Wallpapering. How to install wallpaper yourself?

Wallpaper is back in favor. Many people wonder how to wallpaper an interior on their own, without hiring professionals. It is easier than it seems, just remember about these few rules!

Popular types of wallpaper

Wallpaper manufacturers offer us many patterns, colors, which we can match to our tastes and style of the room. When it comes to the types of materials from which wallpapers can be made, we distinguish, among others, the following coverings:

• paper – the most affordable and, therefore, the most preferred wallpapers. They consist of 1-2 layers of paper. They are characterized by low resistance to dirt, so they are not suitable for rooms particularly exposed to the appearance of dirt (eg corridor, children’s room), or interiors with increased humidity (eg kitchen, bathroom);

• vinyl wallpapers – are counted among the most durable wallpapers, their bottom layer is paper, and from the top they are covered with vinyl. Thanks to this unique material these wallpapers stand up well to scrubbing, abrasion, contact with water and chemical cleaners. It is a good choice for the kitchen, bathroom, children’s room;

• fiseline – very well mask the irregularities and cracks in the walls, and even slightly soundproof the interior. This type of wallpaper is resistant to shrinking or stretching during installation. They consist of a layer of paper or vinyl and fiseline (bottom layer). Their resistance to dirt and ease of cleaning depends on the applied top layer;

• fiberglass – extremely durable wallpapers, anti-allergenic, fire-resistant, well tolerate both mechanical damage and dirt. They are made of fine fibers, usually they have some texture, such as resembling a braid. They can be painted many times.

Wallpapering step by step

While wallpapering, doors and windows should be closed (there can be no drafts in the room). Where to start working? First prepare the surface properly – it must be clean, dry, degreased, smooth and free of any irregularities. It is worth using a special primer for this purpose. At this stage you should also check each roll of wallpaper (whether there are no defects, whether the shade and batch number match). The next step is to collect the measurements in the room and cut the wallpaper maintaining 5-10 cm of reserve. Next, you need to thoroughly spread on the wall the diluted and thoroughly mixed glue (matched to the type of wallpaper). Important note: In the case of lining on the underside, the wallpaper strips, not just the wall, should be covered with the adhesive and left for a few minutes to soak up the preparation. What to do next? The prepared strips of wallpaper are glued: starting from the ceiling, we continue in the direction of the floor. During this activity it is worth smoothing the wallpaper with a cotton cloth or a roller in order to eliminate possible air bubbles. Finally, we cut the edges of the lining at the ceiling and skirting board.

The most common mistakes made while wallpapering – what to watch out for?

One of the common mistakes that investors make during the renovation is the wrong choice of wallpaper. For example, it is not uncommon that people with no experience in this matter buy ordinary wallpaper for the bathroom, instead of its waterproof version. Another mistake is inaccurate measurement of the room, which results in the purchase of too small amount of wallpaper needed to carry out the work. Keep in mind that the length of wallpaper in rolls can vary significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Another stumbling block, which passes a lot of people, is improper preparation of the substrate. Carelessly cleaned and primed wall is responsible for 90% of wallpapering failures. Some people buy the wrong wallpaper glue, which makes the material not stick tightly to the substrate and the effect is far from satisfactory. For this reason, you should always buy an adhesive designed for the type of wallpaper. Few people are aware that when laying wallpaper, the room should not be ventilated, because a sudden change in temperature disturbs the process of setting the glue.

>> Read also: Washable paints. We check paint types

We hope that thanks to our advice wallpapering walls will run smoothly in your house and the effect will exceed your wildest expectations.