Wallpaper and Wallcoverings - Basic Border Questions

We're trying to put a border up in our nursery, approximately 5' off the ground. Our first issue was how to mark where the border would go, and ended up measuring from the baseboard, and putting masking tape up all along the wall checking it with a level as we went. I think this worked, but it was a little time consuming, is there an easier way?

Now, we've cut one piece of the border the length of the first wall plus a little overlap, but it seems like it might be a little difficult to handle an 11' piece of border, especially as we prep it (soak and book it). Would it be better to cut it into shorter strips? I wouldn't think that would look better, but I don't know how to prep it in such a large quantity.

Also, when we get it started (up against the door trim), is there a good way to get the paper to look and stay flush with the trim? The pattern on the trim is little animals, and we'd like to make them look seamless throughout the room, but by cutting the border at each wall, it seems like it will be difficult to accomplish. We should have enough border to do this, but do you just overlap the next piece of border, or are you supposed to cut through both pieces with a box-cutter, where they overlap.

Clueless,

dh

For the measuring part, I would measure from the ceiling down. It seems easier to me to put the tape upto the ceiling and mark the wall right in front of my face. As for how to hang it, let me find the link to the instuctions I wrote before.

Click here (http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148186) for my border hanging instructions.

I think this should cover your questions. If you need more advice, let me know.

Thanks for the link, I needed that. Now, on to my problems.

Of course, I couldn't wait, and tried to put some border up. As you may have guessed it isn't staying (even though I did what I was supposed to do according to the package). It is supposed to be self adhesive, but the bottom of it is already becoming detached. I guess I'll need to get some wallpaper primer for the area. Also, does it matter if the wall is textured [d@mn textured walls are a pain in the a$$ to do anything with, it seems!].

I also overlapped, but didn't come back and cut the layers (just left the overlap). Not a good technique, I guess?

Is there any way to salvage the border I've put up already? Can I take it down and re-attach it? I only ask, because we bought the border on clearance, and may not be able to get enough to finish the room.

Thanks again for your help.

dh

even though I did what I was supposed to do according to the package
Wallpaper instruction sheets are nothing more than a cruel joke.

Textured walls are not an issue if you don't mind seeing the texture 'telegraph' through the border. If its too heavy of a texture, it might impede adhesion.

I also overlapped, but didn't come back and cut the layers (just left the overlap). Not a good technique, I guess?
These will peel up over time, sooner or later.

the bottom of it is already becoming detached.
You could repair this by applying Border Adhesive or Vinyl Over Vinyl adhesive where its popped. This will make it much harder to remove at a later date though.

Is there any way to salvage the border I've put up already? Can I take it down and re-attach it?
If you can strip it off clean, without damaging the backing, it could be reapplied.

You could repair this by applying Border Adhesive or Vinyl Over Vinyl adhesive where its popped. This will make it much harder to remove at a later date though.


If you can strip it off clean, without damaging the backing, it could be reapplied. [/B]

If I can strip it off cleanly, will I need to use a pre-mixed adhesive, or will I be able to use the 'soak in water, book, and apply' method described on the package? Is that method ever good enough, or should I always use the adhesive you described in the earlier post?

Which of the two methods you described (border adhesive to the parts coming loose vs. strip it off and re-apply) would you recommend? I may have enough border to do without, but that may result in some less than spectacular matching at the corners [not something I'd prefer].

Thanks again for all your help.

dh

Try to peel it off carefully. If it comes off, then apply the HD Clear adhesive and hang like that. If when trying to peel off it starts tearing, then stop and use the border adhesive on the popped parts.

If I can strip it off cleanly, will I need to use a pre-mixed adhesive, or will I be able to use the 'soak in water, book, and apply' method described on the package?
You will need the premix adhesive. The prepasted adhesive that it came with is long gone.

will I be able to use the 'soak in water, book, and apply' method described on the package? Is that method ever good enough, or should I always use the adhesive you described in the earlier post?

Sometimes the prepasted is OK, but more often than not its inadequate. I don't even check for it anymore, I just glue it and hang it.

