MURSAIN - specialist in building moisture issues, helping preserve heritage buildings
Papier peint décollé par l’humidité

Wallpaper

Peeling wallpaper: is humidity to blame?

Peeling wallpaper can be a sign of moisture contained in the wall, linked to rising damp or water damage.

Short answer

Wallpaper peels because moisture contained in the wall evaporates. This vapor creates pressure beneath the covering, making it swell and then peel away. Two causes are possible: rising damp by capillary action or water damage.

Step 01

The visible symptom

The strips peel away, bubble, or lift. The covering reacts to moisture in the substrate, but on its own it does not reveal the exact cause.

Step 02

Why gluing it back is not enough

If the wall remains damp, the wallpaper may peel again. Before redecorating, you need to understand whether the substrate is sound enough.

Does the damp keep coming back?

A fresh coat of paint will not stop water moving through a wall. MURSAIN finds the cause and uses the treatment that fits the building, dealing with the problem at its source.

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Step 03

Useful information

For the diagnosis, specify the room, the height of the peeling, the construction period, and any recent water damage.

  • Close-up and wider photos
  • Height of the peeling
  • Context: incident, works, damp room

Frequently asked questions

Does peeling wallpaper always come from a leak?

No. Water damage is possible, but rising damp may also be the cause.

Continue your journey

Next step

Want to get rid of the damp for good?

MURSAIN first finds out what is making your walls damp. We can then recommend the right treatment and prepare a free quote. Simply leave your name and email.

Treat the source so the damp does not keep coming back.

Satisfied or refunded: at least 25% reduction within the first 3 years — MURSAIN result guarantee.SATISFIED OR REFUNDEDMURSAIN RESULT GUARANTEE−25%reductionwithin 3 yearsRequest my free quote05 81 85 50 07