free match

[pixi]

I have some patterned wallpaper to hang with a free style symbol on the wrapper and I'm not sure if that means I have free choice if the pattern is level or staggered? How should I keep the pattern level if I have nothing to match it to? Should I use a spirit level? Hope you can Help!! Thanks

[Bill Archibald]

pixi,

"free match" usually denotes "random match" and thus there is no pattern to match at the seams. If there is an overall design or pattern that you want some symetry to, then you can use a level from strip to strip.

If you lay out a couple of strips on the floor, you can get an idea of what you want to achieve on the wall and plan from there.

If you are a professional paper hanger, this would be a good time to consider buying a laser level, not the "cheap" type that shoot a single point on a wall, but one that will shoot horizontal and/or vertical lines across a wall. With a horizontal laser line on the wall, it is very easy to adjust your pattern as you go.

If you are not a professional, but like neat tools, this tool will help in all sorts of projects around the house. One of the most popular ones that hangers use is the Pacific Laser System PLS 2:
http://www.plslaser.com/prodspecfs_pls2.htm

There's a new palm size laser level on the market by CST Berger that is very very similar to the PLS2 and for about $100 less. It's the
CST Berger 58-ILMXL Highpowered Laser Cross Level:
http://www.planshouse.com/ourStore/tools-1-229103.shtml

Both are excellent tools.

-Bill

[pixi]

Bill, Thankyou for getting back to me so quickly, I thought that was the case but now you have confirmed it I can hang my paper with confidence! I Have just started a decorating business and have been thinking of a laser level, so that too was verry helpful. Many Thanks
Pixi.

[edroberts]

a free match is not the same as a random match! A random match can be hung with or without regard to symmetry , but a free match is a paper that has no pattern that is completed at the seam of the next piece ,the best way to keep it straight ,along with the other posted hints is to keep an element of the pattern at the top of the paper . eed

[Rusty]

I always check for a match.Even if the material says it is a ramdom I still check.Every once in awhile I will get one that is wrong.Rusty