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Wallpaper Installation

The beauty of wallpaper is that no special skills are needed to install it. Although some wall coverings are more difficult to hang than others, you will need to follow these basic guidelines.

Vinyl wallpaper is the easiest to install. Embossed (or textured) wall coverings and metallic wallpaper are more difficult. Especially the metallic ones, which can be extremely frustrating to install for some.

iStock
iStock

The traditional wallpaper is somewhere in between.

You can install wallpaper in every room. However, thick vinyl wallpaper is usually best hung in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Vinyl does not trap dust mites and is resistant to mold and mildew. Note that some traditional wall coverings are more resistant than others. Some materials are preferable in humid conditions.

To know the exact amount of wallpaper you will need, you will have to measure the ceiling height from the baseboard (add ten centimetres) and the room’s perimeter, which includes the windows and doors.

Although the condition of the wall seems acceptable to you, you should still sand it before hanging the wallpaper. Or, at the very least, dust the surface, remove any grease stains and fix any cracks. It is a good idea to apply a coat of sealer on the surface for added peace of mind.
Remember, it is much easier to remove glue from a painted wall than a paint splatter from wallpaper. If your renovation project includes painting, do it before installing the wallpaper.

We all know a house is not completely steady. It will shift through time. Consequently, the walls are rarely straight, and the angles are not perfect. So, we suggest drawing a vertical line before installing each strip of wallpaper with a plumb line or a spirit level.

What corner should you start with? Here is a tip: if you wish to hang wallpaper in every room, start with the room with the fewer cut-outs to get the gist of it. So start with the bedroom or living room.

In a room, start hanging the wallpaper at the top or bottom of a window or door where the imperfect starting point will be less noticeable. Finish with an identical corner to hide the kill point.

Are you right-handed? Work towards the right of the window or door. Are you left-handed? Work towards the left. This will make your job much easier. The first strip must be hung as perfectly as possible. Otherwise, the rest of the job will suffer.
The wallpaper will have a tendency to tear if you use glue of poor quality, too little glue during the installation, and if you do not remove the air bubbles as they appear.

You will have to push the wallpaper against the wall from the centre of the strip to the outer edge. You then have to press the roller on the joint and immediately remove any extra glue with a humid sponge.

Nowadays, you could find a non-woven wallpaper that adheres to the walls like fibreglass. Its installation is easier.
These guidelines are pretty basic, but they will help you when consulting an advisor at your local renovation centre.

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