How to Hang Wallcoverings
1. Remove all outlet plates, vent covers - anything that can be removed. Turn off current in the room & cover electrical outlets with masking tape.
2. Painted walls: Wash with solution of trisodium phosphate, rinse with clean water and allow to dry. New sheetrock:Apply 2 coats of Hirshfieldís Wall Prep Universal Primer:
Wallpapered walls: Remove,clean off old paste, rinse and dry (see Wallpaper Removal project guide).
3. Repair and patch holes & cracks.
4. We recommend Hirshfieldís Wall Prep over painted surfaces with flat paint and Uniprep over surfaces with a sheen.
5. Check that all dye lot numbers are the same on each roll. Inspect each roll for flaws.
Measuring and Cutting
6. Start in an inconspicuous corner, i.e., behind doors that open into the room. Plan to work from left to right.
7. Take the width of the paper minus 1/2î and measure that distance out to the right from the corner. With a pencil, draw a straight vertical line using a plumb or a level. Determine the pattern desired at ceiling line before you cut first strip off of the roll.
8. Cut first strip allowing 2î overlap at the top & bottom for trimming. The adhesive on prepasted wallcoverings is activated by running strip through a water tray half filled with lukewarm water. Make sure water makes contact with every part of the adhesive side of the strip. As strip is slowly pulled from the water, fold the strip in the ìbookedîposition (ends to middle). See project guide ìHow to Prevent Shrinking Seams.î Non-prepasted strips: Lay strip pattern side down on a work table covered with a plastic drop cloth. Apply an even coat of the recommended adhesive to the entire strip using a medium nap roller. Book.
9. Strips must rest in this booked position for 10 minutes before hanging. Storing the booked strip in a plastic garbage bag will keep the edges from drying during this time.
Hanging
10. Carry the booked strip to the wall and unfold the top half only. Position tophalf on wall with 2î overlap at ceiling and line up right edge on the vertical line. Lightly smooth strip with brush or vinyl smoother.
11. With this done, unfold the bottom half and smooth the strip working out all the bubbles. Wrap the 1/2î overlap on the left around the corner. Make diagonal slits at ceiling and baseboard corners to help avoid wrinkling and tomake it easier to wrap around the corner.
12. Trim excess at top and bottom, using a sharp razor knife or snap knife and a 10î broad knife as a guide. Position the broad knife between the blade and wallcovering. Change blades after each strip. The secret to a good cut is to move the scraper along the wall while keeping the blade in contactwith the wall.
13. Wash each strip after hanging with a sponge and clean water. Change water frequently.
14. Hang additional strips in the same manner, butting, not overlapping, the seams. Wash.
15. Inside corners: Measure from the edgeof the last strip to the corner. Measure the top, middle and bottom of the wall.Add1/2î to the widest measurement. Mark this measurement the length of your next strip and cut it into two sections.
16. Position first section on wall taking care to match the pattern with the previous strip. Strip will slightly overlap onto adjoining wall.
17. Make corner slits at top and bottom to facilitate overlap. Flatten strip with smoothing tool, trim excess at ceiling and baseboard.
18. Measure width of remaining section. Mark this distance on the wall from the corner and draw a plumb line on new wall using level.
19. Position strip with cut edge in the corner and manufacturerís edge on plumbline. Maintain horizontal match. Smooth. Trim at ceiling and baseboard. Rinse strip. Note: If paper is solid vinyl, vinyl-to-vinyl adhesive must be inserted at overlap.
20.Outside corners:Wallcovering generally can be wrapped around outside corners unless adjoining walls are out of plumb. If this is the case, follow instructions for inside corners but add 1î (instead of 1/2î) for the wraparound. Be sure to eliminate trapped air at the corner.