FAQ: Wallpaper
Whether you are new to decorating or a seasoned DIY pro, every day is a school day.
Below are a series of frequently asked questions that may help you with your wallpaper query, if you have another question then feel free to get in touch with us via email and we will get back to you ASAP.
We're available 7 days a week if you'd rather give us a call on 0161 729 1686.
Categories
Wallpaper Basics
What size is a roll of wallpaper?
A standard UK/European roll of Wallpaper usually measures 10.05m x 53cm (33' x 20.5'').
All roll sizes are stated in the specifications area of our individual product pages.
Less common roll sizes in the store are:
10.05m x 70cm - Versace Wallpapers
6.0m x 53cm - Sequin Sparkle WallpapersWe will deliver your order by post or courier depending on the items you have purchased and/or your delivery location.
We use a mixture of couriers to ensure the best mix of service and value, these include: APC, DPD, Parcelforce, Royal Mail and UPS.
Larger items, such as Wallpaper, Paint and Cushions will be delivered by courier services.
Smaller items, like Samples, Paint testers and Wallpaper Borders will normally be sent using the post.
What are batch / shade numbers and letters?
Wallpaper is a printed product and as such, it is produced in specific quantities at a time based on the volume of materials prepared/available and the demand of the product, each production run of wallpaper is noted by using the term batch or shade.
It is essential to have the same batch number for each unique wallpaper pattern to ensure colour, relief and pattern trim match precisely.
The batch number is usually located on the wallpaper label close to the pattern number.
At Home Flair Decor we will always supply rolls from single batch for your order. Should you need to place a subsequent order, please add your request for a batch including the batch details from your roll label within the checkout. Repeat purchases cannot be guaranteed however we will contact you if this is no longer available.
What do the symbols on wallpaper labels mean?
Click here to download a PDF with definitions for all the symbols on your wallpaper.
Visit our blog page:
What does the pattern match on my wallpaper mean?
Wallpaper is printed using rollers/cylinders and therefore every wallpaper has a repeat but sometimes on a plain or striped wallpaper, the pattern print repeat does not matter. The label included within the packaging of the wallpaper will tell you how often the pattern repeats itself eg 64cm along with the type of matching needed.
Some common pattern repeats are:
Straight Match
The pattern matches across the width of the wallpaper, usually with half a motif matching on the join or the same motif appearing regimentally over your wall. Be sure to allow yourself sufficient trimming wastage with your first drop/length and you will reduce waste overall.
An Offset Match or Half Drop Match
The match is obtained by halving the pattern repeat measurement, for every subsequent drop or length needed next to the previous piece hung, you will move the pattern up or down by half the pattern repeat measurement.
For example, a label might state a 53cm, 26.5cm or 53/26cm offset match. This means the design repeats every 53cm in total (the diameter of the print roller/cylinder), this figure is then halved to 26.5cm which is how much additional wallpaper is needed to allow the pattern to match and flow correctly over your wall.
Free Match or Random Match
No matching required.
It is the easiest product to hang, as no matter how many strips of wallpaper are hung, you do not need to match any patterns. Just ensure all lengths are hung the same way (unless reverse hang is specified on the roll label) no visible join or seams will need to be worried about here.
Free match also reduces the amount of wastage as this is reduced to just trimming waste.
See our blog for more information: Learn More About Wallpaper Pattern Repeats
Samples
Do you offer a sample service?
Yes we offer a full sample service, this includes multiple size options for most patterns and is charged on a per sample basis.
A flat rate sample delivery charge is applicable per order, this is charged at £1.50 with an estimated 5 working day delivery time. (Priority Delivery upgrades are available in the checkout for a flat rate of £2.50).
SMALL SAMPLES - A4 SIZE (LETTER SIZED) - £1.50 PER SAMPLE
LARGE SAMPLES - 50CM SIZE (FULL ROLL WIDTH LENGTH) - £2.50 PER SAMPLE
For more info, see our Sample Page
European/International sample orders will incur additional delivery charges.
Wallpaper Hanging
How long will my wallpaper take to dry out?
This varies depending on the ventilation in the room and the temperature at the time of year.
Usually, the wallpaper will dry within a week but has it been known to be a few weeks, various factors will affect the drying time including the adhesive, wallpaper material properties and wall surface.
Wallpaper should only be allowed to dry naturally, without any additional heat sources or drafts, should this not be allowed to happen you may experience contraction of the wallpaper and the opening of butt joints.
Are all wallpapers rolled the same way?
The short answer is no.
Modern manufacturing techniques mean that wallpapers can be rolled either way and in turn may not come off the roll as they should be hung.
