Wallpaper is a neat way to make a argument in any way , but if you ’ve never hung wallpaper it can feel intimidating . Here we answer your most frequently asked questions about wallpaper basics .
Anthony Masterson
Q : Is n’t it prosperous to paint a room than to paper it ?
Credit:Anthony Masterson
A : Although bothwallpaperand key liven up dull room , wallpaper has particular advantages . It can camouflage flawed or damagedwalls , break rough or irregular architectural feature of speech , and unite ungainly angles . Wallpaper also volunteer combinations ofcolors , traffic pattern , and textures that would be nearly impossible for the do - it - yourselfer to duplicate with blusher .
Q : Is n’t wallpaper more expensive than pigment ?
A. Yes . One gyre of wallpaper , which covers about 30 square feet , might cost around $ 35 . For the same amount , you could grease one’s palms a gallon or more of premium - timber paint , which would cover some 400 substantial feet . Consider wallpapering just one wall as an accent to keep costs low .
Credit:BHG / Michela Buttignol
BHG / Michela Buttignol
Q. What are my options ?
A. The most popular selection for do - it - yourselfers are vinyl and vinyl radical - coat wallpapers . They be given to be the least expensive , the most durable , and the well-heeled to put on and remove . There are other types of coatings – such as foil , supergrass textile , constellate , and embossed – but these are more expensive and trickier to hang . In a eminent - traffic orbit , count the " cleanability " of the report . Washable papers can be wiped only occasionally with a damp parazoan . A scrubbable newspaper can take more frequent and vigorous cleanup . Check the recording label and instructions for your composition .
Mix wallpaper with other wall treatments. The bottom half of the walls in this foyer are clad in board and batten with a lattice wallpaper above.
Q. Should I get prepasted or unpasted wallpaper ?
A. As its name paint a picture , prepasted theme has spread already applied to its back . To activate the paste , drench the paper in water . With unpasted wallpaper , you apply the adhesive yourself . DIY enthusiasts may also want to explore Robert Peel - and - stick wallpaper which is easy to reposition .
Q. How do I know how much wallpaper to buy ?
Use boldly patterned wallpaper in a room you don’t spend a lot of time in and you won’t tire of the pattern quickly.
A. Calculate the room ’s square footage by appraise the length of all thewalls , adding those together , and multiplying by elbow room top ( excluding mopboard and moldings . ) labialize up measurements and do not deduct for doors , window , or other opening . This will earmark margin for pattern pair and trimming . separate the room ’s straight footage by the coverage of a exclusive curlicue ( normally 27 - 30 square metrical unit , but check the anatomy for the paper you select ) . This will tell you how many roll you need to buy ; round up to the nearest roll .
Q. What is a repeat ?
A. It ’s the distance from the center of one shape to the center of the next . It could be an column inch , a groundwork , or more . The size of the repetition affects how much wallpaper you ’ll need to buy so you could play off pattern throughout a way . A enceinte repeat ( 6 or more column inch ) may call for additional newspaper , especiallyif you make some fault .
Wallpaper: Getting Started
Q. Are some elbow room easier to paper than others ?
A.Yes . If you ’ve never wallpapered , start with a long entrance hall or a hearty way with few breaks in the wall . Kitchens orbathrooms , though smaller , tend to have more twists and turns to newspaper around , making them more difficult . A bedroom is a good choice for a beginner .
Q. Can I paper over any wall ?
A.Just about . Wallpaper will adhere to drywall , new and older plaster . you may observe wallpaper for concrete walls , masonry , and paneled walls . you could even wallpaper over roofing tile and other sleek , nonporous surfaces , such as concrete city block , or man-made laminate paneling . On many of these surfaces , you ’ll first need to put on lining paper , which is a vacuous wall covering that leave a smooth surface for veritable wallpaper . No matter what the surface , the samara to winner in wallpapering is proper preparation of the walls .
