6 min read
Most people asking how to hang wallpaper are really asking why their last attempt lifted at the seams. Across Dublin we are called out to re-do papered walls far more often than to hang new ones, and the failures nearly always trace back to three things: paper hung over paper, an unsized wall, and starting from a corner instead of a plumb line.
Strip, repair and size the wall
Old paper comes off completely and the residual paste is washed away, because dried paste rehydrates under new adhesive and lets the fresh paper slide. Then the plaster is filled and sanded — paper does hide small imperfections, but it telegraphs anything raised.
Sizing seals the wall so it does not suck the paste dry before the drop is positioned. On a bare or freshly filled wall, skipping this is the fastest route to seams that lift within weeks.
Plumb line first, not the corner
No wall in an Irish house is truly plumb and no corner is truly square. Hanging the first drop against a corner guarantees the pattern runs off within three drops. A plumb line is marked, the first drop is hung to it, and the work proceeds outwards in both directions from there.
- —Strip old paper and wash off paste residue
- —Fill, sand and size the wall
- —Mark a plumb line for the first drop
- —Butt seams tight — never overlap
- —Match the pattern across corners, doors and switches
- —Sharp trims at ceiling and skirting
Roll counting and pattern repeat
The repeat on a large mural or floral can consume far more paper than the roll coverage suggests. We calculate rolls from your wall dimensions and the specific repeat, including waste, so you order once. Running short mid-job on a batch-dyed paper is the worst outcome of all — replacement rolls often will not match.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you hang new wallpaper over old?
- It is possible on rare occasions but we strongly advise against it. Moisture in the new paste lifts the old paper and you get bubbles and open seams.
- How many rolls of wallpaper do I need?
- It depends on wall size and pattern repeat. Send us the dimensions and a link to the paper and we will give you an exact roll count.