Wallpaper: Top 4 tips for making it work

If you are tired of just plain painted walls, then maybe wallpaper is for you. It can add texture and patterns to an otherwise dull wall. Keep reading for our wallpaper tips to get you started: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Stripping wallpaper 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The easiest way is to use a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water, apply to the paper and let it soak in. For more stubborn bits add more vinegar. A steamer can work well but there is a chance that you may cause some of the plaster to bubble and come away from the wall. Always repair those bubbles before installing the new wallpaper. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Measuring wallpaper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You need to find out exactly how much wallpaper is needed. Measure the length of the wall area you will be covering and multiply it by the height of the walls.

 

 

 

Deduct  for doors and windows using the same formula. When working with an 8' ceiling, you'll get about 3 wall-lengths of wallpaper from each roll. Keep in mind that some designer wallpaper rolls can be wider than a standard roll. Always consult the packaging directions before purchasing.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When measuring lengths try using blu-tak to hold the top of the paper to the wall. This leaves both hands free to measure the length. See this handy calculator: Wallpaper Calculator if you need help with your maths. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Hanging Wallpaper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Lay one or more cut strips on your pasting table. Make sure that all the strips are oriented in the same direction and that the pattern side is facing down.
  • Position the top of the first strip at one end of the table and apply the paste to at least the top half of the paper.
  • Book the top half of the strip by folding the pasted surfaces together. When you book, fold, or roll a pasted strip, make sure that the end that will hang up to the ceiling is on the top of a fold or the outside of the roll
  • Slide the booked end down the table so that you can paste and book the rest of the strip.

  • Loosely fold or roll the booked strip if the manufacturer recommends resting time before hanging. Don’t paste more than one strip at a time or one may dry prematurely while you’re hanging another.

4. Quick Fixes

 

 

 


  • Curling corners: Paint the back of the offending corner with egg white and leave until tacky before pressing down firmly.
  • Cleaning paste brushes: Rinse the brush in salted water before washing it properly. This will leave the brush soft and springy.
  • So should you leave the old wallpaper on or take it off?
    • Stripping off the old wallpaper is usually wiser than leaving it on
    • Wallpapering over old wallpaper is not always, actually almost never, a good idea
    • The moisture in adhesives can cause both the old and new coverings to peel away from the wall creating an unsightly mess

Sound a bit more involved than you can handle and need a professional to hang it for you? 


 

 

 

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Andrew Esmonde-White
wallpaper Handyman

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