How to wallpaper a wall
Author: shunmei Time: 2017-07-20 17:20:20
How to wallpaper a wall
1. Walls and corners are rarely straight, so don’t rely on them as a guide when hanging paper. If you’re papering the whole room and are using a standard 53cm-wide roll of paper, use a spirit level to mark a straight link 58cm in from the corner you’re planning to start in. This will allow you a 5cm overlap from the adjoining wall.
2. Measure the height of the wall in several places and add 10cm to the longest measurement to allow for trimming at the top and bottom.
3. Check which way up the pattern goes and then unroll the wallpaper pattern-side down onto the paste table. Use a ruler or spirit level to draw a straight line at the length you measured. Then cut across.
4. Turn the cut length over. Unroll the next length and place it edge to edge with the first so that you can line the patterns up. Use the cut length as a guide to cut the next piece.
5. Continue cutting lengths, numbering them in the top right corner on the reverse side so that you know which order to hang them in.
6. Now you’re ready to start hanging. Lay the first length pattern side down on the paste table so that the bottom of paper hangs down onto the floor. Load up your pasting brush and wipe the excess on the side of the tub.
7. Apply paste down the centre of the paper and then work out to the edges in a herringbone pattern.
8. When the paper covering the table has been pasted, fold it over on itself, taking care not to crease. Continue pasting until the whole length is covered. Between lengths, wipe any paste spills off the table with a clean, damp sponge.
9. Position the first pasted length at the top of the wall with its right-hand edge running down the line you drew. Make sure about 5cm of excess paper is left above the top to allow for trimming.
10. Once the right-hand edge is positioned, smooth the paper down with the paper-hanging brush. Work from the centre of the paper to the edges, making sure there are no bubbles. And from the top to the bottom, unfolding gently. Make sure the right edge stays on the pencil line.
11. With the length in place, crease the top and bottom of the paper against the ceiling and skirting-board junctions. Gently pull the paper away from the wall and cut along the creases with scissors. Brush the trimmed edges back into place.
12. Fit the next length against the first one, ensuring the pattern lines up. Once you have two or three lengths in place, use a seam roller to flatten the join.
13. Continue adding lengths until you reach the end of the wall. Chances are you’ll need to cut the final piece vertically. Do this as you have been trimming the top and bottom of each length of paper. Creating a sharp crease in the corner, pull the paper away from the wall slightly and use your wallpaper scissors to cut down. You could also use a very sharp Stanley knife.
