Hanging Instructions
You’ve selected our wallpaper for your project (yay!), but correctly hanging our wallpaper is paramount to achieving the desired look, as is the aftercare. For the best possible finish, we advise that a professional decorator is used to hang our wallpaper.
PREPARING THE WALLS
It is very important that the walls are clean, dry and free from any dust. An even surface is required to apply to. Make sure any old wallpaper or loose paint has been removed.
If you are applying directly onto a pre-painted wall, make sure it is an all-over light colour with no highly contrasting areas. Also make sure to roughen the surface with sandpaper. Newly plastered walls should be allowed to dry out completely before lining.
For best results, walls should be cross lined in a good quality lining paper. Make sure the lining paper has fully dried before applying our wallpaper to avoid any sticky messes!
PASTING & HANGING
Our wallpaper is a ‘paste the wall’ product. The paste needs to be applied directly onto the wall, NOT the back of the wallpaper.
To ensure the first strip goes on straight, it is helpful to mark the walls using a pencil and spirit level. If the first strip is straight, the rest will follow.
A good quality, solvent free, fungicide protected ready-mixed ‘tub’ paste – specifically for paste the wall papers should be used. It should be evenly applied to the wall to hang one length at a time, to an area slightly wider than the width of the roll. Make sure to double check the pattern direction prior to hanging. It is worth noting, that several of our designs are sold as pairs of rolls and the repeat is set over two rolls to create more flow within the horizontal repeating pattern.
Line up and butt joints together. Use a decorator’s brush to smooth down the wallpaper. Make sure to work from the centre to the edges to push out any trapped air bubbles. Try not to squeeze paste out of the joints and make sure that the paste doesn’t get onto the brush or in contact with the wallpaper surface as it will damage it. If paste does accidentally end up on the surface of the wallpaper, it should be lightly sponged while still moist, using a clean damp sponge. Only dab and avoid the temptation to rub!
Trim the top and bottom of the paper with a sharp knife to achieve a clean edge.
SUITABILITY IN AREAS OF MOISTURE
We are often asked if our wallpaper is suitable for areas of moisture, more specifically, bathrooms! We absolutely love seeing where you use our wallpaper and whilst our wallpapers are suited to most rooms, using them in bathrooms and kitchens take a little extra planning. The use of a wallpaper varnish such as POLYVINE decorators’ varnish is essential in these areas to protect the wallpaper from moisture seeping in.
It is always best to test the varnish on a small piece of wallpaper first as it may affect the colours.