Spring has arrived and along with spring cleaning, you may be looking to update the interior design in your home by adding some new wallpaper. Hanging wallpaper is a skill which appears to be more difficult than it is. If you can master the basics, you can easily properly wallpaper your home and fix any existing wall cracks.
Method:
Before you wallpaper a wall, you need to ensure all old wallpaper has been removed.
To remove old wallpaper, simply get a sponge and soak it in warm water, then use this wet sponge to really soak your wallpaper.
Then using a steamer stripper tool, steam the wallpaper, beginning at the bottom and rising up.
Make sure to steam the wallpaper thoroughly to allow for the wallpaper to come away well.
Never rip the wallpaper away as it can cause the plaster to come away. Instead, use a wallpaper scraper to get rid of the wallpaper.
To wallpaper your wall, you need to measure the height of your wall and use your wallpaper scissors to cut your first strip, making sure to add four inches to this measurement.
Prepare your wallpaper adhesive, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Place your wallpaper strips face down on a pasting table and then apply the paste to the back of the wallpaper using a pasting brush, with upward and outward movements to apply to the back of the wallpaper.
If needed, allow time for the pasted strip to soak.
Fold the ends of the strip towards the middle of the length and prepare to hang.
When hanging wallpaper it is advisable to hang the first strip on a wall without a door or window, to give a good baseline.
Use a plumb line to draw a vertical line with a pencil to ensure you begin by hanging it straight.
Unfold the top half of the pasted length, and then press it gently against the top of the wall, allowing enough paper to trim at the ceiling.
Use a papering brush to smooth the length into place, match the edge with your vertical line, and remove any air bubbles.
Next, use the end of the brush’s bristles to gently tap the paper where the wall meets the ceiling and skirting.
To trim any excess paper, mark a line down the corner of the paper with the back of the scissors, ease the paper away from the wall and trim it with the scissors.
Finish by brushing the paper back into place and then continue this process with a second strip next to your first.
How to fix wallpaper cracks
Before you begin to wallpaper your wall, you need to fill in any wallpaper cracks.
To fix the issue begin by removing any loose plaster from the crack using the corner of a filling knife or scraper.
Next with a small paintbrush, dampen the crack with water to make the filler dry slowly, which helps to stop it from shrinking and falling out of the crack.
You should then load some filler onto a filling knife and draw it across the hole at right angles to the crack.
Press it firmly until the filler comes just over the surface.
Leave the filling to dry and then smooth it down with medium-grade abrasive paper wrapped around a sanding block.