The Three Stages of Wallpaper Perfection
Hanging wallpaper is, by virtually all accounts, a nightmare. However, you can make the job a little more pleasant by working in three simple stages: preparation, perfecting and papering. If you follow these guidelines it is just possible that you might not end up in a sticky mess on the floor...
Stage One: Preparation
It should go without saying that if you don't prepare properly you don't stand a chance, but then again so many people dive in without a thought for what they plan to do that it needs to be highlighted. Ensure you have bought enough rolls of paper before you start the job and always buy one extra just in case. You also need to make sure you have finished any painting you have planned to do - painting your ceiling after you have applied your lovely new paper isn't the greatest idea. Finally, when you are in B&Q buying your paper, take an extra 20 minutes to buy any tools you might need - buy a new Stanley knife or invest in that nice new brush for pasting.
Stage Two: Perfecting
Stage Two is actually the final preparation stage and it probably involves the most tedious tasks of the entire process. You need to remove every last scrap of the old paper from your wall. If you can, it is best to get hold of a wallpaper steamer with which you can methodically tackle the old paper. If you can't lay your hands on one you should use warm, soapy water and apply a liberal coating to each strip. Once each strip has been soaked twice move in with the scraper and, working from top to bottom, start to lift the old paper from the wall. Once you have removed all the strips and scraps you need to fill in any cracks and imperfections with filler, sanding them down until flush with the rest of the wall.
Stage Three: Papering
Once your wall is free from all blemishes and old paper you are finally ready to start adding your swanky new wallpaper. The standard place to start is at your main window, working towards the longest wall. You need to work out how many lengths you will need for your first wall and cut each length to size allowing an extra 10cms for trimming - 5cms at the top and 5cms at the bottom. The main problem you are likely to encounter once you have hung your paper is from blisters as the paper begins to dry. If this does occur carefully ease the paper from the surface and smooth it down back onto the wall - making sure you expel air as you do. If you continue to get blisters it is likely that the paper has not had enough time to absorb enough paste. Start again and leave the paper until it is well and truly limp.
This DIY article is provided courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk/style , a great source of do-it-yourself tips from painting and decorating to plumbing and other DIY projects.
Stage One: Preparation
It should go without saying that if you don't prepare properly you don't stand a chance, but then again so many people dive in without a thought for what they plan to do that it needs to be highlighted. Ensure you have bought enough rolls of paper before you start the job and always buy one extra just in case. You also need to make sure you have finished any painting you have planned to do - painting your ceiling after you have applied your lovely new paper isn't the greatest idea. Finally, when you are in B&Q buying your paper, take an extra 20 minutes to buy any tools you might need - buy a new Stanley knife or invest in that nice new brush for pasting.
Stage Two: Perfecting
Stage Two is actually the final preparation stage and it probably involves the most tedious tasks of the entire process. You need to remove every last scrap of the old paper from your wall. If you can, it is best to get hold of a wallpaper steamer with which you can methodically tackle the old paper. If you can't lay your hands on one you should use warm, soapy water and apply a liberal coating to each strip. Once each strip has been soaked twice move in with the scraper and, working from top to bottom, start to lift the old paper from the wall. Once you have removed all the strips and scraps you need to fill in any cracks and imperfections with filler, sanding them down until flush with the rest of the wall.
Stage Three: Papering
Once your wall is free from all blemishes and old paper you are finally ready to start adding your swanky new wallpaper. The standard place to start is at your main window, working towards the longest wall. You need to work out how many lengths you will need for your first wall and cut each length to size allowing an extra 10cms for trimming - 5cms at the top and 5cms at the bottom. The main problem you are likely to encounter once you have hung your paper is from blisters as the paper begins to dry. If this does occur carefully ease the paper from the surface and smooth it down back onto the wall - making sure you expel air as you do. If you continue to get blisters it is likely that the paper has not had enough time to absorb enough paste. Start again and leave the paper until it is well and truly limp.
This DIY article is provided courtesy of www.uktv.co.uk/style , a great source of do-it-yourself tips from painting and decorating to plumbing and other DIY projects.
Source...