You've found just the right wallcovering and you're ready to decorate. Just follow these easy steps:
When you receive your order, check to see that all rolls are from the same run or dye lot.
The success of the wallcovering project will depend upon the condition of your walls before your begin. Therefore, take these steps:
Since most ceilings and floors are not absolutely straight, you must determine the true vertical line from ceiling to floor. Here's how to do it:
Measure the walls from top to bottom in several spots. Add 4" extra for trimming at ceiling and baseboard. Cut a wallcovering strip to that length.
If your wallcovering has a pronounced pattern (large floral or big design element), hold it against the wall to determine where you want the pattern to break at the ceiling line before you measure and cut.
Roll out the second strip alongside the first, being careful to check for paggern match. Repeat this procedure in cutting the rest of the strips.
Wallcoverings come either prepasted or unpasted. Follow the directions that appear inside the roll of wallcovering. While the actual hanging is similar, the adhesive treatment is different for each.
Prepasted Wallcoverings:
After measuring and cutting the first strip, loosely re-roll it with the adhesive side on the outside. Start at the bottom of the strip so the top (to be at the ceiling) is the outer flap.
Fill a water box, available at your wallcovering dealer, with enough water to cover the rolled strip. Change the water often to prevent excessing adhesive build-up on the face of the wallcovering.
Totally immerse the strip in water, following directions on hanging instructions for timing. A weighted object inside the roll will keep it immersed.
Remove the strip from the water box, unwinding it slowly. After checking that all the adhesive is wet, fold the strip, pasted side to pasted side. Check hanging instructions enclosed with your roll on specific waiting time before hanging.
Unpasted Wallcovering
Roll out the wallcovering strip, pattern side down. Apply the recommended adhesive with a wide brush or roller to the top half of the strip, working from the center to the edge until you cover all areas. Loosely fold the pasted half of the strip toward the center, wet side to wet, without creasing. Repeat the procedure for the lower half of the strip. Let the strip rest for at least five minutes before hanging.
Apply the strip to the wall in line with the plumb mark, leaving a 2" overlap at the ceiling joint. Using a damp sponge or smoothing brush, stroke the top half of the strip to the wall and smooth outward from the center toward the edges until all wrinkles and air bubbles are removed.
Then unroll the lower half and repeat the smoothing procedure. Sponge down each strip with clean water to remove any excess adhesive.
Butting means fitting the edges together without any overlap.
Hang the second strip of wallcovering the same way as the first, carefully matching and butting it to the first. Use the edge of the first strip as a vertical guide. Don't overlap, because the seams will loosen, and don't stretch the strips to fit, because they will open.
Roll the edges with a seam roller to ensure adhesion and a tight seam. Trip the strips at ceiling and basebaord with a razor knife and putty knife. Don't lift the plade. Use the putty knife as a guide fro a straight, clean trim. Change blades often for best results. As you proceed, was excess glue from the wallcovering.
Resist the temptation to wrap a whole strip around an inside corner. Rather, cut the strip into two pieces after doing some basic arithmetic. Measure from the edge of your last hung strip to the corner at the ceiling, middle and baseboard. Add ½" to the widest measurement. Cut this width from a new strip, saving the remainder.
Hang the cut strip as usual, extending ½" around the corner to the next wall. Establish a plumb line for the remainder strip on the new wall. Hang the remainder strip, overlapping ½" of the previous strip.
Outside corners can be wrapped with a full strip. Align with the preceeding strip and fold around the corner.
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