When renovating an apartment, many people are faced withchoice: to paint the walls or to cover them with wallpaper? To answer this question, you need to take into account many different factors. To make the choice easier, you should know that wallpaper has two big advantages over painting - when using it, the walls are decorated with a pleasant pattern, they can be made textured, suitable for the design of your apartment. To do this, you just need to learn a few techniques for quickly pasting wallpaper. Below are recommendations and technology for performing such work.
Before you start gluing the wallpaper, you need to make sure that they are all from the same batch and that there is enough of them to cover the entire area.
How to choose a suitable wallpaper for the room
The collections of these products offered on the market and in construction stores represent a huge selection according to such parameters as:
- texture of wallpaper material;
- various types of design studies;
- invoice of different types;
- a variety of color compositions.
The wallpaper itself is divided into the following types:
- regular wallpaper, washable, waterproof - in relation to moisture;
- heavy and light - by density;
- smooth wallpaper, with a relief surface, with a small or deep pattern - depending on the type of surface;
- single-color types or with small and large patterns - by color;
- combined wallpaper.
To choose the right wallpaper for your apartment, you should be guided by the following principles:
Figure 1. Scheme for applying glue to wallpaper.
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How to calculate the desired number of wallpapers
First, measure the height of the walls from floor to ceiling.Rolls are usually 10 m long. Therefore, we divide ten by the figure obtained during the measurement and get the number of whole panels that will go on the wall from one roll. The width of the wallpaper is 50 cm, so we measure the room along the perimeter and divide this number by 0.5 (all measurements must be taken in meters) and by the previously obtained number of panels. As a result, we get the number of rolls needed for the room. To exclude errors and insure against troubles, you should buy 1-2 rolls more than the calculated result when buying. Wallpapering one room takes one day. When buying them, check that all the rolls have the same designer number. It is not recommended to paste combined wallpaper yourself - it is better to call a specialist for this work. Return to the table of contents</a>
How to prepare a wall surface
Folding wallpaper.Wallpaper is glued to drywall or plastered walls. It is not recommended to glue new rolls to old ones. If the wall is painted, it is necessary to clean it from paint using a special liquid (it is sold in construction stores). Before gluing, a layer of wallpaper glue is applied to the porous surface of the plaster, which is then allowed to dry - this will help move the canvases along the walls to match the patterns. Return to the table of contents</a>
How to mark a room
You need to start pasting from the corner - this is necessaryto hide defects in the pattern if it is incorrectly aligned (usually this happens on the first or last piece). When using a large pattern, it should be taken into account that if there is any architectural decoration in the room (an arch, a fireplace), then the first piece should be glued along the axis of this object. Subsequent pieces are glued on both sides of the first. Having found the starting point, the roll is used as a template for marking the position of the panels on the wall. If the joint is in an inconvenient place, then the starting point should be shifted. If a person has not done such work before, then it is best to choose wallpaper with a small pattern when buying, when gluing which it is possible to arbitrarily combine patterns. If you do not want to mess with glue, then you can choose rolls with a ready-made adhesive film - they are much easier to glue. Before starting work, you need to determine the direction of the pattern itself - often manufacturers mark it with an arrow that is directed upwards, towards the ceiling. Return to the table of contents</a>
Tapping wallpaper
Wallpaper cutting diagram by length.First, measure the length of the wall and add 10-15 cm to the resulting figure for adjustment on each side. Then unroll the roll and begin marking the pieces. If the allowance is less, then more careful marking will be necessary. When using a table in work, it can be used as a template. From the very beginning, cut off the first piece, making a minimum allowance of 5 cm. The pattern of the subsequent panel must be aligned with the image on the first piece. Before , mark the entire roll, measuring the length along the table top and aligning the patterns on all pieces. Return to contents</a>
How to choose glue
If waterproof wallpaper is selected(vinyl or washable), you will need a special adhesive with fungicide additives, which will prevent mold from appearing on the walls. When using regular wallpaper, buy simple wallpaper glue. Its label indicates the number of rolls that can be pasted by purchasing the amount of adhesive given in the pack. Do not try to glue new sheets onto old wallpaper - the glue will soak them unevenly and they will peel off the wall. To dilute it, slowly pour the contents of the package into the amount of water indicated on the label. Stir the mixture constantly to prevent lumps from appearing. Let the glue settle (the time for this operation is indicated on the label). It retains its properties for about 6-7 days. The marked pieces of wallpaper are laid out on the floor. They should be laid with the pattern down. The glue is applied to the middle of the piece and spread over the entire surface of the canvas along its entire length with a brush or hair brush. If glue gets on the floor, it should be wiped off immediately with a damp sponge. The smeared edge of the piece is folded with glue inward, which allows it to be kept from drying out and gives time to move the canvas to the wall.
