About Wallpaper
 There are some important things to know before starting a wallpapering project. This page covers general wallpaper information, from what is available to estimating, ordering, and checking your wallpaper before installing it.
On the following couple of pages, we'll explain specific how-to wallpapering techniques.
Pre-Pasted and Unpasted Wallpaper
 You can get prepasted wallpaper with the paste already applied to the back. You just soak that in water to activate the paste when you're ready to apply it.
You can also get unpasted wallpaper, but you have to buy the adhesive yourself and apply it to the back of the paper. Check the label carefully on the wallpaper you choose before buying it to make sure you know which type you're getting.
Prepasted papers are usually easier for first-timers to hang, but the soaking needed to activate the paste can stretch the paper a little and result in gaps at the seams after the paper dries.
Vinyl and Vinyl-Coated Wallpaper
Vinyl and vinyl-coated wallpapers are now the most common since they provide the most durable and water-resistant surfaces.
And even though vinyl is thought of as a shiny material, vinyl and vinyl-coated papers now come in a variety of textures.
They're also fairly easy to apply and to remove, so they've become the most popular choices for do-it-yourselfers.
Other Wallcoverings
Here are some other types of wallcoverings, which are generally more expensive than the vinyls and more difficult to hang:
-
Foils and Mylars are wallcoverings with a highly reflective, thin metal coating, which show any surface flaws.
-
Paintable wallcoverings are neutral in color and manufactured to be painted after application.
-
Grasscloths are highly textured wallcoverings woven from natural fibers.
-
Flocked wallcoverings have raised fiber patterns that look like velvet.
-
Embossed wallcoverings are papers stamped to create a 3-D, relief pattern.
|
Washable and Scrubbable Wallpapers
Wallcoverings vary in how much cleaning they can withstand. Some can be scrubbed down every day, but others can't stand even a light sponging.
If a wallpaper is described as washable on the label, that means it can be sponged occasionally with soap and warm water.
Scrubbable wallpapers, on the other hand, are strong enough for washing with a soft brush if need be.
Strippable and Peelable Wallpapers
 Wallpapers are also categorized by their "removeability" after they've been on the wall for a while.
Strippable wallpapers will easily pull off the wall in one piece, so those would be a good choice for people who tend to redecorate every few years.
Peelable papers usually come off in a couple of layers, with the top layer pulling off as easily as a strippable paper. But that usually leaves a second, thin layer stuck to the wall, and you'll probably have to moisten that to loosen the adhesive before you can pull that layer off.
Plain and Patterned Wallpaper
Things to consider when choosing wallpaper:
-
 A plain wallpaper with little or no pattern to match at the seams and the ceiling will always be the easiest to apply, and it will always result in the least amount of wasted wallpaper.
-
Among the patterned wallpapers, a small repeating pattern will result in less waste than a large repeating pattern, which also poses difficulties in a room with lots of windows or doors interrupting the layout.
-
 A pattern with a horizontal match (matching on every column of paper) will waste less paper than one with a drop or alternate match (matching on every other column).
Estimating Wallpaper
You'll need to determine the amount of wall space you're covering.
-
First, measure the length of all the walls, add those together and multiply that by the height of the walls.
-
If there's more than one door or window in the room, you should also determine the amount of space they cover, add them together and subtract that from the figure you got for the area of the entire room.
-
There's bound to be waste in any wallpaper project, so take that figure and multiply it by 1.15 (figuring the waste rate to be about 15%). Take that figure with you when you shop.
-
Wallpaper is sold in single, double and triple rolls, and coverage can vary so always refer to the product's label for the proper square footage. Once you've chosen a paper, divide that coverage figure from the label into the total square footage you got for the room you're papering.
-
Round the answer up to the nearest whole number which represents the number of rolls you need to buy.
Preparing Surfaces for Wallpaper
 As with a painting project, the walls should be clean and in good repair before you start hanging wallpaper since any flaws will probably show through.
In addition, new drywall should be covered with a good primer-sealer (tinted to match the color of the paper) to keep the wallpaper adhesives from soaking right into the drywall and making the paper almost impossible to remove.
Some professionals also recommend applying a coat of sizing to the walls before papering to give the paper a tackier surface to bond with.
Checking Your Wallpaper
 Before you start hanging paper, the pros also suggest that you open each roll and check each one for mismatched patterns and colors. That way you can get replacements for any problem rolls before you're fully involved in the project.
And then hang on to the labels afterwards, or at least write down the manufacturer and the pertinent run or lot numbers. That way you can find a matching roll or two later on if you have to make repairs or otherwise redo a section.
|
