Wallpaper

Decorative paper has been used to cover walls since the 16th century in Europe.

This 1509 block print is the earliest surviving English wallpaper.

This woodblock-printed wallpaper, hung at a private home around 1550 and bears the arms of England as well as the Tudor rose, emblems of status and loyalty.

Wallpaper That Moves: Three Hundred Years of Wallpaper History in Three Minutes

TERMS TO KNOW

Picking out wallpaper is more than just color and print. The following is a list of terms to look for on a manufacturer's label.

Is the wallpaper:• Scrubbable? Good for

children's rooms and hallways.

• Moisture-resistant? Good for bathrooms.

• Stain-resistant? Good for kitchens, hallways and children's rooms.

Symbols to look for:• Waterproof for application only.

Paste spots can be blotted away

• Light stains can be cleaned with a damp sponge

• Stains, with the exception of oils and fats, etc. can be cleaned with soapy water and a sponge

• Dirt can be removed with mild soap and water and a soft brush.

Is the wallpaper:• Self-adhesive? No

supplies needed for hanging.

• Prepasted? No paste needed. Just water.

Symbols to look for:• The reverse side of the

wallpaper has been pre-coated with wallpaper paste and is activated by shortly immersing in water

• Apply paste to the wallpaper

• Apply paste to the surface to be papered.

Is the wallpaper:• Removable or

Strippable? Good for when you change your mind.

Symbols to look for:• Strippable: wall paper can be

completely stripped from the wall in a dry state

• Peelable: the top layer can be peeled off in a dry state. The bottom layer remains on the wall as lining paper

• Remove wet: wallpaper must be wet and completely removed.

TYPES OF WALLPAPER

It is a good idea to understand which types of wallpaper are available, so that you choose the correct wallpaper for the finish you want.

Vinyl Coated• Design printed on paper

and treated with a vinyl coating

• Unaffected by exposure to humidity making it ideal for kitchens and baths

• Easily maintained; durable and washable

• Easy to hang and remove

Solid Vinyl• Design is printed on a

solid sheet of vinyl that is laminated to a paper back

• Very durable • Resistant to moisture and

stains • Peelable and scrubbable• Can be used in most

areas of the home.

Fabric Backed • A layer of fabric, coated by a

solid, not liquid, vinyl layer• Very durable• Can be used in any climate

or humidity• Can be used in heavy traffic

areas• Easy to clean• Does not typically come pre-

pasted.

Coated Fabric• A layer of fabric in

between paper and liquid vinyl

• Creates many different depths and styles

• Does not cope well with humid conditions

• Use in low humidity areas like living room, dining room, or bedrooms.

Flocked• Silk, rayon or nylon fibers

are applied to give the appearance of a raised velvet pattern

• Works well in disguising wall imperfections

• Requires great care to clean

Foil• Light-reflective wallpaper

that gives the illusion of a larger space

• Extremely fragile and can easily rip or tear during installation.

Natural Wallpaper

• Made of a variety of materials including grass cloth, hemp, jute, and cotton

• Eco-friendly• Needs to be

installed by a professional. 

How much wallpaper do I need?

• Length + Length + Width + Width X Height /36 = number of single rolls of wall paper needed

• (36 is the number of square feet a single roll of wallpaper can cover)

• For every two openings (doors and windows) subtract one roll of wallpaper

• If the paper has a repeating pattern do not deduct for the openings.

If you have a drop pattern, reduce the total usable square footage on the roll.

• If the wallpaper has a straight match, all 36 square feet are usable

• A drop pattern of 0 to 6 inches has 25 square feet of usable wallpaper

• A drop pattern of 7 to 12 inches has 22 square feet of usable wallpaper

• A drop pattern of 13 to 18 inches has 20 square feet of usable wallpaper

• A drop pattern of 19 to 23 inches leaves only half a single roll as usable.

REMEMBER: Wallpaper is measured in single rolls but, sold in double and triple rolls.

Do the Math!!1. A client would like to wallpaper the bedroom in their home. The

room is 10 x 12 feet and has 8 foot ceilings. There is a single double-hung window and a bi-fold closet door in addition to the bedroom door. Calculate the number of rolls of wallpaper the client will need.

2. Diane’s dining room has been painted but she would like to add pattern to the walls. How many single rolls of wallpaper will Diane need to purchase if she wallpapers above the chair rail only. The dining room is 14 x 18 feet with 9 foot ceilings and the chair rail is placed 36 inches from the floor. There are two single entrances to the room and a picture window.

3. Robert is a dentist. He would like to wallpaper his examination room. The room is 12 x 11 feet with 8 foot ceilings. How many single rolls of wallpaper will he need to purchase?

Answers

• 10 + 10 + 12 + 12 = 44 X 8 = 352/36 = 9.78 1 window, 1 door, 1 bi-fold door 9.78-2=7.78 or 8 single rolls• 14 + 14 + 18 + 18 = 64 X 6 = 384/36 = 10.67 2 doors, 1 picture window 10.67-2=8.67 or 9

single rolls• 12 + 12 + 11 + 11 = 46 X 8 = 368/36 = 10.22 1 door (about ½ of a single roll) 10 single rolls

How to Hang Wallpaper: Video

• Free match

• Straight match

• Offset match

• Direction to hang

• Reverse alternate strips.

Wallpaper Challenges and Tips• What is the key to successfully hanging wallpaper?

– Start the first sheet on a plumbed line behind a door

• When a room has a focal point such as a fireplace, where should wallpapering begin when the wallpaper has a dominant design? – In the middle of the fireplace

• How do you hang wallpaper around obstacles such as door frames?– Hang the whole strip of wallpaper and brush to

the point where the wall meets the obstacle.

Weird test question……

A client has a dining room with odd-shaped architectural details and poorly painted walls. The BEST option for changing the look of this room is: A. Paint the walls a bright, glossy, red color. B. Wallpaper the room in a busy, random pattern. C. Stencil a border beneath the crown molding. D. Apply a wallpaper border three feet from the

floor.

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