What to do first: wallpapering or installing laminate? What's Wallpaper or Laminate First: Sequence Tips What's Laminate or Wallpaper First

The need for cosmetic repairs with the replacement of all coatings in the room (floor, walls and ceiling) leads people to a natural question: where to start. To do this, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages of various methods and the appropriateness of their use in your particular case in order to get the most beautiful and accurate result.

Pros and cons of both methods

Repairs in the apartment begin with cleaning all surfaces at the same time in order to cope with most of the pollution at once. Next, it is necessary to make a fine finish, to prepare all surfaces. And then, with the selected materials, begin to make the design.

And here, finishers and builders have a rule - to repair from top to bottom. And in many cases it works really well.

The method, when wallpaper is glued first, and then the laminate, has several advantages:

During pasting and cutting wallpaper, you can damage the floor surface with glue, drop a spatula or place a ladder incorrectly and scratch the laminate.
Laminate is laid at some distance from the wall. This is provided by the laying technology. Therefore, the risk of damaging the wallpaper is minimal, unlike fitting linoleum or carpet.
The process of laying the coating does not involve a large amount of dirt and glue. The wallpaper will remain clean.

The only downside might be that drying walls with rolled materials provides for the absence of drafts. In rooms with high humidity, there is a risk of damage to the laminate during this period. It is better to cover it with a film, it will prevent corrosion of the upper layers of the coating.

From the foregoing, we can conclude that when, on the contrary, the laminate is laid forward, and then the walls are pasted over with canvases, there are much less amenities. First of all, the coating will get dirty, and it will be necessary to wash it even from minor contaminants. And that's extra work. And, of course, the probability of damage is high. If you have chosen a budget laminate of a low strength class for finishing an apartment, then you should not use this method of repair.

But still, in certain conditions, it is necessary to start repairs with the design of the floor. If you have a small apartment or communal apartment, or no garage to store things, you need to arrange the furniture in the room as quickly as possible. After the laminate layer is laid in compliance with all the rules and deadlines, you will be able to bring at least part of the bulky furniture into place, moving it around as needed.

First sticking

Stages of work:

First you need to make a thorough cleaning of all construction debris and remnants of previous coatings.
Let's evaluate the scope of work.
If necessary, we make the waterproofing of the floor with the help of loose mixtures or mastics.

We produce a rough screed using self-leveling floor technology, laying a cement mixture or adding expanded clay.
We prime, carry out a final screed or lay special plates or a dry floor.
Self-leveling floors must be covered with a primer at each stage.

We putty the walls with a rough layer to eliminate large-scale irregularities.
After drying, sand and prime the surfaces.
Finishing putty is a mandatory step. Wallpaper will hold better, stains and defects will not shine through.

It is advisable to use a primer solution.

Adhesion of selected materials. Wallpaper is glued from the farthest visible corner or from the window. The adhesive composition is applied according to the recommendations corresponding to each type of roll materials. In the case of heavy wallpaper, the walls are treated with a composition. And light and thin coatings are treated with a soft roller with glue and immediately applied in place.

Laying laminate.
Install floor plinths between the wallpaper and the floor.

Installation of laminate before gluing

First, again, it is necessary to complete all the preparatory work and bring the surfaces to readiness to lay the laminate and paste over the walls. After that, a special layer of materials is placed. It can be cork, polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, coniferous tiles or cork. They will act as a leveling and elastic substrate. Cut the coating carefully in place with a knife or special scissors.

Mark one of the walls with wedges (pieces of laminate, special slats). Laying the laminate begins with the first strip. Boards should not be adjacent to the wall. The distance can be within 10 millimeters.

The next strip falls from the last balance. The wedge locks are latched and the boards are brought to a horizontal position. Wedge locks on the first canvases in a row are wound into the groove of the previous one.

The gaps are knocked out with a bar and a hammer. The very last stage of laying is trimming the finish row in width and length. The wedges are taken out. After that, the walls are pasted over with selected canvases.

After wallpapering, floor plinths are installed to close the gaps between the laminate and the walls.

How to install a floor plinth, see the following video.

