Category Archives: Around the House

Anaglypta, Around the House, Wallrock

Textured Wallpaper – New Wave for Design

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In the 1980s and 1990s there was a move away from using wallpaper. People opted to create a modern, clean look with painted walls. This worked well with all the new build homes that were growing up. But times change and this minimal, clean look is now looking a little outdated itself. There aren’t so many new homes being built at the moment so many people are instead buying and renovating older properties. And simply painting these old walls won’t always hide the imperfections in them.

For anyone considering using textured wallpaper in their homes, they’ll be glad to know that wallpaper manufacturers have noticed the move away from painted walls and have developed more modern textured wallpaper designs in recent years. Textured wallpaper does not mean wood chip anymore!

Anaglypta

Anaglypta are probably the brand most associated with painted textured wallpaper. They have been making it for 125 years – but don’t be put off by the heritage. they do produce some traditional textured wallpaper (see their Vintage range), but Anaglypta also offer new ranges such as Superglypta and Anaglypta Luxury. Superglypta is designed to be more hard wearing and is good to use on plaster that has a lot of imperfections, or in high traffic rooms. The Luxury range is at the other end of the spectrum and houses many modern, trendy patterns that are designed to be painted.

For the whole range of Anaglypta products and great ideas, why not visit GoWallpaper to see for yourself.

Wallrock

Wallrock has made a name for itself by producing specialist wall coverings. Two of their best products have been soundproof and insulating lining papers. And they’ve now gone into the textured wallpaper market with the Wallrock Texture range. The range runs the whole of designs from modern to retro to classic looking patterns. So whatever kind of home look you’re going for, there’ll be something to suit.

So if you think your bare painted walls are looking a bit old hat, or just feel like a change, think about using textured wallpaper to add depth and comfort to your home.

Anaglypta, Around the House, Featured Brands, lining Paper, Specialist Solutions

Lining Paper Grades Explained

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There are a whole range of specialist tools and also a range of lining paper grades. But how do you know which grades are the best for you to use?

Lining paper? 600 grade? These terms can be pretty baffling to a novice DIY-er. Paint is available in different types relating to the finish and intended usage.

Below we go through the uses and different lining paper grades from 600 to 2000 lining paper.

What is lining paper?

Before we talk about grades we’re just going to establish, for anyone who’s unsure, what lining paper is. It’s a wall covering, similar to wallpaper, but designed to be hung before putting up wallpaper. Doing this will make a smoother surface to hang wallpaper on. It can be used on relatively smooth walls (600 grade) or to cover over more serious wall imperfections (2000 grade lining paper).

600-1000 Grade

These are the thinnest lining paper grades available. They’re designed to be used on walls that are relatively smooth, with the aim of providing a better surface to hang wallpaper or apply paint to. You can use it to cover hairline crack or very minor imperfections.

1200-1400 Grade

These are thicker lining papers that can be used to cover more pronounced imperfections. That might mean pits, dents, bubbles or mark that would show through wallpaper if you didn’t use lining paper to smooth over. As well as being thicker to 600-1000 grade papers, they are also stronger, meaning they’re more durable and hard wearing.

1700-2000 Grade

The thickest lining papers are 1700-2000 grade. These are more specialist liners designed to cover over more serious dents, scratches and stains. If you have walls with stains such as nicotine, smoke staining or graffiti, then lining paper 2000 grade is the lining paper to use. It’s also used in many period houses to smooth over older plaster jobs.

So that’s our guide to the different lining paper grades and what situations to use different ones in. And one final thing to remember, lining paper can be used on ceilings as well as walls.

Around the House, Rasch

Rasch Wallpaper – Achieve A Colourful Design

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Trends move with the seasons in interior design just like they do in fashion. Neutral colour schemes and magnolia were all the rage a few years ago, but now it’s all about colourful wallpaper that gets across more of the home owner’s personality and tells a story about them. The Rasch wallpaper collection has a number of designs that are part of this trend. Below we take a look at three Rasch wallpaper designs that can help you achieve the look.

Tired of London, tired of life.

Amongst Brits and visitors alike, London with it’s rich history, iconic buildings and strong sense of identity, is much loved. Rasch have commemorated this with a series of designs based on London including one based on the London Underground map and another featuring iconic red Routemaster buses and phone boxes. With designs based on such timeless icons, the result is a look of sophistication and charm.

New York, New York

NYC is one of those places that’s on virtually everyone’s ‘to visit’ list, if they haven’t done so already. Just like with London, Rasch have designed a series of wallpapers based on the Big Apple. There’s one based on the iconic skyscraper littered NYC skyline, and another based on the New York Subway map. Both use striking yet subtle colours to create non-overwhelming designs that work well in modern homes. We recommend using it on a feature wall to add a big city feeling to any room in your home.

