Spoonflower Traditional Wallpaper is suitable for a variety of room applications. The non-woven construction does not shrink or expand, making it a perfect choice for paste the wall or paste the paper installation. A copy of our full Technical Specifications & Installation Guide can be downloaded at the bottom of this article. Professional installation is highly recommended. You may consider locating a member of the Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA) in your area for installation. Watch the video before you start and then review the written steps below.
Preparation
Recommended Supplies
Primer:
ROMAN PRO-977 Ultra Prime® or similar alternative
Paste:
Installer choice of below or similar:
- ROMAN PRO-880 Ultra® Clear Strippable
- ROMAN 234 Premium Grade Heavy Duty Clear
- Note: Clay Paste is not recommended
Other Supplies:
- Rollers and brushes based on installer’s preference
- Soft brush smoother
- Sharp utility knife with extra blades and blade receptacle
- Seam roller
- Non-abrasive, soft cellulose sponge and/or microfiber towels
- Other: Straight edge, drop cloth, ladder, buckets, table, pasting machine (optional), etc
Wall Preparation
Allow the wallpaper and paste to acclimate under clean, dry and protected conditions between 60°F to 70°F and 40-60% RH until the supplies adjust to the environment. Do not crease the material prior to or during installation, as creases may not disappear. Walls should be smooth, clean, dry and free of mold, mildew, grease or other stains. On new walls, drywall joints should be taped, mudded and sanded smooth. Remove any nail heads, nicks, gouges and other surface imperfections. Old wallcoverings and any residual adhesive must be removed; walls should be repaired.
Priming Walls: Residual moisture content of the wall should be < 4%. Follow primer recommendations provided under Recommended Supplies. Recommendations are based on installation on a gypsum drywall sheetrock surface. Allow adequate drying time before applying paste and wallpaper.
Paper Preparation
Spoonflower wallpapers are packaged with the bottom of the pattern rolled to the outside of the roll. Unroll each roll to find the top of the pattern. Inspect all materials prior to installation for the following: print scale and size of panels are correct, color matching of panels is acceptable, print surface is free from defects and edges have enough space for overlap and trimming (overlap is 1/2”). If you see any issues, please contact us at help@spoonflower.com.
Installation
Pasting Methods
Spoonflower Traditional wallpaper can be installed using the paste the wall method or the paste the paper method. The paste the wall method is generally more efficient, as a paste table or machine is not needed and there is no required booking time. It will also be easier to trim the paper around light switches and sockets since the paper is dry.
Paste The Wall Method: Apply paste directly to the wall using a paint roller. Use a paint brush in corners and near ceilings, baseboards, windows and doors. Apply enough paste to cover at least 2” more than the width of the panel.
Paste The Paper Method: If preferred, this paper can be booked. Apply an even coat of paste to the back of the paper or pull through a pasting machine. Fold the ends towards the center taking care not to crease the paper and allow the wallpaper to book for 3-5 minutes.
Install the Wallpaper
Locate the printed barcode on the roll. This is the bottom of the pattern. Identify the top of the pattern before installation. Using a soft brush, install wallpaper from the top of the panel down, smoothing paper to the wall and working out bubbles. Take care not to crease the paper. It is best to work vertically, taking care not to squeeze paste onto the paper face. Remove excess paste immediately with clean, lukewarm water and a soft sponge. It will be difficult to remove paste after it starts to dry.
Overlap panels as needed for pattern match, lining up the design at eye level. Trim with a double-cut method. Intended overlap before trimming is 1/2”. Use a sharp, new blade for each cut. Gently use a seam roller to ensure edges are firmly adhered. If needed, place a plain piece of paper on top of the seam before rolling to protect the wallpaper face and prevent damage. Trim excess paper at top, bottom and sides of walls and along any openings like windows and doors. Allow the wallpaper to dry naturally with adequate ventilation
Need more help?
If you are having trouble with your installation or discover a product defect, please discontinue work and contact our Customer Support team. We are typically available 9 am to 5 pm Eastern Time on business days (M-F).
Removal
There are two options for removal. The first and recommended option is Dry Strippable. If you try this method and the wallpaper is not separating cleanly, see the Wet Removal step.
Dry Strippable Removal
Tools for Dry Removal:
- Putty knife, utility knife or scraper
- Sponge
- Bucket + warm water
- Dish detergent
- If walls were properly prepared before installation, Traditional Wallpaper should be able to peel off the wall without applying any water.
- Find a starting point and using a putty knife, utility knife or scraper to gently lift the corner of the wallpaper from the wall.
- Pull the wallpaper away from the wall at a 10-degree angle. Continue to move your hands as you pull the paper, keeping your hands closest to where the paper is still attached to the wall. This will help prevent wall damage. Gently work the wallpaper from the wall, pulling down instead of out.
- Once all wallpaper has been removed, use a sponge with warm water and a little dish detergent to wipe down walls, cleaning off any small bits of paste that didn’t come off when you removed the paper.
- Used wallpaper cannot be recycled. Please dispose of it in your trash.
Wet Removal
If the dry strippable method isn’t working, applying water can help reactivate the paste and allow you to remove the paper from the wall.
Tools for Wet Removal:
- Painter’s tape
- Drop cloth or plastic sheet
- Old towels or absorbent fabric you don’t mind getting dirty
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Bucket + warm water
- Dish detergent
- Prepare your space. Wet removal can be messy so cover all furniture or move it out of the way. Cover floors and baseboards with a drop cloth or plastic sheet and use painter’s tape to attach the covers above moldings to protect them from any water. You can use old towels or absorbent fabric to line the floor at the bottom of the wall.
- Spray the front of the wallpaper with warm water to help reactivate the paste. Start spraying from the bottom and work your way to the top. Once the panel is wet, wait about 10 – 20 mins to allow the water to soak in. If you prefer, use a sponge for this step.
- Once the water has absorbed through the paper, remove the paper following the Dry Removal Step #2 above. If the paper is still not separating from the wall, wet the paper again and wait for the water to soak in.
- Wet the paper as many times as needed to get the paper to peel off. Designs that have more ink saturation will require more water.
- In extreme cases, you can use a scoring tool to penetrate the paper and allow water to penetrate.
Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA)
Spoonflower is a proud member of the Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA). The WIA is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to the interests and needs of wallpaper installation professionals. You can find out more about the WIA on their website, here.