There are many advantages to using wallpaper over paint to decorate your space. For instance, wallpaper can cover up imperfect or damaged walls as well as add texture and dimension in way paint simply cannot do. Wallpaper also offers a wide range of colors and complex patterns that would be difficult to create with a paintbrush.

Yes, it can be done. But first, complete preparation must be taken care. Make sure the walls are smoothened, all dents and cracks are removed, and a primer is applied. Once the surface is smooth, wallpaper can be hanged easily.

You can use wallpaper over just about any absorbent surface such as drywall, concrete, paneling, masonry, new and old plaster, and even tile or laminate. For uneven, newly repaired, or slick surfaces, you will need to apply lining paper which provides a smooth surface for the wallpaper to adhere without blemishes. The key to a successful project is correctly preparing the walls and choosing the right kind of wallpaper.

When working on a project for a kitchen or bathroom, you want to use wallpaper that is moisture resistant and unaffected by exposure to humidity. Vinyl coated or solid vinyl wallpapers are more durable and able to be washed which is ideal for dry areas in bathrooms and kitchens.

For the best possible result, ensure your walls are in their best condition prior to wallpapering. Be sure to remove all old paste residues. The old paste can stop the new paste from adhering to the wall properly. The wall must be roughened with sandpaper too. Emulsion paint can also result in application errors as again the paste cannot penetrate into the wall.

The standard size for a single roll of wallpaper is approximately 53 cm X 10m (57 sft). Depending on the wallpaper manufacturer, some rolls can be wider and also shorten in length. Before placing the order, make sure you check the size of the wallpapers.

Generally, in order to calculate how much wallpaper you need, use the following steps: First, calculate the wall area by multiplying the height of the wall by the width. Second, calculate the area of the wall you will not be papering (i.e. windows and doors) by multiplying the height by the width of each area you will not paper. Third, subtract the unpapered area from the area of the wall. This will give you the wallpapering area. Fourth, divide the wallpapering area by the square footage of the wallpaper you would like to purchase. This will give you the total number of rolls needed to complete your project. However, you will need to consider extra paper for the pattern repeat and extra trimmings.

Yes, you will need to consider the usable yield (the amount of each roll that is usable). The usable yield will depend on the length of your repeating pattern. The longer the pattern, the less usable yield. You will need to order additional rolls of wallpaper to match your design’s horizontal sequence.

Most commercially available pastes will work for the majority of wallpaper projects. However, some heavy grade wallpapers might require a stronger adhesive. We do recommend Bartoline a high quality, easy to mix adhesive suitable for hanging all wallpaper types.

There are generally two types of bubbles associated with hanging wall coverings which are either due to trapped air or more seriously, continued expansion:

Air bubbles can generally be identified by their shape and will show themselves as a relatively ’round’ type bubble. These are caused when the paper is smoothed unevenly. The best way to avoid air bubbles is to gently brush the paper down the centre and then out to the edges as you work down the sheet. If bubbles are immediately identified as the wall covering is being hung then simply lift the wall covering from the bottom and re-brush/smooth it back down. Air bubbles will reduce slightly upon drying, but will not disappear completely. Pricking them with a needle and then attempting to brush them out after they have dried will almost certainly result in creasing.

Expansion bubbles or creases are caused by continual expansion of the wall covering. This occurs when the paper has not been left to soak for the recommended time. They normally present themselves as short elongated bubbles, running parallel to the length of the wall covering and tend to look staggered across the sheet. It is highly unlikely that these type of bubbles will reduce upon drying or be removable once dry.

There are several reasons why wallpaper may shrink; the soaking time was not adhered to. It is absolutely necessary that the pasted lengths are left to soak for the time advised on the wallpaper label. Shrinkage occurs when the wall covering does not adhere to the wall properly before drying. Most wall coverings expand when wet and will try to shrink back on drying if the wall adhesion is poor or the paper is over-stretched.

If the wall surface has been correctly prepared, the paper will soon adhere to the wall and should not shrink back whilst drying. Poor wall adhesion can be caused by poor wall preparation or by too little/too weak adhesive and the wall covering starting to dry out before the hanging commences.

Shrink back also occurs when the room temperature is too high during the drying period. We always recommend that radiators are turned off to allow the wall covering to dry naturally. If the room temperature is too high, the rate of contraction (shrink back) will be accelerated and will exceed that rate of adhesion.

For wall coverings to fully dry out it could take from 2 to 7 days, dependent upon the type of wall covering and other factors, such as wall surface, adhesive and atmospheric condition etc.

Absolutely! Esteem Wall Interiors can be found by searching Esteem wallpapers or by clicking on the social media icons on our website which will take you directly to our pages. We have pages on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Our social media pages are also a great way to keep you up to date with new products, promotions and other news.