How to cut wallpaper

Before wallpapering walls, they need to be prepared for this process. To do this you will need to trim the edges and cut the sheets of the desired length. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations on how to cut wallpaper.

Instruments

For cutting wallpaper, you can use a knife with segmented blades, which is usually used for cutting drywall, plastic and stripping electrical wires. With this tool, you can easily cut the wallpaper up and down.

To cut the wallpaper as accurately as possible, you also need to purchase a building spirit level 1.2–1.5 m long, which will be used as a ruler. However, it is easier and cheaper to use an ordinary rule or a wedge. To trim the edges of the wallpaper, you will need sharp scissors of medium length (up to 200 mm).

Calculating the amount of wallpaper

Before you start cutting wallpaper, prepare the floor by laying a film with a thickness of 80 microns on it. On it, you can later also be smearing the wallpaper with glue. First you need to count the number of whole bands. If the width of the wallpaper is 50 cm, then you need to measure the perimeter of the room. Let's say you got 10 m.

Now this value should be divided by the width of the wallpaper: 10: 0.5 = 20. This means that you will need 20 whole strips of wallpaper. Now pay attention to the length of the roll. It should be divided by the height of the room (in our case, 2.5 m), taking into account the report for combining the canvas. So, you get the number of whole bands in a roll. Then divide the required number of strips by the number of whole sheets per roll. As a result, you get a value equal to the number of rolls.

In the standard length of the roll - 10 m. So, you get 4 strips per roll. To find out the number of rolls, divide the number of whole sheets required for one room by the number of sheets in a roll. In our example, it looks like this: 20: 4 = 5.

From this number you take away the area of ​​a window and a doorway. They usually take 0.5 rolls. And that means you need 4 rolls of wallpaper. In reserve, it is better to take 1 roll more.

Now you need to know the height of the ceiling. Measure height from floor to ceiling in all corners of the room. Suppose there are 4 corners in a room with different heights, namely 246, 247, 249 and 250 cm. In this case, the wallpaper is cut to its maximum size. In our example, it will be 250 cm.

Cutting wallpaper should be carried out depending on the wallpaper label:

• without picture;
• with selection of drawing / without offset;
• with the selection of the picture / offset.

About how to properly cut each of these types of wallpaper and will be discussed further.

Cutting without picking a picture

This is the easiest method of cutting. At the maximum height of the ceiling, in our example - 250 cm, you can cut the wallpaper 1 cm less, that is 249 cm. This is due to the fact that you need to cut 1 cm from the top, and the baseboard will be 5 cm below. Wallpapers without a pattern are simply rolled face down and cut out in accordance with the height of the ceiling without offset.

With the selection of the pattern without offset

In this case, not everything is so simple. Take for example the height of the ceiling - 250 cm. Next, we determine the pattern step, for example, 54 cm. All lanes should start in the same way. This means that you need to multiply the smallest number of the drawing, for example, 54 cm, and the height of the room (250 cm). Four steps of the pattern will be: 4? 54 = 216 cm - this is insufficient for a whole sheet. So, take 5 steps: 5? 54 = 270 cm. Thus, you need to cut strips of wallpaper with a length of 270 cm.

With the selection of the pattern with offset

Wallpapers with offset patterns are the hardest to cut. In this case, the bands will repeat in one. But first you need to complete the selection of the picture. For clarity, we denote the lanes on A and B. First, you need to calculate how many lanes of each type you need. For example, we begin to glue wallpaper from strip A (taking into account that the first strip is glued from the window), then strip B, then A again, and so on.

In order not to get confused in the sequence of strips of wallpaper with an offset pattern, number them on the wallpaper and, accordingly, on the walls.

Suppose you need 20 sheets per room, of which 10 are bands A and 10 are bands B. Then determine the report of the drawing. For example, 64 and 32 cm respectively. Find the smallest multiple equal to 32 cm and greater than 250 cm (ceiling height from our example). You will have 8? 32 = 256, this value is greater than the height of the ceiling we have - 250 cm, and, therefore, this cut suits us.

From each roll you will have 2 bands of the same type and one of the other. Start cutting from strip A, then you will automatically have strip B, then again A. Next roll you need to start cutting from strip B, then from strip A, etc. If you cut the strip in this sequence, then you will succeed that they will be in the same sequence in which you will stick them. And this greatly simplifies the task when joining the picture.

Pasting and cutting wallpaper in the inner corners

Crop wallpaper in the corners is carried out in the process of sticking to the walls. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with each stage of the work process.

Applying glue and gluing sheets

The corners need to be carefully coated with glue. Practice shows that wall covering is most often peeled off at the corners. Apply glue with roller or brush.

The room has at least four corners, so these actions you have to spend at least this number of times. Begin to glue the canvas with the least viewed point, that is, where the mistake you made will be less obvious.

Stages of work

Sheet should be glued so that it is at least 1 cm leaning on another wall. Press it firmly against the surface with a sponge. The next sheet is glued to the opposite wall. Using a tape measure, find the appropriate position of the angle. As a result, the sheet should go to the opposite wall with wallpaper 1-4 cm. Vertical line should be checked with a plumb line. Glue the sheet and press it against the wall.

Layers of sheets should be cut as close as possible to the corner. In order to cut the wallpaper in the corners you need a knife and a ruler. Excess pieces can be removed. Move the lightly pasted sheet of wallpaper and remove from it a narrow strip of wallpaper. Grease the turned edge with glue, and then press and smooth.

Even if you have perfectly smooth walls, you should not glue whole sheets of wallpaper in the corners. In places of distortions after the drying of the wallpaper, wrinkles may form.

A sheet of wallpaper on smooth walls with flawless corners is glued with an overlap of 8–10 cm. The following canvas must be pasted vertically at a distance of several centimeters from the bend. In this case, the width of the overlap should be 5-6 cm. The place of the overlap should be cut through the center. This vertical cut should be as smooth as possible, and both layers of wallpaper should be cut at a time. After that, carefully peel off the top layer, remove the trimmed strips, glue the joints with glue and glue them back to the wall. This way you will have a precisely fitted joint.

Pasting and trimming wallpaper on the outer corners

Outside corners are also found in the rooms. These can be door / window slopes. If you have to paste over even slopes with wallpaper, then everything is simple. So, glue the wallpaper on one side so that the edge of the sheet goes on the adjacent wall about 4 cm. Align and smooth the sheet of wallpaper. If there are folds and bubbles, then make a few small horizontal cuts on the sheet of wallpaper.

Next, cut the wrapped edge of the sheet so that there is a small edge. Measure out the following sheet for work and glue to the slope. So, you get a little overlap. If you paste vinyl wallpaper, then in places of overlap, you should use a special glue.

We hope that the information provided by us was useful for you. If you have any questions during the reading of the material, then you can ask them to our expert. Want to comment on what you read? In this case, write to us. You can leave comments at the end of the article.

Video

How to glue and trim wallpaper in the corners, you can see in practice by watching the video:

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