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FAQ Wallpaper

How does one prepare unpainted walnut wood paneling (sheets of plywood) to successfully accept wallpaper?
1. First make sure the paneling is tight on the wall. If not use additonal nails. Clean the paneling, getting all residue off. Fill cracks with sheet rock mud. Make sure it is perfectly smooth with the paneling or the lines will show. Use a good quality pre-mixed sizing, the type that comes in a paint can. Install the wallpaper as directions show. If you don't plan on ever reusing the paneling, you might paint the wall before you size it. Depends upon how porous the paneling is and how much sizing it sucks up. To be completely professional, painting is recommended.  You should still size after painting, although not essential. The sizing gives the surface a good tooth for the wallpaper paste to stick to. It also acts as a film between the glue and paint which makes taking it off the wall easy. If you don't paint and size new sheet rock before you wallpaper it, when you try to take the paper off it takes the paper off the sheetrock and is often accompanied by chunks of the sheet rock itself.

2. The second method is virtually the same as the first, but instead of using sheet rock mud, one uses a wall lining which is a stiff white wallpaper used to hide/bridge cracks. You still have to size the wall for the wall lining and then size the wall lining before you install the wallpaper. Typically the first method is the most desired in home remodeling projects.

Final Note:
If you don't paint the wall and are using a lighter background wallpaper, then the dark paneling and white stripes of the sheet rock mud covering the cracks will show through. You will see dark with light stripes. This will not occur when using a solid vinyl, grasscloth or like type papers. This will happen with MOST standard wallcoverings, which are the vinyl coated type.
We were interested in leather wall panels, but found that it is too costly. I was wondering if the faux leather fabric could be used as a wall covering and if you knew of a site where I might find instructions.
Yes you can use the faux leather as wallcovering. Commercial wallcovering is solid vinyl, so is the faux leather. The faux leather is actually thicker.It should be an easy hang. Just use a paint roller and use pre-mixed vinyl paste to roll the paste on the wall the width plus several more inches of the faux leather. Do the same for the next piece, but over lap the previous piece by an inch or so (check your pattern). Then to get a clean seam use a sharp razor knife and cut through both pieces from top to bottom. Take off both the small pieces (approx. to the inch) and your seams should match perfect. It's that easy.