Wallpaper & Borders

Wallpaper and wallpaper borders can add so much to a room - color, texture, patterns, murals and photos. And while it takes an acquired skill to do a professional looking job, the skill is not that difficult to acquire. The best way to learn is by doing. Take your time, do it right and you will enjoy the results for years to come.

Before you begin, make sure you select the proper wallpaper for the job. There area variety of wallpaper types to choose from before you even think about color or design. Here are the basic wallpaper types.

Solid Paper - Lowest cost wallpaper available, often difficult to strip and hang, and not very durable. Use in areas with low contact and traffic.

Wet Look Vinyl - Quite durable and priced in the medium range. Use this one for laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Has a tendency to show imperfections in the wall so make sure walls are smooth and test a small section. If imperfections show, use a lining paper first. Works fine in all humidity climates.

Paper-Backed Vinyl - Quite durable and prices vary from low to high. Works fine in all humidity climates. Use in high contact and high traffic areas.

Vinyl-Coated Paper - Prices vary from low to high and works well in areas with low to medium humidity. Reasonably durable so use virtually anywhere in the house.

Cloth-Backed Vinyl - Quite durable and priced in the high range. Works fine in all humidity climates. Stiffness may cause difficulty in contouring to shapes. Use in high contact and high traffic areas.

Foil Wallpaper - Quite durable, priced in the high range and difficult to hang without creasing the foil. Easy to clean, use this one for laundry rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Has a tendency to show imperfections in the wall so make sure walls are smooth and test a small section. If imperfections show, use a lining paper first. Works fine in all humidity climates.

Flocked Wallpaper - Priced in the higher range and difficult to clean so use this one in low traffic areas. Handle with care when installing to keep adhesive off the flocking.

Burlaps & Cloth Wallpaper - Priced in the higher range and difficult to clean so use this one in low traffic areas away from dust, grease and moisture. Use two thin coats of vinyl adhesive. Lining paper is required for most applications.

There are a variety of custom designed, hand screened wallpapers available as well. Get the wallpaper dealers opinion regarding installation. In many cases they might recommend hiring a professional installer.

Installing Wallpaper & Borders

First, turn off power to all electrical items on the wall where you will install wallpaper. Start with a small project. Do one wall in a back bathroom or kids play room to get a feel for the materials, techniques and tools. This experience will let you know whether you want to tackle a larger project yourself or hire a professional to do the installation.

Follow instructions for the paper you select. Use a level to make sure you are hanging each strip straight. Angles compound over numerous sheets.

Consider Hiring A Professional Paper Hanger

If you try a test strip and feel it's more than you want to handle, contact a professional paper hanger before you ruin multiple rolls of wallpaper.

Tools

Hand Tools & Equipment
Tape Measure
Level
Plumb Bob
Putty Knife
Scraper
Taping Knife
Utility Knife
Scissors
Scoring Tool
Seam Roller
Sponge
Spray Bottle
Phillips Head Screwdriver
Straight Slotted Screwdriver
Paint Roller & Pan
2" Paint Brush
Wall Brush
Straight Edge
Wallpaper Tray
Step Ladder
Drop Cloths

Related Books & Publications

Related Websites

How To Hang Wallpaper

Resources

USA Wallpaper

Related Subjects