How To Hang Grasscloth

Tools Required:

  • Utility Knife

  • Plastic straight edge smoother

  • Soft bristle brush

  • Paint roller & tray

    Use a high-quality 10mm pile paint roller sleeve, the alternative ones may leave soft fibres on the back of your wallpaper & clog up your glue.

  • Paint brush & pot for adhesive (when using a ladder)

  • Adhesive

    It is important to use paste with a low water content as you are working with a fabric. A professional will use a commercial grade Low VOV paste that will adhere & last better

  • Pasting table

  • Measuring tape

  • Clean microfibre cloth

  • Scissors for trimming

  • Level

  • Ladder

N.B. If your chosen grasscloth has a dark dye, take off any external wrapping to let it dry out for 12 hours. This lets the ink dry to ensure no transfer on your hands and therefore, the paper.

1. Remove any plate covers, light fixtures, etc.

2. Lightly sand your wall.

3. Measure the wallpaper length required. Leave an extra 20mm at the top and bottom. This takes into consideration that some walls are not level and gives you extra length to use if the ceiling runs out.

4. Using your knife, carefully cut a strip against the straight edge to get a clean, straight line. We recommend using a new blade for every cut, which will ensure clean cuts and avoid rips.

5. Apply paste to the wall. Leave this paste long enough to become tacky. Only do the section you are working on, not the entire wall at the same time, as the paste can dry out before you get there.

6. Apply paste to the wallpaper back. It is essential not to miss any spots. Ensure you do not apply too thickly, as you are pasting the wall and the paper. This is due to the fact that grasscloth can be heavier than many wallpapers, therefore, this practice ensures good adhesion.

N.B. You are using a natural fibre, ensure you do not get paste on the front of the wallpaper as you cannot wipe it off, as you could if using traditional wallpaper material. Wiping the front could cause the dye to come off.

7. Gently fold the paper (do not crease) in on itself and allow time for the paste to activate and the paper to soften and expand to cover the wallpaper fully. Fold the paper, to allow you to unfold it whilst hanging. You will then be working with the top third of the panel. This will keep the bottom out of your way, without creasing it up, until you need it.

8. Using the soft bristle brush or plastic wallpaper smoother, smooth the wallpaper as you hang, lightly evening out any bubbles or creases in the wallpaper as you go. Do not push too hard or you will squeeze out the paste and stretch the paper, which will ruin that drop.

Some important things to remember:

– Grasscloth is hung in a panels system. Start in the centre of the wall and work out to edges.

– Overworking the paper with a brush or smoother will cause paper to fray.

– Each drop will then be reverse hung. This means every alternate drop will be installed upside down.

– If wrapping wallpaper around a return wall, use the dry cloth to smooth as you wrap.

– With grasscloth wallpaper, joints do show. You are meant to see the variances in texture throughout. It is advised to keep the joints to a minimum and consistent throughout.

– Sometimes there can be some threads remaining, trim these carefully with scissors.

– Do not use a damp cloth to wipe the wallpaper. If at all necessary, use a dry, clean, microfibre cloth to gently wipe smooth to finish.