There is no right or wrong way that wallpaper will have been rolled during packing.
Please ensure that you have checked the direction of the pattern prior to hanging.
What is the difference between "paste the wall" and conventional wallpaper?
A - The difference is in the base layer or "substrate" and how they react with moisture from your paste or adhesive.
Traditional / Paste The Wallpaper has a base made from a pulp of natural paper fibres, this substrate absorbs moisture from wallpaper paste and adhesives and swells over a short period of a few minutes. Once swollen, this is hung and should be allowed to slowly dry in a taught state on the wall.
For removal, the same applies, moisture needs to be added to the wall surface to soften the existing adhesive and natural pulp wallpaper base.
See our guide for more info on How To Hang Traditional Wallpapers
Paste The Wall Wallpaper has a base made from synthetic, man-made fibres mixed into a pulp blend that act like a mesh (non woven). This synthetic base does not react with moisture and as such does not need time to swell and can be hung in the dry state onto a pasted wall.
For removal, non woven wallpaper is easy to strip when you want to redecorate, it peels off in complete drops/lengths.
Note:You can still apply paste/adhesive onto the back of non woven wallpapers in the traditional way but remember there is no need to allow time to soak, just hang when ready (this is useful for the more difficult places/spaces to decorate).
See our guide for more info on How To Hang Paste The Wall Wallpapers
Do I need to prepare my walls differently for "paste the wall" wallpapers?
Preparation should be carried out in the same way as you would for a traditional wallpaper, stripping, filling and sanding etc with one final and important step! Your walls need to be of one even and solid colour prior to hanging a paste the wall wallpaper.
This is due to the synthetic substrate produced of man-made fibres being slightly opaque, this may allow any surface colour to be seen through the final hung and dry wallcovering.
You must ensure all bare plastered walls, patched or filled walls, partly painted walls (especially noticed at the ceiling or skirting where paint may have been overlayed onto the walls), walls where a picture rail or dado rail have been removed leaving paint, woodstain or other difference in surface colour.
See our blog for more info on Wall Preparation
Should I do anything differently when using a rich or dark colour wallpaper?
When using dark, deep or rich coloured wallpapers, it is good decorating practice to darken the ends of your rolls prior to hanging if the manufacturer has not already done this, otherwise you may see the colour of the wallpapers substrate where the joins meet.
A secondary step of painting the walls in a similar colour where the joins will land is also a good solution to avoid any wall colour showing through should the wallcoverings shrink or move during the drying process.
Roll Calculation
How many rolls do I need?
We have an industry-standard wallpaper roll calculator guide available here, this uses two measurements to give you an estimate. Please have your wall width measurement and your skirting to ceiling height measurements to hand to complete this process.
Include (ignore) your doors and windows within the measurements for a standard room layout, this will give you the majority of your wastage allowance for pattern matching.
Should you be decorating a room with a wall of patio glass doors, a hallway full of doors or a stairway then this guide is not suitable. We can help you over the phone or via email when you share your measurements with us.
Please use our online wallpaper calculator or download our printable guide here. This will give an estimation based on your measurements. It will not allow for large pattern matches / errors during hanging but will give a good guide.
Lining Paper
When should lining paper be used?
Using lining paper helps to provide a good base to wallpaper onto, resulting in a much better finish and so we do recommend always using lining paper prior to hanging. Cross lining is also recommended.
This is where the lining paper is hung horizontally instead of vertically. This is to avoid the possibility of a wallpaper seam being hung on top of another.Any refused delivery will be subject to the full delivery charges incurred to Home Flair Decor from the courier used, this includes charges for outbound delivery, address correction and return delivery.
These charges will be deducted from any refund due once they are confirmed from the appropriate courier (within 14 days of return).
THINK SOMETHING IS NOT QUITE RIGHT?
EXAMINE BEFORE HANGING
Please note that you should check all wallpaper products on arrival, once opened prior to hanging and throughout hanging.
Any obvious print error or roll damage etc cannot be resolved once hung if the issue is visible in the dry state before hanging.
FOUND A PROBLEM? STOP!
In the event of a wallpaper fault please stop decorating immediately and get in touch preferably via phone, or email and we will advise you on how to proceed.
Always keep all roll labels safe until your decorating job is completed as they will need to be returned along with any samples of the product issue and the labels will have to be returned.
SHARE SOME PICTURES
Please share clear, focused images of any suspected issue you have found with one of our wallpapers/
Samples of the product and the labels will have to be returned.
If the product is found to be defective then a full replacement or refund will be made at no charge.