Wall Covering Tips:

Things To Know Before You Begin

Obtaining Samples
Samples of our period wall covering products are available as follows and are highly recommended for color wall coverings. The action product color may differ somewhat from what is displayed on your computer screen.

Handscreened Papers - $3.00 each with a minimum charge of $7.00
All Other Papers - $2.00 each with a minimum charge of $5.00
Polymer/Wood Products - Samples are priced upon request. Contact us for details.

*Charges for product samples will be credited to your first order.

Return Charge
Due to the variations of manufacturer's policies, a return charge of 20% - 50% may apply to these items.

Handprints
Color variation is inherent with handprints from strip to strip and even within the strip and should not be construed as a defect.

Seams Open
Usually caused by lack of adhesive due to

1. Installer pushing seams together and stretching material. 
2. Excessive rolling of seams forcing adhesive from behind covering. 
3. Failure to apply adhesive to edge or covering when pasting. 
4. Allowing paste to dry on edges while booking.

Mildew
Caused by dampness and bacteria and inability of adhesive to dry. Special consideration must be given when hanging vinyls to preparation of sealed wall. Mildew is a fungus growth and flourishes in moist environments.

Piece Rolls
A roll of wallpaper may be in more than one piece. Use this roll first to get best use of your material.

Mixed Runs
All wall covering has a run number such as R3 or R5. Differences in shading from sheet to sheet will occur when two runs are used on same wall. Make sure to use only one run on each wall.

Streaks
Adhesive on front of paper. All washable papers should be washed down as hung to remove excess paste from surface.

Tears When Trimming
Usually caused by a dull blade. Change razor blades often.

Calculating Approximate Amounts
For borders and friezes, measure the distance around the room in feet. Divide by 30 to get coils for Lincrusta friezes, divide by 15 to get coils for paper and vinyl borders. For dados, measure the distance around the room in feet. For 1950, divide by 10 to get the number of boxes. For 1951 & 1959, divide by 9 to get the number of boxes. For 667, 668, 670 & 673, divide by 17 to get the number of double rolls. For all other patterns, determine the square footage to be covered. Divide by 50 to get the approximate number of double rolls needed. If the pattern repeat is too large, add an extra double roll. Use the strip count method for more precise estimating.

For 21 1/2" wide papers, use this chart to determine how many bolts you need.

Hints for Hanging Wallpaper

Read The Instructions
There is no great mystery in hanging wall covering today if a few basic procedures are followed. Inside each bolt of wall covering are hanging instructions for that particular paper. Always read the instructions even if you have had previous installation experience. If you are a first time do-it-yourselfer, you may want to begin with pre-pasted wallcoverings.

Preparing the Surface
Most surfaces require some preparation before wall coverings will adhere to them properly. Surface should be clean and smooth; therefore, wash down the walls and sand out any rough spots.

Newly plastered walls should be thoroughly dry before hanging wall coverings. If plaster is caustic, it must be neutralized by coating the wall with two pounds of zinc-sulfide dissolved in a gallon of water. Plaster walls that have not been aged or treated can cause the wall covering applied over them to appear discolored or splotchy.

Latex painted, drywall or wood should be sealed with an oil-based paint or enamel undercoat. Some latex paints will flake off and cause the wall covering applied over them to pull loose. If wall covering is hung over untreated drywall, it will be almost impossible to remove at a later date.

It is always best to remove old wall coverings before hanging new. No matter how tight they look, the moisture from the adhesive for the second layer may loosen the first. If the older paper has any metallic inks on it, these will possibly bleed through the new wallcovering.

Mildew should be removed before hanging wall coverings by washing the wall surface with a mixture of 3/4 gallon warm water, 2/3 cup trisodium phosphate, 1/2 cup detergent and 1/2 gallon of bleach. Be sure to add a tablespoon of Lysol or Borax to the new adhesive.

Gloss enamel surfaces should be sanded with coarse sandpaper or washed with an extra strong solution of trisodium phosphate soap, then thoroughly rinsed.

Be sure to wash off paste from woodwork before it dries and leaves a residue.

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