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WALL COVERINGS

Choosing a Wallcovering

There are so many wallpapers on the market now. How do I choose one type over another?
Wallpaper is now commonly referred to as wallcovering because it can be made of vinyl, grass cloth, fabric, or foil as well as paper. New types, patterns, and textures are always being introduced, and you'll find a range in wallcovering quality, too.

Although more expensive than paint, most wallcoverings are moderate in cost; however, exotic papers can be pricey. Though the prices may be tempting, avoid buy-ing cheap wallcoverings—they're more likely to stretch, shrink, tear, or have adhesion problems.

Today most wallcovering comes prepasted—you just wet it and put it up. A single roll will usually cover 25 square feet of wall. Browse through wallcovering books and talk with the salespeople at your local wallcovering outlet. Borrow swatches of the patterns you like. At home, tape the swatches to the wall to see if they are compatible with your carpeting, lighting, and furnishings.

Generally, small prints and light colors make a room seem larger. Big, bold patterns and dark colors will make the feel smaller.

Rolling Seams

I've heard you should roll seams only once after you hang wallpaper. Is this true?
Resist the temptation to roll the seams too hard, too many times, or too quickly after the paper has been hung. Wait until the paste has had a chance to set up and get tacky (about 30 minutes); then roll the seam lightly—once.

Rolling too soon, while the paste is too watery, can force the paste out and away from the back of the paper. Rolling with too much pressure can leave visible roller marks. If a seam needs to be pushed together slightly, use a lightly dampened sponge instead of your fingers to adjust it before rolling it. The sponge elimi-nates fingerprints and distributes the pressure over a wider area.

Tight Seams

How do I get super-tight seams when I hang wallpaper?
People tend to hang the entire drop, then use their hands to push the seams together. This can stretch the paper causing the seams to come apart later. It's best to unfold only the top half of the drop as you start. Install it about a foot from the ceiling, laying it seam to seam. (Match the pattern exactly at eye level where it's most likely to be noticed.) Work it down the wall as far as you can reach, then use a smoother to flatten the paper across the rest of the upper part of the wall. Step off your ladder, unfold the bottom half, and repeat.

If you get off track or create a large crease, pull the entire strip away from the wall and start over. If the back side seems to dry out, rewet it with paste activator and try again.

Paste Activator

My friend uses something called paste activator when she hangs wallpaper. Would it help me?
Paste activator can be used instead of plain water on the back of prepasted wallpaper. It increases the stickiness of the paste already on the paper to help it stick even better to your walls and to prevent seam separations. If you're a beginning wallpaper hanger, you may tend to overhandle the paper, in which case an activator can help keep the glue on the edges. Pros love the stuff, too.

Activator can get a little messy, though. When you roll it on, keep one edge of your paper even with the edge of your table and the other edge on top of your next drop (strip of wallpaper). Be sure to wipe the seams of the hung paper with a sponge and clean water. Activator can leave a clear, glossy coating on the surface of the paper, so never use it in a water tray (the rectangular pan that is used to completely submerge wallpaper).

Paste activator is cheap insurance against adhesion problems and sepa-rating seams. A gallon or two is all it takes to cover an average room.

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TITLE: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture Store

Home Improvement Category: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself

Shopping Mall: Home Improvement offers do-it-yourself Home Improvement guide and store, Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself Store

Home Improvement Topics: Home Improvement, Home Depot, Home Decor, Home Decorating, Home Remodeling, Home Decor, Home Interior, Home Furniture, Home, Do it Yourself, Doityourself, DIY, Diy Network, Do-it-Yourself