7 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Attempt to Install Wallpaper Yourself

Many homeowners considering a change in the appearance of a room initially believe adding or removing wallpaper is a project they can tackle by themselves. Yet, as the project begins, they quickly realize a professional should have been involved for at least part of the process.

blog-wp Wallpaper removal and installation come with multiple risks: damaging the wall and surrounding light fixtures, not having sheets line up and ending up with an uneven surface. So, instead of making this a DIY project, why should you get the professionals involved?

1. Seam Issues

When it comes to installation, seam issues are huge and require a high level of skill. What can happen when an individual with little or no experience attempts this project?

Rolling seams from adhesive behind the wallpaper or not applying adhesive all the way to the edges
Having paste dry on the edges when booking the wallpaper
Curling or loose ends resulting from insufficient adhesive usage or poor surface preparation

2. Getting a Streaky or Patchy Look

You might end up with this appearance when the adhesive dries on top of the wallpaper, if the material you select is too transparent or if the wall isn’t primed or sealed correctly. Also, depending upon the wallpaper you select, your wall might need a semi-transparent wall covering first.

3. Gaps Between Strips

When the finished product shows visible gaps between strips, the following might have happened:

Poor surface preparation
Not butting strips tightly
The paper dried too quickly after you wet it

4. A Rough Appearance

Insufficient surface preparation could also result in bubbles and blisters along the surface. Additionally, if you hang the paper in colder temperatures or if the strips don’t have enough time to relax, your wall could end up with a rough or uneven look.

5. Not Enough Material

Do you know how much paper you’ll need for the project? Homeowners attempting to add wallpaper themselves are usually unaware that they need about 20 to 25 percent more for each room. As a result, they realize they’re significantly short on materials as the project progresses.

6. Hanging Wallpaper

Not all paper is hung the same way. In end-matching, you might need to straight-match the material, meaning the strips meet in the exact spots where you install it, or you might need to drop-match it, in which you use a staggered, less linear pattern.

7. Dealing with Textured Walls

Adding wallpaper to textured walls requires a few extra steps to even out the surface. A professional will scrape off or fill in the texture of the wall before the covering is installed.

As you plan out your project, make sure to use the services of an experienced professional. To learn more about M. Brett Painting offers for wallpaper installation and wallpaper removal, give our Connecticut location a call today.