Urban Poetry

Recents years have seen an increasing acceptance and interest in graffiti as an artform. While at first covering your walls in brightly coloured stencil designs and mock brickwork might seem a bit OTT, consider that these designs are no more colourful than many traditional floral wallpaper designs, just a modern, urban take on them.

We hope reading about these Rasch wallpaper designs has helped you decide to look beyond the conventional next time you decide to redecorate your home. Let your inner style show itself!

Around the House, Damp Proof Lining Paper, Wallpaper

Damp Proof Wallpaper – Stop Damp ruining your home

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Many homes in the UK suffer from damp, especially those that were built before damp proofing was considered during construction. Having damp walls can seriously affect the livability of your home, but there’s no need for it to do. We’re going to take a look at how you can damp proof walls with damp proof wallpaper.

What causes damp?

It’s important to understand the underlying problems causing damp in order to deal with it. What is meant by damp is essentially moisture in the air or ground that can’t pass through the walls of your property. This could be rising damp, coming from the ground outside or beneath your home, or it could be moisture from inside your home that can’t find a way out and condenses on walls and windows.

Ways of dealing with it?

There are a range of options for dealing with damp, the one you should choose depends on the type of damp. If you have an issue with rising damp or moisture from outside, then the best thing to do is get a damp proofing course to give you a barrier between external damp and the surfaces of your home. This is stop damp from getting in. But if the problem is with damp originating in your home, then the solutions are more lightweight. First, make sure you home is well ventilated so moisture can escape – open air vents and windows. You can also try using damp proof lining paper and damp proof wallpaper.

Specialist products from Doric Anderton and this damp proof wallpaper is available from GoWallpaper.

Damp Proof Lining Paper

Damp Proof Lining Paper is lining paper that is also designed to create a barrier against damp. It’s made from a specially designed type of foil that will not let moisture pass through it. As well as preventing internal damp from building up on your walls, it will also have some effect on external damp. There are a few different brands on the market, such as Andertons Damp Proof Wallpaper.

Damp Proof Wallpaper

Like Damp Proof Lining Paper, this is wallpaper that is specially designed to stop problems arising from internal damp. It makes a barrier that prevents moisture reaching the walls of your home and condensing into damp.

So, don’t despair if you have damp in your home. Try to determine the source of your damp and, having done that, treat it with the method that’s best for your home.

 

Around the House, Featured Brands

Meet the trend-setting wallpaper brands

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Meet the trend-setting wallpaper brands

In the world of fashion, what certain trend setting designers and celebs are wearing can be responsible for the trends seen on the high street. The same thing happens in the world of wallpaper. So today we take a look at the brands whose’ designs are setting the trends for the coming season.

Anaglypta

The Anaglypta is mainly known for its textured wallpaper designs. These are very good at adding a sense of depth to a room, as well as giving your walls a tactile element. Their designs range from the subtly textured to the more elaborately patterned, and they are all designed to look great when painted. Textured wallpaper is great at covering up wall imperfections such as cracks, bubbles and pits. Anaglypta have now added dado panel designs to their range to help create an elegant, classic look in your home.

Debona

Debona are loved for their sophisticated and colourful designs. Their range this season takes in floral prints, stripes and elaborate damask. What Debona do especially well is select the colours that are most ‘in’ at that moment. This season it’s lime green and teal.

Fine Décor

Think of Fine Decor as being the wallpaper equivalent to Lady Gaga. Their style is bold, risqué and attention grabbing. Designs include their bright pink leopard print, a London street signs design as well as an illustrative ghetto blasters design.

 

Muriva

If you want to be a trend setting brand, one route to go is to be completely unconventional. This is what Muriva have done with their wallpaper range. We’ll bet that whatever wallpaper designs you’ve envisaged having in your home, it probably won’t have been one inspired by pencil crayons, glittery sequins or the Beano. So if you want something totally out of the ordinary then Muriva are your people.

 

Walltastic

When it comes to children’s bedrooms, Walltastic have got it pretty well covered. They do a great range of CGI wall murals with a similar look to Pixar films like Toy Story and Monsters Inc. They also produce designs based on Disney films, as well as their own designs.

Zissner

Unlike the other brands we’ve looked at in this article, Zinsser are specialists in designing products to help you with all your DIY needs, including wallpapering. Their products, such as wallpaper scrapers and stain blocking paint have made them trend-setters in interior design preparation.

If you’re planning to do some redecorating, now you know they trend setting brands who are worth checking out.

