How do you wallpaper a wall?

Wallpapering a wall involves a series of steps to achieve a smooth and professional finish. Here's a detailed breakdown of the process:

Preparation is Key

Before you even think about applying wallpaper, proper wall preparation is crucial. This ensures the wallpaper adheres correctly and looks its best.

Clean the Walls: Remove any dirt, dust, or cobwebs using a damp cloth or sponge.
Repair Imperfections: Fill holes and cracks with filler and sand smooth once dry.
Remove Obstructions: Take off any wall plates, fixtures, or coverings.
Size or Prime: Apply a wallpaper primer or size to ensure the wallpaper adheres well, especially on newly plastered walls or painted surfaces with glossy paint.

Accurate marking helps ensure your wallpaper goes up straight and avoids visible seams.

Use a Plumb Line: Determine the starting point for your first strip using a plumb line to ensure vertical alignment.
Mark a Line: Lightly mark the wall with a pencil according to the width of the wallpaper roll. This guides you when placing each length of wallpaper.

Precision cutting will minimize waste and ensure clean edges.

Measure and Add: Measure the height of your wall and add a few inches to each measurement (usually 2-4 inches) at both the top and bottom for trimming.
Cut Carefully: Use sharp scissors or a utility knife on a flat surface to cut the wallpaper length.
Match Patterns: If your wallpaper has a pattern, line up each subsequent piece to ensure a continuous design.

Applying paste correctly is crucial for proper adhesion.

Use the Right Paste: Select the paste that is recommended for your type of wallpaper.
Even Application: Apply paste evenly to the back of each wallpaper piece, using a brush or roller, and ensure you cover the edges well.
Book the Paper: Fold the pasted sides together, "booking" the paper to keep the paste moist and allow it to soak into the paper. This method usually requires a 5-10 minute soak time before hanging.

Hang each strip of wallpaper systematically for the best results.

Start at the Top: Gently position the top of your first wallpaper strip on the wall, aligning it with your vertical mark.
Smooth Down: Use a smoothing brush or plastic smoother to eliminate air bubbles, working from the center outwards.
Match Seams: Position each subsequent piece edge-to-edge against the previous strip, carefully lining up pattern matches, if applicable.

Finish the process by removing any excess wallpaper for a neat appearance.

Trim Top and Bottom: Use a sharp utility knife and a straight edge to trim the excess wallpaper along the ceiling and baseboard, creating clean lines.
Wipe Off Excess Paste: Use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe away any excess paste from the wall and wallpaper.

Step	Description
1	Prepare the wall – clean, repair, and prime.
2	Mark the wall - use a plumb line to determine start position.
3	Cut wallpaper to size - with added overlap for trimming.
4	Apply wallpaper paste - using the correct paste and method.
5	Apply the wallpaper - aligning and smoothing with brush or smoother.
6	Trim excess - with a sharp knife and straight edge.

By following these steps and taking your time, you can successfully wallpaper a wall and achieve a professional-looking result.