What is the difference between pre-pasted and un-pasted wall murals?

All wallpaper murals fall into one of two categories; Pre-pasted and Un-pasted. Most of the manufacturers of the un-pasted murals place a small packet of powdered paste inside the box at the manufacturing facility. The powdered paste must be mixed with water and brushed onto the back of the mural before installing. The un-pasted murals arrive to you in panels. Each panel is approximately 4' x 3'. You apply the panels to the wall one at a time to create the mural. All un-pasted murals are printed on a heavy paper stock, they are not washable. This is true with ANY un-pasted wall mural sold anywhere. The pre-pasted murals are actually pre-pasted wallpaper. They arrive to you in 18" wide rolls. The height of the particular mural you purchase will determine the length of that roll, but the width is always 18". The paste is already on the back of the mural. To install you simply unroll a panel and dip it into water, let it sit for a few minutes, and then smooth onto the wall. Each panel is numbered so when you put them up in the right order they will create the picture. The pre-pasted murals are washable with soap and water and removable by simply peeling away from the wall. Un-pasted  murals usually require some scraping to remove but neither will harm the wall. Simply wipe the left over paste from the wall with a damp sponge..

Can I put a mural on my wall if it is concrete, cinder block, has a rough stucco or orange-peel texture, or already has paneling on it?

Yes - depending on the type of wall, you may have to do one the following:

  Hang lining paper: Using a heavy duty adhesive apply Wall Liner to the wall where the mural is to be placed. Sometimes it helps to paste both the wall surface and the back of the lining paper since the lining paper is porous and heavy. Once the lining paper has dried, apply a primer/sealer. If applying Heavy Duty Wall Liner to cinder-block, concrete or wood paneling, it is best to use an un-pasted wall liner and liberally apply a heavy duty adhesive. This will ensure that the wall liner stays on the wall. Other methods include:

Floating the Walls: Use a broad knife to trowel the joint compound over the rough walls in light, even coats. After the wall is at the preferred smoothness, allow to dry. Prime the newly smooth surface with 2 coats of primer/sealer. Or using a heavy duty adhesive, apply a Heavy Duty wall liner to the wall where the mural is to be placed.

Sanding: If the texture is minimal, this process is adequate and time-saving. After sanding, a primer/sealer is applied. This method is the least preferred, however, because of the labor and the dust that covers the entire house. Applying a Heavy Duty wall liner will also cover lightly textured walls.

Wood-paneled walls: Wash thoroughly with a deglossing solution and water, then sand smooth. Fill vertical grooves of paneling with spackle and apply primer. Seal with acrylic or alkyd primer, allow to cure, and hang wall mural. Or using a heavy duty adhesive, apply Heavy Duty wall liner to the wall where the mural is to be placed.