Installing a non pre-pasted paper over plaster walls

[dsnchic]

I have two questions actually!
First, we only just started hanging our ow wallpaper and have found it to take a very long time. IS this normal? We did two open parlor rooms in our house and it took about about 25-30 total hours. Does this sound right?

Second,
We want to install a non prepasted in our foyer / open stairway area which is plaster walls ( the house was built 1890)and kind of lumpy because of age, etc.. How much harder is this kind of paper than prepasted? We had a paperhanger come out and tell us that the intense color in the paper might rub off when trying to smooth it over the walls if you hit any sort of bump. I am trying to decide if this job is feasable for us. I am in LOVE with this gorgeous paper and really want it in my foyer!! It is Antonina Vella.

Any comments from more seasoned paper hangers would be greatly appreciated!!

[Bill Archibald]

Rachel,

If you are not an experienced paper hanger and are going about installations carefully with proper preparation and the rooms are relatively large, then I would not say it took an overly long amount of time. True, a "seasoned professional" would probably take 1/3 to 1/2 the time, but we gots the practice.
I personally do not know about Antonina Vella papers, and unfortunately I can not say that a prepapsted is easier than an un-papsted, I've seen it either way. I also don't understand what was meant by "the intense color in the paper might rub off when trying to smooth it over the walls if you hit any sort of bump"

The walls should be sanded and smooth, no matter what is installed. Proper preparation is of utmost importance for adhesion, looks, and stripping in the future. When you say "plaster walls" do you mean raw plaster or have they been painted? Walls should have an appropriate prep coat before installation. What is appropriate depends on what is on the wall now and what paper you are installing.

I see you are from Ohio. There are many NGPP paperhangers scattered throughout Ohio. Perhaps one would be willing to have a look at it . (I really can't speak for them)

You can use the NGPP "find a paper hanger" search service to find one near you.

http://www.ngpp.org/zipcode/find.html

What town are you from? Maybe one who visits this site will speak up.

-Bill

[Gary Lucas]

Rachel,

What Bill said is right-on. Proper wall prep is the key to wallpaper happiness.

I'm in Worthington, OH - really close to you, I believe. If you want, I could stop by and look at your foyer. If so, send me a private message with your phone number.

Gary Lucas

[dsnchic]

THanks for the feedback. The walls are plaster with I think a high gloss paint on them- majorly ugly!! THey are bumpy but yes I assumed it was all stuff that could be smoothed out with sanding etc! What is the best wall prep would you say in this situation with the non- prepasted? Thanks!
Rachel

[Bill Archibald]

Rachel,

You are welcome for the feedback, that's what we are here for :banana:

I am sure we can all agree that a good sanding to both de-gloss the paint and to smooth the bumps is the first best step.

Personally, I like a product named "wallpaper prep-coat" (good name, huh?) by Swing (Canadian company http://www.swingpaints.com/3107.htm ). It has good adhesion over many different surfaces, produces a nice surfaces which wallpaper paste likes to grab, and when wallpaper strips from it, does not leave what we have named "peeling sunburn skin syndrome". But this is just one of many appropriate prep-coats HOWEVER is not readily available in all parts of this country (I am in the Boston area and am lucky to be able to to special order it through a local "Mom & Pop" paint and paper store.)

I am going to defer to Gary to give you advice, because he knows what wallpaper preps are available in your area. (and he is an exceptionally knowledgeable and talented hanger)

good luck

-Bill