Textured Wallcovering

Textured wall coverings are easy to use and come in a variety of styles.

Problem: Hanging wallpaper can be an intimidating project for beginners.
 
Solution: Textured fiberglass wall coverings are easy to use, even for beginners. Creating an accent wall by covering a small wall with new features can be an excellent first project. The wall coverings come in a variety of patterns, are designed to accept paint and are rigid enough to cover small imperfections in the wall.

Equipment list:
 
level
wide blade putty knife
one or two screwdrivers for removing electrical covers
razor knife
scissors
tape measure
straight edge
plastic smoothing tool
paintbrush and paint roller with 3/4" nap
adhesive as recommended by wall covering manufacturer
 
Prepare the wall

1. Remove all furniture from the work area.
2. Repair any holes or wall damage that could show through the material. Use patching compound for large holes and spackling for small holes.
3. Remove electrical covers. Shut off power at circuit breaker box before removing any electrical covers.

Prepare the materials

1. Measure the width of the wall to determine how many strips of material will be necessary.
2. Measure the height of the wall from the ceiling to the floor (or from the bottom of the crown molding to the top of the base molding, where applicable).
3. Cut the wall hanging material several inches longer than the exact height of the walls. To save time later, cut all the strips you plan to use.

Establish a starting point

1. From the corner, mark the wall at a point slightly less than the width of one strip. If your measurements indicate that you'll be left with a very small strip at one end of the wall, you can mark your starting point approximately half the width of one strip from the corner.
2. Place a level on the reference point and adjust for plumb (straight up and down).
3. Use the level as a straight edge to mark a plumb line down the entire wall. Longer levels are easier to use for this task.

Apply adhesive to the wall

1. Use the brush to apply small strips of adhesive along the baseboard and sides of the wall. This is known as "cutting in."
2. Use the roller in a zigzag pattern to cover at least as much area of the wall as needed for the first strip.
3. Cut in at the ceiling and around any outlets.

Apply the wall covering

1. Line the edge of the wall covering along the plumb line and press it into place. Be sure the top and bottom extend far enough to allow trimming later. Apply the wall covering directly over any electrical outlets and switches. Cutouts aren't necessary at this point.
2. Use a plastic smoothing tool to smooth out the material. Work from the inside of the material outward, pushing any excess glue out from under the material.
3. Trim any excess material by pushing a straight edge firmly against corners and cutting with a razor knife.
4. When applying subsequent pieces, move the wall covering up or down to match the patterns. This will make the seam harder to see. Don't use a seam roller (a tool for traditional wallpapering projects). It is not necessary and could damage the texture of your wall covering.
5. Use a razor knife to trim out holes for electrical outlets and switches.
6. Allow the adhesive to dry overnight, then paint the wall covering as desired.

Resources
textured fiberglass wallcovering
Roos International Ltd Inc.
1020 N.W. 6th Street, Suite H
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
Toll-free: 800-888-2776
Phone: 954-429-3883
Email: support@roosintl.com
Website: www.roosintl.com