Like many of us, you may be intimidated by the prospect of wallpapering a room in your home. But don’t worry – with the right techniques, it’s not as hard as you might think. In this post, we'll be discussing how to wallpaper a bathroom using the paste-the-wall method and making considerations for dampness and protecting the paper from water damage. Let’s get started!
The Paste-the-Wall Method
The paste-the-wall method is one of the easiest ways to wallpaper a bathroom. The goal here is to apply wallpaper adhesive directly to your wall, rather than applying it to the back of the paper itself (which is a more traditional approach). To begin this process, you'll need a few tools and materials: wallpaper paste (we recommend Solvite), a small paint roller or brush, and a sharp knife.
Once you have these supplies ready, spread out your paper evenly across your wall and cut it precisely where needed. Then apply an even layer of wallpaper glue using either the roller or paintbrush (whichever works best for you). Now comes the tricky part – make sure that your glue isn't too thick or thin; if it's too thick, it will create air bubbles when applied to the wall; if it's too thin, then it won't stick. You can also add some water to reduce its thickness if necessary. Once finished with this step, carefully press each piece of paper against the wall until it sticks firmly into place.
Making Considerations For Dampness & Water Damage
It's no secret that bathrooms tend to be quite humid environments due to shower steam and other sources of moisture. To protect your walls from water damage in such settings, you'll need to take extra precautions when applying wallpaper in these areas. We recommend using our Mica or Toll coated wallpaper as these have a small amount of coated protection for use in wet environments such as bathrooms and kitchens. These types of papers are typically much easier to clean than regular papers and provide additional protection against water damage. Additionally, consider investing in some sealant or primer before applying your wallpaper - this will help protect the surface from any minor damage caused by moisture over time. This is especially important if there are any cracks or chips present on your walls prior to papering them - sealing them properly will ensure that they remain protected once covered with paper!
You can also consider adding an extra layer of protection with Decorators Varnish (we recommend Polyvine in a matt or "dead flat" finish) which will provide a clear but durable coating for those more problematic areas close to water splash zones or rooms with poor ventilation.
Finally, keep an eye on areas where there could potentially be mould growth due to moisture accumulation over time; this includes around windowsills and near pipes/drains in particular! If there are signs of mould growth present on your walls (dark spots), consider taking steps immediately remove them before papering over them otherwise they could eventually cause irreparable damage down the line!
Prepare Your Walls
Before beginning the wallpapering process, make sure all of your walls are properly prepped first. This means ensuring they’re free from any dust, dirt or grease- sugar soap is great for this! You’ll also want to fill in any holes or cracks using joint compound and sand them down until they’re smooth before moving forward with wallpapering.
Wallpaper Your Walls
Once you have everything prepped, it’s time to start wallpapering! Start by cutting each length of wallpaper about 2 inches longer than the height of your walls so you don’t run into any issues later on with matching up each side perfectly. Be sure not to overlap rolls too much when hanging them so no one roll ends up looking bigger than another one when finished. Make sure all edges are nicely trimmed and smoothed out as well once hung on the walls—this will ensure a more seamless look when done!
And voila! You're all set up for success! Happy papering!
