Installing wallpaper can be an intimidating project for beginners. Home-improvement expert Don Vandervort explains how to hang textured fiberglass wallcoverings -- an easy project even for a beginner. Fiberglass wallcoverings, available in a variety of patterns including herringbone and diamond designs, are designed to accept paint and are rigid enough to cover up small imperfections in the wall. Materials:
Textured fiberglass wallcovering
Clear adhesive recommended for use with fiberglass wallcovering
Level
Wide-blade putty knife
One or two screwdrivers for removing electrical covers
Razor knife
Scissors
Tape measure
Straightedge
Plastic smoothing tool
Paintbrush
Paint roller with a 3/4" nap
Prepare the Wall
- Remove all furniture from the work area.
- Repair any holes or wall damage that could show through the material. Use patching compound to repair large holes and spackling for small holes.
- Shut off the power at the circuit-breaker box, then remove the electrical covers.
Prepare the Materials
- Measure the width of the wall to determine how many strips of material you'll need.
- Measure the height of the wall from the ceiling to the floor (or from the bottom of the crown molding to the top of the base molding, where applicable).
- Cut the wallcovering several inches longer than the exact height needed. To save time, cut all the strips you plan to use.
Establish a Starting Point
- From the corner, mark the wall at a point slightly less than the width of one strip. If your measurements indicate that you'll be left with a very small strip at one end of the wall, you can mark your starting point approximately half the width of one strip from the corner.
- Place a level on the reference point, and adjust for plumb (straight up and down) (figure A).
- Use the level as a straightedge to mark a plumb line down the entire wall. Longer levels are easier to use for this task.
Apply Adhesive to the Wall
- Use a brush to apply small strips of adhesive along the baseboard and sides of the wall. This is known as "cutting in."
- Use the roller in a zigzag pattern to cover at least as much area of the wall as needed for the first strip (figure B).
- Cut in at the ceiling and around any outlets.
Apply the Wall Covering
- Align the factory edge of the wallcovering along the plumb line, and press it in place. Make sure the top and bottom extend far enough to allow trimming later. Apply the wallcovering directly over any electrical outlets and switches. Cutouts aren't necessary at this point.
- Use a plastic smoothing tool to smooth the material (figure C). Work from inside to out, pushing any excess glue out from under the material.
- Trim any excess material by pushing a straightedge firmly against the corners and cutting with a razor knife.
- When applying subsequent pieces, move the wallcovering up or down to match the patterns (figure D). This will make the seam harder to see. Don't use a seam roller (a tool used for traditional wallpapering projects): it's not necessary -- and it could damage the texture of your wallcovering.
- Use a razor knife to trim out holes for electrical outlets and switches.
- Allow the adhesive to dry overnight, then paint the wallcovering as desired.
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