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How To Wallpaper

Wallcovering is a smart way to freshen your home. There are a wide variety of materials, patterns and colors to select from and covering walls is a relatively easy and inexpensive project. With the proper tools, you can do it yourself and attain professional results.

How to choose the right tools

If the wallcovering you've chosen is not pre-pasted, purchase the proper paste for the material you have selected. You will also need two special brushes, one for applying the paste, and an additional one for smoothing; a stiff wall scraper, a razor knife, and a seam roller, (RED DEVIL® makes each of these), plus a tape measure chalk line or straight edge and a clean sponge. We have provided a handy check list to make it easier for you.

Here are things that will help make your job easy:
  • Paste Brush
  • Smoothing Brush (short bristles for heavy coverings)
  • Razor Knife
  • Razor Blades (extra)
  • Wallpaper Stripping Tool
  • Wall Scraper
  • Taping Knife
  • ONETIME®Ready Mixed Filler
  • Patching Knife
  • Sanding Block
  • Drop Cloth
  • Chalk Line (or straight edge)
  • Sponge
  • Wallpaper Paste
  • Water Box (For pre-pasted coverings)
  • Bucket (For mixing paste)
  • Vinyl Wallcovering Kit*
  • Wallpaper Kits*
(* Each kit contains most all of the required tool items to do a professional job.)

How much wallcovering to buy

Before you purchase any wallcovering, measure the room you are going to cover. This is done by measuring the length and width (rounding off to the next highest foot) and adding them together, then multiplying this figure by the height of the room. Then count the number of windows and doors. Wallcoverings are available in a variety of roll sizes and, with this information, your dealer can recommend how many you will need.

What type of wallcovering to buy

Wallcoverings are available in four basic materials: paper, vinyl , fabric and foil. They are also available with a variety of backings to choose from and may either be pre-pasted or will require pasting. The beginner will find pre-pasted, pre-trimmed coverings with fabric or vinyl backing the easiest to work with. There is an endless array of patterns and colors to choose from.

How to prepare the walls

For best results, remove the old wallcovering (if any) with a stiff wall scraper or a wallpaper stripping tool (RED DEVIL® makes both). You can also use a chemical remover or rent a steamer for stubborn, hard to remove material. Patch nail holes and wall cracks with a spackling compound such as ONETIME® Lightweight Spackling. A thin coat of shellac or sizing will further seal and smooth the wall, and make it easier to remove the new wallcovering if you want to redecorate in the future. Remove switch and electrical plates.

How to set up

Set up the longest table you have. If your table is too short to support the full length of the wallcovering, use a chair or second table at either end to bolster the strip and prevent creasing. If you are working with wallcoverings which are not pre-pasted, be sure to use some type of protective covering to avoid getting paste on your table.

At this point, if you are using a powder mix, add water in accordance with the manufacturers instructions until the paste has the consistency of sour cream. Break up the lumps with your fingers until they have disappeared. Pre-mixed pastes are available and can be mixed with water to produce a soluble paste for applying thin wallcoverings. A thicker mixture is recommended for vinyl and other heavy materials.

Chalk lines

Begin with the wall that has the fewest windows and door openings. From the left corner of the wall, measure out a distance that is 1.3 cm less than the wallcovering width. Suspend a plumb line at this point, and snap a chalk line down the wall. If you don't have a chalk line use a metal straight edge.

A house will tend to settle, and walls and ceilings may shift. Because of this a line is important to determine the straightness of the first strip and all subsequent strips. On older houses, it may be necessary to snap a plumb line on each wall.

Pasting

If you are not using a pre-pasted covering, cut a strip equal to the height of the wall, plus an overlap of two inches at the bottom and two inches at the top. Apply the paste to the back of the strip with a paste brush. Begin by pasting from the bottom of the sheet spreading the paste sparingly from the middle outward to its corners. Be careful to cover all edges. Any unpasted area will show up as blisters or bubbles and edges may curl.

Once you have applied the adhesive to the bottom two-thirds portion of the covering, fold the strip (paste to paste) from the end to just below the top of the pasted area, without creasing the fold. Now apply the paste to the remaining one-third of the sheet in the same manner. Then, fold this section to meet the bottom end you previously folded. Again, do not crease the fold.

If you are using pre-pasted wallcovering, cut the covering as indicated above and put it in a water box to soak. The cut length may be wrapped around a wooden pole to prevent it from floating above the water line. After soaking for the time period recommended by the manufacturer, proceed to place the wallcovering.

How to hang WALLPAPER

Bring the strip to the wall, top side up. Unfold the top one third of the strip and position about two inches above the ceiling line. Bring this strip in line with the chalk line and brush down lightly. Unfold the wallcovering, letting the bottom portion drop free. Now carefully position the strips so that it lines up with the chalk line from top to bottom. Smooth the strips into place with a smoothing brush. Work out from the middle to the top edges, flattening wrinkles and air pockets. There should be a two inch overlap at the top and bottom, and a half inch overlap into the adjacent corner wall. Make sure at this point that you have a good bond at the ceiling, baseboard and along the edge.

If your wallcovering has a pattern that must be matched, you will have to consider that before you cut any subsequent strips. Cut and paste a second strip. Bring it to the wall and carefully butt it against the preceding strip without overlapping it. Use the palms of your hands to maneuver it into place. Again use the brush to smooth out the strip. Use a damp sponge to wipe away any paste that seeps out between the seams. Press the seams down with the seam roller. Do not skip any hard areas with the idea of coming back to them later.

When you come to an electrical outlet, cover it. Caution: It is best to turn off electricity in the room when working around open wires. Then, with a razor knife remove any material covering the electric outlet. If air bubbles won't smooth out, pop them with a pin or make a small slit with the razor knife. After each strip is hung, remove dirt, excess paste and fingermarks with a damp sponge.

How to trim

The wallcovering should be trimmed to fit snugly at the ceiling and baseboard as well as around the doors and windows. Use a metal straight edge (a RED DEVIL® wide blade taping knife is good for this) to flatten the wallcovering into the crevice where wall meets ceiling or baseboard. Then remove the excess by running the razor knife along the crease. Repeat this procedure around door jams and window moldings. Be certain to change the knife blade if it begins to dull.



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