Most renovators and experienced decorators will advise you on the first method of finishing when the wallpaper is first glued. But no one will forbid you, having studied all the pros and cons of both methods, to make a choice in favor of another method. In each specific situation, its own option is beneficial. Moreover, we often change the wallpaper a couple of times during the life of the flooring.

Service life of high quality laminates reach the age of 25. This is comparable to only a few types of wallpaper. But in any case, it is easier to change wall coverings and update the interior than to do a major overhaul.

So in this case, the wallpaper is already applied with the finished floor, they just provide for some problem situations.

Preliminary preparation should be carefully thought out. If you do not plaster the walls well enough and find this after laying the laminate, you will stain most of the surface with finishing materials. And the primer can leave difficult stains on the floor.

In the case of priority floor finishing, use a protective film during wallpapering. The price per meter of such material is low, but with the impressive area of your rooms, buying an additional canvas can cost you a pretty penny. And, of course, if you spill water while working with wallpaper, then the film will most likely not save the laminate from swelling.
After wallpapering the walls, let them dry for a few days. Then ventilate the room, get rid of excessive humidity. This will save you the hassle of top layers on low grade laminates.

If you have already laid the floor, and only then pasted the wallpaper, cover the laminate with a film while the walls dry. Low-grade floor coverings can corrode under the action of moisture, which forms in a long-term unventilated room.
Glue the wallpaper with the laminate laid on the floor should be carefully. Choose coasters and stepladders with rubberized smooth legs. This will protect you from slipping and prevent damage to the flooring.
If you are partially filling a room with bulky furniture that you are going to move later, it is better to put it on a dense substrate.

It doesn’t matter if you are redecorating a room or overhauling a living space, the question of the order in which walls and floors are finished will inevitably arise.

What should wallpaper or laminate be bought and replaced first? Is it important to comply with the regulations and accepted standards of work, what should be done earlier and what can change the order? Consider the pros and cons of the various options.

We put wallpaper on the walls

If the question is, what do the laminate or wallpaper do first, it is decided to first apply wallpaper to the walls, the initial situation should be determined.

By the time wallpaper is applied to the walls, the installation of all engineering systems, including the heating system, must be completed. The room must have a closed thermal circuit, namely, windows and doors are installed.

It is necessary to finish the work on the device of the screed for the finish coating or lay sheets of plywood under the decorative material.

Before gluing the walls are leveled

The technology of applying wallpaper to the walls involves surface preparation. In this case, solutions from dry mortars and primers are used: all these materials can cause damage to the flooring if it is laid earlier.

If the solution is from CCM, then you can simply wash off the remaining dirt, but some types of primers have a rather fast curing period and it will be impossible to wash them off the laminate.

Laminate, in turn, is devoid of the disadvantage of dust and dirt. Even compared to carpet or linoleum flooring, when installing laminate, there is less risk of damaging the wallpaper.

The advantage of this sequence of work is that there is no risk of damaging the laminate with high humidity.

If you stick the finish on the walls after laying the flooring, then in the process of drying, the room must be closed from the inflow of air. That is why high humidity forms in the room, which can ruin the laminate floor.

A high level of humidity during the drying period of the wallpaper in the presence of laminate flooring will lead to possible damage to the protective layer of the floor covering.

Complete drying of the wallpaper occurs over several days. During this period, the material laid on the floor will absorb moisture from the air, which can lead to swelling and render the laminate unusable as a result of the influence of adhesive fumes.

It should be noted that if you glue the wallpaper every 3-5 years, and not every year, then the humidity is unlikely to greatly harm the protective layer of the laminate.

When cutting rolls, which is usually carried out on the floor, the decorative coating can also be damaged.

Inevitably getting glue on the laminate when spreading glue on the wallpaper.

If the laminate has already been installed, handling the adhesive will contaminate it.

Thus, if you glue the finish on the walls before laying the flooring, you can stain or leave scratches on the new floor.

This can be avoided by covering the floor with a dense polymer material. Please note that the film may tear and allow contamination.

Laying laminate

In order not to get dirty, it is better to lay the laminate after finishing the walls.

Arguing about what to do with wallpaper or laminate first, consider the option of laying a decorative floor covering before wallpapering.