Q. How do I fix the bulwark ?
A.The wall surface should be clean , juiceless , and free of mildew , grease , stains , and light paint . Close your eyes and consort your hands along the wall . Any bumps you experience will show up after you paper , so sandpaper them down . remedy small holes , pass , and other blemishes with surfacing compound , then sand and wipe clean . If you face a lot of repairs , consider using facing theme . You ’ll also desire to apply a wall plow primer / sealer – preferably tinct to match the background color of the new wallpaper – which will hide tiny col .
The primer protects the bulwark , helps the wallpaper bond to the aerofoil , and make it easier to move the newspaper into position . And if the day comes when you want to withdraw the paper , the job will be easier if you ’ve used a primer coat . This is particularly true for new drywall that has been given only a thin coat of blusher . If you do n’t prime decent , the wallpaper adhesive will bond with the dry wall newspaper . after , when youremove the wallpaper , you may pull aside the drywall paper , too . Be certain to corrupt a primer specifically designed for wall coating , not apaint flat coat .
Tips for Wallpapering
Q. Where ’s the in effect place to start ?
A.It ’s not where you start , but where you finish up that ’s important . As you work around the way , you will eventually arrive at a point where the figure between two strips wo n’t line up . This is called the mismatch . The idea is to hide the mismatch by putting it over a door , in a box , or in some other less - seeable spot . This get some preparation . To obtain out where your furrow will strike , go around the room with a pencil , stigmatise the width of the coil as you go .
Q. What tools do I need to wallpaper ?
A.Equip yourself with a farseeing table or other large employment surface , ladder , drop cloth , scissors , sponge , pencil , bucket , and usefulness tongue ( with mickle of extra blades ) . For prepasted paper , you ’ll demand a weewee tray for soaking . For unpasted paper , you ’ll demand the recommendedwallpaper paste , plus a paste clash or roller and tray for applying it .
Q. What ’s the first measure to hanging ?
A. skip a distance of paper that ’s about 4 - 6 inch longer than the height of your wall . This redundant distance will give you some leeway for match patterns . Apply adhesive agent to the slip according to the manufacturer ’s pedagogy or by immersing prepasted paper in water system . This is where engagement – a crucial wallpapering footstep do in .
Q. What is booking ?
A.Booking is a close down and resting process that permit the adhesive activate and the newspaper relax for easier handling . After you ’ve employ the adhesive ( or swallow up prepasted paper in water ) , fold each remnant toward the in-between , adhesive side in . Align the edges carefully so they do not dry out out , and roll up the folded strip loosely , as you would a paper . Do n’t crease it . lease it sit around for the time recommended by the manufacturer .
Q. Where should I attend the first piece ?
A.Hang the first strip along the plumb line and allow it to overlap onto the ceiling and baseboard . With a smoothen brush or charge card sander , remove any air bubble and check that the wallpaper adheres to the wall . Do not use excessive force per unit area . Using a broad knife to crease and a razor tongue to cut , cut back excess paper from the top and bottom edges . Wipe off excess library paste with a sponge . Be careful not to squish too much out of the sides . This will make the edges to curl .
Q. How do I attend it directly ?
A.Draw a plumb line – a straight , true vertical line – at your starting full stop . A plumb crinkle is essential to fall your wall cut through straight . To make one , draw off a light upright pencil wrinkle against a grade , or use a plumb bob to make a crank course . Align your first flight strip with the bloodline .
Q. How faithful do I put the next piece ?
A.Edges should be tightly butted , not overlap or ruck up . Be certain to match the pattern from one man to the next . Set bed with a crease roller using promiscuous pressure .
Q. What about door and windows ?
A.Before wet the paper , cut a rough opening for the door or window , leaving an extra 3 inch of paper on all sides . Wet the airstrip and give ear it . Make diagonal cuts near the corners of the approximate opening . Smooth around the build , then trim . For outlets , turn off the electricity and remove covert . Position paper over the exit and cut an X. Smooth paper into station . trimming flaps .
