Use a low sheen or matt paint as this is less reflective and helps hide imperfections. What grade of lining paper should I use? If you are hanging horizontally you will get two full lengths per roll on a typical 12ft wall. Again you will need at least three rolls for each wall. In principle hanging lining paper is similar to hanging wallpaper with a few subtle differences, which we will tell you here. Admittedly, lining paper adds an extra step and a little extra cost to the redecoration of walls. That leads many people to ask whether it’s worth it. Put simply, yes, it is. This small, simple step before papering or painting your walls will provide a smooth surface that enhances adhesion for wallpaper, makes painting a breeze and improves the end results for any kind of decoration. By using lining paper, you’ll get a great finish that doesn’t need redecorating again in a few months’ time when you’d otherwise start to notice all the little imperfections. We think that’s definitely worth it. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LINING PAPER? As with lining paper, the result is hopefully a perfectly smooth wall that’s ready to be decorated. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that plastering is an alternative to lining paper or vice versa.

Finally, this extra layer of paper helps trap air in between the wall and the lining paper as well as between the lining paper and wallpaper. These two layers result in added insulation to your home. Should I Use Lining Paper? If you are hanging lining paper like this 1200 grade lining paper from B&Q horizontally you need to mark down around 10cm from the ceiling. Now measure each roll width — typically 53cm down the wall to see what size strip you have at the bottom. If you have a skinny strip, start further up the wall. The two main types of lining paper are conventional lining paper and paste-the-wall lining paper. CONVENTIONAL LINING PAPER I have used the 2000 grade on a few rooms in the house and painted over it and I do think it is good quality lining paper. The problem I am facing is that in the final room I am trying to decorate – I discovered when I was attempting to strip it, that it had one layer of bamboo like textured paper which came off quite easily with a steamer but this was papered on top of another shell patterned textured paper and this shell paper was pasted directly onto drywall with no sealer coat. Trying to remove wallpaper from paper(the drywall paper lining) is proving almost impossible and I don’t want to damage the drywall itself in the process by either over wetting it or gouging it when trying to scrape the shell paper off. Lining paper can improve your walls’ insulation properties, making it harder for heat to pass through. That’s especially true for thermal lining paper, which can reduce heat loss by 15%. The result is a more thermally efficient space, which is easier to keep warm – reducing your heating bills over time. WHAT GRADE OF LINING PAPER IS BEST FOR ME?You should leave newly hung lining paper for at least 24 hours before you think about painting it. If the room is cold you want to think about leaving the lining paper for at least 48 hours. Lining paper is a great choice if your walls are in good condition but are painted in a dark colour. For example, if you have dark brown walls and want to cover them with a white or light coloured paint you can forget about prepping (to a certain degree) the walls and you won’t have to apply specialist or extra coats of paint to ensure good coverage. Once you have done the first part of the strip, fold over a 50 cm pasted section onto paper that has already been pasted and repeat until the whole strip is done. This creates a concertina effect that looks a bit like the top of a Viennetta ice cream. Conventional lining paper has been used by decorators for years, in many cases with great results. That said, the clear advantages of paste-the-wall lining paper can’t be denied. The thinner the paper the shorter the soak time for wallpaper paste. In the case of 800-1000 grades, leave for eight to 10 minutes before applying the lining paper. 2. 1200-1400 grade lining paper

It’s worth noting that pasting the wall is only an option with paste-the-wall lining paper and not conventional lining paper. Many have tried applying adhesive to the wall before applying conventional lining paper, and it’s fair to say the results are disastrous. WHICH IS BEST FOR ME? Make sure you have your wallpaper paste already mixed and ready to go. Lay a strip on your pasting table and apply generously (but not too much that it will drip off) and evenly with a pasting brush. Lining paper eliminates any guesswork. While it may absorb more paint without the use of a primer, you won’t suffer in terms of adhesion or durability. In other words, it’s up to you whether you want to prime your lining paper beforehand or paint straight on and use a little more paint in the process. HOW TO HANG LINING PAPER If you are wallpapering new plaster you will need a light grade lining paper as the wall will be completely smooth. This adds a little extra insulation and provides a great blank canvas for painting.The common roll size for linen paper is 10m x 53cm. This means in a typical size room with 2.4m high walls you can expect to get four drops on straight ceiling to floor drops. So you will need around three rolls per wall depending on how many fixtures — doors, windows — you have. Get a spirit level and mark a horizontal line across the wall from corner to corner. Measure how far it is from corner to corner. Now get your lining paper and cut — add an extra 100-200mm to overlap and cut into the corner. Now cut enough full length strips to cover the wall. You should need around five strips. If you decide to go for the heavier grade papers (1700 and 2000) then you may find it difficult to handle and work with, this will obviously depend on your experience and room shape and size. Most professional decorators use lining paper before wallpapering a room but as a novice DIY-er, it can be difficult to know whether the added expense of buying and the time involved to hang lining paper is worth it in terms of the finished result. In a nutshell, the professionals wouldn’t use it unless they had to and in reality the condition of most walls, especially in older properties mean heavy duty lining paper is required. So as someone new to the world of lining paper, how do you choose which grade to use on walls that are certainly far from perfect? This article will guide you through when to choose 1700 grade lining paper and its uses. What is Lining Paper and What is the Grading System? When preparing your walls, you may be wondering whether existing lining paper is a suitable surface for application. In short, it comes down to the condition of your existing paper. If joints are loose or corners are peeling, you’ll need to remove your existing lining paper. However, you can paper over existing lining paper if the wear and tear is merely superficial. ANY MORE QUESTIONS?