Installation Tips for Wall Coverings
Need a little help with hanging your new wall coverings? You'll be done in no time flat when you use these professional tips.
Preparing Your Walls Before You Hang a Wall Covering or Wall Border
Wall coverings are considered an "unforgiving" medium. Because they adhere to your walls, any imperfections will stand out more so after applying wall coverings. You'll want to be sure you properly prep your walls before you hang wall coverings or a wall border.
1. Remove Old Wall Covering
If you currently have a wall covering or wall border in your room, scratch the surface of the paper in order to let water reach the backing. Using a sponge, soak the wall covering with hot water. Let it stand for several minutes then peel the paper away.
Scrape off any remaining backing and wash the old glue from your wall.
2. Prep Your Wall Before Hanging Wall Coverings
Do a thorough survey of your walls before hanging your new wall covering or wall border. Repair any holes, scratches, or gouges using wall Spackle. Be sure to lightly sandpaper your walls before you begin to hang. You want your walls to be as smooth as possible in order for your new wall covering and wall border to look their best.
3. Hanging Your New Wall Covering
- START with the least noticeable wall, usually the wall above the doorway.
- Measure out from the corner the width of the wall covering minus ½ inch and mark with a pencil.
- Place a level at the mark and draw a straight, vertical line.
- The success of your job depends on having the first strip of your wall covering straight.
- Follow this procedure every time you reach a corner or start a new wall.
- CUT the first strip of your wall covering. Keep an extra 2 inches at the top and bottom for trimming.
- SOAK - Fill a water tray 2/3 full with water at room temperature.
- Roll the cut strip from bottom to top, paste side out. You should not see the pattern of the wall covering.
- Submerge the rolled strip into the water tray.
- Soak for the amount of time recommended in the manufacturer's hanging instructions, usually 30 seconds.
- Holding the top of the sheet, slowly lift and unroll the wall covering onto a work table, making sure the paste is completely wet.
- FOLD both ends, paste side in, towards the center of the strip, this is known as "booking." You should see the pattern of the wall covering.
- Do not crease the folds.
- Let the strip rest for the amount of time recommended in the manufacturer's hanging instructions.
- HANG - Unfold the top half of the strip and apply the wall covering to the wall, letting the excess paper overlap the ceiling and adjoining wall.
- Slide the paper into position so it touches the plumb line.
- Using a wall covering smoothing tool, gently press the strip against the wall. Be careful not to stretch the paper while positioning.
- Unfold the bottom half and smooth into place.
- Smooth the wall covering, working diagonally from the top down and from the center outward, forcing out any air pockets.
- Wash off excess paste with a wet sponge and clean water.
- TRIM - Using the 6" putty knife as a guide, trim the excess paper along the ceiling and baseboard with a sharp razor knife.
- Go slowly and change blades after each strip.
- Wash paste off ceiling and baseboards with a wet sponge and clean water.
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Aubuchon Wallpaper is an authorized distributor of Brewster Wallpaper Patterns.
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