Success with wallpaper is tied to preparation

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33033, 28 September 1972, Page 21

Success with wallpaper is tied to preparation

“When father papered the parlour," the Job was a terrible mess, according to the song.

It would not have been had father done his preparatory work properly and kept his head.

Others who do not want to emulate father will avoid trouble by sticking to this information prepared by one

of New Zealand’s leading wallpaper manufacturers: Preparing wails Fill in with a plaster filler all crevices, nail holes, cracks around door and window frames and along the top of the skirting board. When repairs are dry, smooth down with sandpaper. To strip old wallpaper, soak it with hot water, using a wide brush. Always start at the bottom and work up. There are wallpaper strippers on the market to make this easier. Leave soaking for 10-15 minutes, then using a broad stripping knife, carefully strip off. If the old paper is a washable type or has been painted over, scratch the surface first with a wire brush or sharp knife to allow the water to penetrate and soften the paste, this makes the paper easier to strip. Scrim Tighten the scrim by tacking back any sags and renew any broken tapes. You’ll find it an advantage to then line this type of surface with a lining paper. Hang the wallpaper in the usual way. Sizing Except for painted walls, all wall surfaces are porous and should be sealed before hanging wallpaper. Use glue size or one of the cellulose paste and size powders. Make sure that the whole wall is covered with a coat of size and allow to dry completely before applying wallpaper. Painting walls If the walls have previously been painted with a flat paint just coat the surface with size. If a gloss paint has been used, a mixture of lib of Plaster of Paris to J gallon of size will form a “key” for the wallpaper to stick to.

Planning It is usual to start at the window and to work away from the light to the door. Use a plumb line to give you a perfectly upright line as a guide where you start hanging. When you get to the door start again on the other side of the window and work round to the door from the other side. Preparing the paper Ensure that your rolls are all in perfect match before you start. Open them up and see that they are exactly the same before you start hanging. This is what is meant by shading before hanging. Measure wall, cut wallpaper into corresponding lengths, allow an extra 2in for trimming.