How to install wallpaper

How to install wallpaper

How to install 
  • We recommend that a professional wallpaper hanger installs Ellie Cashman Design® wallcovering. We are not responsible for wallpaper that is applied improperly.
  • Please make sure to check the quality and quantity of your order prior to installation. We cannot guarantee a 100% color match or alignment on subsequent order.
  • Please ensure before hanging that you have received: 
  1. 1. the right number of strips to fit the width of your wall.
    2. the right length of strips to fit the height of the wall.
    3. the right quality of the print and design.
    (On very rare occasions, imperfections such as striping, dots or strange colors can escape our quality control procedures. If you see anything out of the ordinary, please contact us prior to installation.)
Equipment
  • Adhesive (any adhesive specifically suited to non-woven vinyl or non-woven fleece wallcovering, depending on your order).
  • Bucket of clean, clear, warm water
  • Clean, dry cotton towel
  • (Lambswool) roller or block brush
  • Moist natural sponge
  • Perpendicular
  • Pencil
  • Plastic spatula
  • Scissors (if applying wallpaper around windows/doors)
  • Stanley knife or a sharp razor knife
  • If applying wallpaper around windows and doors with detailed trim, an additional smaller/narrower plastic spatula/putty knife is helpful for guiding the Stanley knife
Preparation

The preparation involves (in chronological order):

  • preparing the surface;
  • applying a primer;
  • checking the wallpaper;
  • setting the room temperature;
  • preparing the adhesive.

 

Preparing the surface

Prepare your wall well ahead of the actual installation. The underlying surface should be smooth, solid and dry, and should have a uniform color. Use a detergent solution to remove old wallpaper, paint or whitewash and especially any traces of ink and other surface contaminants such as grease, dirt, polish and pen marks. Subsequently, rinse the surface with clean water and allow it to dry fully. Sand-finished plaster must be smoothed. On new walls, the dry wall joints must be taped, bedded and sanded.

Applying the primer (if needed)

For good adhesion, we recommend that all porous and absorbent walls be primed with a primer or diluted adhesive (also known as wall size). This will prevent the adhesive from being absorbed into the plaster during installation, which could cause the wallpaper to shrink and seams to appear between strips.

Checking the wallpaper

After you’ve received the wallpaper, check the quality and quality as described above.

Setting the room temperature

A day before installation, set the temperature to room temperature and keep it constant during and after installation, because fast drying of the adhesive can cause the seams between the strips to open.
Before applying your wallcovering, allow the wallpaper and the adhesive to acclimate to the room where it will be applied for a minimum of 24 hours. You can do this by taking the wallpaper out of the packaging and unrolling it slightly.
During and after installation, prevent any concentrated heat from heaters, direct sunlight or strong lamps on the wallpaper.
Make sure the room is ventilated, but prevent any significant draft along the wall.

Preparing the adhesive

We recommend a ready to paste adhesive that you don’t need to mix yourself. Use as little water as possible. This also reduces the chance of shrinkage, which can cause unwanted visible seams to open up between the strips.

Installation
  • Step 1: Use a perpendicular to mark a straight line with a graphite pencil, positioning it so that the first strip is applied with an approx. 2 cm (1/2”) margin to wrap around the first corner. This ensures that the first drop will be hung straight. The rolls are numbered, starting at strip number 1. You should begin at the left side of your wall, working from left to right.
  • Step 2: Using a roller or a block brush, paste the wall for the first strip. Apply an additional 15 cm (6”) of adhesive than the strip width, so that the roller never comes into contact with the previously applied strip. After applying the wallcovering over the adhesive, use a plastic spatula to smooth out the strip in a vertical direction. Make sure to smooth out any air bubbles that may have been trapped underneath.

    Important: Make sure to apply the adhesive to the wall, and not to the wallpaper. Applying it directly to the wallpaper could cause the wallpaper to shrink as it dries.

  • Step 3: Apply the next drop immediately adjacent to the first, so the two drops touch but do not overlap. Nudge the lengths together gently and smooth the seams. As you go, trim excess paper at the top and bottom of each strip with a Stanley knife or a sharp razor knife held almost parallel to the wall. Guide the blade with the plastic spatula to prevent tearing.

  • Do not cut into the surface of the wall! If you do, the seams may open up later.

  • If applying wallpaper to walls containing windows and/or doors, allow the leading edge of the strip to overlap the trim. From the paper’s waste edge to the corners of the trim, make diagonal cuts with scissors to allow the paper to lay flat on the wall. Remove the bulk of the overlap with scissors. Smooth the paper with the plastic spatula, then use the smoother to push the paper snugly against the casing, the ceiling, and the baseboard. Use a smaller/narrower spatula or putty knife to trim off any remaining overlap, using the spatula as a guide.

  • Step 4: As you go, remove excess paste with clear warm water, using only a moist natural sponge. Dry it with a clean cotton towel. If excess adhesive remains on the surface of the wallcovering for too long, it can cause permanent damage. Make sure you also check woodwork and ceiling for adhesive and remove this as quickly as possible.