YOU WILL NEED:
Tape measure
pencil
straight-edge and paper-hanging scissors and craft knife (with “snap-off” blades)
plumb bob and line for marking verticals
plumb-line or a level (to draw your guidelines)
pasting table, paste bucket, paste and pasting brush
water trough for ready-pasted wallpapers
paper-hanging brush
seam roller
trimming tools
step ladder
tray bucket for clean water
plastic drop sheets to protect the carpet or floor, sponge and plastic smoother
GOOD TO KNOW
Have a look here if you want to see what the tools used to hang wallpaper look like.
Pattern matching, cutting and pasting
Turn off the power to switches and outlets. Before you start measuring and cutting lengths, check what type of pattern match the paper has. Some have a straight match, some a random match, while a few have a drop pattern so opposite edges of the length don’t match. Measure and cut each length about 100mm overlong. Place it face-down on the pasting table and brush paste on, working from the middle towards the edges, which you must align with the edge of the table. Fold the pasted section with pasted sides facing inwards, move the paper along and paste the next section. Make another fold and finish the pasting.
Hanging the Length
Leave the folded paper to soak for the time recommended in the hanging instructions. Then, mark a plumbed line on the first wall, about 25mm less than the paper’s width from the corner. Position the top of the length on the wall with a 50mm overlap onto the ceiling and align its edge with the marked line. Brush the top section into place. Then brush the rest of the length to the wall, brushing down the centre and then out towards the edges. After trimming the first length at top and bottom (see below), hang the following lengths in the same way, matching the pattern edge to edge. Use a seam roller to bed down the seams unless the paper is an embossed type.
Trimming to Length and Width
Press the paper into the wall/ceiling angle with the edge of your paper-hanging scissors. Then peel the paper away and cut carefully along the marked line. Brush the trimmed edge back into the angle.
At skirting-board level, again use your scissors to mark the cutting line, trim off the waste and brush the paper back into place. Trim the last length to be hung on the wall down in width so about 25mm will turn onto the next wall. Since the corner will probably not be square, turning the full width means that the open edge of the length will not be truly vertical, and this will throw subsequent lengths out of true.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
The success of hanging your wallpaper, as well as the ease of taking it down, are totally dependent on how well you prepare your walls, says Clare.
Smooth. Make sure you fill all cracks and holes using a filler. Sand until you have a smooth surface with a medium grit sandpaper.
Clean. Wash and rinse walls to remove grease and dirt. The surface must be clean and free of mildew, grease and stains. If the surface is glossy, sand it smooth.
Prime. For best results, prime all wall surfaces with a high quality primer-sealer before installing your wall covering. Priming properly is the key to easy removal later.
TOP PROBLEM-SOLVING TIPS:
Papering round corners: Turn about 25mm round the corner, then hang the trimmed off width to a plumbed line on the next wall.
Papering round windows: Trim the first length over the window reveal, then paste and hang pieces in the numbered order.
Papering round switches and sockets: Electricity should be switch off at the fuse box. Mark the outline through the paper, then cut and trim. Tuck the paper in behind the face plate and ensure the paper and socket are fully dry before re-fixing.
Article courtesy of EasyDIY
MORE DIY:
