seams in dark wallpaper

[laughingpetunia]

I have always had a problem with seams showing on dark wallpaper. How do I correct this? I have been told to find a marker and color the ends of the wallpaper before I hang it. Is this accurate?

[Bill Archibald]

Tonya,

First, welcome, I trust you received the welcoming "private message"

Without knowing your level of expertise in installing wallpaper, it is hard to give you "safe" advice. So please excuse me if I am assuming you know less than you do.

As you may or may not know, the white at the seams is caused when the paper shrinks on the wall. Some people conclude this is the white walls showing, and sometimes, in a less than acceptable job, it is. However, more often than not, it is the edge of the paper showing. One of our illustrious colleagues has been known to carry a magnifying glass to prove to the homeowner that he/she is not seeing wall, but the wallpaper substrate.

Coloring the bolt ends is one solution. I personally would not use a "marker" as the ink would most likely migrate into the pattern and cause more problems. If it is a water soluble marker, it will bleed. Some people use colored chalk, others use "gouache" (pronounced like "squash"), still others use artist acrylic paints, and yes, some use markers. All these methods have to be done with great care to achieve the correct color and make sure ONLY the edge is colored.

Some people find it preferable to color the seam split AFTER the paper is hung. Different methods include: "wicking" thinned acrylic paint into the seams; rubbing chalk into them; and water soluble crayons can also work.

My absolute preference is to make sure the seams do not split and create this situation. Seam creep can be negated with the use of a blank stock liner, or with a method I like to call "power butting", which is a process in which you make your final sweeps and washing TOWARD the seam just laid. This compresses the paper and helps prevent seam creep.

All the above solutions take time to perfect.

-Bill

[cgreene]

I have had good success coloring ends- If the paper has plastic wrap, just remove the wrap on the ends so that the paper stays wraped tightly. I use water based paint that I pick up at JoAnns or Michales in the bottles that cost under a $. I now have quite a collection. Pick a color as close as you can to background. Brush ends. Does not have to be too thick. Just enough to tone down the white. Somtimes if its too thick I will blot. You don't want to stick the ends together. then you will create another problem for yourself. I let it damp dry, just enough so it doesn't track on paper, and roll out and cut-up. This is a well known trick among most professional paperhangers.

[digilio]

I use a number of things to color the ends. Markers, pens and pencils work for small quantities of paper very well. just be sure you don't crease the edges. I also use those little bottles of water colors with the snap lids from art stores. Sample bottles of paint from Moore's or Pittsburgh thinned down with water also work. I use a sponge to quickly swipe the paint on the edges. Mike D