My hubby & I were putting up the wallpaper border in our new baby room, and it's not going so well. The first 1-1/2 foot section went fine, but the next wall didn't work at all, it just didn't stick. We kept patting it for a good hour before giving up. We followed the directions (immerse in luke warm water for 10 seconds) - anyone have any tips to make this easier? Is there a length you should limit yourself to with 2 people? After quite awhile we cut it in half and just tried that, but focusing on a smaller section didn't work either. Water too warm or cold? not soaked long enough, or too long? Or, is there an adhesive we can buy instead? Now I'm scared to try it again the two of us! I'll take any advice anyone has, we've never done this before and obviously aren't doing it right. Our walls have semi-gloss paint on them, and a little textured, but not that much. Thank you!!
This is a good reason I went with Stenciling, it is so much easier and looks great and if you decide to change it, all you do is paint over the top of it.
Sorry I don't have much to say on the wallpaper border. I wallpapered my kids rooms when they were small and it was nice until they got a piece loose and tore it.
Good luck!
We surrendered to the pre-stick stuff and bought wall paper paste anyways. It's not going anywhere now! Our pre-pasted stuff didn't work so well - we had border falling off the walls hours and even days later. The paste was very reasonably priced and easy to work with. Good luck.
We used an adhesive activator when we put up borders in the past. Any hardware store should carry it...
You might need to clean the wall with a solvent solution to cut down on the glossiness of the walls and make it easier for the paper to adhere. You could always "Ask Sherwin-Williams!"
When you're trying to hang wallpaper border (which is harder than actual wallpaper), you can lose your mind and become desparate.
I like the self-sticky kind better, but it also has a mind of it's own.
Prefold your paper accordian style (it doesn't matter if the sticky side touches the printed side). Buy some extra wallpaper paste and dip your border in that. Water temp is for your comfort, not the paper. Don't let the 'dip' become too runny. Shake your dipped border a little before applying. Otherwise (as I'm sure you've found out) it will run down your arm and your wall and take longer for it to 'set.'
To keep it from falling right away, I've used a couple of thumb tacks to adhere it to the wall while I kept working (I take them out after it is dry). Every few feet I've tacked it to keep the weight of the unapplied roll from pulling it down.
Continue to wipe and squeegy the printed side of the paper while you press it on the wall with a work towel.
I think part of the problem is your wall paint. If it were a flat paint, the original wallpaper glue would have stuck. You'll need to try a thicker glue or paste as I mentioned above. Even Elmer's glue can do the trick, but just remember, you may want to take it down in the future, so don't go too crazy.
This is the first house we haven't put up a border, and we don't plan to! It is too much work and I've gotten sick of the pattern after a short time. Instead, my husband hung a white wood border around the top of the room about 10 inches from the ceiling of my daughter's room and we painted it the accent color. It was much easier than a wallpaper border and we can always change it out or take it down. I've even put her name in white letters on the little ledge. Just an idea before you attack that roll again.
Good luck!
I put up a wall border in my DS's room. I used room temp water and let it soak for 10 seconds (whatever the directions said) and then let it sit for about five minutes to drain the water off. It left the adhesive side sticky instead of completely wet and then I rubbed over it with a dry towel. I also used tacks to hold it up as I moved down the wall. Good luck!
If is is pre-pasted you need to book it. (Booking simply means to fold the paper back on itself so that the wet pasted back side of the paper contacts itself. It is the accordion folding someone else mentioned.) The pasted sides need to be folded together while the water activates the adhesive and the paste sort of 'fluffs up'. Generally that takes 5 to 10 minutes. The manufacturers instructions should tell you how long. For what didn't stick and for anything else that does not stick, purchase a quart sized container of pre-mixed wallpaper paste. The "vinyl adhesive" is the strongest. Please do NOT use Elmer's glue or anything like it. It will work fine now, but will likely take chunks of the sheet rock down with it when you decide to change the room.
The trick to hanging a border is to 1) book it, then 2) go up the ladder with the border still in the accordion folds, 3) begin applying it (position, press down with a damp rag, hold in place with one hand while rubbing the bubbles out in a circular motion from the middle with the rag, focus on keeping the edges down and not squeezing the glue out from under.) while unfolding just what you can handle 4) have someone else hold what has been applied with a broom or rake handle 5) work quickly enough to get the 15 foot length up while it is still sticky and slowly enough not to have it fall down. :-). It also helps to sort of move it around on the wall in a very slight circular fashion to get the adhesive to stick. Then be sure to use a level to make sure you have it straight.
Finally, you will have to run back and forth with the ladder to keep pressing it down with a damp rag. Press in a circular motion.
I have done MUCH papering for myself and for others. It is well worth the effort, but please know that border is harder to do than regular paper and each manufacturer seems to use a different glue so once you find a brand that works for you, stick to it.
Sarah, Did you "book" the wallpaper border after you immersed it in the water? As you take it out of the water, fold it back upon itself (with the design side facing out) I usually fold back both ends, and then let it set for 5-10 minutes. You can check it every now and then if you are nervous that it will stick together. This allows the glue to get tacky and makes it easier to stick to the wall. I use a wet washcloth to use to smooth out the air bubbles.
Hope this helps! Good luck! It just takes practice!
The only other thing that I can think of is when you take the paper out of the water fold it lightly with paste side to paste side and let it sit for a minute or two. Sometimes that helps the paste to activate a little better. Also make sure that you are not rubbing all of the paste out from behind the border when you put it on the wall. Good Luck!
you have a bad quality wallpaper boarder. You need to buy some wallpaper adhesive. That should do the trick.
good luck!
When I have put up wallpaper border in the past we roll it with the paste side out, loosely. Then immerse it in warm water, like someone else said when you take it out fold it with the paste to paste sides for a few seconds. This will help it activate. Then make sure you rub it out completely when you adhere it to the wall. We also use a slightly damp cloth to run along it. Good luck.
