Wallpapering: technique, materials, and pattern matching

Wallpapering is a classic part of the building painter trade and requires a different form of precision than painting. Where a painted wall can be corrected with another coat, a misplaced strip of wallpaper is visible immediately — therefore, substrate requirements, underlays, and technique are crucial before the first strip is hung.

§The substrate must be in order first.

Just as with painting, wallpapering starts with the base. The wall must be clean, dry, even and free of old wallpaper remnants that can cause unevenness or come loose again. Holes and cracks are filled and sanded, and on absorbent or porous surfaces, a primer or sealer is often used so the adhesive adheres evenly and any stains or discoloration do not show through the new wallpaper.

§Wallpaper types

There are many different types of wallpaper and the choice depends on the room and desired expression. Paper wallpaper is the classic often cheaper choice. Vinyl wallpaper and textured wallpaper are more durable and tolerate moisture and wiping better making them popular in for example entryways and children's rooms. Non-woven wallpaper (fiber wallpaper) has the advantage that the paste is often applied directly to the wall instead of to the wallpaper making both installation and later removal easier.

• 01Cardboard boxes
• 02Vinyl wallpaper — robust and wipeable suitable for exposed rooms
• 03Vernier calliper
• 04Structure wallpaper — hides irregularities in the substrate

§Pattern adjustment

Patterned wallpapers require that the strips match at the edges so the pattern continues without visible jumps. This is called rapport, and it indicates how much the pattern repeats and whether it shifts sideways from strip to strip. The larger the rapport, the more waste you typically get because you need to cut the strips so the pattern fits — you should account for this when calculating the amount of wallpaper for a job.

§From bane to finished result

The mounting itself requires that the adhesive gets the right drying time the paper is smoothed out without air bubbles and excess material is cut off along strips and corners with a sharp knife. Corners are often the hardest part because walls are rarely completely straight — here you work with overlap and careful trimming so the pattern still looks coherent.

Wallpapering is therefore a craft where patience and precision matter more than speed. A couple of minutes of extra care in measuring and cutting often saves an entire strip later in the process.