Above, we have already described the moment that most likely in such a situation the laminate will be dirty, and in the worst case, it will be damaged, but if this situation still exists, then it is necessary to provide the floor with the maximum possible protection:

cover the floor with thick plastic wrap;
lay the film overlapping, gluing the seams with adhesive tape;
wrap the legs of the ladder and other furniture used in the work with a cloth;
do not remove the film until the wallpaper is completely dry.

It is also necessary to level the floor surface before laying the floor covering.

Carrying out unprofessional repairs, apartment owners have different opinions about the order of work. Often, even the opinions of experts differ.

Depending on the capabilities of the homeowners and the specific situation, the order of work can be changed. For example, if you have already bought a laminate, but you have not yet decided on the color of the texture and the color of the wallpaper, then you should not stop the repair.

Nevertheless, there is a regulatory procedure for finishing work on walls and floors, enshrined in SNiPs:

If you understand that the level of pollution during certain work will be above average, then such work should be carried out ahead of the rest.

Laminate, parquet or carpet finishing is accompanied by minimal contamination, which is why they are held in the final.

Act according to circumstances

Of course, it is more convenient and more logical to finish the walls first, and then lay the laminate. But the question of what to do first with wallpaper or laminate flooring should be decided based on the specific situation.

The order is designed for ease rather than strict adherence. Sometimes it is possible to decide on the type and color of the wallpaper only after the floor finish is equipped. See the video below for expert opinion on this matter:

If it is more convenient to work in reverse order, then your decision is correct. The main thing is to achieve the intended result, a harmonious combination of floor and wall finishes.

Where to start the repair? What to do when repairing in the first place: laminate, doors, wallpapering, or is it still a ceiling? What materials to choose? How to avoid mistakes? What is the correct sequence of actions? These are the most common and frequently asked questions of people who decide to repair and in particular the restoration of the ceiling. You will find answers to all of the above questions in the content of this article.

In repair, the main thing is a clear sequence, otherwise chaos and headache are guaranteed!

Suppose you decide to install a false ceiling. This is worthwhile, but there are certain points that need to be considered. By itself, the design of the installation of a false ceiling is not so complicated, it is possible to perform it at any time. However, if in a couple of years you are planning a major or partial renovation with the replacement of flooring or wallpapering, this will have a very negative impact on the new ceiling.

1 What do you do first - ceiling, walls or floor?
- 1.1 Ceiling installation method before wallpapering
- 1.2 Ceiling installation method after wallpapering
2 About the repair in general
3 What is the beginning of the repair in the apartment
- 3.1 The repair project should include:
4 General overhaul plan:
- 4.1 Preparatory phase (1-2 weeks)
- 4.2 Installation work (2-4 weeks) *
- 4.3 Rough finishing (3-5 weeks)
- 4.4 Fine finishing (2-3 weeks)
5 More like about major renovation milestones.
- 5.1 Demolition work
- 5.2 Basic installation
- 5.3 Final assembly
- 5.4 The final stage of the overhaul of the apartment
6 General advice

What do you do first - ceiling, walls or floor?

Stretch ceilings can be installed both during the repair process and upon its completion. The main thing is that by the time the ceiling is installed, all the rough work (finishing, leveling the walls and floor, plastering the ceiling) has been completed.

A lot of disputes and disagreements exist on the topic - what is done first: ceiling, floor or walls. In fact, there are two options for mounting the ceiling, both before gluing and after gluing the wallpaper:

Ceiling mounting method before wallpapering

The advantages of this option are the absence of wallpaper during installation, or rather, the inability to spoil them (dust, smear with hands, punch with a perforator, etc.)

The disadvantages of this option are the masking tape, which is installed around the perimeter on the new wallpaper, and since there are none, the masking tape will have to be installed independently, or an additional brigade call should be made.

Decoration of the wall-ceiling joint. For this, a wall corner is used, it closes the gap formed between the wall and the ceiling.

Ceiling installation method after wallpapering

The advantage of the method is that the workers will install the masking tape immediately. Cons - in this case, they are likely to damage the wallpaper when mounting the ceiling.