Around the House, Bedrooom, Children's Bedrooms, Downstairs, Feature Wall, Featured Brands, Playroom, Upstairs, Walltastic

Let kids’ imaginations run wild with Walltastic Wallpaper and Murals

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In a child’s imagination anything is possible so let your kids’ imagination run wild with Walltastic Wallpaper and Murals. They can be a superhero, a pirate, a princess or an astronaut, given the slightest encouragement. And that is where Walltastic wallpaper designs can help. Their wallpaper and murals are designed with their aim of fuelling a child’s imagination and turning their bedroom into a fun and colourful environment. Let’s have a look at a few of the Walltastic designs that can bring your child’s room to life.

Knights, dragons and dinosaurs

Lots of little boys have imagined themselves as heroic knights out to defeat the dragon, or as intrepid explorers in a prehistoric world of dinosaurs. The Walltastic collection has designs to bring both of these fantasies to life. There’s the CGI design Mike the Knight wall mural featuring the Disney character Mike, his side kicks, and castle. There’s also the Baby Dino mural if you fancy a more illustrative look. The pastel colours and adorable illustrations work for boy or girl. Finally, Land of the Knights is a more graphic, cartoon design featuring ferocious fire breathing monsters.

Princesses and fairytales

Dreaming of being a princess in a beautiful dress and living in a grand castle like Snow White, Cindarella or Rapunzel has long been a little girls’ fantasy. Walltastic Murals offer a range of designs in this ilk. There’s Disney’s Fairy Princesses, the Barbie Wall Mural and a whole host of other designs.

Superheroes

If your kid loves to pretend they have super powers that they use to save the world, then take a look at some of Walltastic’s superhero wall murals.  All these designs are full of colour and adventure.

So when it comes to decorating your kids’ bedrooms, think outside of primary colours and stoke their imaginations with Walltastic wallpaper and  murals.

Around the House, Children's Bedrooms, lining Paper

All about 1200 Grade Lining Paper

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Lining paper has been around for a while and recently we have seen more specialist varieties come to market, so as well as prepping your walls for wallpapering, you can now get insulating and soundproofing liners. We’ve also seen an increase in the range of lining paper grades, or thicknesses. Today we’re going to take a look at 1200 grade lining paper and when you should use it.

What is 1200 Grade Lining Paper?

As mentioned previously, lining paper is available in different grades. This refers to the thickness of the paper. The lower the grade, the thinner the paper is. So 600 or 800 grade liner is very thin and best used if you have delicate wallpaper or nearly perfectly plastered walls. 2000 grade is the thickest and is designed to use on old walls with many imperfections.

As you can probably tell, 1200 lining paper is a medium thickness liner that is versatile enough to be used in a few different scenarios. Reasons to use it when redecorating are as follows:

  • To create a base – It can be used to create a smooth surface ready for painting or wallpapering on.To smooth uneven surfaces – 1200 grade liner can smooth over minor imperfections like pits and bubbles in the plaster.
  • To disguise cracks – 1200 grade liner can also cover over hairline cracks in the plaster caused by dried out plaster or slight house movements.
  • To cover over paint – As 1200 grade liner is a medium thickness paper, it can hide layers of paint and also some marks and stains. You should make sure any stains are sealed before putting on the lining paper so that they can’t leach into the liner and then into the covering paper or wallpaper.

So there you go – 1200 grade lining paper is the versatile jack of all trades lining paper. It can be used on any wall in your home, as well as ceilings. You can get it from a number of well-known brands like Anaglypta and Wallrock.

Around the House

Could You Be The UK’s Best Painter and Decorator?

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ONE OF the UK’s leading tradesperson recommendation services, localtraders.com, is looking for the UK’s best painter and decorator following the launch of the UK Trade Awards 2014.

Businesses or single painters and decorators can nominate themselves for an award, or customers who have received an excellent service from their local painters and decorators can also nominate if they think they deserve to be recognised.

To be in the running, all nominees need to do is to visit the web address found at the bottom of this article, give their name, company name and give a brief outline of why they think they should win the award.

Each entrant should encourage their customers, friends and family to support them by casting their votes via the nomination form. Localtraders.com will then also help with votes by promoting each entrant within all the company’s communication platforms.

There is also a unique download area on the nomination site which contains a poster and A5 leaflets that can be printed off and handed out to customers to help encourage voting.

The top three nominees for each category will be invited to an awards ceremony, which will take place in December, where winners will be announced and prizes given out.

All individual trade winners will then also be in the running to receive the overall winner award and be crowned ‘The UK’s Best Trader 2014’.

If you would like to nominate your business or you know a local tradesperson that deserves to be nominated then cast your vote or nominate by visiting

www.localtraders.com/uk-trade-awards

Voting closes on 3rd September 2014 and the top three nominees will be informed by September 10th 2014.

