hangingguide

Wallcovering Hanging Guidelines

PRIOR TO INSTALLATION

Please inspect your package to ensure you have received the correct pattern, color dye lot and number of rolls. If the package is damaged, be sure to thoroughly inspect each roll for crushing, rips, or other damage that may have occurred during transit. In the unlikely event that there is any sign of damage or defect, the goods are not what you ordered, or you do not understand the application instructions do not proceed with the installation. Please refer to the chart on the back for lining and paste recommendations by wallcovering type.

CLAIMS:

NO CLAIMS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR MORE THAN (3) STRIPS ON THE WALL. All claims must be made within 30 days of the invoice date. No labor claims will be allowed at any time.

WALLCOVERING HANGING INSTRUCTIONS

SURFACE PREPARATION

In order for wallcovering to be properly installed, walls must be smooth, clean and free of mildew, grease and old adhesive. Remove old wallcovering completely then remove any remaining adhesive with a good quality adhesive remover. Rinse wall and allow to dry. It is recommended that installers use a hard, acrylic, pigmented, wall-protecting primer that is SPECIFICALLY made for WALLCOVERING INSTALLATION and WALL PROTECTION. Do not install a wallcovering unless a temperature above 55 degrees Fahrenheit/ 12.77 degrees Celsius is maintained in both areas of installation and storage for three (3) days after the installation. If there are any questions concerning the surface to be covered, a test installation of at least three (3) strips applied three (3) days in advance of the main installation is recommended. NEW DRYWALL Measures should be taken to ensure a clean flat surface. All joints should be taped, filled, and given ample time to dry. Use a single coat of pigmented wallcovering primer/ sealer. PLASTER WALLS Unpainted walls must be at least 90 to 120 days old and then washed with an acidic solution (like vinegar) to neutralize any alkaline areas. After this procedure is complete and the plaster wall is dry, a wallpaper acrylic prime/ sealer should be applied. Plaster and masonry wall surfaces should not exceed 5.5% moisture as measured by a moisture meter. A moisture meter should be used to determine moisture content. PREVIOUSLY PAINTED WALLS Fill cracks, holes and other imperfections with a spackling compound. When dry, smooth any rough areas by sanding with a fine grit sandpaper. Enameled or glossed surfaces should be sanded with coarse sandpaper and then primed. Be sure to clean walls with a bleach or ammonia and water solution and then apply a prime/ sealer to the entire wall

ADHESIVE

A premium quality, premixed, wallcovering adhesive (ECO-788 clay adhesive or clear adhesive by Roman recommended) should be applied to the back side of the wallcovering, not the wall. For all non-woven wallcoverings apply adhesive directly to the wall (dry hang) Refer to the chart on reserve side for paste recommendations based on wallcovering type.
Do not dilute the paste.
The adhesive should be stored at room temperature (70ºF).
Use of a mildew inhibitor in the adhesive is recommended.

APPLICATION

Store the wallcovering in a clean, dry and protected environment.  Maintain temperature of wallcovering between 70ºF and l00ºF for at least 72 hours prior to and during the installation.
Wall surface should be undamaged, smooth, clean, dry, structurally sound, and free of mold, mildew, grease, or stains.
Before cutting, be sure the pattern and color are satisfactory as specified.
Before hanging, examine pattern for color uniformity and repeat in design. If there is no design repeat (random texture) patterns should normally be reverse hung.
Before installation, verify that wall moisture content does not exceed 4% (using a suitable moisture meter) and that active moisture or water vapor infiltration is not present.
Before installation, verify that walls are free from mold and mildew.  If mold or mildew is present, or if walls show visible moisture damage, or if moisture content exceeds recommendations, do not proceed with installation until the condition has been fully corrected.
Most walls and corners are not perfectly straight.  To ensure that your wallcoverings are applied correctly, set a plumb line for the first panel on each new wall.  Install from top to bottom between the two plumb lines for vertical alignment.
Determine whether the pattern match is random, straight across, or drop match.  Measure the wall height, allowing for pattern match, add 4 inches.
Untrimmed wallcovering will require cutting an edge on your worktable or double cut on the wall to create as fine a seam as possible.  For your next strips match the pattern to first sheet prior to cutting.  Trim edges with a VERY sharp razor blade, it is recommended to use a new blade after each cut to maintain a consistent edge.
Apply the recommended adhesive to the back using either a paste machine or paint roller.  Work the adhesive in to cover the back completely, especially near the edges.  Fold or “book” each end toward the middle, pasted sides together, aligning the edges carefully so they do not dry out.  CAUTION: Do not crease the wallcovering.  Allow to “relax’ or book for 5-7 minutes (booking).  This will allow the adhesive to penetrate the wallcovering fabric which is important for a successful installation. 
11. Hang the first strip to a plumb line and allow it to overlap onto the ceiling and baseboard. When hanging your wallpaper, do not overlap seams.  Use a smoothing brush, or plastic smoother to remove any air bubbles and to make sure all of the wallcovering has made good contact to the wall taking adequate care not to burnish the surface. Trim with scissors or razor knife at the ceiling and baseboard, around windows, etc. DO NOT USE ANY METAL SMOOTHING TOOLS.
Use a seam roller to flatten the edges at the seams, ceiling, and baseboard. Use light pressure. Do not press hard enough to remove the adhesive from underneath the wallcovering.  To correct loose edges, pull the edge away from the wall and apply a thin coat of adhesive underneath with a small brush.  Press down firmly and allow paper to set.  If you find while hanging the wallpaper that it is wrinkling or not butting up properly with the adjoining strip, it is likely not correctly aligned at the top.  Gently pull off the strip and reposition it.  Do no try to stretch or force it into position.  Caution: Remove excess paste immediately with a clean and dry soft cloth.  

