Wallpapering Basics
Wallpaper can completely change the appearance and feel of any room. Applying the wallpaper, though, requires patience and a strict attention to detail for the project to be a success. To help you get a better sense of what is involved in the process, the following provides a brief overview of the some of the basics of wallpapering.
Remove the Old Wallpaper
If there is any old wallpaper on the walls, it will need to be removed. You can do this by using some wallpaper remover, a wide blade or scrapper, and some rags or a damp sponge. After the paper is off, you’ll need to wash down the walls.
Prepare the Walls
It’s very important before you hang a single piece of wallpaper that you properly prepare all the walls. New drywall needs to be treated with wallpaper primer in order to seal the surface and make sure the paper will stick to it. Older walls will need to be washed down to remove any excess dirt or dust. A simple soap and water mixture will suffice for this task. You will also need to sand the walls to remove any chipped paint.
Ensure that the Surface Is Ready
Once the walls have been cleaned, go back over and inspect for any holes and cracks. Fill any you find with spackle, and once the spackle is dry, lightly sand it until it is smooth. After you have prepared the walls, remove any electrical outlet or light switch covers and turn off the electricity to the room. Once this is complete, your focus can turn to the wallpaper itself.
Begin Cutting the Wallpaper
First you’ll need to cut the wallpaper to the specific size you’ll require. When cutting the wallpaper, lay the roll print side down on a flat surface. Make sure you know where the top and bottom of the pattern are. Measure, and then cut the strip four inches longer than the wall’s height (this excess will be trimmed later). Cut a few more strips at this same length. It is usually a good idea, though, to only cut two or three strips at a time before you apply them to the wall.
Apply the Adhesive
If the paper is pre-pasted, loosely roll up the first strip you cut, print side out, and immerse the paper in room temperature water. The manufacturer’s instructions will provide the appropriate immersion time. When it’s ready, pull the strip out of the water and allow it to slowly unroll.
If your wallpaper is not pre-pasted, apply the paste using a large brush or paint roller. You should work from the middle to the ends. Be sure that the entire surface is covered in paste. Any spots without paste will bubble and will not stick to the wall. Carefully fold the top of the paper down and the bottom of the paper up to the middle. This enables the paste to cure and prevents it from drying out. Be very careful not to crease the wallpaper while you do this.
Hang the Wallpaper
If you are using wallpaper with a pattern, you should hang the first strip to the right of a door or window. This helps make the break in the paper’s pattern less obvious. Another way to keep any potential mismatch inconspicuous is to start in a corner or in an area behind a door. Measure your starting point, and then use a level to draw a light vertical line on the wall. This line indicates where you will place your first piece of wallpaper.
To hang the paper, start at the ceiling, and unfold the top half of the first piece before gently placing the edge of the strip along the measured line. Remember to leave some extra paper at the top and bottom of the wall to trim later.
Once you have the paper lined up in the right position, drop the bottom half down, and using your hands, gently smooth the paper against the wall. Start at one edge and work across the strip. Use a damp sponge or a smoothing brush to smooth out any air bubbles. When you do so, be gentle and don’t apply any pressure on the face of the paper. A seam roller will help smooth down the wallpaper’s edges.
Trim the Excess Paper
Using a wide-blade putty knife, press down the excess paper at the top by the ceiling and trim it down using a sharp razor blade. Do the same at the bottom by the baseboard. Be sure to clean any excess paste from the ceiling, baseboard, and wallpaper before it dries.
Repeat this process to hang paper all around the room. The procedure will take some time because you’ll need to go slowly to avoid making any mistakes. But, when properly applied, wallpaper can provide you with an end result that will make all your work well worth the effort.
