Wall Vinyl Adhesive Guide
General Adhesive Guide
The best general guidelines for a suitable commercial wall vinyl adhesive are as follows. Note: this is for wall vinyl not wallpaper and always check individual product installation guides for specific information.
1) Premixed commercial grade.
2) A “clay” premixed is the baseline for commercial wall covering adhesives. All commercial wall covering adhesives are water based. Clay based adhesives require a little more attention than a “clear cellulose” adhesive when they are dropped, smeared or spilled on surfaces other than the back of the wall covering. A “real“ sea sponge is recommended for cleaning/removing clay based adhesive residue. A cheap sponge will spread the adhesive over a larger area. Rinse with clean water. Change water frequently.
Some installers prefer clay based products because they can readily see the amount of adhesive that has been applied to the wall covering or the wall if “dry hanging”. There also may be some additional “open time” (the amount of time available to install the material before it dries out) depending on the local temperature and humidity.
3) A “clear” based adhesive will minimise clean-up issues. It dries to a consistency similar to oatmeal residue and will flake off easily. Be careful around exotic finishes (silk, woods, etc) regardless of what type of adhesive is used. “Blue” painters tape is great for a quick barrier between the finishes, over ceiling grids, mouldings, etc.
4) A “strippable” commercial grade adhesive will facilitate future removal of material when your client is ready to change their wall covering.
Always use a recommended compatible primer with the selected brand of adhesive. New sheet rock, previously painted sheet rock (latex or oil based paint), sheet rock with wall covering previously installed and subsequently removed (adhesive residue remaining), sheet rock in high humidity environments will require slightly different surface preparations and or formulations depending on local job site conditions.
There are primers for unique installations that can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
A few questions and close attention to individual job site details are a big plus for successful installations. We have found that water-based acrylic and or latex primers are preferred to almost all other types of primers. The individual paint stores will know the compatibility of their house brand of primers relative to their brand of adhesive relative to the condition of the chosen substrate.
General Product Recommendations
Roman Decorating Products, Professional® Series
a) Primer: Pro 935 (R -35®)
b) Primer: Pro 909 vinyl prep.
c) Primer: Pro 990 vinyl prep.
d) Pro Ultra® Prime 977 (for new sheet rock applications).
e) Adhesive: Pro 870 H D clear strippable.
f) Adhesive: Pro 838 H D clear.
g) Adhesive: Pro 774 clay strippable.
h) Adhesive: Pro 732 clay.
Roman Decorating Products: (high humidity environments)
a) Primer: Pro 988 (for mildew prone areas).
b) Adhesive: Pro 888 Clear (for mildew prone areas).
Zinsser
a) Primer: Gardz®
b) Also supply quality mildew protection products.