Decorating Advice Please

[gness]

I have always wallpapered by pasting the paper on a table. The paper I have just bought is the paste the wall sort. I put up two strips and when they had dried there was a wide strip of wall showing due to the paper shrinking. I can disguise small gaps but would like it to be perfect from the start. I hate to see joins.
I am going to revert to pasting the paper and can`t see any reason why I shouldn`t. However, before I do, does anyone know if there is any difference between pasting the paper and pasting the wall?

[rowanwitch]

pasting the paper is fine I've done it pasting the wall is just a lot quicker

[gness]

Thank you Rowan. I was pleased with how much easier pasting the wall was till I saw the shrinkage. I guess pasting the paper allows the paper to "settle". Only one wall so I think I`ll paste the paper....If I can find the pasting brush in my handbag.

[Ratty2E]

I recently used a paste the wall paper and I have to say I didn't have a problem with shrinkage so I'm not sure what has happened with yours. It was a very thick paper so maybe that makes a difference. Usually when pasting the paper it stretches because it's made wet with paste and then shrinks back when it dries. As you didn't wet the paper I don't know why it has shrunk so much. I have to say from my experience I am definately a paste the wall convert.

[Old_Geezer]

Pasting the wall should ensure the paper is less liable to stretch and shrink as it has less chance to get over-soaked.

I'm not expert enough to say what he difference is between papers designed to be pasted in the traditional way and ones designed to be put up dry on a pasted wall, but my guess would be that you get best results if you do as you are instructed. It's possible pasting the wall for a paper that was supposed to be pasted might cause problems getting it to stick ?

The thing is that you should watch the process and correct as necessary. Don't rush things too much. You may need to encourage a piece to edge closer to the previous piece if you see it shrinking and forming a gap. But if you do you probably soaked the paper too much in the first place allowing it to stretch. Try less paste on the next bit.

[vivandorron]

If pasting the wall, you do so on the basis of one strip at a time.( Not pasting the complete wall)... You can paste the back of 'paste the wall ' paper and hang immediately; which is quicker than using normal papers which require an element of soaking.

Personally, I would paste the paper.....Pasting the wall may not give an even application of adhesive because some areas may absorb the paste quicker than others and cause problems to arise.

Ron.

[gness]

Thank you all for your help. I have been pasting one strip at a time. Wallpaper is thick and was quite pricey. I like paste the wall so as this is black wallpaper on a white wall I have painted a black half inch wide strip down the wall where the wallpaper meets. May have been over generous with paste so will correct that. Won`t rush. I love wallpapering but it has to be perfect. No overlaps or seams showing. Takes me a while but if it wasn`t right it would be off again! Thanks again for you help.

[gness]

Thank you AH! I have written that on the wall under the next strip of wallpaper to amuse the next person to decorate the room.

[atalanta]

Some "papers" are much more fragile when wet than when dry. I have hung dozens of different papers/vinyls , and the worst for this was Vymura. I do hope this is not still available. It was dreadfully fragile. But you couldn't even lift it if you had pasted it, since the paste made it both heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. The problem was that Vymura came in gorgeous patterns not available in other materials.

[vivandorron]

I wish I could get patterned vinyl coated paper. I only want one roll to put onto an alcove wall in the bathroom. It seems to be that such papers are now a thing of the past.....Unless someone can tell me differently.

Ron.