How To Hang Wallpaper Borders

Other names for Borders are Friezes, Dados & Edge Wallpaper

Borders are essential design elements. They are used to round off the wall paper at or below the ceiling, as well as for the framing of windows, doors, mirrors and pictures, etc. Borders are often incorporated as an accent above skirting boards

Borders come in a range of various styles, sizes and have different application methods.

These instructions are general and once you have revived your product you should thoroughly read the instructions for your specific product in case of any variation of instruction.

• Pre-pasted
• Unpasted
• Peel & Stick

It's safe to say the same preparation is required for all of them. However for more specific directions please contact us directly or speak to us in the showroom when purchasing your product.

For successful border application the wall surface must be dry, firm, evenly absorbent, clean and smooth.

For Lightly coloured borders it is recommended to have a uniform white or light neutral colour wall.

All plaster surfaces should be sealed with the recommended wall sealer for Wallpaper This may be Zinsser Shieldz or a good quality Wallpaper "Size".

Any shiny surfaces such as glass or laminate appropriately treated please ask our staff for directions as per your individual circumstances.

Recently Painted Walls

These require from 3 weeks to 3 months to cure depending on the paint type and weather conditions. If the paint has not cured sufficiently, adhesion of the border may not occur. Some modern formulated, non stick paint surfaces with additives such as Teflon, will need to be sized for the adhesive to work effectively. Waiting for the paint to cure is a MUST for these types of paints. Alternatively you may seal any freshly painted surface with Zinsser Shields (ask us for more information).

Ensure the surfaces are clean, smooth and dry

• Always check the manufacturers instructions before starting.
• Carefully examine your borders for proper colour, pattern numbers and consistent run or lot numbers.
• Allow for fresh paint to cure before applying the border.
• For professional results it is important to prepare the surfaces to be decorated.
• Ensure surfaces to be decorated are clean and dry.
• It is important the surface is clean, smooth, dry and free from dust or dirt.
• Loose plaster or paintwork should be brushed off first to attain good adhesion.
• Borders stick best to surfaces cleaned with sugar soap.
• Rinse the wall of the sugar soap.
• High gloss and semi-gloss paint finishes should be sanded in order for adhesive to grip. (80 grit sand paper).
• A coating of wall size should be used. This will assist in the easy removal for borders and wallpapers when redecorating.
• If applying borders over new wallcoverings, make sure the wallcovering is completely dry.
• If applying over vinyl wallcovering, you must use water based vinyl-to-vinyl border adhesive after immersing in water.

When Applying any Border Draw a line as a guide where you want to stick border.

• If you have no edge to work to, use a level and draw a pencil line as a guide for the bottom of the border.
• Measure the length of border you wish to adhere for each repeat of the process and pre-cut a sufficient number of these lengths to complete the room.
• If two people are on the job longer lengths can be applied and the number of joins is therefore reduced.
• When working out where joins will appear it is better to go around internal and external corners where possible.

For Pre-Pasted products - Wet border and apply

• Re-roll the border with the pattern side in.
• Immerse the border in lukewarm water by dragging it under the wire in the trough.
• Any section should be in the water for no more than 30 seconds.
• Unroll border as you remove it from the water making sure every part of the paste is wet.
• Loosely fold with the pasted sides together in a concertina style for easy handling.
• If it is necessary to apply additional border adhesive it is done at this stage.
• Check the manufacturers instructions for curing times and to ensure the correct adhesive is being used.
• After applying additional border adhesive refold pasted sides together.
• Unfold and apply following the level line.
• Wallpaper borders have “slip”, so you can gently slide it into position.
• Smooth border and wall surface with a damp sponge.
• Wipe away the excess paste and water as you go.
• When a second or further roll of border is being adhered, over lap a small section of border with the one already on the wall to achieve pattern matching.
• Finish applying the remaining of the concertina border as described above and then complete the join as follows.

---

Un Pasted - Paste the border products

• Re-roll the border with the pattern side in. This helps remove the memory of the rolled up position of the border.
• Next very lightly and evenly moisten the back of the border with a damp sponge. A trigger spray of water is another method to dampen the backing.
• Apply the paste evenly using a soft brush.
• Loosely fold with the pasted sides together in a concertina style for easy handling.
• If it is necessary to apply additional border adhesive it is done at this stage.
• Unfold and apply following the level line.
• Wallpaper borders have “slip”, so you can gently slide it into position.
• Smooth border and wall surface with a damp sponge.
• Wipe away the excess paste and water as you go.
• With screen printed borders avoid getting paste on the front of the border. This is not so much of a problem with vinyl or vinyl coated or acrylic coated borders.
• When a second or further roll is being adhered, over lap a small section of border with the one already on the wall to achieve pattern matching.
• Finish applying the remaining of the concertina border as described above and then complete the join as follows.

Non-Woven - Paste the Wall Borders

Paste the wall is usually used for unpasted non-woven wallcoverings.

Quick: Paste the wall is an easy way to hang wallpaper when the manufacturer suggests this method. You won’t believe how quickly you can change a room by wallpapering. Measure 50cm from a corner and mark a vertical straight line on the wall to line up your first sheet of paper. Use a roller to evenly paste where the first length of wallpaper will hang. Make sure you use plenty of paste and that the pasted area is slightly wider than the width of the roll.

Clean: No fuss, no mess. Just pick up a roll and go. Slide the paper into position with one edge against your vertical line on the wall. The other edge will wrap around the corner by 2cm. Smooth it down with a damp sponge or brush.

Easy: Trim the top and bottom with sharp scissors or a straight edge and craft knife. Then repeat all 3 steps for each strip making sure the pattern matches and the edges are tight together – it really is that easy.

Finishing  off joins (Applies to all Borders)

Where there are two overlapping sections of border the excess is removed as follows:

• Place a ruler or straight edge so that is runs vertically on a section where the border overlaps.
• With a sharp cutter knife, cut along the rule, applying enough pressure to cut through both strips. Remove the excess paper on top and underneath.
• Remove any excess paper using a sharp cutter knife being careful not to tear any border that is damp with water and paste.
• To mitre corners: overlap strips, one on top of the other. Place a ruler or straight edge so that it runs from the inside corner to the outside corner. With a sharp cutter knife, cut along the rule, applying enough pressure to cut through both strips. Remove the excess paper on top and underneath.

 

Removal – Looking for a quick change of scene?

Removal is extremely easy, you can remove non-woven wallcoverings by lifting up a bottom corner and peeling steadily up towards the top. What could be easier? No scraping, no wet wallpaper, and nearly no mess to clean up.

 

Removable & Peel & Stick Borders

Please Check with Directions from your manufacturer (these are usually on the rolls) and also please check our trouble shooting page for Removable problems before attempting any Self Adhesive product as it could avoid any problems in the future. 

The surface for any Self adhesive product needs to be Clean, Dry Smooth and Most importantly any new Paint Cured. 

You cant slip these borders as you can Pre & Un-Pasted papers there for more care needs to be taken when putting them in position.

Application

• To begin with, peel back approximately 10 cm off the backing paper ( if it comes with one) Or Peel off the roll, then stick the exposed section in position.
• Now with one hand peel off evenly, at the same time with the other hand rub the border down flat using a flat smoother. A ruler or rubber swidgee can help apply pressure on to the surface to assist with adhesion.