How to Apply Wallpaper
Wallpaper application is not that hard, but it
requires some specific preparation just like painting does. The job
is made harder if you have to remove old wallpaper. Before you
start, switch off the electricity and unscrew electrical plates.
Tape over anything else. Buy a good quality wallpaper removal
product and apply it with a sponge or garden-sprayer. Some wallpaper
may be waterproof and so the substance won’t be able to penetrate,
so go over the surface lightly with a perforating tool. The paste
softener should work in about 15 minutes, and then you can start
scraping.
If the wallpaper is in good condition and firmly attached to the
wall, you may not need to remove it. In this case, paint over the
surface. Use paint that is about the same shade as the background of
the new wallpaper. All cracks and bumps need to be patched and
sanded before you start. So - clean, patch, sand and prime using
wallpaper primer which prevents paste and waste from being absorbed
by the wall.
Or if you are moving the original wallpaper, spray or sponge on two
coats of remover and then pull off strips of paper in small or large
sections, using a plastic – not metal – putty knife as an aid. Then
wash, putty, sand and prime the wall with special primer. It should
be oil-based, since water will be used for the wallpaper paste.
Of course you will have measured the room so you know how much
wallpaper you need. Now remove any head or base boards and cut the
wallpaper into appropriate strips. Using a level and a pencil, mark
the position of each strip lightly. Make sure you cut it so that the
pattern matches up.
There are two types of wallpaper. One you must wet with water to
activate the paste, the other you just pull a backing strip off
gradually. For both sorts, start at the top of the wall, making sure
you get it level. When doing subsequent strips, match, but don’t
overlap the edges. For the wet one, lay each strip on the floor
after wetting with the paste side up and wait for the paper to
expand before hanging it.
Once each strip is up, smooth it gently with a damp sponge to get
out any air-bubbles. A razor knife will come in handy to trim the
edges. Some wallpaper must have the glue mixed and applied
separately. It should be laid as above; making sure that the glue is
spread as evenly as possible and has set slightly before you lift it
up. Two people working together is helpful.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
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