As you can see, the issue is really controversial. It is unambiguous that by the time of wallpapering and ceiling installation, all rough work must be completed. This will prevent dust and dirt from entering the updated surfaces.

And if you think soberly, then the ceiling is usually made for at least ten years, but we glue the wallpaper much more often. It is quite possible to paste the wallpaper neatly, clearly maintaining the joints.

Most builders adhere to the scheme that first the horizontals (floor and ceiling) are made, and then the verticals (walls).

As for the bathrooms. Until the installation of the false ceiling, the tile should already lie on the walls. It is important that there are no voids in the top row of the installed tile.

About the repair in general

The main task of the repair is to transform the premises into a convenient, comfortable and modern place for life and creativity.

In order for you not to associate any repair with a natural disaster, so that everything goes smoothly, quickly and beautifully, you need to properly organize this process, it is important to follow the order and technology of work

Repair happens:

cosmetic, which includes the replacement of coatings,
capital, which involves redevelopment of premises, replacement of worn-out communications and electrical wiring, interior decoration.

In turn, it is possible to repair the ceiling or install a false ceiling, both in combination with general repairs, and separately.

Photos before and after repair:

Even a standard suspended ceiling can transform a room at times

A good solution is to focus on the ceiling!

The main complex feature of the repair is its complexity, duration and high cost.

The result of the renovation is a complete renovation, including a new design of the premises

When carrying out repairs, not only handymen may be required, but also masters of narrow-profile industries (electricians, tilers, plumbers, painters)

Therefore, if there is no full confidence that you can handle it on your own, it is better to immediately turn to specialists.

Where does the repair in the apartment begin?

Usually, after making a decision on a major overhaul, the owners immediately run to buy all the materials they need, and this is the first, and it is also the main mistake. Repair should begin with a consultation with a specialist and drawing up an estimate.

You can invite the foreman home, discuss with him absolutely all aspects and subtleties of future repairs. Tell him how you imagine the future apartment, what interior it will have, and what design the apartment will correspond to.

Ravshan explains to Jamshut the importance and responsibility of following the sequence of stages during the overhaul of an apartment

Any successful renovation starts with planning.

It is necessary to observe and clearly control the sequence of all stages of repair, and then you can achieve the following:

Minimum time spent on repairs;
Serious money savings;
The highest quality work result.

The renovation project should include:

Layout plan obtained after the completion of the repair;
Schematic placement of communications (water supply, sewerage, electrical wiring);
Layout of technological equipment (washbasin, bathtub, toilet bowl, water meters, boiler, air conditioner, built-in furniture).

Without a project, situations are possible when electricity is not supplied to a lamp equipped with lamps, and a washbasin cannot be placed due to a protruding riser. The cost of correcting such errors is often many times higher than the initial cost of the project itself. Don't skimp on design, on the contrary, let a well-executed project save you money.

An example of a well-designed project

The main thing in the renovation project is the thoughtful arrangement of the required elements and the convenience of using the apartment after the renovation.

General overhaul plan:

Preparatory stage (1-2 weeks)

We demolish unnecessary partitions, doors, mezzanines, etc.

We remove old wallpaper, whitewash, tiles, linoleum, etc.

Taking out the trash

The process of transporting and unloading materials

Installation works (2-4 weeks) *

We mount partitions

We install pipes in the bathroom

We install new electrical wiring and sockets

Cementing the screed on the floor

Rough finish (3-5 weeks)

We install doors and extensions (without platbands)**

Align walls and ceiling***

We carry out tile work

Putty ceiling and walls

Fine finishing (2-3 weeks)

We paint ceilings

glue wallpaper

We mount the plinth, platbands

Laying the laminate

We have lamps, cornices, accessories

* We immediately replace windows, if necessary, doors, but this should be done by representatives of the seller, so this item is omitted. ** You can, of course, put the doors at the end of the repair, but it's easier to do it at the beginning. *** This is not about full, but partial alignment. If you perform the plastering process in full, add at least another week to the repair time.

More like about major renovation milestones.