Wallpaper pasting procedure diagram.If you are working with thick wallpaper, you need to give it time to soak in the glue. Therefore, the sheet ready for pasting is temporarily put aside and the adhesive composition is applied to the next piece. It is possible to use wallpaper with the adhesive composition applied to it by the manufacturer. To paste such products, you need to use a plastic trough in which you should put the roll of wallpaper. Fill the container with water and place it near the wall. Cut off a piece of the required length (do not forget the allowances) and roll the roll with the upper end outward and the front side up. Immerse the wallpaper in water for the time indicated on the label, and then take it by the upper edge and drag it along the wall towards the ceiling. Excess water will drain into the trough. The sheet is adjusted to the required dimensions, smoothed out and cut along the markings. Return to the table of contents</a>
How to stick a wallpaper: the process of stickers and fits
The first piece is glued using a plumb line.Since the corners of the room are never strictly vertical, it is not recommended to align the first sheet along them. If the piece is not hooked correctly, a defect in the location of the main pattern will later be revealed. Therefore, using a plumb line, draw a vertical line on the wall. The distance from the corner of the room should be 2.5 cm less than the width of the roll. You will need a table or stepladder for the work, otherwise it will be impossible to reach the ceiling. The approaches to the walls should be free, since you need to work quickly, until the glue dries. Bring the sheet to the wall and bend the upper edge. Move it up so that it goes onto the ceiling by about 5 cm. Combine the edge of the piece with the vertical line drawn along the wall. During this process, part of the sheet will lie on the adjacent wall and cover the corner. Smooth the wallpaper with a soft cloth or a hair brush. The direction is maintained from the center to the edges. Then unfold the lower part with glue and, pressing it to the wall, smooth it out. The part in the corner is carefully leveled. Return to the table of contents</a>
Step-by-step technology for further work
To quickly paste wallpaper, you need to do the following:
Wallpaper gluing scheme.
Using scissors or a pencil, draw a line betweenceiling and wall, separate the wallpaper and cut along the markings. Then apply it in place and smooth it out. The same process is done with the baseboards. Apply glue and carry the next piece to the wall. Bend back its top, press it against the wall and align the pattern with the previous piece. Smooth it out and cut it out. All the rolls are pasted in this way. It is better to start this work from the window - then there will be fewer joints. The wallpaper should partially overlap the ceiling and baseboards. When working, the pieces should be kept as even as possible. If a person is right-handed, then for convenience he should work clockwise. If he is left-handed, then the process goes in the opposite direction. During pasting, large and small air bubbles form under the wallpaper. If this formation is large and is located in the middle of the pasted piece, then it can be removed in the following way: you need to pierce the bubble and allow the air to escape. Then, fill the syringe with glue and inject it into the area under the wallpaper. Carefully smooth out the surface of the corrected sheet. Return to contents</a>
Materials, tools and devices
Any beginner can easily and quickly paste wallpaper on their own, the main thing is not to deviate from the above technology for performing these works and strictly adhere to the recommendations.</ ul>
