Guide to
DIY wallpaperingTool required to wallpaper
Pencil,Tape measure, paperhanging scissors, spirit level, bucket, pasting table, pasting brush, sharp Stanley knife, wallpaper-hanging brush, you may also need a seam roller for some wallpapers.
Check the surface of the wall is free from flaking plaster, paint or grease it is not advisable to wallpaper over existing wallpaper. Fill any holes and cracks and sand down when dry.
How many Roll will you need
A standard roll size of wallpaper is 530mm wide and 10.5m long.
Measure around the perimeter room also measure the height. To work out the number of rolls use the chart below. Do not deduct for windows and doors as there will be some wastage and if you run out of wallpaper it may be difficult to find a roll with the same batch number. It is better to buy an extra roll and return it if not used.
When buying the wallpaper check all the rolls of wallpaper have the same batch number on them.
|
Perimeter of room |
Wall height 2.2 - 2.4 |
Wall height 2.4 - 2.6 |
Wall height 2.6 - 2.7 |
|
10m |
5 rolls |
5 rolls |
6 rolls |
|
12m |
6 rolls |
6 rolls |
7 rolls |
|
14m |
7 rolls |
7 rolls |
8 rolls |
|
16m |
8 rolls |
8 rolls |
9 rolls |
|
18m |
9 rolls |
9 rolls |
10 rolls |
|
20m |
10 rolls |
10 rolls |
11 rolls |
|
22m |
11 rolls |
11 rolls |
12 rolls |
Cutting and pasting wallpaper
Mixing the paste or adhesive
Mix your paste in a bucket according to the manufacturer's instructions. My preference is solvite paste as this will mix smooth and in only 30 seconds follow the instructions carefully, Use a large pasting brush to apply the paste.
Cutting the paper
Before you cut the wallpaper check the pattern on the paper (look at the label for help) Some wallpapers have a random pattern so it does not matter where the join is. Some wallpapers have a pattern which only matches at specific distances so having cut your first length it does not necessarily follow that the next length will follow automatically.
It is Important to remember that the corners of a room may not be true vertical or square so you will need to make sure the very first strip of wallpaper you put up is plumb, Measure from the corner to make sure the width of the wallpaper will fit i.e. if the wall to the left or right of the wall you are wallpapering leans out of vertical by say 30mm at say the top this is where to measure from for this scenario measure 490mm use a spirit level and mark a vertical line onto the wall that would mean you would be trimming 40mm off the corner side at the bottom to 10mm at the top.
Measure the length of the first drop of wallpaper. Add 75mm to both ends to allow for trimming. Unroll the paper on the paste table and cut the first piece to length. You might find it easier to measure the paper by unrolling it down the wall and marking the required length.For large patterns you may wish to take into account how it will look at the top when trimmed. It may look best to fit a whole repeat of the pattern just below the top rather than have the design cut off mid stream.
Wallpaper pattern matching
With this first piece face up on the table, unroll a second piece next to it carefully aligning the pattern before cutting it to length.
You may prefer to cut several lengths before starting work but you will need to be sure not to make any mistakes when doing this. If you are a beginner, just cut the first piece and leave cutting the next until you have finished hanging the first. You can then hold the roll next to the first drop on the wall when matching and cutting the second length.
Wallpaper pattern repeat
Depending upon the pattern you have on your paper, it may reduce wastage by cuttting lengths from more than one roll.
Allowing for pattern repetitions, Paste the wallpaper by working out from the middle to the outside and store by folding the wet sides together as shown. If you have cut more than one piece of wallpaper you can use this to stop the paste going onto the pasting-table and keep the other edge of the wallpaper in-line with the pasting-table.
Some wallpapers need to soak for 5 minutes or so before hanging so check the instructions on the label. Take the first length and place the edge against the line on the wall. Unfold the wallpaper gently onto the wall using your hanging brush to push out any air bubbles traped between the wallpaper and wall brush down the middle and out towards both edges of the wallpaper. Brush the wallpaper up to the crease between ceiling and wall and also the crease between skirting board and wall. Then double check the edge of the paper is on the line you drew on the wall and press the paper into both the creases with the back edge of your paperhanging scissors. This should give you a line to cut along.
Pull the paper back off the wall enough to cut and then brush it back into place.
Brush the paper tightly into the corner and you should have a small overlap on the adjoining wall. This can be trimmed back to about 5mm and the wallpaper on the other wall will overlap it (this will be hung later).
The next length of paper to be hung goes against the piece of wallpaper you have just hung so you are guaranteed to be hanging true vertical lengths around the room.
To hang paper round an external corner the same method is applied. The first length should turn round the corner by about 20mm and the next length, on the second wall should be laid to a vertical line so it overlaps the turnover by as little as possible. Extra care must be taken here when working to a pattern and sometimes a large overlap will be required onto the turn over as it will need to be cut back until it matches the pattern. To cut around a switch or socket, make sure you first turn off the power supply to that unit. Mark the four corners and cut diagonally across the four marks then cut off the four flaps.
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