You will need:
- Wallpaper adhesive – prepare as directed
- Measuring tape
- Box cutter/stanley knife
- Large steel ruler or spirit level
- Paint brush x 2 or paint roller
- Soft cloth
Step 1. Preparation
Your wall must be clean, smooth and dry. So sweep away those old cobwebs and get rid of dust, dirt and grime. We find that washing your walls with sugar soap and a one of those big fat orange or yellow sponges you use to wash your car is a great way to clean them.
Sand away any irregularities. Always remove old wall coverings before applying new wallpaper. Highly absorbent surfaces should be treated with a pre-glueing process.
You can prep your wall with a product such as Dulux Stain Lock which will make it easier to remove the wallpaper in the future and will protect your wallpaper from dampness through the wall.
Step 2. Prepare the Glue and Paste
Most wallpaper adhesive mixes require some time to set before applying them to the wallpaper, so prepare the mixture first to save yourself some time.
Follow the instructions on your packet of paste.
Paste is typically applied to the back of the wallpaper and glue is to be applied to the wall in a border where the seams of the wallpaper will be joined.
Step 3. Measure and Cut the Wallpaper
This is the most difficult step if you have a pattern that repeats and needs to be matched. Always make sure you start with enough wallpaper to allow for an occasional mistake (and don’t worry – at three times the size of traditional wallpaper, our rolls are more than enough to do a standard feature wall and will probably allow you to make a mistake… or two!).
Measure the height of your walll. Allow an extra 5cm (2 inches) for trimming top and bottom. We find it easier to hang the wallpaper when you don’t have to put it flush with your cornice.
Roll out the wallpaper and note where you have to cut it. Carefully cut the paper using a box cutter or stanley knife against a steel ruler or large spirit leveller. Roll out more wallpaper and match the pattern. Cut the wallpaper and discard the unmatched portion.
See our Wallpaper Calculator to work out how long each piece needs to be and don’t forget to add 5cm top and bottom.
Continue measuring, matching and cutting the wallpaper until you have all the pieces to complete your feature wall.
Mark points vertically along your wall so that as you are hanging the wallpaper, you can check to make sure it’s in a straight line.
Step 4. Apply the Paste
Use a paint brush or roller to liberally apply the paste to the back of the wallpaper, from top to bottom. After you have applied the paste, fold the wallpaper in on itself in half and in half again with the pattern on the outside and set it aside for 30 minutes to allow the paste to absorb into the wallpaper. You can also place the folded wallpaper in a garbage bag. This helps the paste to absorb into the paper.
Continue with each strip of wallpaper. Keep folding the wallpaper in on itself until it is a size that will comfortably fit in a plastic bag or garbage bag. Remove the air from the plastic bag and seal it to help prevent the wallpaper from drying out as it will be some time before you’re ready to hang the final strip.
After you have waited the requisite time for your paste to set, apply the glue to the wall in a border where the wallpaper joins will meet, both vertically and horizontally across the top and bottom. Use the pencil marks you made earlier to guide you. Your border should be about 5cm (2 inches) wide.
Step 5. Hang the Wallpaper
Start at the top. Don’t forget your extra 5cm (2 inch) trim at the top! Use your hands and soft sponge to smooth the wallpaper against the wall. Then use a plastic lathe to lightly smooth the wallpaper and remove the air and excess paste. Use the marks on the wall to make sure you’re hanging the wallpaper in a straight line.
Use a soft cloth to remove any excess glue from the edges.
The flexible PVC coating of our wallpaper and the glue you applied in a border around the edge allows you to get an exact match against the edges of the wallpaper. If you find there is a small gap between each wallpaper strip, work from the centre of the strip and gently massage the wallpaper in the direction of the gap. Use your hands or a special wallpaper roller. Do the same from the other side. The PVC coating on our wallpaper will withstand gentle movement unlike traditional wallpaper which will most likely tear. Plus at twice the width, there are half the amount of joins!
If you’re hanging vermiculite, paperweave, or our aluminium paper, you want to be much more careful than with our PVC wallpapers as these papers are much more delicate. Avoid getting glue on the surface of these papers.
It is important to smooth the surface of the wallpaper while it is still damp from the paste to ensure all air bubbles are removed. Keep removing the excess glue, too and keep an eye on any air bubbles that may arise as the paste dries.
When you have hung each strip, cut off the excess trim at the top and bottom.
After you’ve cleaned up, it’s time to step back and admire your handy work!
We’d love to see a photo of your feature wall, so take a snap and send it to us.
This information is supplied as a guide only. Silk Interiors accepts no responsibility for any problems that may occur while hanging wallpaper.
Should you have any further questions please email us.
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