How to Install A Wall Mural

How to prepare your wall for a mural

To ensure that your mural has a long and healthy life, it's important to prepare the wall correctly before installation. Below is a quick guide to preparing your wall for your new mural.

Plaster

Ensure that your plastered wall is clean and dry with no loose plaster or contaminants. Finish with a good quality seal/primer.

Painted walls

If your wall is painted, we recommend that the mural is installed on matt emulsion paint only. Old, flaking paint will need to be scraped and sanded to a smooth surface. Finish with a good quality wall sealer/ primer. For freshly painted walls, allow 2 to 3 weeks drying time before installing your mural.

Wallpapered walls

Remove any old wallpaper before installation and DO NOT use lining paper underneath your wall mural. Seal/prime before installation.

Self-Adhesive Murals

Wall surfaces MUST be smooth, flat and free of flaky paint, dust or other containments, the final finish must be a primer/sealer. This material has a small amount of transparency, so primers other than white may show through slightly, depending on the colours contained within your mural print itself.

How to install a 'Paste the Wall' mural

Tools you will need to install your mural:

Bucket for mixing

Wallpaper Roller

Tape Measure

Spirit Level

Brush

Sharp Knife

Pencil

Clean Cloth

1. Lay out your wall mural

Your wall mural will be supplied in panels. Lay the panels out in order and leave to rest for at least 5 hours. Make sure that you check over your mural carefully when you open it. Before application, sponge/ spray your prepared wall with water. It is recommended that you work left to right.

2. Draw a straight vertical line on your wall

Create a guideline using a spirit level and tape measure by drawing a straight line vertically, a panel's width in from the edge of the wall. Remember to deduct the measurement of the bleed/extra bit of paper. This will help you guide your panel into place to ensure it's applied straight.

3. Apply the wallpaper paste to the wall

Use a medium pile paint roller to apply the supplied paste to the wall, in the area the first panel will be installed. Apply the first panel to the pasted area and try not to squeeze any paste out of the edges. Make sure that you leave any extra bleed at the top, bottom and side for trimming later. Smooth a damp sponge or brush to gently smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles from the top of the panel to the bottom.

4. Match up the panels

Paste the wall before each panel. Apply the second and subsequent panels. Ensure that the pattern or image matches up as each panel is applied. Slide each panel into place, making sure they are edge to edge - without overlapping and without leaving any gaps. Smooth each panel with a damp sponge or brush after each application.

5. Trim any excess

When all panels have been installed, carefully trim the top, bottom and far left and right sides of your mural with a sharp blade. Use a damp sponge/brush to remove any excess paste.

How to install 'Peel & Stick' wall murals

Tools you will need to hang your peel and stick wallpaper:

Tape Measure

Spirit Level

Sharp Knife

Pencil

1. Lay out your peel and stick wall mural

Your wall mural will be supplied in panels. Lay the panels out in order and leave to rest for at least 5 hours. Make sure that you check over your mural carefully when you open it. It is recommended that you work left to right.

2. Draw a straight verticle guideline

Create a guideline using a spirit level and tape measure by drawing a straight line vertically, a panel's width in from the edge of the wall. Remember to deduct the measurement of the bleed/extra bit of paper. This will help you guide your panel into place to ensure it's applied straight.

3. Peel off the backing

Take your first panel and carefully peel a small amount of the top of the mural from the backing paper. Apply the top of the panel to the wall, ensuring that the right hand edge aligns with your vertical line. Carefully peel away the rest of the mural from the backing paper and gently apply it to the wall working down towards the bottom of the panel. If you need to re-position any part of the panel, simply peel the appropriate amount away from the wall and re-apply. Gently smooth out the mural as you go.

4. Continue applying the panels

Apply the second and subsequent panels, making sure that that the panels are laid are edge to edge - without overlapping and without leaving any gaps. Ensure that the pattern or image matches up as you apply each panel.

5. Trim off any excess

When all panels have been installed, carefully trim the top, bottom and far left and right sides of your mural with a sharp blade.