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Posts Tagged ‘wallpaper’

When it comes to choosing wallpaper, go for better quality, medium or heavyweight papers rather than thin, cheap ones which tear and stretch easily when pasted and need very careful handling. Cheaper wallpapers have the design printed directly onto the paper; better qaulity papers are usually given a protective coating before the pattern is printed. Top quality ones also have a clear coating over the pattern to protect the surface.

Basic types
The following run-down on the various types available will help you to select the right wallpaper for specific areas.
Washable The paper is covered with a clear water resistant coating of matt or gloss PVA (polyvinyl acetate) making it deal for use in the kitchen or bathroom.
Vinyl A layer of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is fused onto a  paper backing to produce a really tough vinyl-faced covering that is steam and water resistant and can even be scrubbed clean.
Ready-pasted Dried fungicidial adhesive on the back does away with the traditional pasting operation. To active the paste you draw each length of paper through a water-filled trough (usually supplied with the paper)
immediately before hanging.
Polyethylene This type is lighter than ordinary wallpaper and warm to the touch. It is easier and quicker to hang than other wall coverings because you paste the wall rather then the paper and you do not have to cut the paper into lengths, but use it straight from the roll. Work with the special adhesive recommended for this type of wall covering.
Dry-strip Washable and ready-pasted papers already described are not easily removed using the conventional soak-and-strip method since the water cannot penetrate the water-resistant coating to act on the adhesive. But dry-strip papers and vinyls are available; you peel away the decorative face to leave a paper backing on the wall. If this backing is firmly fixed, use it as a base for repapering or strip it offin the usual way.
Lining paper Thin paper used under the decorative wall covering to give a high quality finish. It is available in several weights: use light papers on smooth wall surface and heavier papers to help conceal uneven surfaces. Hang lining paper horizontally on the walls so the joins between lenghts will not coincide with the vertical joins of the decorative wall covering. Read the rest of this entry »

Your living room probably takes more wear and tear than any other room in the home, so never skimp on the basic coverings; any defects will soon become obvious and will lead to more expense if your furnishings need replacing prematurely.

Most types of wall covering are suitable for the living area, as long as they will stand up to direct sunlight, the occasional knock and even concentrated heat if you have an open fire or spot heating system. Above all, whatever material you choose should retain its looks over a long period of time. The living room is generally the largest room in the home and therefore one of the most costly and time-consuming to redecorate, as well as causing major disruption to normal activities.

A paper chosen for a room which will be used by adults only need not be particularly strong; but if there are young children around, it should be tough enough to take a few knocks, marks, and scratches – and preferably vinyl coated to enable any marks to be wiped off.

Wallpaper comes in a huge range of styles and colors, some with other material covering such as vinyl, textile, hand-screened, paper, foil and flocked. This type of specialized covering is, naturally, more expensive than paint or ordinary paper, so take into account the type and amount of wear it is likely to endure before making a final choice.

If your budget is limited, but you want a more decorative effect than plain paint can give, stick on a wallpaper frieze or cut-outs from a roll of paper whose design you like, but whose price prevents you from using it everywhere.