Paperhanging Fads.

Progress, 1 October 1908, Page 424

Paperhanging Fads.

Some wallpapers are more susceptible to the action of light than others, and fade on exposure rather badly. Colours, such as mauve, magenta, violet, and some of the more delicate greens, are very apt to fade or bleach under the action of the sun. Ingrain papers are also very liable to fade, indeed, it is to be doubted whether there are any really permanent ingrains on the market. In all these cases the fading, however, will take at least several months before it becomes noticeable and then it would not be conspicuous unless the position of pictures or furniture were moved so as to expose portions which had been protected. The fault or trouble we now refer to is in papers which fade within a week or so of being applied. Usually discolouration takes place in patches. It may arise from an excess of alum being used in mixing the paste, and it is well to observe that at the best alum is a dangerous thing to use in paperhangers ' paste, especially so when the colours are delicate or when there is any "gold" used in the pattern of the paper. The object of the alum is to stiffen the paste and prevent decomposition, but it is doubtful whether the last advantage is a real one. .V few drops of formaldehyde will have a much better effect in keeping the paste sweet and cannot possibly affect the colour unless used in excess. Fading or discolouration of papers frequently takes place when the paper is done over fresh plaster, either in the case of a newlybuilt house or where extensive repairs hcue been done to the plaster. The material actually employed for repairing plaster

walls is plnster of Paris. "Albastine" is a material which may be used for the same purpose, and will not set so quickly, and is much more convenient. When papering over newly-plastered walls, it is almost impossible to hope that the paper will stand without becoming discoloured unless some protective measures are taken. Lining with plain white paper is sometimes resorted to, but a much better plan is to apply one or two coats of a material called "Rubberose," which is a liquid made by Messrs. Morris and West, of Chester. It can be applied to the fresh plaster, which is hard, and gives a surface which may be safely papered upon or distempered without fear of discolouration. Sometimes in hanging paper, particularly ingrains, a colour is found to be imperfectly fixed, and the paper, when pasted, smears under the slightest touch. In such a case a test should be made by tearing off a few scraps of the paper and placing them in a tumbler of water. If the colour is properly fixed it will not be affected. If the water is tinged with the colour, one can be quite certain that the paper was not properly made. — A. S. Jennings, in Illustrated (kirpmter and Builder.