The Hidden Cost of Textured Walls
If your Calgary home was built in the last 30 years, there’s a good chance your walls have a “knockdown” or “orange peel” texture. Builders love it because it hides imperfections in drywall finishing — which saves them time and money.
But when you want to install wallpaper? That texture becomes a serious problem.
Why You Can’t Just Paper Over Texture
Wallpaper needs a smooth, flat surface to bond properly. Install it over texture and you’ll get:
- Bubbling — air pockets trapped under the paper that won’t smooth out
- Poor adhesion — the paper pulls away from raised texture points within months
- Visible texture — every bump shows through, especially on silk, metallic, and flat-finish papers
- Failed seams — edges lift because they can’t bond to an uneven surface
The Professional Solution: Skim Coating
Skim coating is the process of applying a thin layer of joint compound over the entire wall surface to create what the industry calls a “Level 5 finish” — perfectly smooth and ready for any wallcovering material.
Here’s our process:
- Wall assessment — we evaluate the texture type and severity
- Repair — fill nail holes, fix cracks, address any moisture issues
- Skim coat application — 1-2 coats of joint compound, sanded smooth between coats
- Primer — we apply R-35 or equivalent primer that protects the drywall and creates a bond layer for the wallpaper adhesive
The entire prep process typically adds one day to your installation timeline, but it’s the single most important factor in whether your wallpaper looks flawless or fails within a year.
What About Peel-and-Stick?
We get this question a lot. Peel-and-stick wallpaper seems like an easy shortcut, but it has a serious “stretch factor” — the adhesive pulls and distorts the pattern during application, leaving visible misalignment at seams. On textured walls, peel-and-stick fails even faster because the contact area is reduced by 30-40%.
For a finish that actually lasts, traditional wallpaper with proper wall preparation is the way to go. Book a free estimate and we’ll assess your walls in person.