Wallpapering, even more than painting, is a great do-it-yourself project. With a few hours of labor and some patience you can alter the entire theme of a space.
Although wallpapering appears easy, there are many techniques that the pros employ to achieve a great finish. There is nothing worse than putting in the work to repaper your walls, to see that you were making a simple error from the beginning which makes the work look unprofessional.
The next six guidelines can save you time and frustration.
1) Use activator instead of water for pre-pasted wallpaper. It allows for better adhesion, and stays wet for a longer period of time, as a result you can accurately place your wallpaper. It is a better practice to take the time to apply the activator, than to have your wallpaper fall off the wall in a few days or weeks.
2) Wallpaper varies from batch to batch. It may not be obvious in the roll, however once it is installed on the wall, you will see the discrepancy. Make certain while you get the wallpaper rolls they are from the matching batch. There will be a batch number on the sticker, also save your labels until you know the job is done, just in case you have to get additional rolls.
3) When choosing patterns, match up the seams properly. Some seams match easily, but some you have to slide the paper to acquire the perfect match.
4) Utilize the correct tool for getting clean straight cuts. You will want to use a razor-sharp blade and change it regularly. Although it will appear sharp to you, the cutting edge dulls fast and you are risking tearing your paper. A lot of pros use razor blades in a specialty handle.
5) Always work from the top and work down. Not only does gravity then aid you, but you are able to keep a better eye on your placement.
6) Repair and prep your surface. Many people think that putting up wallpaper will hide problems with their walls. Sorry to say, they are wrong, even with wallpaper you have to patch all holes and cracks. If you do not you will see the problems through the wallpaper. Luckily, there is a trick for very bad walls, panelling and cement blocks. You will need to do some patching, but paper liner will hide some problems. It is heavier than wallpaper, and allows for a number of discrepencies in the walls.
By implementing these 6 do-it-yourself tips, you are giving yourself a better probability of getting a professional looking job. It requires patience, so take your time, and you can get a wonderful looking room when you are finished.
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