If installed and maintained correctly, premium wallpaper lasts 15 to 25 years or more. And it will look good the whole time. In comparison to paint, textured wallpaper is significantly less expensive because of its durability. Without a doubt, wall coverings are a great option for any commercial interior design.
To guarantee you get the most out of your wall coverings, be thorough during the installation process. Proper textured wallpaper installation is how you ensure your wall coverings look good and lasts long. Here’s what you need to know:
Why proper textured wallpaper installation is crucial
For any commercial interior design, wall coverings can only perform at peak level if correctly installed. Professional textured wallpaper installation maximizes performance and lifespan.
Installing wallpaper correctly is especially important in high traffic areas, such as lobbies, hallways, and conference rooms. That’s because the wall coverings in these locations will experience more daily wear and tear.
For instance, if your hotel wallpaper in the lobby is literally falling off the wall, guests won’t be impressed by your commercial interior design. You’ll get off on the wrong foot. This can be avoided with proper textured wallpaper installation that establishes a good bond between the wall covering and wall surface.
Things to do before you install textured wallpaper
Before you hang your office wallpaper, healthcare wallpaper, hotel wallpaper, or other kind of wall coverings, examine the product. That means making sure the pattern, color, and quantity are correct.
Also, implement a people traffic management plan. This prevents injuries and work interruptions. Set up caution markings if needed and notify workers and guests in advance.
If the ceilings are high, you may be using an elevating device for textured wallpaper installation. Get approval from relevant people to use such equipment. If you’re just using a ladder or scaffold, you should still inspect it for safety.
Prep work for textured wallpaper installation
As the Wallcovering Installers Association notes, “wallcovering preparation ensures that your textured wallpaper will adhere correctly to the wall” and it helps with future removal. As wall covering adhesive dries over the following 24 to 48 hour period, “there is a significant amount of pull as the paper contracts. If the wallpaper has not formed a good bond, it will pull away from the wall.”
So, before hanging your office wallpaper, hotel wallpaper, or other type of wall coverings, perform the following prep work:
- Repair any defects in the wall. Fill in all indentations with spackling or drywall patching compound, smooth down bumpy surfaces with an appropriate electric sander (and wipe off the dust), and remove existing mildew.
- Prime walls with appropriate primers to have a new fresh surface for attaching the textured wallpaper. Remove stains from the wall with a stain killing primer.
- Remove any other loose materials on the wall, like dust and debris. Vacuum the wall and/or wipe it down with warm water and detergent.
- Ready the job site by cutting panels and headers in roll number sequence. If installed out of sequence, headers above doorways and consecutive panels could have unwanted variations in color and pattern. Wall coverings are to be installed from the low-roll number to the high-roll number in each dye lot.
Once you’ve done that, choose a commercial wallpaper adhesive. Be sure to read product guidelines and labels. There may be recommendations from the wallpaper manufacturer about what adhesives are appropriate. Commercial wallcoverings sometimes have a latex clear eco-friendly protective coating, which protects the wall coverings surface.
In general, a clear heavy-duty commercial wall covering adhesive is usually best for installing textured wallpaper. Clay-based adhesives are sometimes an approved equal, but may damage the wallcovering surface upon contact.
Now, you’re almost ready to begin your textured wallpaper installation. First, take note of the following:
- Use a pencil to make any marks on the wall. Pencils won’t bleed through the surface, and can be used to help you hang the wallpaper straight. Don’t use ink-based markers or pens.
- Walls should have a moisture content of less than 5%, according to research from Building Research Establishment (BRE).
- Make sure lighting is adequate so you can check color uniformity and make appropriate cuts at the ceiling and baseboard.
- Do not install new wallpaper over old wallpaper. Not only does this void existing fire ratings, making the space unsafe, it also voids the warranty. On top of that, it may not enhance your commercial interior design in the way you had hoped, as it’s easier to mess up the installation.
- Installing textured wallpaper over painted wall coverings is also not recommended.
Performing textured wallpaper installation
After all the hard prep work (yes, that is arguably the most grueling part), start hanging your office wallpaper, hotel wallpaper, or healthcare wallpaper.
Note that you must hang wall coverings in a reverse pattern, or side by side pattern. This means you go top to bottom, then bottom to top, or side match to side match. This ensures color and pattern uniformity to your satisfaction, based on the specific textured wallpaper pattern for best results.
For each wallpaper sheet, apply roughly ⅛-inch of the glue adhesive. Make sure it’s evenly spread across the wallpaper, but keep the seam edges dry. When attaching the wallpaper to the wall, allow for approximately 2 inches of overlap at the ceiling and baseboard. Remove the excess wallpaper by trimming it off later.
After installing a strip, use a wallpaper seam roller to smooth the surface. This prevents bubbles and wrinkles from developing.
Also, after installing about three to four strips of the office wallpaper, hotel wallpaper, or other type of wall covering, check your progress. If you want the wallpaper to enhance your commercial interior design, you must be certain that installation is going as planned. Fix issues, like color variations and wrinkles, as they arise.
How to conceal seams when installing textured wallpaper
As you hang the wallpaper, keep the seam edges dry because you have to do extra work to avoid mismatched, slanting, or peeling seams. Apply 1-2 inches of blue tape at the seams for a clean overlap. Then, prepare for the double cut and wall covering seam concealment.
To conceal textured wallpaper seams, it’s probably best to use the double-cut method, which helps create a smooth continuous finish. To do this, follow these steps:
- Get a straight edge and sharp utility blade.
- Cut vertically through the overlapping wallpaper.
- Peel back the top layer. Then, remove the bottom strip.
- Use a textured wallpaper seam roller to smooth the surface and make it uniform.
Another option you have to conceal seams is to use a butting seam. Essentially, this is when two wallpaper seams touch, but don’t overlap. For butted seams, you have to make some preparations before hanging the wallpaper. To do this, follow these steps:
- Pre-trim edges prior to textured wallpaper installation.
- Make plumb lines so that the wallpaper can be hung straight.
- Position the seam edges so that they touch but don’t overlap each other (this is a delicate process). Be careful not to stretch or tear the wallpaper.
- Use a textured wallpaper seam roller to smooth the wallpaper strips into place.
Final advice for textured wallpaper installation
Textured wallpaper installation isn’t complicated, but it can be difficult to perform well. That’s because attention and focus are needed to ensure the wall covering is attached to the wall correctly. So, go the extra mile and put in the effort. Get professional help if needed.
Remember: There are many benefits to having textured wallpaper at your business or organization. To get the most out of your wallpaper, start by installing it properly.