How to Wallpaper1

Applying wallpaper is one of those household projects that has a very simple procedure but can go wrong for many small reasons you may not consider. Follow these instructions to ensure you’re not making any hidden mistakes and hurting your next wallpapering effort.

Step 1 – Inspect the Surface of Your Wall

Don’t be reductive when thinking about wallpapering. Your wall may appear flat, and your wallpaper may seem smooth, but without making proper preparations to your surface, your final result won’t look good.

The walls must be in good condition before you can hope to take a stab at putting on any wallpaper. This means that any imperfections like holes or cracks must be repaired, and any blemishes like mildew must be removed.

Step 2 – Check the Condition of Any Paint

If the wall that you intend to lay wallpaper on has a preexisting coat of paint on it, you may or may not have a complication. There are two quick tests you can perform to check the condition of painted walls, and the results will either give you the green light to apply wallpaper or indicate that more preliminary work is needed.

Sponge Test

To test your paint, hold a damp sponge against the wall for about 15 seconds. Then wipe the area with a cloth vigorously. If very little paint comes off, the painted surface is okay and should be capable of accepting wallpaper. If a lot of paint comes off, the walls should be washed thoroughly - or sanded and washed - to remove the paint before you attempt wallpapering.

X-Incision Test

The second test involves cutting three small Xs into the wall’s surface. Place a piece of scotch tape over each X shaped incision, and then yank the piece of tape off the wall. Once again, a small amount of paint transfer means that the surface is ready for the following steps, but a lot of paint coming off means you need to sand and wash the walls.

Step 3 – Be Smooth

The ultimate goal in the preparation stage is to provide a smooth finish for materials such as wallpaper to adhere against. Walls painted with gloss or semi-gloss paints should be sanded to dull the surface.

For new drywall, be sure the areas along the joints and over nail heads are thoroughly cured and sanded smooth. New drywall should be primed with an opaque or a white primer.

All sanded surfaces should be primed before hanging wallpaper, and any stains like grease, grime, or adhesive residue from a previous wallpaper should be cleaned and primed with a stain killer or primer.

Wall liners provide some exception to this rule, as they allow wallpaper to be placed over rough surfaces like paneling and masonry block. This is still a risky option and should only be attempted under ideal conditions. Be aware that if you do plan to use wall liners, your choice of primer will be crucial, as you’ll need especially good adhesion between the surface and the wallpaper.

Step 4 – Determine How Much Wallpaper You’ll Need

To determine the amount of paper you'll need, first measure the height of the wall from the top of the baseboard to the ceiling or bottom of the molding. Next measure the length of each wall.

Add the measurements of the wall lengths together. Find the total number of square feet by multiplying the wall height by the combined length measurements.

Roll Sizes

If your wallpaper pattern does not repeat, or if it repeats every 0-6 inches, each roll yields approximately 25 square feet. If your pattern repeats every 7-12 inches, each roll yields approximately 22 square feet. This goes on depending on your pattern.

Divide the total number of square feet to be covered by the number that is appropriate for your pattern. This is the total number of single rolls of paper you will need for your wallpaper job.

Wallpaper is usually packaged in single or double rolls. To find the number of double rolls you need, divide the number of single rolls by two. To find the number of triple rolls you need, divide by three.

Ask a store associate for help if you're unsure how much wallpaper to purchase even after these calculations.

Step 5 – Measure and Mark

Place (but don’t adhere) first strip of wallpaper to the right of a door or window. Using the edge of a door or window frame provides a definitive starting point and makes any break in the pattern of the paper less conspicuous.

Measure the width of the wallpaper and subtract 1/2 inch. This 1/2 inch reduction allows for the paper to overlap the adjoining wall.

Mark the width of the wallpaper less 1/2 inch on the wall to the right of the door or window where you will begin. Line up a level on this mark and draw a pencil line lightly from the ceiling to the floor. You may need to reposition your level several times. Be sure to line it up carefully each time.

selected from: https://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2wallpaper