Hanging Wallpaper

Prepare the walls

Wallpaper is actually easy to hang if the walls – and you! – are well prepared. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of paper you have chosen.

 

Prepare the wall surface

The surface of the wall must be clean, dry and sound. Then the wall needs a good coat of size (a sort of wallpaper undercoat), so that the wallpaper is easy to position and sticks properly.

1. Remove any old paper. METYLAN Active Wallpaper Remover makes that easy.

2. Repair any imperfections in the wall/plaster, and sand smooth with 80 grit sandpaper. Remove the dust.

3. Brush the wall surface with a liberal coat of SHUR-STIK wallpaper size and let it dry. This makes it much easier to position the wallpaper when it is time to start hanging.

Quick tip: Different wall surfaces need different preparations, so ask your retailer for their advice. Guidelines are also on the wallpaper label.

 

Plan where to start in the room

Start near the main source of light and work away from it, aiming to finish in a discreet area, such as behind a door.

If you are using patterned wallpaper on a feature wall, start in the middle of the wall.

Quick tip: Check that each roll is the same design and batch number before you start cutting the paper.

 

Make a plumb line

Using a plumbline – a straight-line device that professionals use – will ensure that even if your ceilings or floors are not level, the wallpaper will still be straight. Always hang your first strip of paper next to a plumbline.

Using a plumbline to help you wallpaper:

1. Measure the width of your paper.

2. Measure the same distance out from the corner in the direction you intend working.

3. Come back 15mm towards the corner from the narrowest point of the plumbline, and make a mark closer to the ceiling.

4. Drive in a small nail and hang the plumbline from it.

5. Once the plumbline is steady, lightly mark the wall with a pencil every 20 to 30cm down the length of the line to the floor. This will give you a perfectly straight vertical line to hang your first strip of wallpaper against.

Quick tip: Check that each roll is the same design and batch number before you start cutting the paper.

Prepare the paper

Cut the paper

1. Measure one wall from the the skirting board or bottom edge up to the ceiling.

2. Add 10cm to allow for trimming.

3. Cut the first length. Use this length as your guide for cutting the rest of the paper into lengths.
If you have Paste-the-wall paper, proceed to Step 3.

 

Pre-pasted paper

Soak the paper 

For pre-pasted paper, a brief soaking in water is vital, to activate the paste that is on the back.

 

1. Fill a water trough with lukewarm water, and place it in the centre of the room, on a plastic dropcloth or old sheet.

2. Now, loosely reroll the cut lengths of paper, from the bottom edge, with the pattern or texture on the inside.

3. Place the rolled length in the water, make sure it is fully covered for about 15 seconds, then pass the top edge of the length under the water trough wire and slowly draw the paper out of the trough. Check that all the paste on the back of the paper is completely wet.

 

Fold the paper

 

1. Lay the wet paper out flat on the plastic sheet, paste side up.

2. Fold loosely – don’t crease – from the bottom edge, up to one-third of the length.

3. Fold the top down to overlap the first fold by 10mm. The larger fold should be at the top of that length.

4. Soak and fold several lengths.

5. Drain and leave the folded lengths for about 8-10 minutes. This allows the paper – and you – to relax before the next step: putting the paper on the wall.

 

Un-pasted paper

What you need

• A pasting table: you can hire or borrow one; or make do with the kitchen table—but cover it first.
• Wallpaper size (SHUR-STIK Latex) and paste (Metylan Special).
• A pasting brush.

 

Mix the paste

If your wallpaper is the un-pasted type, mix the METYLAN Special wallpaper paste according to the instructions on the label, to ensure you have the right consistency.
Applying the paste

1. Place the cut lengths face down on the table. Make sure they are all laid out in the same direction – all top edges together, therefore all bottom edges together.
2. Now paste the back of the paper with METYLAN Special or SHUR-STIK paste/adhesive, applying it evenly in a zigzag pattern, pasting from the centre out. Make sure the edges are well coated, and the paste is evenly applied over the full length of the paper.
3. Fold the ends towards the centre, with a smaller fold to the bottom and a larger fold at the top. This will easily identify the hanging direction to the paper. Make sure the folds don’t crease.
4. Now leave each length to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. More relaxation time for you, too.

Quick tip: Give yourself plenty of time—no need to rush.

Hang the paper

Hanging the wallpaper strips

 

Always start hanging wallpaper near the main source of natural light, and work away from it, finishing in a discreet area, such as behind a door.

 

First strip

1. Step up the ladder to the ceiling with your pasted wallpaper and unfold the top portion.
2. Position the paper to correspond with the pencil marks you made on the wall.
3. Press it against the wall, leaving 5cm for trimming along the ceiling line.
4. Line the paper against your plumbline.
5. Moving down and out from the centre, stroke the paper against the wall, using a brush or smoother to position it.
6. Unfold the bottom of the strip and press it against the wall, again checking it against the plumbline.
7. When you are satisfied with its position, smooth it over fully, removing any air bubbles. Don’t rush.
8. Then, use your knife to cut any extra paper at the ceiling and floor.
9. Remove any extra paste by carefully sponging it off with clean water.

