There are two types of wall murals that you can purchase. One mural requires pasting to the wall and the other is a peel and stick mural. No matter which type of mural you are using, you need to prep your wall before you can apply the wallpaper.
How To Prepare For Installation Of Your Mural
If the desire is for the mural to live long and stand tall, then steps must be taken to prepare the wall so that they are clean and ready to be transformed into beautiful art.
Plaster
If the walls that are being prepped are plaster, be sure that the walls are clean and completely dry. Check for loose plaster or any contaminants. Fishin the surface by applying a seal or a primer that is of good quality.
Painted Walls
If the wall that the mural is being mounted on is pre painted it should be assessed as to what type of paint it is. It is only recommended that the mural be painted on a matte emulsion paint. If there is flaking paint that is old it will need to be scraped followed by a good sanding to smooth the surface. If the walls have been freshly painted then do not apply the mural for at least two or three weeks after to be sure the paint is completely dry.
Walls With Wallpaper
Any old wallpaper should be removed before installing the mural. Don't use lining paper beneath the mural. Be sure to apply a good quality seal or primer.
Murals That ARe Self-Adhesive
The surfaces of the wall MUST be smoothed out. There should be no particles, flakes, or dents in the wall. The final step in preparation is to apply a quality seal or primer. The best choice for a primer is one that is white to conceal the colors that may show through beneath your mural.
How To Install Murals That Are Pasted
There are tools you will need for the installation of the mural:
Wallpaper panels
Paste
Roller
Measuring Tape
Level
Writing utensil
Brush
Utility knife
Cloth
1. Lay the mural out
The mural will come cut into panels. The panels should be laid out on the floor in order and left for 5 hours for any curls to pull out. Lightly spray your wall before you apply the panel. Working from left to right is the ideal technique.
2. Draw a vertical line down the wall
With the use of the level and measuring tape, draw a straight line down the wall to use for a guideline. Be sure you measure out the same distance as one panel.
3.Apply the paste directly to the wall
Using a roller, apply the paste to the wall only to the surface where the first panel is going to be hung. Apply the panel, careful not to push any paste from under the edges. If there's any of the extra paper that may hangover at the top or the bottom, leave it for trimming later. Dampen a sponge or use a soft brush to smooth wrinkles out. Press lightly to remove bubbles.
4. Match up the panels
Paste each section of the wall before applying that section of the mural wallpaper panel. Work for the left to right applying each subsequent piece. Be sure the pattern is matching up as each piece is applied. Be careful to apply edge to edge and not leave gaps between pieces nor overlap.
5. Trim excess from the top and bottom of the panels
Once all the panels have been mounted, using a utility knife, trim any extra from the top and bottom. There may be a bit on the far left and the far right as well. If you can see leftover paste, use a damp sponge to gently wipe it away.
6. Peel and Stick Murals
Peel and stick murals are applied the same way, except you don't have to apply any paste. Carefully peel just a little bit of backing from the top of the panel. Apply a small edge of the panel to the top while being careful that the right-hand edge is aligned with the vertical guideline.
Slowly peel the rest of the backing paper and gently smooth the piece down the wall. If you need to reposition the panel, you can slowly peel it back and reapply it. This is why it's important to peel the back paper slowly to be able to easily compensate for errors in placement.
