While technically possible, wallpapering a brick wall is generally not recommended by manufacturers or professionals due to significant challenges and often unsatisfactory results. In most cases, attempting to wallpaper a brick surface is not worth the trouble and may not work effectively in the short or long term.
Why Wallpapering Brick Walls is Not Recommended
Of all the wall surfaces, brick, stone, and cement are the most difficult to cover with wallpaper. This is because brick walls inherently possess characteristics that are incompatible with standard wallpaper application.
- Uneven Surface: Brick walls have a highly textured surface with protruding bricks and recessed mortar joints. Achieving a smooth, flat base for wallpaper adhesion is extremely difficult, leading to imperfections like air bubbles, wrinkles, visible seams, and an unprofessional finish.
- Adhesion Challenges: Standard wallpaper paste is designed for relatively porous but flat surfaces. Brick, being highly porous and irregular, struggles to provide consistent and strong adhesion. The unevenness creates stress points that can cause the wallpaper to peel, bubble, or tear prematurely.
- Extensive Preparation Required: To even consider wallpapering, a brick wall demands intensive and labor-intensive preparation. This includes thorough cleaning, repairing mortar, and applying multiple layers of a skim coat or plaster to create a smooth, paintable-grade surface. This extensive preparation often negates any perceived time or cost savings, making alternative methods more appealing.
- Moisture and Efflorescence: Brick walls, especially those with exterior exposure, can be susceptible to moisture penetration and efflorescence (a powdery white salt deposit). These issues can compromise the wallpaper's adhesive, cause stains, and potentially lead to the growth of mold or mildew behind the paper.
The True Cost of Attempting to Wallpaper Brick
While the initial thought might be to save money or time, the difficulties associated with wallpapering brick often lead to greater expense, frustration, and a short-lived outcome.
| Aspect | Standard Wall (Drywall/Plaster) | Brick Wall (Attempted Wallpaper) |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation Time | Minimal (clean, prime, minor repairs) | Extensive (cleaning, mortar repair, multiple skim coats, priming) |
| Material Cost | Standard wallpaper, paste | More paste, specialty primers, crack fillers, plaster/skim coat materials, potentially thicker wallpaper |
| Labor/Skill Needed | Moderate skill, reasonable time | High skill, significant time investment, specialized techniques to create a smooth surface |
| Durability | Excellent, long-lasting | Prone to peeling, bubbling, tearing; short lifespan due to poor adhesion |
| Final Appearance | Smooth, professional, aesthetically pleasing | Often bumpy, uneven, visible seams, unprofessional, can look amateurish |
| Long-Term Value | Enhances room aesthetic | Can detract from value, requires costly removal and repair if it fails |
Recommended Alternatives for Brick Walls
Instead of attempting to wallpaper a brick wall, consider these more effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing alternatives for transforming your space:
- Painting: A popular and effective way to update brick.
- Process: Thoroughly clean the brick, repair any damaged mortar joints, and apply a high-quality primer specifically designed for masonry. Then, apply two coats of latex-based paint suitable for your interior or exterior needs.
- Benefits: Completely changes the look, seals the brick, and offers excellent durability and color choices.
- Whitewashing or German Smear: For those who appreciate the texture of brick but desire a lighter, softer look.
- Whitewashing: Involves applying diluted paint or a lime wash that partially covers the brick, allowing some of the original color and texture to show through for a rustic feel.
- German Smear: Utilizes diluted mortar or joint compound applied unevenly over the bricks and mortar to create a heavily textured, aged, and often European-inspired appearance.
- Paneling or Drywall: If a perfectly smooth, flat wall is your goal, covering the brick entirely is the most reliable method.
- Process: Install furring strips (thin wood or metal strips) directly onto the brick wall, then securely attach drywall or decorative wood panels to the furring strips.
- Benefits: Creates a new, smooth surface that can be painted, traditionally wallpapered (on the new surface), or finished in any desired way.
- Exposing and Cleaning: If your brick wall is structurally sound and visually appealing underneath existing finishes, embrace its natural beauty.
- Process: Carefully remove any existing paint, plaster, or other coatings (this may require professional methods like sandblasting or chemical strippers). Once cleaned, apply a clear masonry sealer to protect the brick and mortar.
- Benefits: Achieves an authentic, industrial, or rustic aesthetic, highlighting the architectural character of your home.
- Decorative Wall Panels: These are rigid panels, distinct from wallpaper, that can be installed over brick to mimic various textures like wood, stone veneer, or architectural designs.
- Process: Typically installed mechanically with adhesive and fasteners directly to the brick or over furring strips.
- Benefits: Provides a significant textural or visual change, often with less preparation than wallpaper, and can hide imperfections.
By choosing one of these recommended methods, you can achieve a beautiful, lasting, and professional finish for your brick wall without the frustrations and potential failures associated with attempting to wallpaper it directly.
