Laura Ashley wallpaper problems

[stephen_g]

Hi,
I'm having problems with seams opening up when the hung paper has dried.
The paper is a Laura Ashley textured paper, (Alexandra design).
The walls were prepared well with cross lined lining paper.
The instructions with the wallpaper were followed (allow to soak for 3-4 minutes).
I am using Solvite Extra Strong all purpose adhesive.
However when the paper has dried, the seams have opened up by up to 0.25 mm, and this looks pretty bad.
Should I have sized the lining paper before hanging the wallpaper?
I did a test on some of the paper by soaking one piece in water for 4 minutes and leaving it to dry overnight. When I measured the piece after it had dried it had shrunk by 3mm across the width.
I have seen some posts that indicate that there may be a problem with Laura Ashley wallpaper, could I have some opinions please?
Regards
Stephen

 

[Zampa]

I wouldnt say a joint shrinking by a quarter of a millimetre is extreme..in fact its quite common for all papers to shirk slightly

Sizing isnt the problem, theres no need over lining paper.

It sounds like you have done everything right so far..if you dont let a paper soak for long enough long vertical, crease like bubbles will form on the paper..sometimes they dry back sometimes they dont.

The test that you did is irrelevent..paper isnt desined to be left soaking like that anyway.

Time to get in touch with the company that produces the paper for Laura Ashley...explain the situation, they may say that its your fault for completing the whole room...most paper manufacturers state that they will not enter into claims if you have hung more than one roll and there is a problem, which is total *******s IMO because it it not normal decorating practice when you are doing a job comercially to put three bits of paper up in a room then come back the following day to complete the rest.

 

[stephen_g]

Thanks for your reply.
The whole room has not yet been completed, (I've only used about three rolls so far).
Even though the seams have opened by only .25 mm, the appearence of this is not really acceptable as the paper itself is quite pale n colour, and the opened seams show as lines.
I will call Laura Ashley to find out who manufactures the paper for them.
Regards
Stephen

 

[stephen_g]

Hi,
Further to my recent post on problems with Laura Ashley wallpaper.
I contacted Laura Ashley, and they requested some of the paper for testing.
After three weeks, I have received a letter today saying that they can find no fault with the design or manufacture of the paper, and that it meets the specifications required for British Standards, and is therefore not considered faulty.
They refuse to accept responsibility or offer a refund.
Does anyone have any experience of similar problems, or know where I can get this paper independantly tested?
Regards
Stephen

 

[Zampa]

You might be on a loser there mate...it will probably cost more than the paper...and it might not go your way either.

I know its not the best of solutions...but you could try wiping a tiny bit of emulsion in a similar colour down the joint...not that you should have to...thing it, most wallpapers will expand when they are wet..and therefore will shirk very slightly when they dry....or, run a brush of colour down the wall where the joints will be before you paper.

The fact that you jae got lining paper on the wall is a plus point in your favour..over a surface like emulsion it could have been worse.

Ive hung their paper a few times...it was poor quality paper at a designer price.

 

[rembrant]

Hi im a professional decorator and i do work for laura ashley and im not to keen on their wallpaper, the only thing i find is to let it soak well so it fully expands and dont brush it out to much .

 

[Big_Vern]

You haven't heard it from me but there is a dodgy batch of Solvite ready mixed paste about, we've had 2 complaints of wallpaper shrinking at the edges, both of them with Solvite paste

 

[Zampa]

I had about 20 odd boxes of solvite poweder...when I mixed them the paste seemed to solidify in balls...gel like, like frogspawn

Must admit Solvite were really good about it...no question they changed the lot...the said it had been on the shelf in the supplier too long...rubbish I know but they replaced thel ot anyway.

 

[D.S.D]

I too am a pro deccy stephen and all I can tell you is I hate Laura Trashley paper and would steer any of my clients away from it given half a chance. I have yet to hang some that goes up like a dream. The stuff that happened to you happens to us all the time. I would say that on the rare occasions when I have had to put it up I have used the ready mixed adhesive and asked the shop to specify the one Also need to watch the soaking times like the others have said mate.

 

[stephen_g]

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies.
We took the Laura Ashley paper off the walls that it had been hung on in the end, and bought some different paper (made byHarlequin, it looks excellent).
My decorator was tearing his hair out about the Laura Ashley paper problems, and he had to spend an extra day removing the Laura Ashley paper and making good to hang the new paper, and I need to reimburse him for his time, so I'm quite determined to pursue this.
I'll let you know if I get anywhere with it.
Best regards
Stephen

 

[holistictherapist]

My sister had decorators in after she hung laura ashley wallpaper & she had the same problems, shrinkage, bubbles etc etc.... They told her that she should have used the laura ashley wallpaper paste instead of the solvite that she did use, and that it's a problem they've come across again & again.....
Having neww paper hung, using the laura ashley paste.... it wwas fine, no shrinkage issues etc atall....

 

[Richard C]

My sister had decorators in after she hung laura ashley wallpaper & she had the same problems, shrinkage, bubbles etc etc.... They told her that she should have used the laura ashley wallpaper paste instead of the solvite that she did use, and that it's a problem they've come across again & again.....
Having neww paper hung, using the laura ashley paste.... it wwas fine, no shrinkage issues etc atall....

Welcome holistictherapist ; personaly I think what your sister was told is a total load of blowbacks. Unfortunately this thread is well over 3 years old & stephen_g has either decorated again since then or maybe sold up & moved on

Can you still buy Laura Ashley wallpaper

 

[WabbitPoo]

sorry to resurrect the thread AGAIN - but I have loads of issues with LA paper this week, and have complained in the shop where the lady bought it, only to be told "Oh, you didnt use Solvite, did you? The paper will shrink" !!

I am no expert but I have never had problems like these before. Will have to remove what I have done and re-paper, at some expense, but this time will use LA paste, as the store recommends. What a pile of carp.

 

[Growler]

In all my years as a decorator, the only time/s i've had paper's shrink is when it's been my fault.

 

[WabbitPoo]

I don't see why paper DOESN'T shrink, to be honest! Is it because, by the time its dry enough to shrink, the paste is supposed to have gone off enough to hold the paper in its new bigger size? And if so, if that isn't happening, does it imply the paste is what - too stiff, too weak?

Thanks