First Mural

[Phil Perry]

We'll be hanging our first mural in a few weeks. The wall to be papered has an existing mural on it. It appears to be just a printed paper. The info I read from the manufacturer says to install the mural over two coats of inexpensive flat paint. The mural also comes with its own paste. Just wondering how you guys approach such a project. Is flat paint really a good idea? Should I apply paste to the wall then install paper? Should I use the supplied paste or something else? Any tips would be appreciated.

[ProWallGuy]

The Jersey Chapter did a great piece on how to hang them. Let me find it, and I'll provide a link.
This is the method I use and it works great.

It's from Cliff's website, hope he doesn't mind.

CLICK HERE (http://www.bestpaperhanging.com/mural.htm)

[Bill Archibald]

Phil,

Which brand of mural is it?

The Environmental Graphics substrate is very decent and their murals hang well. their direrctions say to use a cheap flat wall paint as a primer. This is so that the home owner can get it done easily with success. The packaged paste is celulose. BUT, being a professional, you are "encouraged" to superceed their instructions with what you know to be sound pratices - i.e. wallpaper prep and a suitable paste - I used a better grade of cellulose, but am certain GH-34 would be fine. I would not use 880 or 234 - overkill.

NOW, if that mural is an Ideal Decor or Komar, you are about to have a real experience, a real BAD one. These are printed on something a little less stable than Scott toilette paper. I have not followed the South Jersey method, but I bet it has better results than the normal paste the paper method. Whatever method you use on this TP, each panel needs to be put on the wall soon after wetting.

If you paste the back of a Komar or Ideal Decor,
DO NOT book. Paste and take it to the wall. If you book it will freeze IMMEDIATELY.
Don't ask how I know :cuss: :furious:

I am sure if anyone hangs more a couple of these a year, they could develop a technique for success, trouble is, most only get one every couple of years.

-Bill

[Phil Perry]

Thanks to the info posted from you guys our first mural was a sucess. We used the Jersey Chapter method, and it worked without a flaw. The mural was an Enviromental Graphics mural so it put my mind at ease a bit knowing it was printed on a good substrate. The only problem was one piece was lighter than the rest, no one notices except me, and i didn't notice before installation. Would this be considered defective? If we encounter this in the future, it would be nice to know the best way to deal with it. Thanks again.

[ProWallGuy]

Most of the murals I've seen from Environmental Graphics and comparable are bought over the web for about $75-$100.
My install price starts at $350 and goes up from there.
So for your question as to would it be considered defective; I say no, they got what they paid for, especially if no one notices it but you.
BUT, if the customer cries about it, then yes, its defective. Of course if can't be noticed until its on the wall. In this case I would try to get the distributor to cough up a free mural. There is probably no way you will get back your money for labor, unless its spelled out in your contract for such an instance. Even if the customer has a fit, and dist. won't give you new material, eat the cost and buy another one. Keep your install price high enough to cover this possibility.

BTW, are you 'phinishes' on the other forum?

[Phil Perry]

PWG, yeah I am phinishes. Not even gonna ask how you figured that one out. I had been meaning to mention it, but figured it didn't matter much, so i didn't.
Maybe in the future I should have the customer "ok" the mural when its unrolled on the floor or something like that.