If you haven’t hung wallpaper before, pick your type wisely by paying attention through the selection process. Installation can vary slightly depending on the variety you decide on. The pre-pasted versions incorporate a dry paste onto the back of the surface. This is triggered by using water, whereas unpasted wallpapers need a wet paste applied with installation. Generally, the strategy is the same for installing, however, the directions may differ according to which type.
These four easy steps will help you with any wallpaper method: Measure, Cut, Activate with water or paste last but not least, hang.
Wall Preparation
Your surface area and work enviroment needs to be clean and clear ahead of wallpaper installation. Take off all wall fixtures and check that any electrical outlets are turned off. Use TSP or some wall cleaner to clean the wall work surface and prep it by ensuring any previous wallpaper or paste is taken off.
Count on a premixed universal primer specific for wallpaper to ensure your surface is prepared. Priming the wall is an important step when you are installing unpasted wallpaper given it allows easier removal of the wallpaper later.
Measure & Activate the Paper
Start by calibrating the length of the wall. Add four inches to this number and then cut your wallpaper. The goal is to allow the paper to overlap the baseboard and the ceiling by approximately 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 pasting the wall, apply the paste smoothly to the wall, covering an area for one strip exclusively. When sticking 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 portions together. Allow it to sit for three minutes in a method known as “booking.”
Note that if you happen to be pasting unpasted wallpaper, it is possible to paste the paper or the wall itself. Only deal with one region at a time when you're evenly applying the paste directly on the wall. If you are applying the paste to the paper, put an even coating of paste on the wallpaper backing. Always begin in the middle of the wallpaper portion and move toward the exterior edges. Carefully fold the moistened wallpaper strip and maneuver the pasted sides together so the booking strategy can take place. Let this folded booking of wallpaper rest in this position for three minutes.
Whenever using heavyweight wallpaper, as those unpasted varieties with cork, flock, or embroidery, pick a clear stain-free pre-mixed paste heavyweight adhesive rather than light to medium weight.
When hanging pre-pasted wallpaper…
Hold the patterned side in and the pasted side facing out when you cut your strip and roll it. Activate the paste by submerging the rolled piece for 30 seconds into warm water. Many prefer using a Wallpaper Hand Sprayer to use a fine mist to encourage the paste.
If you are using the hand sprayer, spray in long strokes that are the length of the paper to totally moisten the back of the strip. Take additional care around the edges to obtain even watering. Fold both end sections of your moist strip toward the center with the pasted portions together with each other. Carefully align the sides so they don’t dry up. Lastly, roll-up the strip similar to a loose newspaper and give it time to sit for 3 minutes to allow the paper to relax and the paste to become fully activated.
Hanging your first strip
Once the booking strategy is complete after three minutes, bring your strip to the wall. Carefully unfold the product and place it. Allow the product to overhang on the upper limit and the baseboard. Eliminate any air bubbles using a smoothing brush or wide knife or a plastic smoother. Push on the wallpaper to enable adequate contact and adhesion to the wall. Don’t distort or stretch the wallpaper. Utilize a seam roller to carefully flatten the seams.
Proceeding to the second strip
When butting the next section up to the first strip, place the second wallpaper piece to the edge of the first. Press and even out firmly. Clean the baseboard and ceiling after to get rid of any residual paste. Ideally, your joints should really be vertical with a tight fit. The paste must be free from air bubbles for the greatest results.
Once you have installed three panels smoothly to the wall and removed excess paste, take a moment to examine your work. Observe the pattern uniformity and the color coordinating. Should you be satisfied, keep putting in three panels each time and checking them after. Allow yourself more installation and selvage trimming time when you're dealing with complex patterns and geometrical designs. Take pauses when you really need to rest your arms and your eyes. Don’t hasten your wallpaper task. Adhere to the above steps to hang all of your pieces. Once you are finished, cut the excess trim along the baseboards and ceiling carefully. It is suggested that you depend on a guide and a razor knife to assist in trimming without tearing.