FOCUS On Wallpapering

I keep hearing that wallpapering is now back in fashion - in my view it's always been a popular decorating task but I realise that some novice DIYer's find wallpapering a little daunting, so perhaps I can offer a few hints to take away some of that fear.

Remember that there is a full information sheet about hanging wallpaper on the FOCUS website.

The first activity is to select the type of wallcovering. If you intend to paper over a rough wall, choose a covering that is textured and will hide the blemishes. If the paper is to be hung in a room that has a damp atmosphere, like a kitchen, then choose a vinyl wallcovering - this also has the advantage of being easy to wipe clean.

When you have chosen the wallpaper buy enough rolls to do the job: the FOCUS website has a calculator or a member of the store staff will help you. Sometimes it can be difficult to get the correct number of rolls because of the amount of paper wasted when matching the pattern. To overcome this, buy a few rolls extra and take back the ones you don't use. This is okay as long as you don't take too long to return the unwanted rolls. Remember, always buy rolls with the same batch number or letter.

Perhaps the most usual problem when wallpapering is not pasting the back of the wallpaper properly. If you are using a conventional wallcovering, check carefully that the back of the paper is well pasted, taking care with the edges and looking to see that there are no dry patches. Read the information on the back of the label - it will state if there is an ideal time span for the paste to soak into the paper before it is hung. Even when hanging conventional wallpaper, I suggest that you size the wall - that is, apply paste that contains fungicide (most wallpaper paste contains fungicide so keep it out of the reach of children and pets) to the wall as well as the paper. This allows the paper to slide on the wall and overcomes any problems that may be caused by absorbent areas soaking up the paste so that it dries too early.

Perhaps the easiest way to wallpaper is to use 'Straight Up' - a wallcovering that does not need pasting - you paste the wall instead. There are so many designs using the 'Straight Up' technology that even the most cautious DIY'er can achieve a professional look - it seems such a sensible development. The wall is pasted using a brush or a roller to cover an area a little wider than the wallcovering. Then 'Straight Up' is hung onto the wall and trimmed to length. This seems ideal when papering a long drop like the stairs - it cuts out all the juggling with folded lengths of pasted wallcovering. I would think it also speeds up the process - one person can paste the wall while another hangs the wallpaper. Another advantage is that it can be easily removed by simply pulling it off the wall. This, to my mind, is what the DIY industry is about - making the jobs easier for us.

I haven't gone into detail about hanging wallpaper. You still need to do the preparation, making sure the paper is vertical and all that necessary stuff, but that information can be found on the website as I said earlier. However, I hope I've given you the incentive to have a go at it. Please remember to work safely and make sure when using step ladders that they're in good order and properly erected - do not over reach!