How to Cure Wallpaper

Hanging wallpaper does not require a contractor or professional installer. You can do it yourself. Pre-pasted wallpaper does not require you to apply glue, but whether you get pre-pasted or bare wallpaper, you need to cure (book) the wallpaper. This sitting time allows the glue to become tacky and stick to the wall without slipping off. Do not skip curing unless your specific wallpaper recommends you do so.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wallpaper
• Paint roller
• Paint tray
• Wallpaper glue or adhesive
• Oblong tub of warm water (6 inches wider than the wallpaper width)
• Wallpaper brush

For Wallpaper Without Glue

1. Lay a sheet of un-coated wallpaper face down on a work surface.

2. Pour the glue into the paint tray, and apply it to one-half of the sheet of wallpaper with the paint roller.

3. Fold the half with glue on top of itself, but do not crease the wallpaper. Be sure that only the glued part touches the glued part.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the other half of the wallpaper sheet.

5. Let the folded and glued wallpaper sit for 5 to 15 minutes to cure during its booking. Consult the instructions on the wallpaper glue for the exact booking or curing time.

6. Open the folded wallpaper and hang, smoothing out creases and bubbles in the hanging with the wallpaper brush.

For Pre-pasted Wallpaper

7. Dip a sheet of pre-pasted wallpaper into the oblong tray filled with warm water with the glue side down. Follow the instructions on the wallpaper for soaking time, usually 1 to 5 minutes.

8. Remove the soaked wallpaper, and lightly fold the sheet in half with half the glued interior resting on top of the other half.

9. Let the "booked" wallpaper cure in the folded position for the recommended time on the wallpaper instructions, up to 15 minutes.

10. Unfold the wallpaper, and hang using a wallpaper brush to smooth out wrinkles.

References

• How to Hang Wallpaper
• Hanging Wallpaper: Gluing and Booking