Dismantling works

The most terrible, noisy and dirty stage of the overhaul. Before starting the dismantling, it is advisable to talk with the neighbors, it is possible to agree on the hours of the most noisy work, to assure the minimum time for such inconveniences.

It is important to decide in advance on the removal of garbage, to find the right transport. From a standard "kopeck piece" on average, 2-3 trucks are obtained (depending on the volume of dismantling and the ability of transport). Garbage at the entrance, even temporary, can lead to quarrels with neighbors, consider these points.

Very often seen volumes of garbage during major repairs literally shock the customer

Customers usually greatly underestimate the amount of accumulated garbage that accumulates regularly, which means that the cost is also a miscalculation. Discuss in detail all the subtle points with the contractor.

Basic installation

It starts with the preparation of window and door openings, plus a loggia and / or balcony for glazing.

Prepared doorway for arch installation

The main installation also includes the laying of plumbing communications, underfloor heating, the construction of new partitions, and wall plastering. Then the priming and painting of the ceiling is performed.

Laying pipes for communication

The next step is the waterproofing of the bathroom, installation of doors, windows, glazing of the loggia and / or balcony. Do not be afraid of such a motley set of works at the same time, overhaul is usually carried out by a team of people, their simultaneous involvement is the key to short repair times.

Stage of waterproofing floors in the bathroom and toilet

In addition to workers, you will need specialists who connect communications: cable or satellite, the Internet, and install air conditioners. Together with them, you need to agree on the scheme for laying the necessary cables.

The next step is the installation of heating radiators (if you have abandoned underfloor heating). At the same time, you can call the measurer, who will determine the location of the sewerage in the kitchen, the connection of cold / hot water and power supply.

After the final approval of the placement of all technological equipment, it becomes clear how all this will be connected, we begin chasing the walls. Then installation of rough electrics and rough plumbing. At the same time, it will be necessary to carry out the laying of air conditioner routes, the installation of signal networks (TV, Internet) and the installation of external air conditioner units.

Recently, it has been accepted to lay cable communications under ceilings, hiding them with a stretch ceiling

The next stage is the preparation of the floor for pouring the screed, laying the damper tape and the reinforcing mesh for the screed. Named - the main installation is completed after pouring the screed, excluding the finishing layer.

Finishing installation

If false walls are not enough for the updated interior (hiding heating radiators, secret doors or any other purpose), this should be done at this stage.

Having sewn up the heating radiator, you will hide the radiator itself and the pipes, as well as avoid the practically unsolvable issue in the bathroom finishing in the area of the joints of the risers at the border: floor / ceiling

At the same time, communication boxes are mounted.

A drywall box is a good solution that has become the standard for any repair.

Having completed with drywall work, we proceed to the primer, installation of corners, puttying.

Absolutely all surfaces sewn with drywall will be puttyed

Having processed all the surfaces, we call a measurer specializing in stretch ceilings (unless, of course, the ceilings in the new apartment will be stretch ceilings). At the same time, we are finishing the loggia and / or balcony, laying tiles in the bathroom and kitchen, arranging junction points, installing a bathroom.

The final leveling of the floor is inevitable during major repairs, since when performing work of this volume, some damage to the surface layer appears on the floor. The main screed is made 1 cm high.

Having completed work with the floor, we proceed to the last works of finishing installation. This is the last primer, fine wall finishing (painting or wallpapering), installation of stretch ceilings, laying flooring (linoleum, laminate, etc.) and installing interior doors, decorating arches and portals (if any).

The final stage of the overhaul of the apartment

And now, the repair is almost completed. The most pleasant thing remains - the installation of all built-in furniture, including kitchen furniture, installation of skirting boards and final electrics. In parallel, we carry out the installation of washbasins and toilets, we bring in all the furniture. And that's it!!! The rest is cleaning.

Do not rush! It is known that great deeds do not endure fuss. Renovating an apartment is just as great a thing, which needs to be approached quite deliberately.

When drawing up a project, the correct dimensions are important, do not trust the passport, measure everything personally.

Do-it-yourself economical overhaul is quite real! Such repairs can be completed independently in about three months.

Consider whether it is worth contacting free workers for key work, as a rule, they work without a contract, which means that it is impossible to file a claim.

