Home Series: Tips on How to Hang Wallpaper – From Your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Tips on How to Hang Wallpaper – From Your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Sprucing up the interior of your home can be done in a variety of ways. Giving a home a bit more appeal can help you move your home more quickly if plan to put it out on the market. You can take it from this Vancouver mortgage broker that a nice paint job, adding some wainscoting, or some decorative trim can add character to the walls.

One thing which is also popular is using some wallpaper. Certain rooms in the homes may be very receptive for using wallpaper.

Wallpaper Basics

If you’ve never wallpapered before then you should know that wallpaper comes in 2 basics types which includes:

• Standard Wallpaper – This type of wallpaper is a bit more challenging to work with because it tends to be very delicate and can tear easily. The main advantage is that it sticks well to itself so it does not curl at the seams and stays flat. It can also be slightly stretched if you need to do so.
• Vinyl Wallpaper – This is the most common variety used as it is stronger and is easier to hang. It is more durable from being affected by humidity or moisture. The drawbacks of this type of wallpaper is that it will not adhere to itself so you can’t overlap the pattern and you can’t stretch it.

Both of these wallpapers are available as:

• Pre-pasted – Means that it has an adhesive on the back of the paper, but you should be aware that it dries quickly so you must hang it right away or else it won’t stick to the wall.
• Non-Pasted – Has a dry backing where you have to apply the adhesive. Its main advantage is that you have more time to hang the paper because it doesn’t dry as quickly.

Get Your Walls Prepared

Move any furniture that needs to be out of the way and cover your work area with a drop cloth. Take care of any cracks or existing holes and sand any bumps before you begin. If the paint on your walls is either semi-gloss or gloss than you should lightly sand them so the glue will have better adhesion.

Measure and Cut Wallpaper

Measure the height of the wallpaper or the width required and cut it with a utility knife. Ready several pieces at a time if you have to match a pattern. Cut the paper in advance to save time. Number each piece of paper at the top with a pencil so you can be sure you have the right size paper for each area.

If you are using patterned wallpaper then the best spot to start is at a corner or behind a door so it won’t be as noticeable. Use a pencil and a level to mark a vertical line about half an inch beyond the width of the overall wallpaper width as this will help align it straight. Repeat this process for each piece.

Using Pasted and Non-Pasted Paper

Place the end of the pasted wallpaper strip in a water tray and unroll the strip slowly into the water. Let the excess water drip for a bit. Lay the paper on a flat surface and fold the ends so the glue touches glue which is known as ‘booking’ and allows the glue to become active.

Non-pasted paper has to be laid back-side-up on a flat surface before you can roll on the adhesive using either a brush or a roller. Cover the entire surface to eliminate any potential air bubbles. Perform the ‘booking’ process like you would do with the pasted variety.

Papering

You will need a step ladder. Start with the ceiling by using the edge and keep the rest folded. Apply the paper using the vertical line you drew. Let it unfold and drop. If it is properly aligned then use a smoothing brush from the ceiling downwards and from the center to the edges on either side to eliminate air pockets. Wipe the paper with a slightly dampened smudge as this will remove any glue and also help to force out any air bubbles. Repeat the process.

Wallpapering takes a bit of practice and if you haven’t done it before you should try to find someone with experience to give you a hand. In any event, wallpaper can really add to a room’s décor. Take it from this Vancouver mortgage broker and add some charm to your home with some wallpaper.