so it's necessary to do some prep work to your walls before you begin.

On paneled walls, start with nailing down loose seam or panels. Be sure to pull out any loose nails and replace with drywall screws if necessary to secure the paneling solidly to the wall. Since most paneling is grooved, use a surfacing compound to fill in the grooves and provide a more level surface to adhere the wallpaper liner to the wall. Once the surfacing compound has dried, use a 200 grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface for the wallpaper liner to be attached.

On cement block walls, it's important to first check for signs of mildew or efflorescence, which can appear as a powdery reside on the wall. Signs of either of these can mean that there is excessive moisture in the block, making it unlikely to accept wallpaper. Concrete block walls in basements are especially susceptible to excess moisture. If you feel that your concrete walls are in good enough condition to proceed, then use surfacing compound to fill in any cracks or spaces in the block and sand the wall the same as you would with a paneled wall.