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Installing Wallpaper

February 27, 2023

Creating a high-quality wallpaper installation requires the right tools and precise attention to detail. From the substrate preparation process to accounting for the particular topography of each room, the steps for hanging wallpaper can be daunting. Following these instructions will help make the process easier and more enjoyable.

What You'll Need To Install Wallpaper

In addition to technical products, such as a seam roller and a plastic smoother, you will need some basic tools to complete your project. These tools can be found in your toolbox or workroom:

  • pre-pasted wallpaper
  • paint roller
  • fresh paint nap
  • clean paint tray
  • plastic drop cloth
  • measuring tape
  • sponge
  • utility knife
  • level
  • pencil
  • plastic smoother or wallpaper brush
  • straight edge

How To Hang Wallpaper

Step 1: Clean Your Walls

Before wallpapering, the wall should be prepared by wiping it down with a microfiber cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Once dry, any kinks should be inspected and filled with a non-shrinking joint compound. If there are smaller imperfections, use a drywall knife to scrape them off or sand them down with 50-grit sandpaper.

To ensure optimal adhesion, cover the entire wall with a wallpaper-sizing product. It will help the paper stay in place and reduce the risk of shrinkage.

Step 2: Measure Your Walls and Draw a Central Plumb Line

To center the dominant element of the wallpaper on the 'focal wall,' measure the width and the wall height and locate its midpoint. Cut a small strip of wallpaper, and place the element over the center. Make a pencil mark at the wall's leading edge, and draw a 'plumb line' from the floor to the ceiling to indicate where the next strip of wallpaper should hang.

If the wall has features such as a window or door frame, draw the line in the center of the widest open space.

Step 3. Prep the Wallpaper

Cut a piece of wallpaper roll to the height of your wall plus four inches, allowing two inches of excess paper at the top and bottom to align and trim. Immerse in cold or lukewarm water trough and fold each end towards the center, exposing the pattern and ensuring the pasted sides are touching. This booking process allows the glue to activate and soak into the paper fibres.

If the wallpaper is not pre-pasted, apply an even layer of wallpaper paste to the paper using a roller.

Step 4. Hang the First Strip

Gently apply the first strip of wallpaper from the ceiling, ensuring a two-inch overlap at both the ceiling (crown molding) and the corner. Smooth the strip down the wall with a clean cloth or wallpaper brush to remove any air bubbles before using a smoother or squeegee to flatten it.

Create a faint line along the bottom half of the strip to make it easier to cut away any excess wallpaper.

Step 5. Trim Excess

Allow the wallpaper to adhere or cure on the wall surface for 20 minutes. Subsequently, use a utility knife or scissors to trim the excess material off each end.

Step 6. Apply the Rest of the Wallpaper

Ensure you provide adequate space to accommodate your pattern when cutting. Hold the paper against the wall and mark where the cutting should start. Afterward, attach the paper to the wall, making sure it is aligned with the previous strip.

Pay attention to the designs, ensuring that the paper does not overlap. Each strip must meet the former at the edge without any gaps. Additionally, leave a few inches of space at the top and bottom.

Repeat this pattern for all the wallpaper strips. When you reach the last corner or doorway, use a straight edge and an Exacto knife to create a neat edge.

Step 7. Keep it Clean

Using a damp sponge, carefully remove any excess adhesive from the paper's face and push lightly toward the edges. Then, clean the woodwork and ceiling with a wet sponge. Once all strips have been hung and any excess trim cut, you can step back and admire your newly decorated room!

How To Stick Wallpaper In Corners

Wallpaper applied around a corner does not adhere properly and tends to peel away from the wall over time. For a durable fit:

Take multiple measurements of the distance from the edge of the last strip to the corner to ensure enough paper to round the corner in all places. Cut the strip to 1/2 inch extending along the adjacent wall, and apply wallpaper glue. Hang the panel and trim it with a single-edge blade, leaving 1/8 inch of paper beyond the corner. Align the next strip so that it overlaps the 1/8-inch extension.

Experience Professional Wallpaper Installation In Toronto with Apex Wallpaper

For a successful wallpaper project, it is essential to carefully select patterns and colours that complement the furniture. Otherwise, the home may be left with an unappealing aesthetic.

Apex Wallpaper is the perfect solution for those who don't have the time to transform their home through Wallpaper Installation Toronto. Our professional wallpaper installers are highly experienced and guarantee exceptional results every time, so you can be confident your ideas and designs will be delivered to the highest standard.

 

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