Q&A - Hanging wallpaper
We get asked many questions about wallpapering, what our products are made of, and how to go about hanging wallpapers. Here we have compiled our most frequently asked questions and answers, to help you make your wallpaper project a success.
How do I calculate the number of rolls?
You will need to know the height and width of your walls. Enter these under the heading “Calculate number of rolls” on the product page. You can also visit our wallpaper calculator page to calculate how many rolls you will need.
Do I need to paint before wallpapering?
No, none of our wallpapers requires you to paint beforehand. All of our wallpapers cover the underlying surface, regardless of the colour.
Can I wallpaper a light wallpaper over a dark one?
Yes, all of our wallpapers have a sufficiently high opacity to cover a dark patterned wallpaper without it being visible.
What surfaces can I wallpaper on?
The main thing to remember is that the surface should always be dry, flat and stable.
What tools will I need to hang wallpaper?
You will need the following:
1. Sponge
2. Spirit level or plumb line
3. Brush
4. Wallpapering tool
5. Scissors
6. Seam roller
7. Folding rule
8. Roller
9. Wallpaper knife
How do I remove old wallpaper seams?
If the seams overlap, they can be sanded down using sandpaper or planed down using a dedicated hand plane. Sometimes these overlapping seams may be slightly looser – if so, a knife can be used to cut/tear these down. Then fill and sand the surface so that it is flat to wallpaper over.
How do I align the pattern?
There are different ways of aligning the pattern, depending on whether the pattern alignment is straight or offset. Learn more about pattern alignment here.
Where do I start wallpapering?
Start in the most eye-catching corner of the room. From there, wallpaper in one direction, followed by the other. This way, any small misses in things like pattern alignment will be less visible.
How do I wallpaper around wall sockets?
1. Switch off the power and remove the plug socket/switch.
2. Wallpaper straight over it and then cut a small hole over the cables where the socket would otherwise be. Then replace the wall socket/switch.
How do I wallpaper corners?
Here you will find information on how to wallpaper both outside and inside corners.
How do I wallpaper around windows and doors?
Here you can read about how to wallpaper around windows and doors.
How do I get bubbles out of the wallpaper?
Make sure to get rid of all bubbles under the wallpaper using a wallpapering tool. A wallpaper brush is often too soft for this; use the recommended wallpapering tool instead.
Stubborn bubbles that cannot be removed may be due to there being insufficient or no paste. There may also be old bubbles in previous layers of old, paper-based wallpaper that are swelling. Often these do not expand once the paste has dried, but if they are bigger than the size of a palm they should be sanded and filled before continuing.
If you have miscalculated and find the odd air bubble after the wallpaper has dried, these can be dealt with as follows:
Make an incision through the entire bubble using a sharp razor blade. Try to lift up the paper and get paste inside the bubble. Press it down and allow the paste to dry.
What does EasyUp wallpaper mean?
EasyUp wallpaper is a non-woven wallpaper, which means that you apply adhesive directly to the wall and then hang the wallpaper. This makes for clean seams, as you place the wallpaper strips edge to edge instead of having any overlap. EasyUp wallpapers also offer a high enough opacity for you to be able to cover old wallpapers without seeing the pattern or colour underneath.
What is a non-woven wallpaper?
Non-woven wallpaper is a type of paper that contains polyester fibres. These mean that the paper remains strong when wet and does not swell. You can then apply adhesive directly to the wall and hang the wallpaper edge to edge.
What is the difference between paper-based wallpaper and EasyUp wallpaper?
The difference is that with EasyUp wallpaper, polyester fibres have been added to the pulp. This means that you can apply paste directly to the wall and then hang the paper. EasyUp wallpaper also remains strong when wet and does not swell on the wall, meaning that you can place the wallpaper edge to edge to avoid overlapping strips. Paper-based wallpaper is made from pulp without polyester fibres.
Which collections are paper-based and which are EasyUp?
The majority of our wallpapers are EasyUp. It is always stated on the label and in the wallpaper book if the wallpaper you have chosen is EasyUp quality or not. The Borosan paper collection is, however, a paper-based wallpaper.
How do I wallpaper with EasyUp Recover?
If possible, test on a smaller area to see the results on the surface you will be covering. The surface must be dry and clean for Recover to adhere to it. Painted surfaces should be cleaned with sugar soap or similar. Highly absorbent substrates may require pre-pasting. Apply a generous amount of paste to the surface in an even layer, following the product label’s instructions, applying enough for 2–3 strips at a time. Allow the paste to dry for roughly 15 minutes for the best adhesion. Place the strips edge to edge. Use a wallpapering tool to carefully press out any air. Use a sharp tool to cut excess paper cleanly. Allow to dry completely (12–24 hours) before wallpapering or painting the surface.
What do the symbols on the wallpaper roll mean?
Learn more about all of our symbols here.
Can I recycle excess wallpaper?
Wallpapers are sorted as combustible waste.