Around the House, Downstairs, Extensions & Renovations, Featured Brands, On the Stairs, Saarpor, Saarpor Lining Paper, Upstairs

Saarpor Lining Paper – The Five Liners

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A lot has changed in the world of home decorating since people used to line their walls with newspaper to soak up the damp and provide an extra layer of insulation. Since then, things have progressed rapidly in the field of insulating wallpaper and lining papers. One company leading the way in the innovation and design of insulating wallpaper is Saarpor. We’ll take a look at their range of five liners below.

Graphite Insulating Lining Paper

Saarpor’s most well known lining paper is Saarpor Graphite Insulating Lining Paper. Saarpor graphite utilizes the natural reflectivity of graphite to bounce heat back into your room. Saarpor Graphite Insulating Lining Paper is made from polystyrene that has been infused with graphite particles then laminated onto high quality lining paper. Its insulating effects are equivalent to 26cm of concrete.The savings on your energy costs are twofold as it not only reflects the heat already in the room, it also prevents heat escaping.

Heat Saving Insulation Polystyrene

Saarpor’s Heat Saving Insulation Polystyrene is designed to keep your home warm. It’s made from 2mm of polystyrene, which not only prevents heat loss but also insulates about noise by reflecting soundwaves. The thickness of the insulation also means that the paper will cover over minor cracks and plastering imperfections.

Sound Proof Insulating Liner

For homes that require more thorough sound protection Saarpor have developed Sound Proof Insulating Liner. It’s made from a 6mm thick combination of sound absorbing foam laminated to heavy lining paper.

The foam will absorb as much sound as 10cm of concrete.

The end result is a product that will block out everything from noisy neighbours, to screaming kids, to loud music.

Red Label Insulating Lining Paper

Saarpor’s Red Label Insulating Lining Paper is a moderate insulating lining paper made from 4mm of polystyrene and a high quality lining paper. It’s halfway between the lighter 2mm Insulating Polystyrene and the heavier Graphite Insulating Lining Paper.

Red Label Insulating Lining Paper has a double benefit when it comes to heating your home – It not only enables you to heat a room more quickly, it also traps heat in the room for longer.

It also has the added benefit of providing protection from mould and condensation so is the ideal product for homes in areas prone to dampness.

Latex Sound Proof Wall Liner

Latex Sound Proof Wall Liner’s made from 5mm thick latex foam – a modern and innovative material that provides impressive sound insulation, especially compare to thicker products.

That concludes our look at Saarpor Lining Paper – an impressive range with something to suit all types of home and budget.

Around the House, Hanging Instructions

800 Grade Lining Paper Hanging Instructions

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Preparation  

The ideal surface for application of wall coverings is one that is ‘slightly absorbent’ and not glossy. This allows the adhesive to form a good bond with the surface.

Remove any loose or flaking paint, clean walls and allow to dry. We recommend that ALL surfaces are lightly sanded and ‘Sized’ with a PVA or Flake Adhesive. New plaster should also be ‘Sized’.

800 Lining Paper has two surfaces finishes. We recommend the outer surface of the roll offers an improved finish for paint or decorating wallpaper. Please ensure that all lengths are pasted on the same side.

Application 

  1.  Mark a straight line on the wall using a plumb line or similar (please note that lining paper should ideally be applied at 90º to the final wall covering if it is to be used as a base for decorative wallpaper).
  2.  Measure and cut lengths of 800 grade lining paper allowing extra for trimming at either end. Apply the adhesive evenly ensuring the edges are covered.
  3. Fold lengths but Do Not crease and leave each length to soak for the same period of time until pliable; usually 7-10 minutes.
  4. Apply the first length of 800 grade lining paper to the guideline, smooth down with a brush or wallpaper smoother. Remove any adhesive from the face of the paper using a sponge and clean water. Do not overlap; use butt joints for all subsequent lengths.
  5. Cut off any excess 800 grade lining paper at the ceiling, floors and corners using a Ofla heavy duty snap knife. Alternatively carefully mark the paper surface using a pencil and trim with scissors.
  6. Allow 24 hours for drying; longer if conditions are especially humid or cold. We also recommend that 800 grade lining paper is allowed to dry naturally and therefore that the heating is turned off whilst the paper dries out. However; if temperatures are likely to drop below 10˚c/50˚F it is advisable that low level heating is  used to ensure the adhesive can cure effectively.
  7. Before painting or overhanging with paper, it may be necessary to fill and sand any small gaps using flexible non shrinking filler.
  8. Once dry, apply the final wall covering or paint with a good quality emulsion paint.

Adhesive

For perfect results we recommend you use a good quality ready mixed adhesive such as ‘Easy Paste’, or any good quality ‘All Purpose’ wallpaper paste in doubt test hang a piece or consult your supplier.

Download 800 Lining Paper Hanging Instructions Here