To hang wallpaper in the correct way and prevent it from 'falling of the wall' then it is necessary to prepare it properly. Walls must be dust, mildew and grime free, (clean with sugar soap or bleach). It can’t be stressed enough the importance of cleaning, priming and sizing walls before hanging paper.

Priming - In most case’s wallpaper adheres more easily if a primer-sealer is applied to the wall. This compound keeps the wall surface from absorbing moisture from the adhesive and also protects the wall from damage if the covering is later removed. Walls painted with high-quality flat alkyd paint may not need a primer. Choose a primer-sealer designed as a wallcovering undercoat. Apply it with a roller at least 24 hours before hanging the wallcovering to allow it to dry thoroughly. When hanging a light coloured paper over existing wallpaper or a coloured wall, use pigmented primer-sealer matched to the paper's background.

Sizing - Sizing has nothing to do with measuring how much wallpaper will be required. It is a liquid coating designed to make wallpaper apply and adhere better and apply more easily. It helps the drying process (so the glue doesn’t simply soak into the wall) and increases slippage so moving the paper around to get it to fit neatly is a lot easier and adds a barrier so the paper can be removed later on.

Pasting - Most modern day papers are pre-pasted so paste is not usually required. For some heavy vinyls and murals you do need to ‘paste the wall’ or the back of the paper. Read the enclosed instructions or symbols to work out if you are required to buy paste.

Wallpaper Symbols

Diferent symbols can be found in your wallpaper pattern book or on product labels on your rolls of wallpaper. Use this guide to help you identify the various characteristics of the roll to ensure the best possible results.

Spongeable

Either printed with water-fast colours or thinly coated with PVA. Paste on the surface can be safely removed by gentle use of a damp sponge.

Washable

As spongeable but with more protection. will withstand more wiping after light soiling.

Super Washable

As spongeable but well protected with PVA. Suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms or kitchens.

Scrubbable

Normally only applies to vinyl wallcoverings used in areas with heavy water.

Good Light Fastness

This means the wallcovering should retain its original colour for a considerable amount of time, but can't be guaranteed on any permanent basis.

Moderate Light Fastness

Beware!! This product may well fade or discolour in areas of direct sunlight.

Adhesive to Wallcovering

This product needs to be pasted as this is not ready pasted or a paste-the-wall product.

Ready Pasted

To be hung by immersion in clean water according to instructions

Paste The Wall

Some textiles and some wide width wallcoverings. Always check the type of adhesive and the method of application.

Strippable

Should peel cleanly from the wall in a dry state.

Wet Removable

This will not dry peel.

Overlap & Double Cut

Where edges cannot (or should not) be butt-joined in the usual way, they are lapped and the two thicknesses are sliced through, usually with a straight edge and knife. The subsequent two strips of waste are pulled away leaving two edges stuck down as a perfect butt-joint. Often applies to contract materials and thicker wallcoverings

Peelable

The top skin of the decoration should peel cleanly away, leaving the backing (if still secure) ready for further decoration.

Offset Match

This is sometimes called a half-drop. The match is obtained by halving the repeat.

Straight Match

The pattern matches straight across the width.

Free Match

No matching required, lengths can be cut straight from the roll without wastage.

Design Repeat Distance Offset

The circumstance of the printed rolls, half of which represents the wallcovering drop (where applicable). This is very important information for calculating the number of lengths available to a roll and this will give you the total quantity you need.

Direction of Hanging

This can be found (but rarely) on the edge of wallcoverings that have been untrimmed or it may be on the reverse of some products. In other respects, on a label it will mean do not reverse the lengths.

Reverse Alternative Layout

Mostly applicable to plain effects and necessary to minimise the risk of side to side shading.

Co-ordinated Fabric Available

This does not necessarily mean a matching fabric and even when your design is the same, your colours may often vary because of some different techniques in printing.

Easy Paper

Means the paper is pre-pasted, scrubbable and peelable. Also provides you longer time to manipulate the paper for pattern matching. Available on most of the Vision Products.