I live in an apartment, but I would like to hang real grass cloth. I plan on covering the wall with contact paper, stapling The contact paper to the wall, and then pasting as if to a normal wall. Having never actually held grass cloth, I am wondering if you think the weight Of the paper and gluewill hold up On the contact paper.
How do you know if the second and third sheets are aligned? do you make lines on the wall for every sheet? Because since you are overlapping you are not able to use the first sheet edge as a line, right?
Yes. I overlap about an inch and a half. To keep the sheets straight i make a level line or i use the edge of the blue tape as a guide. If the first sheet is straight the edges blue taped then apply the next sheet leaving a quarter inch of blue tape showing.
I bought some unpasted grasscloth from Brewster and haven't hung it yet. I called them today and asked them if I should presoak it and they gave me a loud "No!" Then they told me to put paste directly on the wall and not to use "any old paste" but to use Roman 830. They said the paste had to be "low water". I checked and they don't make 830 anymore. 😟 Can you recommend a paste for grasscloth that Brewster is insisting I do not get wet? (Grasscloth is so scary.)
Elizas Grammy sure don't be scared of it. See if you can find Roman 838 or 880. Also dynamite 234 is very good for grasscloth. Just follow the installation guide lines that come with it the best you can. It'll be fine.
I did as Brewster suggested and did not presoak the grasscloth. It is a very thick, heavy-grade unpasted grasscloth. Following their instructions, I simply applied the paste to the wall and then hung the grasscloth. It came out very well. I suppose I could have applied the paste to the grasscloth, but since Brewster told me otherwise, that is how I did it. :-)
Well, I guess if that's what Brewster said to do, then it must be correct for their wallcovering. It's just that I personally never heard of dry hanging grasscloth. But I guess an old dog can still learn new tricks.
I liked the video the way you did it, amazing how much a person can learn by just watching the process repeat a few times, what type of knife/razor do you cut with.
Are you still answering questions? I have read some grasscloth needs to be very carefully pre-moistened, to keep it from expanding after installation. Is this accurate? I know water will stain most dyed grasscloth. Also are you overlapping onto the tape then doing a cut through both drops like with typical wallpaper? That's question 2. 3rd is do you prefer to add glue to wall or to the drop on your work table? 4th is do you make all your drops equal lengths? If you have a 100 in wall would you do 3 drops at 33.3in or shorten one drop to 28in? 5th do you consecutively from one corner to the next or do you move from one corner to the opposite corner?(That's sounds like a stupid question to me but I got confused by one of your earlier comments so I had to get clarification) Anyways that my 5 starter questions, I would appreciate the help for an old DIYer.
WaReAgLe ReBeL Let's see if I can answer these. I prefer to paste the paper on the do to it expanding. If possible to use blue tape and double cut. That protects from getting paste on the previous sheet. Grasscloth will panel. It's not a seamless product. That I why I install from the center of the wall out to each corner. I use full sheets until I reach the ends. I would never trim the sheets to have them all even to fit the wall. Although that might be ok. And yes you have to be careful with water. It will stain. Not sure if this helps you. I'll reread your questions later and answer more if needed.
Are you softening the feed water to the RO at all? What is the hardness (grains/gal)? I am just looking into a system like this for a new drilled well (3500 TDS,, 100 grains/gal ) and debating between a whole house RO and a cistern with water delivery. Best of luck.
antirking, you were so kind to answer my previous question. If you don't mind just one more? I remembered today that I have asked not to have any window trim around the windows in this new addition. I like what I call "soft corners" but I guess I just mean very smooth drywall corners. I don't think I've ever seen wallpaper around windows without trim. Do I put the wallpaper actually inside the opening all the way to the window's vinyl and, if so, do I make cuts and then fold the paper in? (I hope that question made sense. What I hear in my head doesn't always translate well when I type it out, ha!) I think I can imagine folding in the sides, but it's the bottom of the window and the top that have me worried. I'm unsure if it needs to appeared "mitered" in the corners and, if so, I guess I'm in over my head. Thank you for any advice.
Elizas Grammy You will need to cut the top and bottom to fold the paper in on each side. it can tricky. all depends on the wallpaper on how you do it. like putting in the headers above the window and putting in the pieces below the window. because those areas need wrapped in as well.
Thanks so much. Since posting here, I did try to watch several YT videos about "how to wallpaper around window reveals and recesses" and they did fold in the sides but when it came to the top and bottom of the reveal, or recess, they were all doing some odd things that I didn't think you would do. For instance, they cut out a square of the paper and sort of patched it to place into the top and actually overlapped what was above the window over the patch. I can't think that tucking paper under paper would be correct! I'll be using grasscloth, so I hope it's forgiving on seams, but I can't see anyway around seams once I try to fold in the top and bottom. So glad you posted this video; you're a huge encouragement!