NOTE: Non-woven wallcovering should be dry hung, using the paste the wall method.  Allow adhesive to dry and tack up sufficiently, 7-15 minutes, depending on humidity, before hanging the wallcovering.   

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

Treat Stains as soon as possible with clean water, a mild soap, and a soft cloth. Try to use a lifting action and avoid hard rubbing of spots to prevent discoloration. Take special care in cleaning dark colors to avoid leaving light marks on the wallcovering. Please note that on textures such as grasscloth, we only recommend using a vacuum to clean off dust and debris.

INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR SPECIALTY PAPER TYPES

TEXTURES AND GRASS CLOTHS

Paper-backed grass cloths, silks and burlaps require more care in hanging than ordinary papers. Use enough paste to ensure adhesion, however, be careful to avoid over-pasting the edges or getting paste on the surface. Seams will show because these textures are comprised of natural materials and are woven and tinted by hand. Variations among the strips should be expected as this is a part of their natural beauty. Grass cloth will vary in color throughout the rolls. Choose the most similar rolls for each wall before cutting. In some cases, it is suggested to reverse-hang the strips to ensure color continuity from strip to strip. Occasionally, textured wallcovering “panels” when it is reversed. If paneling occurs, install as non reversed pattern, and evaluate appearance.

METALLIC PAPERS

Begin project with a lining paper. To protect against the discoloration caused by oxidization, add a heaping tablespoon of borax to each gallon of paste before hanging.

FOIL PAPERS

Begin project with a lining paper. Many foil papers are not pre-trimmed and need to be accurately trimmed prior to installation. Carefully avoid scratching, creasing, or folding the paper. Apply paste to either the foil backing or to the wall and be careful to avoid over-pasting. Foil papers will not contract or expand upon drying, so air bubbles must be eliminated during the hanging process. Use a short nap paint roller to adhere to the wall.

QUEEN OF SPAIN

Our beautiful Queen of Spain wallcovering is very sensitive to moisture. Please do not allow for paste or water to land on the front of the paper and avoid excessive paste use. Do not wipe the sheet down with a wet sponge. The paper should not be scrubbed.

HAND PRINTED PAPERS

We offer numerous types of beautifully hand printed wallcoverings. Since they are printed by hand, they will not be entirely uniform. This is part of its inherent beauty and is not considered defective. Each strip should be measured to determine the exact measurement of the repeat for best pattern match.

PATTERNED PAPERS

For patterns with a definite design (such as a floral or damask), do not reverse the strips. Some patterns (such as a cloud print or marble texture) may have a more subtle design characteristic than others. By first laying two strips together on the table or floor prior to pasting, the proper match can be determined. On a random textures or non-directional stripes, it is sometimes advisable to reverse the direction of the strips. Hang one strip pointing in an upward direction, the next strip pointing downward (in relation to the way the paper comes off the roll). A superior finished look can be achieved if one side of the paper happens to be shaded a little heavier than the other. The match and design of each pattern determines whether it should be reversed or not.

VINYL PAPERS

Paper backed vinyl must wait 24 hours for wall to cure to hang. A heat gun can be used to facilitate ease of installation around corners for vinyl wallcoverings.

WALLCOVERING HANGING APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS

Wallcovering Type**                      Lining Y/N**             Dry Hang Preferred                Paste

Paper                                                    Y                                        N                                Ultra-Clear Strippable, Roman PRO-880 

Non-woven                                          N                                         Y                                Ultra-Clear Strippable, Roman PRO-880

Sisals                                                    N                                         N                               Heavy Clear Strippable PRO-838

Vinyl                                                     N                                         N                               Heavy Clear Strippable PRO-838

Metallic/ Foil                                        Y                                          N                              Ultra-Clear Strippable, Roman PRO-880  

Bamboo                                                N                                         N                              Clav or Heavy-dutv clear acrvlic

Upholstery                                            Y                                          N                              Heavy-duty clear acrylic

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