How do I hang wallpaper?

Question

I found a really nice wallpaper that I want to use when I redecorate but I've never used wallpaper before.
How do I do it, what other things will I need and how hard is it?
Would it be better to get a decorator in to do it for me? If so, how much would it cost?

Answer 1

The first time I wallpapered I just used cheap lining paper that I was going to emulsion over. I wouldn't use expensive wallpaper for a first attempt. Maybe get a decorator this time and watch to see how they do it.
Costs vary but where i live it's approx £150 per days work.

Answer 2

I will try to help the best I can, first make sure the paste you mix is correct, don't buy the cheep stuff, it's not to expensive, the past is one of the most important things of wallpapering, you don't want any lumps, white little bits floating around is a no no, it is as it says paste, if you are not to sure make it just a little bit on the runny side you can check this buy dipping your brush in the mix then pull out you're brush and see if it flows off the brush. for a beginner can I suggest you measure your wall, cut the wallpaper 2 and a half inches longer to allow for the off cut, remember if you have boarders on your wall ,some run along the top and some run around midway of the room so you will have to allow for measuring I hope I haven't confused you.
Next make sure you have a good working surface or even ask the neighbour for a pasting bored if you don't have one, have your paste in a bucket with a good wide pasting brush the wider the better saves on time, so you have measured your wall and it says for example 50 inches you will have to cut the wallpaper to 52 and a half inches to allow for the off cut, so you have cut the wallpaper 52 and a half inches, now you need to paste the back with it, know before you do, it's up to you but on the corners and edges I put some paste on the wall its self only a gentle brush don't go to mad with the paste don't worry it will stick, now you paste the back of your wallpaper making sure its all covered in a thin layer of paste, you should know where you have pasted because as the past sets in to the wallpaper it will change its look to a darker shade of white because the paste is sinking in to the wallpaper, write a tip the wallpaper is stretched out on the pasting bored, grab the top two corners of the wallpaper and fold pate side to paste side and then do the same with the bottom two corners, so the wallpaper should look as if the finished side is on both sides the reason for this is so you can carry the wallpaper in half so when you hang the top of the wallpaper you peal it from its self and hang, now one of the most important thing with hanging your first strip of wallpaper is, the wall are never perfect and the ceiling and floor are the same to or the skirting borders if you have them, so to make life easy get a spirit level and place it on the wall next to where your first strip of paper is going and when the bubble is in the middle of its two lines that means its level you might not think it by looks, but believe me its right, so draw some lines on the wall drag the pencil along side the spirit level make sure the level is strait when you are doing this I know the first sheet might take a lifetime so you think, but when you have the first sheet strait and level the rest of the wallpaper sheets will just butt up along side each other and they should all follow the first sheet as level, because you were clever enough to make sure the first sheet you put up was level and in the trade plum lol, when you are hanging wallpaper get a damp dry sponge and start from the top of the wallpaper and gently brush the sponge on the wallpaper gently from the top middle to the left and from the top middle brush the sponge to the right do this all the way down the wallpaper brushing out the bubbles and excess paste if you think that it might need a little paste don't be afraid peal back a little and paste then sponge again. now you have left 2 and a half inches overhang so your wallpaper at the top of the wall should overhang, and so should the bottom if not just adjust, now go along and hang some more sheets up don't forget you are new at this so don't be disheartened on the going, so when you have done a couple of sheets go back to the fist sheet just touch the back of the overhang making sure she is dry know you can cut, if she is dry not stiff like cardboard, the best tool is a scalpel and you will need a strait edge, know you know where the wallpaper should end, so you will need to place your strait edge along this finish now run your scalpel along the strait edge, wala hay presto, for plugs and sockets just take your time cut from the centre and work your way out, cut then check cut then check................you can do it and I hope I have been some help. the big help of all the thicker the paper the easier it is obviously not like cardboard.

Answer 3

Not difficult - most papers have hanging instructions printed on the wrapper!

Make sure you get enough paper and that it is all the same BATCH NUMBER.

What you need - A good quality wallpaper paste, paste brush (or I use a roller) paste table, good sharp scissors, pencil and a spirit level.

Best thing to do if never done before is to go to library and get out the Collins Home DIY book - it gives step by step instructions.

Decorator will charge you between £200 - £400 depending on where you are in the country!

Answer 4

Get a pro in; your first DIY effort is best reserved for cheap paper in the spare bedroom, until you get the hang of it (boom, boom!). If you do have a go, work away from the window. This stops "shadow lines" in daylight, if you end up with any tiny overlaps as you progress.

Answer 5

in all probability no longer. inspite of the aesthetics of the belief, wall board would not grant any carry for the staple - the burden of the paper itself might at last pull it appropriate from the wall. as nicely, contemporary pre-pasted wallpaper desires in basic terms to be soaked down with water to peel it off, to me, a minimum of, a miles greater effective activity than removing hundreds of staples from the wall.

Answer 6

Excuse me, I have to have fun with this one.
Did the wallpaper commit a serious crime? Hang it with a rope

Answer 7

Find some one whose done it before to show you the ropes. it takes a bit of getting into, especially round corners.

