10 December 2019
 Categories: , Blog

When you are ready to cover your wall's plain paint with a wall covering, make sure you prepare and install it properly. Here are some tips to help you prepare and install new wall coverings in your home. 

Clean Wall Surfaces

The walls where you plan to install a new wall covering may be aged from years of living in your home and, therefore, will need a bit of preparation before you can improve their look. Your walls, although they are vertical surfaces, will need to be cleaned of any dust and dirt. This type of debris can collect on your walls and make your walls dirty and dusty. 

And if you are covering a wall in your kitchen, cooking greases and moisture can collect on the wall and make it difficult for a new covering to adhere to. Wipe the walls to remove the dirt and grease build-up and allow them to dry fully before you adhere your new wall coverings to them.

Repair Wall Damage

Your walls may also contain dents and scratches from years of use, which will need to be filled before installing a new covering. Apply a layer of drywall joint compound onto the damage and use a putty knife to press it into the damage. Use the edge of the knife to scrape smooth the surface of the patch. Allow the drywall compound patch to dry fully. If you need to fill a large hole, apply a wire mesh patch to repair the hole or replace the section with new drywall sheeting.

Prepare Wall Surface

Take a minute to determine what type of wall covering or paint you have on your walls. If they are coated in a latex or glossy paint, you will need to roughen up the surface of the paint, otherwise, the wall covering adhesive won't attach fully.

Use a medium-grit sandpaper to scratch the surface of your painted walls. This step is essential because if you miss a spot on your walls, your new wallpaper or other covering will lift off your walls and can sag, leave a bubbled surface, or peel from the wall.

Select and Install Your Covering

Once you have your walls prepared for the new coverings, select the type and style of covering you want. You can choose from a variety of materials, depending on what appearance you want your wall to have. For example, you can install wainscoting, beadboard, tin panels, or wallpaper onto your walls to give them their own distinct appearance. 

You may also choose to hire a professional to complete the installation. This will ensure that the panels are installed fully against the walls, the patterns will match up between each sheet, the edges will look finished, and the work can be guaranteed. Talk to a local wall covering installer like Wallpaper New York about an installation.