The type of glue pattern for Wall Sheet installation is essential to ensure that the sheet is smooth, bubble-free, and has a strong application. We’ve researched and tested glue pattern designs and are sharing with you what we’ve learned.

Understanding Glue Patterns

Unlike many other adhesive applications, you cannot spread wall sheet adhesive on the material as one solid layer. One thick coating of adhesive prevents air from escaping the sheet when you roll it out, creating visible air bubbles in the wall sheet. Using a trowel with the right profile creates channels for air to pass though and regulates the heights (or peaks) of the adhesive. These channels allow air to flow in and out of the wall sheet as you roll it out and also lets the adhesive cure fully over time, inhibiting air bubbles from forming and ensuring long-lasting adhesion to the wall.

Choosing a Trowel Profile

When choosing a trowel profile or tooth design, there are three variables that determine the best design: the substrate, the product, and the adhesive. Regarding the substrate, there are two important questions:

• Is the substrate (the wall in this case) smooth or rough?
• Is it porous or non-porous?

Regarding the product:

• How thick is the product you are installing?

Based on those two factors, most adhesive manufacturers will specify a trowel profile that determines the third variable – the amount of adhesive you apply.

Wallprotex Research

Even though manufacturers will often recommend trowel profiles, we wanted to test the four main variables in trowel profile design: number, width, and shape of teeth and the depth of cavity between teeth.

First, we applied the wall sheet to various v-notched trowel adhesive patterns. Then, we peeled the sheet off and examined the pattern on the back. We aimed for a 50% increase in the width of the peaks after rolling out the wall sheet. We avoided profiles that resulted in a solid layer of adhesive. For us, the best profile was a ⅛” sawtooth v-notched trowel. We designed our own trowels from drywall knives. The angle of the knives is more comfortable for your wrists than a trowel meant for the floor.

Installation: Curing

With your preferred trowel, begin loading adhesive onto the wall and spreading it in a vertical direction. Remove any globs or chunks as these potentially create air bubbles in the sheet. Make sure you cover the entire surface area of the wall that the sheet will touch, applying adhesive all the way to the corners. After 10 minutes, the tips of the peaks appear clear as the adhesive begins to dry. Your window of time to apply the wall sheet is between 20 minutes and 1.5 hours. If you wait too long, the front of the adhesive may be too dry to attach or to roll out the wall sheet. To test the tackiness of the adhesive, touch the end of a bead very lightly. If the adhesive doesn’t stick to your finger, the top is fully tacky but the underside is still wet.

Installation: Rolling

Apply the vinyl wall sheet carefully to the wall with adhesive. Keep in mind that once you apply the sheet, the tackiness of the glue prevents you from repositioning the wall sheet. If your alignment is off, you may have to start over. After verifying the positioning, immediately roll the sheet out with laminate rollers. Push as hard as you physically can in the direction that you trowelled to push out any air bubbles and bed the sheet into the wall. In a few days, the adhesive should be completely dry, leaving you with an aesthetic and durable stretch of wall sheet.