Posted on: September 13, 2013 by admin

For quite some time, wallpaper has been viewed negatively, especially by homeowners in North America. While wallpaper patterns and textures have a richness that paint cannot compete with, many potential wallpaper users turn away from wallpaper due to the painful removal of wallpaper. People have decided to use paint, giving up the aesthetic benefits of wallpaper for the simplicity of a roller and brush.

However, the tides may be shifting.

Thanks to a proprietary idea from York Wallcoverings, one of America’s oldest and reputable wallpaper companies, wallpaper could be poised for a remarkable comeback. The discovery is a new product called SureStrip™ Prepasted Wallpaper that many experts feel could revolutionize the wallcovering business.

Why Homeowners Abandoned Wallpaper

It's crucial to review the reasons why wallpaper initially lost popularity in order to comprehend why SureStrip is creating a stir. Removal was a nightmare, to put it simply.

Anyone who has attempted to remove old wallpaper knows the feeling- pulling it off in tiny, torn bits, scraping difficult glue, steaming pieces for what seems like hours, and still being left with an ugly mess. It could take days to get it all off, and it often leaves the wall damaged. With the younger homebuyer, particularly, wanting a little ease and no fuss, the commitment of wallpaper felt like too serious a price.

The SureStrip Difference

This is where SureStrip™ technology steps in to change the game.

SureStrip™ is a unique blend of natural and synthetic fibers developed by York Wallcoverings. Most importantly, it is vinyl-free, meaning that it is much more eco-friendly and a lot easier to work with. Unlike cheap wallpapers made with cheap substrates, SureStrip™ enhances the user experience during installation and removal. 

Here’s what makes it stand out:

1. SureStrip Wallpaper Installation: Easy Prepasted Solution by York

Installing SureStrip™ wallpaper is refreshingly simple — even for first-time DIYers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get flawless results:

What You’ll Need

• A clean sponge or spray bottle filled with water
• A smoothing brush or a plastic wallpaper smoother
• A sharp utility knife
• A measuring tape & pencil
• A level or a plumb line

Step 1: Prep Your Walls
Start with clean, dry, and smooth walls. Fill any holes or cracks, sand rough patches, and wipe away dust. SureStrip’s adhesive is strong but works best on well-prepared surfaces.

Step 2: Activate the Adhesive
Unlike traditional wallpaper paste, SureStrip™ comes prepasted. Simply:

• Dip the strip into clean water for 10-15 seconds, or use a spray bottle to thoroughly moisten the back.
• Let the paste activate by folding the strip pasted side in (“book” it) for about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Hang the Wallpaper

• Align your first strip using a level or plumb line to ensure it’s perfectly straight.
• Gently press the wallpaper to the wall from top to bottom, smoothing outward to remove bubbles and wrinkles.

Step 4: Trim Excess
Use a sharp utility knife to trim along the baseboard and ceiling for a clean edge.

Step 5: Wipe Down
Remove any excess paste with a damp sponge. Stand back and admire — your walls are transformed!

2. Effortless Removal

What truly sets SureStrip™ apart is how easily it comes off.

When it's time for a change, there’s no need for special tools, steamers, or harsh chemicals. The wallpaper peels off in full sheets, dry and intact. You can literally remove an entire wall of wallpaper in minutes. No tears, no residue, no wall damage.

York Wallcoverings is so confident in this feature that they offer a guarantee: if the wallpaper doesn’t come off in clean, even rolls as promised, they’ll take responsibility. That’s a bold promise and one that has caught the attention of both the design community and everyday consumers.

A New Era of Wallpaper

If everything York claims about SureStrip™ holds true, then this product might just usher in a new era of wallpaper popularity. It effectively eliminates the number one complaint about wallpaper: the pain of removal.

This innovation has already caught the attention of a younger, modern crop of homeowners and renters who previously disregarded wallpaper as too much maintenance. While we are moving toward a personalization-based fashion in interior design, textiles, and bold colors and patterns, SureStrip™ is the perfect blend of style and function.

It also fits in with larger consumer trends that place an emphasis on product transparency, do-it-yourself accessibility, and environmental friendliness.

What’s Next for the Industry?

At the moment, York Wallcoverings is the only North American producer that has a completely strippable wallpaper solution. However, it should not take too long before the other manufacturers offer their own versions, seeking to capitalize on this new found enthusiasm for wallcoverings.

That being said, SureStrip™ has the benefit of being the first to market with this technology and now, with over a century in the industry and a strong reputation, York is ready to establish leadership.

The Conclusion

Wallpaper's charm has been out of the equation for many years, but thanks to SureStrip™, that equation has changed. Now, homeowners can experience both the aesthetics of wallpaper and the hassle-free. 

SureStrip™ has a simple, stylish, and carefree option when it comes to decorating a nursery, accent wall, or an entire room. They have designs from traditional florals to modern geometrics, so there is a pattern for every taste, and a process that will suit every lifestyle.

It's wallpaper reimagined, not just wallpaper.

Ready to give your walls a makeover? Explore the latest SureStrip™ collections and see for yourself why this might be the wallpaper that changes everything.