Answer 8

Get a decorator

Answer 9

Practice makes perfect..... Get a cheap roll of vynl paper, try it

First, How much paper? Check if the paper has a ‘pattern repeat’, if it has, when you measure your drop, ensure that you divide the Drop by the Pattern Repeat (say that comes to 6.5) and go to the next highest (7 repeats) 7* the Pattern Repeat is then the length of the drop, so you can work out ‘How many Drops per roll.’ From this, and knowing how many drops you need to go round the room, you will know how many rolls, then add one roll for later repairs. I never allow/subtract for windows etc, just to be safe
Ensure that you buy all the same ‘Batch Number’, otherwise they may not match. For your first encounter, look for a smooth or sheen finish Vinyl paper, its a lot easier to handle. If the joining edge is on a vertical stripe, so much the better, it will hide the joints.
Prepare your walls. Fill all the old nail holes etc, re-finish any old cracks, fill any wall to ceiling/ skirting gaps. Gently sand the walls, this will ensure you have no ‘little bits’ sticking out, as these will surely show up when you have finished. I use a power flat sander, little 1/3 sheet with medium aluminium oxide paper. Then run a vacuum brush over the walls to be double sure. If you have large areas of fresh plaster, seal then with a quick coat of say ceiling emulsion, gives a nice surface which will not suck the adhesive.
Decide where to start. Good point would be about 2 inches less than a full width from a corner.
Tools.
12 inch paint roller
4 inch or so paint brush
Pasting table
Edge roller
Sharp (very sharp) Stanley Knife
Flat plastic spatula. Get some thin plastic/Perspex, in the form of a triangle base 8 inches, top 12 inches, cut off the bottom 4 inches (like a rectangle with sloping in short sides) round off the corners, and ‘soften’ the edges…no rough sharp bits!
Tape Measure
Straight edge.
Plumb Line
Pencil
Big bucket for paste

Mark the wall where the edge of the first sheet will be (bear in mind, ‘decide where to start’) allowing your ‘not a full width’ to remain unpapered. Use your plumb line to define where the edge will be. Very important to keep vertical always. Draw line down the wall with straight edge.
Pasting
Cut your first sheet to length, you can always get it square by folding paper over itself where you need to cut and a little crease. Lay the paper face down, and using the paint roller, paste the paper (its easier than a brush, eh) You will need to fold the paper over itself (paste to paste) to be able to paste the full length.. Having done this once, fold over the last bit you pasted, re-open the first bit, paste again. This ensures you have a full coat of paste end to end, repeat to do the whole length. Now, ensure that the bottom is folded up to the middle, take hold of the top.
Hanging
Put the paper on the wall, make sure you have an overhang at the top, and your edge is on the plumb line. Smooth the paper with your hands , then unfold the bottom bit, from the back. Again, smooth the paper. Using the flat plastic spatula, ease out all the air bubbles (drag rather than push) and any excess paste, ensuring that the paper is on the plumb line. Now, the top and bottom overhangs… Push the paper hard into the corner with the long edge of the spatula, this will ensure it is fully in, then (at the top) slope the spatula down a little, press hard, use the Stanley Knife to trim the paper, over the top of the spatula. The spatula will guide the knife. The spatula will hold the paper while you cut, on the edges, cut to the middle rather than from middle to edge. Repeat for the bottom. Use the edge roller all round, to get the edges tight.
When you hang your next sheet, ensure your pattern match and top and bottom overhangs. Ease the sheet into position, sliding it on the paste before you go in with the spatula. Carefully line up the edges to butt tightly, run the spatula over as before. Finally, use the edge roller on the joint and trim top and bottom.
Going Round a Corner.
When you get to a corner, you will generally find (by luck or planning) that you have maybe 8 inches too much to fit your current wall. Use a small strip the width of your paper, edge up to your previous sheet, mark how far round the corner it goes. Then, use the Plumb Line, work out which is the shortest length, come in about an inch towards the corner, and mark your wall with a vertical line from that point. Now, as before, hang your paper, butting the edges don’t worry about the bit going around the corner…. Simply, push the paper well into the corner with the spatula and cut it off in one piece. As soon as you have done this, pull the paper away from the corner, we don’t want it to stick. Take the strip you cut off, hang it on the wall, butting up to the plumb line(keeps us vertical for the next wall, eh) It should wrap round the corner, get it in well, hard down. You may need a bit of paste at this point, paste the top of the bit you just put in, and lay the first piece over it. You now have a neat corner, the ‘overhang’ is under the first piece you trimmed neatly. The corner is covered.
Switches and Sockets
Always SWITCH THE POWER OFF, remove the switch/socket (note the wires/where) Paper straight over, cut a cross slit, pull the wires out, reconnect (ensure wiring correct and terminals tight) Simply, now, replace the switch/socket. Restore power.
Doors and Frames
Depending how much will overhang, you have a choice of cutting the paper before you paste (if there is a lot) or cutting it on the wall. About 2 inches is ok. Having developed your skill cutting tops and bottoms using the spatula as a guide, simply push the paper well in with the spatula, angle it to give yourself some room, then cut from side to middle as before.
Enjoy, be proud of your achievement Use my Email as helpdesk!!!!

Answer 10

Get a pro in. do you want my number?