Wallpaper Information & Care
Wallpaper: INSTALLATION
Before installing your new wallpaper, it is imperative that you thoroughly read our product information and safety policy. We suggest watching the above install video as well as reading this information.
NOTE: If you have selected to order a prep coat for your wash and wear paint, please complete this step first. The instructions on how to apply the paint prep product can be found here.
It's easiest to have two people to hang your new wallpaper.
Equipment needed:
- A step ladder
- A squeegee (provided with your arch)
- A sharp Stanley knife
- A clean, damp cloth
1. Check the wall for any defects (e.g. pictures hooks, remove and fill any holes). Also remove any switch plates/power point/light switch covers. Clear the area where you are going to install your wallpaper.
2. Remove oil, dirt and dust from your wall. Give the wall a wipe over with a wet cloth or sugar soap for older walls. Allow to dry completely. Do not use cleaning products. The wall must be smooth and clean before application. Bubbles may occur if you have not cleaned your walls adequately before application.
NOTE: The backing for your wallpaper is made from paper. It is possible your backing paper will scrunch or slightly crease either during transit or installation. This wont affect the end result of your wallpaper. Even if your wallpaper looks a little scrunched it will smooth on to your wall.
If your wallpaper backing accidentally catches itself during installation you can simply pull it apart. This wont affect the stickiness of your wallpaper.
3. Start from the left-hand side of the wall, with the wallpaper panel numbered drop 1. Work sequentially through the numbered panels. Ensure you have the wallpaper the correct way up. You must take your time, as panel 1 needs to be correctly positioned; it sets the tone for your entire wall.
4. When you are ready to stick the wallpaper on, peel back the backing sheet around 10cm and crease / fold back so that the peel sits flat (do not peel the entire backing sheet off yet).
5. Start by sticking the 10cm of exposed wallpaper and ensure that it’s level across your top cornice + a 1cm overhang (if you have cornice) or ceiling. NOTE: Sometimes your ceiling may not be perfectly square, this is why we overhang the wallpaper above the cornice and trim later. Your adjoining wall, also may not be perfectly square, therefore, you should overhang the wallpaper slightly over the left-hand edge and trim later. Smooth it onto the wall firmly with the soft side of the squeegee provided.
6. Now it’s time to the remove the backing sheet. Remember: make sure that it’s in exactly the right position before continuing. Don’t stick until you are comfortable that you have it in the right position. Now is the time to adjust the wallpaper if you are not happy with your positioning. Very slowly and evenly peel back the backing sheet. Continue as you go & smooth on firmly with your squeegee. Your assistant can slowly remove the backing sheet during this phase while you smooth it on firmly. Work your way down and outwards to remove any bubbles. Let this happen naturally, do not try to stretch or force it into place. Bubbles can occur if you have not pushed it down firmly.
7. You should not have too many wrinkles or bubbles if you’ve followed the above instructions, but sometimes it happens and if it does, don’t worry, just rub them out gently with your squeegee and/or reposition your wallpaper. If bubbles keep appearing, it can be due to the installation instructions not being followed. Bubbles that appear within 24 hours after the installation and where the wallpaper was initially smooth, generally will also disappear on their own within 2 weeks. If needed, bubbles can be pierced with a pin, and the wallpaper smoothed down again.
Note: Your wallpaper should never need to be creased. If you find that it is creasing stop pressure immediately, lift the wallpaper and re smooth firmly but carefully.
8. Apply all additional panels as per panel 1. All additional panels have a 1cm overlap, simply align the image at the top while your assistant aligns the image at the bottom. Remember to match the pattern / image on both panels before you stick.
9. Only when all panels have been adhered and you are comfortable the the wallpaper is positioned correctly, use a sharp Stanley knife cut around any switch plates or obstacles using relief cuts. See our install video for how to do this.
10. You should have overhang around the edges of your wallpaper that you now need to trim. Place the white side of your squeegee in to your wall join. Place your sharp blade on the outside of your squeegee. The squeegee is used as a straight edge guide and to protect the wallpaper. Drag both at the same time lightly along your wall edge. The trimmed wallpaper overhang can now be removed.
Our wallpaper is re-positionable, so if you feel you have made a mistake, you can simply peel it off slowly and gently and realign it. Do not trim or cut the wallpaper until you have installed the whole wall and are happy with the finished product.
Our wallpaper is both removable and reusable, however, the adhesive may weaken if exposed to oil, dirt and /or dust. We would suggest keeping the backing sheets, if you are moving to a new house / repositioning; stick the wallpaper back on to the backing sheet and roll carefully for easy transport. Please note – our wallpaper is made to measure, so if you move the wallpaper to a new location, it may not fit the new wall dimensions, as wall width and height vary.
Are you wallpapering two or more walls? If you have ordered your wallpaper to run seamlessly around adjoining walls, we will generally provide you with a consecutive wallpaper (rather than a specific wallpaper for each wall. The exception to this rule would be panelling or wainscoting which will be provided for each wall). As per normal installation, start at panel 1 and continue to the first corner. When you reach the corner, either cut it carefully with a metal ruler, then start again at the next wall, or fold it around the corner. Either method will ensure the pattern remains seamless. Remember to always install panel 1 above the top cornice to allow for wall warping, you have a 5cm overhang so take it above the cornice as much as you can. This is particularly important when installing multiple walls, so that your pattern continues to line up around the room.
Please note: If you are not comfortable or are having issues installing your wallpaper, professional installers can be found locally. We do not recommend you DIY your wallpaper if you are not comfortable in the process.
WALLPAPER: REMOVAL
To remove the wallpaper, simply pull slowly and carefully. Do not rip off forcefully and quickly.
We cannot guarantee a damage-free removal in all cases (e.g. sometimes paint can peel away from filler joins), as there is such a huge variety in wall preparation and paint quality. The better the walls have been prepared and painted, the less likely damage will occur when you remove your wallpaper.