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How to: Put up wallpaper

By Lisa Schryver, Tribune Media Services, Source: Tribune Media Services

Hanging wallpaper is a delicate art. Yes, it can be tackled by do-it-yourselfers, but there are a few rules to go by before starting the project.

Leon Smith, JustAnswer.com’s home improvement expert, today’s wall coverings can create just about mood. Here are his tips for hanging wallpaper the right way.

1. Do your homework. Surf the Internet and check out how-to videos on YouTube. Do as much research as you need to prepare for the job.

“Hanging wallpaper is a process that requires a very high level of attention to detail,” he explains. “It only takes a 1/8" misalignment to destroy the appearance of a wallpaper job. Make sure that you will not be disturbed while doing the job; a trip out of the room to take a phone call can have you returning to half of the wallpaper peeling off the wall.”

2. Measure and re-measure. Accurate measurements are the basis of just about any home-improvement project. It’s critical to take an exact measurement and do a few pre-placement trials before actually adhering anything to the wall.

“If you hang 2/3 of the wall and discover that you trimmed the first piece 1/2" too short, it is too late,” Smith says. “Roll it up and go get more wallpaper.”

3. All adhesives are not created equal. There are a variety of wallpaper adhesives on the market today. Some adhesives are less toxic than others. Be sure to check out the label before purchasing.

“Using natural pastes as the adhesive is a must when you have a child that may teeth on it,” Smith says in regard to using wall coverings in a child’s room. “Other considerations would include the inks used to produce the drawing on the wallpaper, and of course, the paper itself. [Ensure] that all of the products that go into producing the material should be thoroughly checked for anything toxic – even in the slightest degree.”

Always pre-soak each strip before you apply it and keep drop cloths on the floor where you are working to catch any excess paste, he says. The goal is to not so much glue the wallpaper to the wall surface, but rather to bond the paper fibers of the drywall and the wallpaper together.

“Personally, I prefer a little more elbow grease and the confidence of many years of using natural pastes by thousands of artisans over technology,” he adds.

4. Always use top-of-the-line tools. “Sure, you can get the job done with a Dollar Store squeegee, but you can easily tear a critical piece,” Smith says.

Also, be sure to keep your cutting blade sharp. Change blades if you’re using replaceable ones, or use a knife sharpener if you’re using a knife.

5. Consider the area. Just as you would use primer on your walls before painting, it’s equally as important to prepare your walls before applying wall coverings.

“If the drywall has holes or rough surfaces, then the wallpaper will never adhere properly and that is where it is going to start to come off the wall,” Smith says. “In less than a year, you could be facing a large section that has delaminated and/or bubbled.”

In new homes, a light scuffing of the drywall paper and taping compound will suffice.

© 2009, Tribune Media Services