If wallpaper is a new endeavor for you, be certain to select your variety carefully by reading the different kinds at the store. The style of wallpaper you choose will determine the installation requirements. Pre-pasted choices are outfitted with a dry paste that is on the surfaces’ backside. This kind relies on water to activate the paste and unpasted types require a separate wet paste application.. The technique for installing is generally the same; however, the guidelines can slightly vary so read thoroughly.
Nearly all wallpaper applications follow these steps: measure, cut, trigger with paste or water and hang up.
Wall Preparation
Prior to getting started, clear your work space and the surface area. Remove wall fixtures and ensure electrical outlets are switched off. Use TSP or some wall cleaner to clean the wall work surface and prep it by ensuring any prior wallpaper or paste is taken off.
Ready your wall employing a premixed universal primer for wallpaper. It is essential to prime the wall, particularly when working with unpasted wallpaper versions since it enables the wallpaper to come off easier.
Measure & Activate the Paper
Begin with measuring the wall length. After you have that measurement, add four inches and then cut the wallpaper. Ideally, you want the paper overlapping at the baseboard and the ceiling by roughly two inches.
Pro Tip: Allow for pattern match, via drop match, straight across or random.
If hanging unpasted wallpaper…
You can either apply the paste to the wall or paste the wallpaper backing. If you apply the paste to the wall, cover the region for one strip only and be sure to apply the product evenly. When pasting the wallpaper, begin in the centre and work out towards the edges while you evenly coat the wallpaper. Next, loosely fold the moistened strip with the pasted sections together. Allow it to sit for three minutes in a method known as “booking.”
Experiment to ascertain if you prefer pasting unpasted variations by applying the paste to the paper or even the wall. Only work with one area at a time if you are evenly applying the paste straight to the wall. If you are pasting the wallpaper, diligently apply an even layer to the back of the wallpaper. Begin pasting in the center of the wallpaper and transfer toward the edges. Slowly fold the moistened wallpaper strip and maneuver the pasted sides together so the booking strategy can take place. Let this collapsed booking of wallpaper rest in this posture for three minutes.
Whenever using heavyweight wallpaper, as those unpasted varieties with cork, flock, or embellishment, pick a clear stain-free pre-mixed paste heavyweight glue instead of light to medium weight.
When hanging pre-pasted wallpaper…
Roll your cut strip loosely and also have the patterned side facing inward and the pasted side to the outside. Then position the rolled strip for half a minute into warm water to enable the paste to activate. You may also rely on a wallpaper hand sprayer that secretes a fine water mist to switch on the pasted portion.
If you are using the hand sprayer, spray in prolonged strokes that are the length of the paper to completely moisten the back of the strip. Take additional care around the edges to produce even watering. Have the pasted edges together by folding each section of the strip toward the middle. Ensure the edges don’t dry out by precisely aligning the edges. Last, roll your strip just like you would roll a newspaper and permit it to sit for three minutes so the paste can initialize while the paper grows more flexible.
Hanging your first strip
Once the booking strategy is complete after three minutes, bring your strip to the wall. Meticulously unfold the strip and hang it up. Let the wallpaper overhang on the ceiling and the baseboard. Lightly press out any air bubbles with a smoothing brush, a broad knife, or a plastic smoother. Push on the wallpaper to allow for adequate contact and adhesion to the wall. Take care not to pull or distort the wallpaper. Delicately press on the seam to compress them with a seam roller.
Proceeding to the second strip
To apply the 2nd strip, butt it up alongside the edge of the first wallpaper strip. Press and even out securely. Wash the baseboard and ceiling afterward to eradicate any residual paste. You are looking for your seams to produce a tight fit vertically. You want everything free from paste and air bubbles.
Once you have fitted three panels properly to the wall and extracted excess paste, spend some time to examine your work. Check how uniform the pattern and colors looks from a distance. Proceed in the same manner, three panels at a stretch around your space. Matching patterns or geometric designs might require extra selvage pruning to create colour match making across seams. As soon as your eyes and arms are tired, have a break and have some rest. Wallpaper campaigns take time and shouldn’t be rushed. Follow the steps above to hang all of your strips. When you're finished, cut the extra trim along the baseboards and ceiling with care. Use a razor knife plus a guide to slowly take away the excess without tearing.