Professional Wallpaper Hanging In Macclesfield

A homeowner in Macclesfield contacted Warren Bracegirdle Painters & Decorators to transform a room requiring complete redecoration.

The project involved painting the ceiling, lining the walls with strong fibre paper, preparing and painting all woodwork, and hanging new wallpaper with precision alignment both above and below the picture rail.

Initial Assessment & Ceiling Painting

Before commencing work, we assessed the condition of the room. The room featured a picture rail, a traditional architectural detail common in period properties that divides the wall into two distinct sections, requiring careful consideration when decorating.

The project began with painting the ceiling. We prepared the ceiling surface by filling any cracks or imperfections, then sanded smooth to create a uniform surface.

The ceiling received coats of quality emulsion paint, applied with professional techniques to achieve an even finish without visible roller marks. Careful cutting in was performed where the ceiling met the walls and around the light fitting.

Wall Lining With Fibre Paper

With the ceiling complete, we lined the walls with strong fibre paper before applying decorative wallpaper. Lining paper provides a uniform surface that improves adhesion and appearance whilst bridging minor imperfections in the plaster.

Fibre paper is more robust than standard lining paper, providing better coverage and durability. Lining paper is typically hung horizontally rather than vertically, creating joints that won't align with the vertical seams of the decorative wallpaper, preventing seams from showing through.

We applied professional wallpaper paste and allowed appropriate soaking time before hanging each length. Each length was positioned carefully and smoothed from the centre outwards, removing air bubbles and achieving tight seams.

Woodwork Preparation & Painting

Whilst the lining paper dried, we prepared all woodwork including skirting boards, door frames, window frames, and the picture rail. We filled any holes, dents, or gaps with appropriate wood filler, allowing adequate drying time before sanding.

All woodwork surfaces were sanded to create a smooth base. We applied one coat of undercoat to all prepared woodwork, which provides excellent coverage and creates a uniform base colour.

Once dried, we applied the top coat with careful attention to achieving smooth, even coverage without brush marks, runs, or sags.

All edges were cut in precisely where woodwork met walls, creating clean lines that define the room's architectural features. The picture rail received particular attention, as this feature would be prominently visible both from above and below.

Laser Level Wallpaper Hanging

With all preparation complete, we began hanging the decorative wallpaper using laser levels to achieve perfectly straight alignment. Laser levels project horizontal and vertical reference lines that are far more accurate than traditional spirit levels or plumb lines.

The picture rail created an additional challenge, as the wallpaper needed to align precisely both above and below it. We set up the laser level to project horizontal reference lines at key heights, providing continuous, perfectly level references throughout the installation.

Pattern Matching & Precision

We calculated the pattern repeat and planned the wallpaper layout to achieve the best pattern placement. Starting positions were carefully chosen to provide symmetry around key features like windows and doors.

Each length of wallpaper was cut with adequate allowance for pattern matching. We carefully aligned the pattern both vertically and horizontally, maintaining level alignment with the laser reference lines. The seams between wallpaper lengths were positioned and smoothed to create invisible joins.

As the wallpaper installation progressed around the room, the laser levels verified that alignment remained perfect throughout. External and internal corners required special techniques to maintain pattern alignment whilst accommodating the corner angles.

Final Inspection & Completion

Upon completion, we conducted a thorough inspection of all decoration work. The wallpaper installation demonstrated the precision that professional paperhanging achieves, with the pattern flowing consistently around the room and perfect alignment both above and below the picture rail.

Seams were virtually invisible, and the strong fibre paper lining beneath provided the smooth base that allowed the decorative wallpaper to display beautifully.

This Macclesfield project demonstrates how Warren Bracegirdle Painters & Decorators combines traditional decorating skills with modern tools like laser levels.

The completed room transformation provided the homeowner with professional decoration that will look excellent for years to come, reflecting our 30 years of experience in the painting and decorating trade.

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