It is more than realistic to glue the wallpaper yourself, but you must first study all the pitfalls, process features and common mistakes. This is what we want to talk about today, so we are sharing instructions and tips on how to glue wallpaper!
How to calculate the number of rolls
To do this, you need to measure all the walls, calculate their area and divide this figure by the area of the roll. Do all rounding in plus, and leave a small margin. If this is a wallpaper with a pattern that needs to be joined, a 20-30% margin will be needed.
The most common roll width is 53 or 106 cm, and the most common length is 10 m, but there are exceptions. To calculate the number of cuts, you just need to divide the perimeter of the room by the width of the roll. When buying, always take a couple of rolls in reserve.
Keep in mind that with a canvas length of 10 m, and a ceiling height of 2.5 m, full strips will turn out to be 3, not 4, because a little goes into allowances and shortcomings. But the leftovers are also useful for pasting walls around windows and doors.
How to calculate the amount of glue
It is even simpler here: on each package it is usually written how many rolls this amount will be enough. If you plan on priming the walls first using the same adhesive, take more for the package. The glue is chosen specifically for the type of wallpaper.
What tools will be needed
You need a bucket or other container to dilute this glue. You also need brushes and rollers, and preferably several, in order to determine what is more convenient for you to work. For example, a wide tool is more convenient for the canvas, while a narrow and small tool is more convenient for corners and seams.
You will also need scissors, a knife, a plumb line, a simple pencil, a tape measure, a level, a spatula and a rubber roller or brush for smoothing. Stock up on rags, napkins and other consumables in advance. If you have to dismantle the skirting boards and sockets - think about it. Also, be sure to take a stable stepladder or special goats.
Removing the old coating
The first step is to remove the old covering from the walls: wallpaper or paint. It is easier with paint, because there are special solvents for it, and the remnants can be ripped off with sandpaper or a spatula.
Paper wallpaper is soaked with a sponge, rag and spray bottle. But the moisture-resistant and washable ones must first be cut so that the water passes inside. Make sure that moisture does not get on electrical appliances and sockets, and in general, it is better to turn off the electricity.
Aligning the walls
In order for the wallpaper to be glued smoothly and neatly, the wall must be perfectly flat. Depending on the number and complexity of defects, plaster or a special leveling mixture is sufficient. If old plaster remains on the surface, but cracks are visible on it, it must first be removed.
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Wall priming
The primer solves a lot of problems. This is protection against mildew with a fungus, and a reliable antiseptic, and improved adhesion between the wallpaper and the base. The primer is applied under the layer of plaster and then over it when it is dry. From tools, you will need a regular wide brush or roller.
Workplace preparation
To glue the wallpaper comfortably, you need a lot of space. In particular, a level and free space to measure and cut the rolls. And, depending on the type of wallpaper, also smear them with glue. Cover a wide counter or floor with oilcloth and place your tools nearby.
Room conditions
It should be warm and dry enough - about 20-23 degrees. Resist the temptation to open the windows, as the draft will easily ruin the fresh adhesive. Because of it, the canvas is glued unevenly, the glue does not set as it should, and bubbles appear.
How to cut wallpaper
Unwind the roll carefully at your work area and measure the strip to the height of the wall. Use only sharp scissors or a knife for cutting to keep the line straight. Cut horizontally and with a ruler.It is better to lay unnecessary plywood under the clerical knife so as not to scratch anything.
Where to start gluing wallpaper
It is best to start gluing the wallpaper from a visible vertical reference. For example, from a window or doorway. Glue the first canvas especially carefully, and check everything with a level or plumb line. The rest can be equal to it.
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How to apply glue to wallpaper
It all depends on the type of wallpaper you are using. Sometimes you need to apply glue to the canvas, sometimes to the wall, and sometimes both there and there. If you are applying glue to wallpaper, first fold the canvas together and leave it to saturate for 5-10 minutes.
Then gently lift the canvas by the top edge and stick it on the wall. Make sure that the time for impregnation is the same for all rolls. Place them on the wall in the same sequence in which you apply the glue.
How to apply glue to the wall
It's even easier here. Stir the adhesive for non-woven wallpaper (this is the one for which this method of pasting is usually used) according to the instructions. Take a wide roller and simply apply it to the wall along the width of the roll with a small margin.
How to attach a canvas to a wall
Apply the canvas from the stepladder from under the ceiling, and slowly go down. Apply the second canvas end-to-end or with a small but even overlap.
How to bypass sockets and switches
The first step is to turn off the electricity in the house so that no glue gets into the outlets. Remove the covers, stick the wallpaper directly over the holes, and then carefully make the cruciform cuts with a small, sharp knife. Just bend these corners carefully and cut off the excess.
How to bypass batteries
Just like sockets! Make cuts in the places where the pipes and fixtures come out, carefully cut off the excess and smooth everything with a rag or spatula. It only looks scary, but there are no significant problems in the process.
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How to trim edges
The strip of wallpaper should be measured with a small margin, so that edges remain under the ceiling and above the baseboards. They need to be cut off immediately, without waiting for the wallpaper to dry. Press the canvas with a thin metal spatula and cut with a construction knife strictly horizontally and perpendicular to the wall.
How to expel air bubbles
You will not be able to avoid air bubbles, so the main thing is to expel them quickly and accurately. Press the strip well along the entire length and smooth with a soft spatula or rag from the middle to the edge. It happens that the bubble is not pressed in any way. Then pierce it with a thin needle and slowly squeeze out the air.
How to paste over corners
You cannot bend the canvas in half vertically - it will be ugly. It is necessary to dock the two canvases with a little overlap. So there will be no folds, bubbles and lagging of the wallpaper from the wall in the future. Special corners for slopes will help to hide the joints around the openings.
How to choose a drawing
If you have a patterned wallpaper, you have two options. The first is to mark the next sheet directly on the wall along the previous one in order to dock it visually. The second is to immediately cut all the sheets on the floor, taking into account the joining of the picture.
How to dry wallpaper
Do not open the windows, but rather close the room completely. Try not to enter it at all during the day. As we said above, your main enemy, which will lead to further detachments, is a draft. It is also best to avoid direct sunlight.
