how to install wallpaper.pdf

BREWSTER HOME FASHIONS

HOW TO HANG WALLPAPER

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED:

FOR UNPASTED

FOR PREPASTED

GETTING READY:

• SAFETY

Turn off power to outlets/switches and remove all faceplates and socket covers.

• CLEAN & SMOOTH

Make sure the walls are clean of all debris and that the surface is smooth. Spackle and smooth out any holes or rough areas on the walls as they may affect the final finish of your wallpaper. Allow the spackle to dry for sufficient time according to manufacturer's instructions. For badly damaged walls a wall liner or primer may be necessary.

• WHERE TO START

When deciding where to begin, if hanging wallpaper on all 4 walls you ideally want to start in the most inconspicuous corner of the room. Some examples of an ideal place to start would be in the back corner of the room, behind a door or a large piece of furniture.

• DRAWING YOUR “PLUMB LINE”

The most crucial step in hanging wallpaper is making sure the first strip is straight and level. This will impact the rest of the room so it is important to take your time and do this step correctly.

  1. Measure out from the corner the width of the paper minus Ω inch and mark with a pencil. Example: for a 20.5" roll, measure 20" from corner. $$ 20^{\prime\prime} $$
  2. Place a level at the mark and draw a straight, vertical line (plumb line).
  3. Every time you reach a corner or start a new wall, follow this procedure to make sure you are hanging the wallpaper straight.

• CUTTING YOUR FIRST STRIP OF WALLPAPER

  1. Measure the height of your wall and add 4 inches before you cut the first strip. You will need an extra 2 inches at the top and bottom for trimming.

    EXAMPLE PLUMB LINE

  2. Take into consideration the design of the wallpaper. Usually, you do not want the top of the wallpaper to start in the middle of the design. TIP: An easy way to do this is to hold your strip against the wall (before pasting) and see where you want the design to fall. Cut accordingly, leaving an extra 2 inches on the top and bottom.

WALLPAPER PREPARATION: CHECK THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT CAME WITH YOUR WALLPAPER

PREPASTED

• WET AND BOOK THE STRIP

  1. Fill the water tray 2/3 full with water at room temperature.
  2. Roll the cut strip from bottom to top, paste side out. You should not see the pattern.
  3. Submerge the rolled strip into the water tray. Soak the strip for 30 seconds.
  4. Holding the top of the sheet, slowly lift and unroll the paper onto a work table, making sure the paste is completely wet.
  5. Gently fold both ends, paste side in, toward the center of the strip, without creasing the folds. This is known as “booking”. You should see the pattern.

WET THE STRIP

  1. Let the strip rest for about 5 minutes.

BOOKING

UNPASTED

• PASTE THE WALL

Unless otherwise noted, we recommend hanging unpasted wallpaper by the “paste-the-wall” method:

  1. Use your brush to apply paste to the wall, evenly distributing it across an area just larger than 1 strip at a time.

• PASTE THE PAPER

— OR — If you are using unpasted wallpaper that requires applying the paste directly to the backing:

  1. Lay the strip of wallpaper face down on your work surface.
  2. Brush paste on the top half of your paper and gently fold that section back to meet the middle. Brush paste on the remaining half and fold the bottom end in to meet the middle.
  3. Allow the paper to rest in this “booked” position for about 10 minutes (check manufacturer's instructions) while the glue becomes fully activated and the paper is prepared.

PASTE THE WALL

PASTE THE STRIP

HANGING YOUR WALLPAPER:

• HANGING YOUR FIRST STRIP OF WALLPAPER

  1. Start on the least conspicuous wall of the room, where you have previously used a level to draw your plumb line.
  2. Unfold the top half of the strip and apply to the wall, letting a little bit of the wallpaper overlap the ceiling and adjoining wall. Make sure your pattern is right side up!
  3. Slide the paper into position so it lines up on the plumb line that you created.
  4. Using a wallpaper smoothing tool, gently press the strip to the wall. Be careful not to stretch the wallpaper while positioning.
  5. Unfold the bottom half and smooth into place.
  6. Smooth the entire strip, working diagonally from the top down and from the center outward, forcing out any air pockets. TIP: Some air pockets are normal and will disappear when the adhesive dries. If not, use a small pin to pierce and gently flatten.

• TRIM WALLPAPER

  1. Using the 6" putty knife as a guide, trim the excess paper along the ceiling and baseboard with a sharp razor knife. Always use a sharp knife or blade for every cut and do not lift your knife when making long cuts.
  2. Wash off excess paste with a damp sponge and clean water.

• CONTINUE

  1. Use the same procedures to cut and apply more wallpaper strips, matching the pattern to the previous strip.
  2. Touch the edges tightly together, but don’t overlap the strips.
  3. Make a new plumb line on each new wall.