 

Next strips

That’s the first length up; now for the next one.

1. Slide the paper into position on the wall so the pattern (if there is one) is matched and the joins are butted together.
2. Now, use your smoothing brush to help link up the seams.

 

Follow this process for the rest of the lengths; prepare in advance for corners and tricky areas like power points.

Quick tip: Clean off any paste on the skirting, cornice or ceiling as you go…

 

Paste-the-wall papers

Paste-the-wall products have a specially developed backing which does not expand, allowing it to be hung dry, without having to soak in water, straight from the roll. You apply the METYLAN Special paste directly onto the wall.

Most people find this cuts the decorating time in half – and because the pasting table process is eliminated, it’s less messy too. This type of wallpaper is great for beginners.

1. Don’t paste the entire wall before starting to hang your wallpaper. Paste one section of the wall at a time so that the paste doesn’t dry out. Allow some overlap – paste a bit more of the wall than just the width of each cut piece.
2. Slide the paper into place and check the match. No need to rush.
3. Then trim off to fit at the top and bottom edge.

And when you decide it’s time for a new look, paste-the-wall wallpapers usually peel off easily. Simply lift a corner at the base of the wall and peel upwards.

 

Dealing with corners

The extra 15mm will wrap around the corner onto the next wall.

Don’t try to hang a full width of wallpaper around a corner, as the walls are rarely straight. Always hang the paper in two parts.

1. Measure from the edge of the last strip into the corner, and add another 15mm before you cut the strip of wallpaper to size. The extra 15mm will wrap around the corner onto the next wall.
2. Start the next strip of paper in the corner, overlapping the 15mm of paper from the last drop.
3. Use an adhesive like SHUR-STIK to stick down the overlaps.

 

Keep going, don’t rush, and soon you will have a completed room or wall to stand back and admire. Congratulations, you did it!

 

Tricky Areas

Switches and power points

1. Make sure the electricity is turned off at the mains.
2. Paper straight over the top of the fitting.
3. Taking care not to cut into the plastic cover, make two diagonal cuts from corner to corner, across the fitting.
4. This forms four flaps, which you can crease against the side of the fitting and then trim off snug against its edges.
5. Then you can put the power back on.

 

Windows and door frames

 

1. Hang the length of wallpaper so that it overlaps the frame.
2. Make the paper on the actual wall as smooth as possible.
3. Make a diagonal cut in the paper to the corner point of the frame.
4. Lift the flaps and carefully smooth the paper into the frame’s edges.
5. Then crease and trim the paper.

How to care for wallpaper

Check the roll label

Care instructions depend upon the type of wallcovering you have. This information is on the roll label, using words such as ‘washable’, ‘scrubbable’ or ‘delicate’.

Most modern wallcoverings have an easy-care vinyl coating which is designed to withstand normal day-to-day activities, but some are designed for their aesthetic value only and need to be treated accordingly.

Delicate or non-washable wallpaper

Clean, when necessary, with a drycleaning sponge or a drycleaning eraser; test a small inconspicuous piece first.

 

‘Paintable’ wallcoverings

When painted, clean, when necessary, according to the paint manufacturer’s instructions.

 

Washing guide

For best results:

1. Wash from the bottom of the paper up to avoid dirty water running down the face of the wallpaper. Take care not to over-wet the surface of the paper.
2. Rinse thoroughly with clean warm water.
3. Blot dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

Do not use abrasive cleansers or scrubbers, products containing bleach, or solvents of any kind.

 

Stains and marks

Any stains and marks should be removed as soon as possible to avoid any possible reaction between the stain and the wallpaper. If a mark remains on the wallpaper too long, permanent discoloration may result.
Dirt spots
Ordinary dirt spots can be removed with a mild soap and warm water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Blot wallpaper dry with a soft lint-free towel.
Difficult stains
For more difficult stains that are only surface deep, using a stronger detergent is recommended. However, try an inconspicuous spot first before attempting the entire wall. Always rinse carefully with a clean sponge after applying a detergent.

 

Crayon, felt pen, lipstick and biro marks

One old-and-tried tip to remove crayon, felt pen, lipstick and ballpoint pen – but only from smooth-surfaced papers – is to lightly spray the mark with an aerosol hairspray, and then gently wipe off, with a soft toothbrush.

Rinse with clean warm water – be careful not to over-wet the surface of the paper – and blot dry with a soft cloth.

 

Avoid abrasive cleaning

Take care not to over-wet the surface of the paper. Avoid abrasive rubbing of spots so discoloration cannot appear.

Do not use steel wool or powdered cleaners, or active solvent-type preparations, such as nail polish remover, tar and bug removers, because they may damage the wallpaper.