Hi. I was just wondering a few things, please. 1.) It looks like you're pulling rolls of the paper out of a bucket. Do you just place cut-to-length rolls of grasscloth into the bucket of adhesive and, if so, how long is too long to leave them in there? 2.) Do you have to wash the adhesive off the front of the grasscloth when you're done to keep it from being shiny? 3.) I'm going to use it on a brand new wall. Should I paint or prime the drywall first, before wallpapering it? Thanks so much for any advice. :-)
Elizas Grammy you should always prime walls before hanging wallpaper. no I am not pulling cut lengths from a bucket. I only paste 1 sometimes 2 sheets of grasscloth at a time on my paste table. then roll it up and bring it to the room. I have a clean drop cloth on the floor where I lay it down on. You do not want to get paste or water on the face of the grasscloth if at all possible. good luck. let know if you need anything else.
Wow, I'm glad I asked! I used to use pre-pasted wallpaper, that you would place in water for a bit and I guess I thought you might be doing something similar. I'm so glad I checked! I'll be sure to prime the new walls first. Thanks so much; you're a huge help!
antlrking I live in West Palm Beach. Im a painter but interested in learning to hang. My partners mom runs a hanging business. so we do alot of priming for her. Like your techniques looks like you been doing it awhile.
chevytruck561 yes. been hanging wallpaper over 30 years in Orlando. I've always wanted to trailer my boat down to west Palm and fish. out of Canaveral we have to go out so far to catch fish. ugh.
Could you do a step-by-step video of the "blue tape method"? Maybe with speech? You are by far the best I've seen! Unfortunately, like a lot of people...I just don't get how it's done without making the wrong cuts. Since the paper is so expensive, I'd hate to waste it (only doing one wall - nothing to cut around). Thanks!
Queen B I will try to make another one soon. been wanting to for a while. with very fine grasscloth wallpaper like this you line up your 1.5" blue tape for delicate surfaces along the edge of the wallpaper. and when you overlap the next sheet leave about1/2" exposed. then double cut with a straight edge in the middle of the 1" overlap. Hope this helps. Just remember. Not all grasscloths need to be doublecut. first start your job by reading the install guideline sheet that comes this it.
Queen B also grasscloth will panel. It's the look you want from it. so lay out your wall so all your sheets are centered. That is why I start in the center of the wall.
+antlrking +antlrking hi there, I was hoping you could help me with some advice. I have a 1004mm wall and the vinyl (grasscloth look) wallpaper is 705mm. Where should I start hanging the first panel if I want the least seam to be visible. I understand some people don't mind seeing the seems with grasscloth, but because it is already such tight wall/space I would prefer the least seams. I think maybe two panels with overlapping to match the pattern might give me the least seams, but I am so nervous of seeing a line in the middle of the wall. Also trying to follow your overlapping methods in this video, but still trying to get my head around it. Thank you! The wallpaper I am using is "Sirpi naturale in copper" is actually a commercial type of wallpaper.
Mirando Elespejo well your talking mm's and in Florida I'm only used to inches. it sounds like your wall is larger than your wallpaper. are you sure you have enough material. grasscloth wallpapers are Not seamless products. the visible seams and the paneling affect is part of the look. if you are hanging a commercial vinyl 54 inches wide. It might have a pattern match. if it does and you can line up the pattern. You will not have any visible seams. most commercial wallpapers do have to be overlapped and double cut. with vinyl you will not need the blue tape to protect it. unless it's recommend by the manufacturer. always check the guideline sheet that comes with the material before you start. to reduce the amount of seams. Just take the width of your material and start in the right corner. if it is 54" Then measure out 53" draw your plumb line. that will be your first sheet. Then go to the left from there. hope this helps
+antlrking thank you! 705mm is 27.6in. I def have enough material ( one roll of 11yrds) . I have checked the instructions, and it says that the paste (glue) should not come come into contact with the surface, so I prob need to tape, overlap and double-cut. Also the pattern repeats. I'll prob watch your video a few more times to try and get the double-cutting technique. Thank you!
Trying to get brave enough to do this. You make it look so easy! Amazing job you did. Best video I've seen on grass cloth installation...Thanks so much!
What adhesive do you use with grasscloth? I've tried the regular wallpaper adhesive from Home Depot and it didn't stick at all. Is there a special adhesive for grasscloth?
Kristi Linauer I use dynamite 234. it's a clear heavy duty adhesive from Sherwin williams. you can also use Romans pro 880. all you need to do to it is whip it up. DO NOT DILUTE WITH WATER. it will not stick.
the blue tape is 2". i overlap the next sheet on top of the tape about 1.5". I use that 1/2" to keep my sheets straight after hanging the first one on a plumb line. the tape keeps adhesive from getting on the previous sheet. works real well on this fine grasscloth. not all grasscloths can be installed this way.