When making the first repair in a new building, do not purchase expensive finishing materials. New structures must necessarily survive the shrinkage phase. Usually the first repair is done for a maximum of two years.

For the first finish, choose materials that are inexpensive and elastic - if wallpaper, then on a fabric basis, if stretch ceilings, then fabric and film, foam tiles, etc.

Hello! Please tell me, is it right to lay a laminate first or glue the wallpaper? If you first paste over the walls, then the dust from cutting the laminated floor and skirting boards will probably settle on the wallpaper. And if you first mount the flooring, then while working with the walls in the room, most likely, an increased level of humidity will be kept, which is not good for the laminate. I really need professional advice, preferably with explanations.

Answer

Good afternoon! The question, at first glance, is controversial. But in fact, the technology has been worked out for many years and the correct algorithm of actions with finishing decorative materials has been developed.

Remember a simple rule: on fully prepared bases, repairs, or rather fine finishing, are carried out from top to bottom. That is, the order is:

apply a coating to the ceiling (in some cases, the exception is tension and complex acoustic systems);
process the walls;
make the floor.

Thus, it is logical to first paste the wallpaper, wait for the glue to dry, and then lay the laminated coating.

To prove it, let's turn to the technical part. In the instructions for the floor material there is always a clause:

“Because of the hygroscopic nature of laminate flooring (the product is 90% wood), installation should be carried out after all wet work has been completed.”

But pasting the walls with wallpaper refers precisely to such events. Now let's get acquainted with the instructions for adhesive compositions for wall roll materials (fiberglass, paper, non-woven, natural, vinyl):

“From the moment the work begins and until the glue has completely dried, the windows and doors must be closed.”

This is necessary in order to exclude premature drying of the adhesive composition, the formation of non-glued areas and swelling on the surface of the fixed wallpaper. In a room completely isolated from air exchange, an increased humidity level is established for several days, reaching 95%. The maximum permissible humidity parameter for laminated coatings is 60–70%, but no more. When exceeding the bar, they swell, change the geometry, and the floor swells. And there is no guarantee that in a month or two the finishing material will return to normal. Rather, on the contrary - you will be forced to partially or completely change it to a new one.

Proof of high humidity - misted windows.

Arguments like “dust will settle on the wallpaper”, “walls can be scratched during installation” or completely original - “you need a flat surface so that you can spread the rolls” do not stand up to scrutiny. First, ask the master finishers to work carefully. It is simple and in no way infringes on anyone's rights. Secondly, offer employees to carry out all cutting processes in a different room. Thirdly, when the experts finish laying the floor, just vacuum the walls with a regular household appliance. And the last - any base prepared for laying a laminate is even and durable. Spread a plastic film on it and go ahead - measure, adjust, apply an adhesive composition, fix.

Another argument in favor of sticking wallpaper in the first place is the impossibility of working with canvases without a ladder or a special table (the so-called building goats). Support legs of accessories can damage the surface of the laminated parquet. Of course, many try to protect it from scratches with cardboard pads, glassine, backing, thick plastic wrap. But in practice, hired teams of finishers hardly follow the flooring, so the formation of defects is inevitable.

When to Lay Laminate Forward

What to do if the master insists: first you need to lay the flooring. Ask him to justify this decision.

The first reason for changing the correct repair procedure is the lack of wallpaper itself (they didn’t have time to bring it, they couldn’t choose, etc.).

The second is ease of use. A similar argument from a finisher who lays laminate or specializes in wall coverings should be dismissed immediately. The main thing is not comfort, but the quality of workmanship and the safety of the assembled building materials.

And the third - "burning" deadlines for the implementation of a certain type of work. These are external circumstances that do not depend on the desire of the master. Therefore, all risks are assumed by the customer.

So the correct sequence is:

prepare the base for wallpaper;
work out the base floor under the laminate;
install a box beam in the opening (do not hang the door on hinges);
stick wallpaper;
after the glue has dried and aired for 3-5 days, lay the laminate, mount the skirting boards.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for their selection. Just send in the form below a detailed description of the work to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and firms by mail. You can see reviews of each of them and photos with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.