In our present economic situation, it is apparent that more homeowners are choosing to make improvements to their homes, rather than taking a loss on the current housing market.
Many of these people are choosing to add wallpaper to their home renovations list not only for the many design and color options available, but for the value it adds to their home.
Did you know that wallpaper outlasts paint by almost seven years when it is applied correctly?
Consider this:
You buy and install wallpaper once every fifteen to twenty-five years. Paint would have to be reapplied several times over this same time period, costing you more in materials costs and in labor.
Also, it is impossible to get the same effects with paint as you can get with the many new styles of wallpaper that are available today. For instance, wallpaper can give you the rich look of textured leather on your walls with the use of a faux leather wallpaper product. Faux paint techniques can be difficult to learn and timely to complete, whereas you can get the same look quickly, easily and more cost effectively with wallpaper.
If you have to make a repair, it is very easy to do so with wallpaper. Following a few simple steps:
1. With a utility or craft knife, simply cut a piece of wallpaper from the leftovers you have saved from your project. You’ll want to make sure that it is larger than the damaged area that you are trying to replace.
2. Place the piece you have just cut over the torn area while trying to match the pattern of the wallpaper.
3. Once the design is matched up, make sure it held securely in place. Blue safety tape works great for this.
4. Trace the edges of the leftover wallpaper with your utility or craft knife, cutting the damaged wallpaper in the process.
5. Remove the leftover wallpaper cutout and moisten the damaged area with water to loosen the adhesive for removal.
6. Carefully remove the damaged area. Use a putty knife for areas that you can’t lift off with your finger.
7. Clean and prep the wall surface where the new piece of wallpaper will be added. It may be necessary to apply wallpaper primer if you are down to bare wall.
8. Apply wall covering adhesive to the new wallpaper section and carefully place it on the wall, making sure to line up the pattern.
9. Wipe off any excess adhesive from the surface of the wallpaper with a damp sponge and then make sure to smooth any air bubbles. Wipe off any moisture to complete the repair job.
In order to complete a repair on a faux paint project, it would be virtually impossible to match the colors and design correctly. You would have to buy more materials and repaint the whole wall. Not only costly in materials, but also in time.
These are just a few of the many reasons why wallpaper is better than paint when trying to increase the value of your home.