I couldn't find anything that said heavy duty clear adhesive in the wallpaper adhesive section of HD. What I found is. . .Zinsser Prepz (One Step Border Prep & Adhesive), it looks more like it's intent is to activate the adhesive with its built in sponge roller, rather than having to wet and book the border. There really wasn't anything else in the section that looked any better than this. Will this work well enough? It says it's not recommended for use with textured walls even, so I doubt it's what you were talking about.

dh

Don't use Prepz. How does it prime and glue at the same time?

HD I believe carries Roman's 880 or 838 Clear Adhesive. Look for that.

I prefer Gardner-Gibson's Dynamite 234.

Thanks! Yeah, I was skeptical of it's "increases adhesive performance" jargon.

dh

Originally posted by prowallguy
Don't use Prepz. How does it prime and glue at the same time?

HD I believe carries Roman's 880 or 838 Clear Adhesive. Look for that.

I prefer Gardner-Gibson's Dynamite 234.

By the way, how much damage is this going to do to the wall when we decide to remove it?

Thanks,

dh

Do you mean, will it damage the wall in several years when you decide to redecorate, and remove it then? It shouldn't if you prime first before using the HD clear.

If you mean trying to remove what you have up now, I have no idea.

I meant the former, thanks.

dh

I wouldn't overlap at seams just butt and roll with seam roller. Also to make hanging long borders easier is to book them in an accordion manner. Also Zinnser Prepz is a great product just roll on prepasted papers no soaking in water required, never had a loose seam with prepz. Just my two cent.

Sounds good but you have to overlap borders to allow for the pattern match.

Well, I did the border this weekend, so I figured I'd post about it as a learning experience.

HD didn't have pre-mixed adhesive, so I bought the powder and mixed it myself. It was pretty clumpy, but it seems to have worked, as the border hasn't started to peel or anything.

Pasting the border using a paint roller is MESSY! Plus the paste that remains on the dropcloth, gets onto the front of the border, while booking accordian style [this seems to cause the colors run just a little, and the border to become saturated, much like when you use water to activate prepasted border].

Because the border is wet, it is very difficult to cut, at least with a x-acto knife. I would half-tear, half-cut the border. Also, don't use a rounded edge blade like I tried once, it is much harder to keep a straight line.

That being said, the border went up and looks pretty good, but I wasn't very happy with the detail work at all.

Thanks for all your help.

dh

HD didn't have pre-mixed adhesive, so I bought the powder and mixed it myself. It was pretty clumpy, but it seems to have worked,
Sorry about that. HD here in StL used to carry Romans 880 And 838, they may have dropped the line, I'm not sure, I don't buy supplies there. I know using the unmixed is no fun.
Pasting the border using a paint roller is MESSY! Plus the paste that remains on the dropcloth, gets onto the front of the border
Sorry about that too, I should have mentioned I paste on a paper table, and wipe up excess after each one.
while booking accordian style [this seems to cause the colors run just a little, and the border to become saturated, much like when you use water to activate prepasted border].
This sounds like you may not have booked it correctly. The border should have been booked, paste-to-paste, with none touching the front. But if it worked, it worked. I find it real tough to explain things I do by typing it rather than showing it.
Because the border is wet, it is very difficult to cut, at least with a x-acto knife.
I use a single-edge razor blade, replacing it with each cut, or as soon as it seems to pull rather than cut.
That being said, the border went up and looks pretty good, but I wasn't very happy with the detail work at all.
And that is why a good paperhanger is usually always busy.:D

Glad I could help, maybe next time it will be easier.

Seriously, thanks for all your help, if I would have listened to you in the first place I wouldn't have had to do it twice!! :D

The reason the booking didn't work out to well, is because I didn't clean up after each pasting, so there was leftover paste on the dropclothe, and it would get on the face of the border while I was pasting the back. So, when I folded it accordian style, the face with a little paste would be up against the other side of the face (with a little more paste). I'm not 100% sure that the border colors ran (only at some spots, and only a little), it may have been that way, and I hadn't noticed.

So, if I have anything to add, it's simply to echo your technique of wiping up after you paste a border.

Also, I was able to re-use the border that I had previously pre-pasted up, and removed, with no problems.

If ever I try this again, I'll remember to change the blade after each cut or so.

I tried to put some pictures up, but they're too big.

Thanks again for everyone's help,

dh