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Discussion Forum

Wall paper – measuring and more

Piffin | Posted in General Discussion on September 17, 2009 07:00am

Help me figure this up. I usually have my paper hanger calc how much to buy, but he just died so I’ll be looking for another. Meanwhile, the Interior designer is ordering this up and wants me to double check how much.

So when they say a standard roll is five yards by 27″, does that mean it covers five sq yd ( 27 sq ft) of wall?
Or does it mean that a five yard roll is 15′ long by 27″ wide?
This stuff is a kraft paper that get a print pattern on it.

I know about calcing for the pattern repeats.

Then there is a room that will use a fabric/ sisalgrass with liner – Madagascar clothe it says – that is 44″ wide with liner( Hmmm, on the phone she said 44″ but the sample and spec sheet she sent says 46″)

I’ve hung a fair amt of paper long time ago, but it was always pre-pasted. This stuff seems to not be. Wonder if anyone has comments on what past to use.

 

 

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  1. cameraman | Sep 17, 2009 07:38pm | #1

    Hope your paper hanger didn't die on one of your jobs!!!

    Have a friend that an elderly roofer had a heart attack and died on the roof.

    Fellow roofers called 911 and kept on roofing!!

     

    Back to the wall paper, last time I ordered wall paper the paint store did my mesurements and quanity ordered, still have a few rolls left!!

    1. Piffin | Sep 17, 2009 09:14pm | #2

      Most times there is leftover. It is hard to get it perfect because of pattern repeats and some hangers will be more wastefull with layout than others, or have a bad piece or two. You never want to come up short and end up with a different colour lot in the same room either, so everyone rounds up and adds a roll.But the figures this ID is shooting me sounds like she is buying for another whole room!My hanger was my BIL painter died last month of a heart attack.A week after his funeral, the main guy on the electricians crew finished roughing in on friday, and Monday morning eary he had a massive heart attack. They said he was dead before he hit the floor.
      And just the week before, I was thinking "I wish I was as healthy looking as Al is there..." 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. cameraman | Sep 17, 2009 09:27pm | #3

        I remember you mentioning about your BIL, sorry to hear.

        Last wallpaper gig my wife ordered from HomeChepo!! Mistake. Thier figures were enought for a couple extra rooms. Had the hanger refigure, fine tuned the paper to just 1 roll extra. Just enought for any repairs, ect.....

         

        I hate wall paper, last I did was stripes, I couldn't see a up or down!! My wall paper hanger walked in the room and saw it right off!!!  I hate wall paper!!!

      2. User avater
        popawheelie | Sep 17, 2009 11:34pm | #5

        I just talked to guy who used to hang wallpaper and he had stories about running short.

        You probably know this already but some paterns require alot more paper to get right.

        And if you order more later it might not match.

        I know you know this but maybe the designer is covering thier rear end. "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers

        1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2009 12:49am | #6

          "but maybe the designer is covering their rear end. "This is not HD stuff, but "high end" from Madison ave kind of wallpaper. They don't print it until you order it.I did some once that was hand painted from Paris. Owner claimed that it cost about a hundred grand for that room, but that included first class airfare for the installer. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  2. Scott | Sep 17, 2009 11:05pm | #4

    Not much help to you sorry.

    I was astonished to see wallpaper at HD last week. Is it making a comeback?

  3. BUIC | Sep 18, 2009 03:56am | #7

      A standard single roll of wallpaper is 27" by 15' long.

      When you want to order paper you want to think of "strips", a floor to ceiling length of paper, plus the pattern repeat.

      8' ceiling, 18" repeat, 9'6" strip. If you buy single 15' rolls, there's alot of waste.

      That's why most manufacturers make "double rolls". They're 30' long and you'll usually get 3 strips from each roll.

      So go around the room and count the # of strips you'll need, (making common sense adjustments), add 15% and you should be good.

      The other thing you should do is make sure the paper is all from one lot or run.

    buic

    1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2009 04:13am | #9

      counting strips is what I had figured on doing - just was not sure of how long a roll is. The maker lists a rool as five yards by 27".I just was not sure if it was lineal yards as you make clear , or sq yards, which at 27" would be 20' long. more sensible for waste and repeat patterns.The kraft has a 6-1/2" pattern repeat. The walls are 8'1" and a good 8" is taken up by baseboard and crown, so 7'5" of wall to cover.....two strips per roll if everything works out pefect - fat chance! There are opennings too though.But I'll ask her to order double rolls. ThanksThis kraft paper appears to not be pre-pasted. Any recommendations what is the best paste to use? Pantry and laundry just off the kitchen, if that makes any diff. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  4. alwaysoverbudget | Sep 18, 2009 04:05am | #8

    i have about 500 rolls of paper stockpiled. so  i went and pulled one.the paper i have here is 16'4" long per roll,but it comes in double rolls so it is actually 32.8 long.so that would be in the area of your 5 yd length measurement.but i would think any paper needs to be able to cover 8' walls per strip.

    all of mine tells what it covers  in sq footage. this roll covers 55.4 sq ft in 20 inch wide. so that is roughly 6yds of coverage with this small 20"roll.

    before you order be sure and figure match. 2" match no biggie,24" means alot of paper going in the trash.

    on the paste i would ask manf what they sell or recomend,i can tell your not working with 5.00 a roll paper.

    the older i get ,

    the more people tick me off

    1. Piffin | Sep 18, 2009 04:23am | #10

      "about 500 rolls of paper stockpiled"Someday, it'll be worth something to collectors, right?LOLLast year, I had to repair a wall where water from burst plumbing above had ruined some wallpaper. Really expensive flocked and textured stuff. Maine entry hallway.I went into the attic where they had the const leftovers. There was a bureau and a large steamer trunk FULL of all the papaers they had used in that house leftovers.The only one I could not find was for this entry. Not surprising, since it had a curved wall 20' tall on one side above the curved stairs going up, and lots of weird trims, corners, and niches to befuddle even the best of paper-hangers.I redoubled my efforts and found a scrap about five feet long. Damaged spot on the wall was four feet. I managed to splice in a patch by carefully cutting on a black squiggle line in the pattern so no seam showed. Then I held my breathe for the lady of the house to scream that she could see it.She still hasn't noticed where I cut it in. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. alwaysoverbudget | Sep 18, 2009 04:52am | #11

        i'm about the last guy standing on wallpaper. i used it in all my rentals for years.it was a plus because every body else had white walls.

        then the tide turned, now no one wants to live in a house with paper.........

        so i have a pretty good supply when it comes back.the older i get ,

        the more people tick me off

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