Wallpaper installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering wallpaper installation

Wallpaper is judged on the seams, the pattern match and the corners, and a customer will notice any miss in good light. Win the job by checking the walls, planning the match on paper and showing the paper in the room before you order.

What customers ask

  • Will the pattern line up across the seams?
  • Will the paper peel at the corners or near the outlets?
  • What happens to the walls when the paper comes down later?
  • How much extra paper do I need for the pattern?
  • Can you hang a large pattern on a wall with a window or a stair?

How to win the job

  • Measure each wall and draw the pattern layout on paper, so the customer sees where the seams fall and where the match is lost.
  • Check the wall with a light at an angle on the first visit, and note any cracks, flakes or soft areas that need repair before hanging.
  • Order a sample of the paper and show it on the wall in the room, with the light the room gets at the time the paper will be viewed.
  • Put the paper roll count and the waste factor in the quote, with the pattern repeat stated so the customer knows why the count is higher.
  • Name the adhesive or the primer used under the paper, and explain how it suits the wall type.
  • Quote the corners, the outlet cutouts and the window and door casings as separate items so the trim work is visible.
  • Keep the paper lot number on file so the same roll can be matched if a repair is needed later.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of rooms with the pattern visible, including the seams in close shots
  • Photos of the corners and outlet cutouts, which show the trim quality
  • A photo of a pattern match layout drawing for a feature wall
  • A list of the paper types you install, such as pasted, non-woven and peel-and-stick

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care sheet for cleaning the paper and for touching up a torn edge
  • A check visit after a few weeks to look at seams, corners and any lifting
  • A quote for paper removal or a second room, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Wallpaper installation commonly does not need a license, but wall repair with moisture or structural issues may require additional credentials. Confirm your business registration and insurance in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Should I warranty the seams?

Warranty your workmanship on the seams and the match, and pass through the paper manufacturer's warranty. State the conditions that void the warranty, such as high humidity or direct sun that the paper was not rated for.

How do I handle a pattern I have not hung before?

Ask for the pattern repeat and a sample. Test a seam on a scrap of the wall or a removable board before you commit the whole room, and put the test result in the notes.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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