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Measuring and cutting the wallpaper lengths

Cost: Difficulty:

Contents

Method

If someone can help you, hold the end of a roll against the wall at ceiling level. Carefully unroll the paper until it reaches ground level, taking special care to check the design on the paper is the right way up. If there is a pattern, check its position - which part of the design you want to see at the top of the length.

Give a few extra inches for the top and bottom and check that the design of the paper is in the required position. Make a small tear at the top and bottom, allowing a little extra at each end for levelling at the top and bottom. Fold the paper, lining the seams exactly at the marks made by the tears.

Alternatively, measure along the pencilled line from ceiling to skirting with a steel rule. Then using the pasting table to lay out the paper, pattern side down, measure the length of paper required. Mark the length by using a metre rule. Cut the paper at the roll end of the length. If the ceiling is fairly even and you are using paper without a pattern, unroll on pasting table and mark the next length - but do not cut until checking that the first length confirms the acceptable measurement.

Continue to line lengths up to the original length by lapping the paper along the pasting table. The lengths will be longer than the table, but can be moved along as the lengths are measured and held in place. Keep the pile of lengths face down on the pasting table.

Take care to mark the direction with an arrow lightly on the back of the lengths, if they are going to be rolled up before pasting individually. Number the lengths on the back so that you know the order for pasting and hanging. This will ensure that all lengths are hung in the same direction and the right way up, helping to stop any colour or shade variation.

Alternatively, work with one piece at a time, which is advisable if the ceiling is very uneven. Similarly, when using patterned paper, hang one length before measuring the next one against it and lining up the pattern. It could then be the case that alternate lengths are cut in a similar way instead of adjacent lengths.

It is important to establish the matching pattern before cutting too many lengths.

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