How and why to use lining paper

The numerous benefits of using lining paper for a flawless finish

All Graham and Brown wallpapers are easy to handle and install and will cover minor imperfections in the wall – but the perfect finish we would always recommend lining the wall first, with a high-quality lining paper such as our Wall Doctor Lining Paper.

As lining papers provide such a good finish, they are the perfect ‘canvas’ upon which to paint. Minor imperfections that can be glaring after being painted with matt colours are lost giving a much more consistent and aesthetically pleasing finish.

Lining papers come in various grades, e.g 1000 Grade and this relates to the thickness of the paper (1,000 gm/square metre). The bigger the number the thicker the paper. Lining papers are available in 10m, 20m and 40m rolls – but at Graham & Brown we keep it simple with a good thickness Lining paper in 10m lengths. The rolls tend to be wider than a regular wallpaper.

Wall Doctor Lining Paper will also make traditional wallpapers hung on top fully removable and cut decorating time in half.

What You Will Need:

    For preparing your walls:

  • Wall filer
  • Sandpaper

    • For installing the wallpaper:

  • Stanley Knife and or,
  • Wallpaper Scissors – to cut the paper
  • Graham & Brown Wallpaper Paste
  • Bucket – to mix the paste in.
  • Plumb Line or Spirit level
  • Tape Measure
  • Paint Brush or Roller and Roller tray– for applying the paste
  • Wallpaper brush or Smoother – for ensuring paper is stuck down
  • Seam Roller – to ensure seams are level
  • Clean damp cloth – to clean off any paste on wallpaper surface and smooth seams

1How to hang lining paper

The process of hanging lining paper follows the same instructions of wallpaper. Either follow "paste the wall" instructions for products such as Wall Doctor, or traditional papers instructions using a pasting table.

The only difference to hanging lining paper is down to the approach outlined below:

2Crossline the walls

Most professional decorators would crossline the walls. This means hanging the lining paper horizontally. The reason for doing this is that the seams will be assured of not falling in the same place as the wallpaper when it is hung on top of the lining paper and consequently give a better effect. For the novice decorator though, this maybe too much of a challenge.

However, all lining papers are wider than normal wallpapers. This means that it can be hung like vertically like normal wallpaper, and the seams of the lining paper and the wallpaper on top will not hit at the same point. So you get the same perfect finish.

Top Tip

Always ensure that the lining paper is fully dry before applying either paint are wallpaper on top of it.

You find that when adding paint or wallpaper paste to the dry lining paper that the surface may bubble. This is not uncommon and is due to the expansion of the lining paper, it should return to its smooth state once the paper or paint applied to it, has in turn completely dried out.