Wallpaper Installation
Wallpaper hung straight, with seams that sit flat and patterns that line up, or old paper stripped back to a paintable surface.
Wallpaper looks simple until you're the one trying to line up a repeating pattern across a corner that isn't quite square, which most walls aren't. A rushed hang shows up as visible seams, air bubbles, or a pattern that drifts out of alignment by the third or fourth drop. Getting it right takes proper wall prep (filling, sanding, and sometimes lining paper first) plus enough patience with pattern matching that the join lines disappear rather than announce themselves.
Removal is its own job, and it's often underestimated. Older wallpaper, especially anything applied directly to plasterboard without a primer coat underneath, can take the paper surface off the wall with it, leaving a mess that needs skimming before anything else goes on. Steam stripping and the right scoring technique matter more here than brute force, which is why removal is frequently quoted separately from a fresh install rather than assumed to be quick prep work.
Tell us the wall area, whether you need installation, removal, or both, and the current wall condition, and we'll match you with a local installer who treats the prep as seriously as the hanging.
What's typically included
- Wall filling, sanding, and priming or sizing before paper goes up
- Pattern matching across seams and corners, not just straight drops
- Steam stripping and scoring for wallpaper removal, minimising surface damage
- Skim coating of walls where old paper has damaged the plasterboard surface
- Feature wall and full-room installation
- Advice on paper suited to bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-moisture rooms
Frequently asked questions
Can you remove old wallpaper without damaging the wall underneath?
Usually, though it depends on how the original paper was applied. Paper hung over a properly primed or lined wall generally comes off cleanly with steam and scoring. Paper glued directly to bare plasterboard can pull some of the paper surface off with it, which then needs a skim coat before repainting or rehanging. Your installer will check this during the quote rather than after starting.
Is wallpaper a good choice for a bathroom?
Some papers are, provided they're rated for higher-moisture rooms and installed with the right adhesive and sealing at edges. Standard wallpaper isn't a good fit for a shower wall or anywhere with regular direct moisture. Ask your installer to recommend a moisture-tolerant option if that's the room you're papering.
How long does a typical wallpaper install take?
It depends heavily on the pattern's repeat size and how many corners and obstacles (windows, power points, built-in shelving) are in the room. A straightforward feature wall might take a day; a full room with a complex pattern match can take longer. Your matched installer will give you a realistic timeframe once they've seen the space or the measurements.
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Walls, ceilings, and trim done properly: filled, sanded, and painted with the right number of coats for the surface.
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Weatherboard, brick, or plaster, painted with the prep and paint system your cladding actually needs.
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Water blasting, rust treatment, and a proper roof coating system, not a quick roller job over a dirty roof.
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Wallpaper Installation across New Zealand
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