Wallpaper Installation Guide
HOW TO INSTALL PRE-PASTED WATER-ACTIVATED WALLPAPER
Review the detailed instructions below before beginning the installation process. It is recommended to practice installation with a wallpaper sample before committing to a larger order.
WALL PREPARATION
The preparation of the wall is an important part of the process. The wall should be smooth—without any texture. Fill in any holes and sand down any rough areas to ensure that the wall is perfectly smooth, flat, and free of contaminants. The wall should be clean and dry before you begin the installation.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
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Bucket
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Roller & tray
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Spirit level
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Drop cloth
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Sponge/cloth
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Pencil
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Sharp utility knife and extra blades
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Seam roller
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Smoothing tool
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Trim guide
HANGING PREPARATION
Your Pre-pasted Water-activated Wallpaper arrives in a roll and is supplied in numbered panels according to the order in which they should be hung. Carefully unpack the panels and lay them out side by side. They should be hung from left to right, and edge to edge. Make sure no panels are missing, that none have any defects or damage, and that the print is correctly aligned across all panels.
It is recommended that two people install the wallpaper.
It is crucial that the first panel is installed properly before installing the following panels. To make sure the first panel is hung straight, you can draw straight vertical markings one panel width (64.5 cm) in from the left corner using a spirit level, a measuring tool, and a pencil. Use the markings as a guide when hanging the first panel. Markings should be as faint as possible in order to avoid showing through the wallpaper.
BOOKING THE PAPER
Before hanging the paper, it is necessary to "book" the paper to prevent it from expanding on the wall, which can cause bubbles and wrinkles. In the process of "booking," the paper is folded over on itself, paste-to-paste, to allow it to relax for several minutes before it is applied to the wall. You should book pre-pasted wallpaper as soon as it has been soaked or sprayed with water. By doing so, the paper can fully expand, relax its curl, and allow it to fully activate the adhesive, creating a goopy consistency.
Booking can be done in a few ways:
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Wet the back of the paper thoroughly with a paint roller or sponge.
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Wet the adhesive thoroughly with a spray bottle. Ensure there is an even amount of water throughout the entire panel by keeping the sprays consistent.
Helpful tip: A flat surface and bright overhead lighting will come in handy! If any dry spots do appear in the light, you can use this setup to verify that the entire length of paper is saturated. You can also use a flashlight or even your cell phone. Most often, you will find the edges of the paper to be unsaturated. When you notice these spots, wet them!
Using the diagram below, wet the paper thoroughly and gently fold the top and bottom pasted sides together, to meet in the middle. Avoid creasing the paper as this can cause cracks in the print. After a panel of paper is booked, allow it to rest for at least 3–5 minutes before hanging. Once the paper absorbs the water, the fibers will expand. When the paper dries, it will tighten again for a smooth, professional finish.
START HANGING
Once the first panel of wallpaper is properly booked for 3–5 minutes, pick it up and unfold just the top half of the paper, leaving the white edge with the barcode information still booked.
INSTALLING THE FIRST PANEL
Start from the top left corner and begin installing in a straight vertical line. Make sure the left-hand edge aligns with your vertical line. Use your pencil markings to the right of the paper as a guide.
If your ceiling edge is not perfectly straight, start about 2.5 cm above the ceiling line and then trim the paper once dry—making sure the edge is straight and even on the wall. Ask your friend to step back and check that the panel is straight and level. If you are installing in the corner, that edge may help, too.
Once the paper is in position, unfold the bottom half of the panel to install onto the wall. Smooth the paper downward with a damp sponge or a wallpaper smoothing tool. Make sure to remove air bubbles as you go by lightly pressing and moving to the edge of the paper.
ADDITIONAL PANELS
Apply the second and subsequent panels, ensuring the pattern or image matches up as you go and that the appropriate amount of paper runs over the top and bottom edges. Our panels are applied edge to edge, so each panel butts up to the next on the wall. The panels should not overlap.
Make sure to press the panels together firmly at the seams—use a seam roller for the best results. Avoid getting wallpaper paste on the front of the mural as this will show when it dries. Note: Avoid hard creases as this may cause cracks in the print.
If there are any bubbles or wrinkles, you can lightly press or smooth them out, or just peel back that area and re-apply.
Please note: Pressing too hard will not damage the wallpaper; however, it may cause your hands to gather ink, and could transfer from your hands onto another surface.
TRIM BOTTOM, TOP, AND SIDE
Once all the panels have been hung, carefully trim the top and bottom of your panels plus the far right sides, using a trim guide and a sharp utility knife.
Don’t rush, and make sure you have a sharp blade to achieve the best results.
HOW TO REMOVE
Start from the corner of one panel and peel away from the wall gently. You can use a damp sponge to help reactivate the adhesive as it will release more easily. Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to remove all remaining adhesive residue when the wallpaper is taken down from the wall.
HOW TO INSTALL PASTE THE WALL WALLPAPER
Review the detailed instructions below before beginning the installation process. It is recommended to practice installation with a wallpaper sample before committing to a larger order.