75ZT Community

I was taught wallpapering by my Mum. But haven't done anywhere near as much as her (God rest her).
The trick is remembering the corners of the room, aren't square / true, no matter how new the house is. So you need to fit the first piece, to a plumb line (true vertical) less than one drop width from the first corner. So you can cut the second piece into the corner. Also you need to plan so that you don't end up with a narrow strip in the other corner.
Final tip, you need to make sure you have enough paper, to be sure you can match the pattern repeat (if it's not a plain colour).
Got to fess up, haven't wallpapered anything for a very long time. Got to be at least 30 years.
Funny story. Back in the mid 90's we bought a new house. Had loads of paper to decorate, but only ever put borders on painted walls. Our next door neighbours also in a brand new house decided to paper, and started with said plumb line. Tapped in a pin, straight into the main house gas supply that was way too close to the surface of the wall......... Sad to say, the quality of new house building has got worse, not better!

My dad was a decorator, I tried to avoid going into that trade like the plague, not for me. Still he did drag me along a few times.
A lot of it is like anything else, preparation, smooth flat walls are a must. Things have changed a lot now, still need a plumb line to start but as it used to be all "paste the paper", allow the paste to soak into the paper fold the bottom pasted surface to pasted surface so you could hold the top up to start hanging the paper and the bottom wasn't dragging on the floor, a nice firm brush to work out the air to the edges and press the paper gently but firmly into corners and a roller for the joins.
Nowadays a lot of the paper is "paste the wall" (and so much easier to hang) it makes the paper far stronger when you apply it.

When estimating how many rolls a lot if the time it depends on how big the pattern "drop" is but a good rule of thumb for a standard height room a roll would manage three drops.
Have fun

Dave. You are reminding me of even more.
Like I said, it was my Mum that taught to me to decorate. But on one side of my Dad's family (the Whittakers) they were apparently well known in their area as decorators, and famous for the woodgrain effect done with paint. Dad never went into that business nor did the decorating at home as I remember.
In the 70's 80's there were a few 'innovations'. Ready pasted wallpaper, sometimes branded as Vymura. Had to drop it in a trough of water and let it soak, then slowly draw it out. The most hateful stuff was Novamura. Basically a very thin polystyrene covering with a pattern. Like trying to put elastic on the wall.

I've done all the decorating in the homes we have had, and recognise all the above, walls must be flat a smooth if you are using very thin paper other wise you will see any marl or little lump you have not made good before hanging the wallpaper.

A trick i used many times is to size the walls a couple of days before, ie make some paste up and put it on all the walls, this seals the walls, then i would paste the paper if it was paper that needed to be pasted, while it was soaking for no longer than 5 minutes i would also paste the wall where the paper was to be hanged this helps you slip the paper to but up to corners and the next pieces of wallpaper you are joining it to.

I also like to use the extra wide paper it cuts down on the job and is much easier to use, allow about 1.5" above ceiling line and onto the skirting, use a alloy Straight edge, hold this to the ceiling and skirting have a very sharp Stanley knife and draw it along your straight edge for a perfect line to the ceiling and skirting.

Nowadays a lot of people prefer to have flat walls either by getting them plaster skimmed and have them white washed or painted what ever colour they prefer, some even have them sprayed for the perfect finish, this can then be changed any time you fancy, getting in the professional decorator is not cheap i know that because my son as just had a couple of quotes which would make your eyes water.

Some good tips guys and many thanks for them. Bit of a delay getting back online courtesy of a football match I stayed up to watch through the early hours of Monday.

Looks like good weather outside today here in NE England. Some much needed rain overnight had fallen which was apparent when I opened the blinds, ground was wet but the sun soon came out. Began replacing the rubber seals on the UPVC kitchen window yesterday, the originals were breaking up and crumbling after ~ 20 years. Just doing the large side-hung opener for now and still got one side of it to do, thought that I would crack on today and do at the same time as the replacement friction stay hinges that I ordered off Ebay and expected delivery today. Veri delivered the expected package this morning and, guess what? There was nothing but fresh air inside the package. Emailed the seller within minutes of the delivery but received an automated message advising out of office until Monday. The package looked a bit iffy from the off, I was expecting it to be packaged much smaller for posting through the letterbox but it arrived as an ~ A4 size piece of folded cardboard which required me to open the door to receive it. It also felt unusually light and was no where near the stated 1Kg on the shipping label. The kerfuffle begins ... sigh!

Well back in the Midlands now. Been just over a week in Scarborough. Really enjoyed though been cold, but also got sunburn!

Been a few years since I last visited Scarborough and the North-Yorkshire moors, Whitby was the usual destination but Staithes and Scarborough were sometimes included. My internet speed is slow today, pages take ages to load and sometimes time out. Anyone else affected or is it just local to me.

Normal loading speed for me on tinternet. Not been on much though, my son paid out quite a few grand for materials as he had the builders in.
They promptly ripped out his toilet, sink, bath and shower. took the money for materials and buggered off. That was 5 weeks ago. He embarrassingly confessed his predicament to me last week as they had been washing and using the WC in his tiny camper van. (son, his missus and three kids two dogs and a cat!). As a retired gas engineer I am not without some pipework skills even though things take a little longer now. I have in the last week completely repiped his bathroom, supplied and fitted new toilet, basin and huge shower for him, his wife & kids.
We have reported the builder for fraud and it appears the builder has now had his bank account frozen whilst they investigate. Bloody builders Eh?

takestock wrote:Normal loading speed for me on tinternet. Not been on much though, my son paid out quite a few grand for materials as he had the builders in.
They promptly ripped out his toilet, sink, bath and shower. took the money for materials and buggered off. That was 5 weeks ago. He embarrassingly confessed his predicament to me last week as they had been washing and using the WC in his tiny camper van. (son, his missus and three kids two dogs and a cat!). As a retired gas engineer I am not without some pipework skills even though things take a little longer now. I have in the last week completely repiped his bathroom, supplied and fitted new toilet, basin and huge shower for him, his wife & kids.
We have reported the builder for fraud and it appears the builder has now had his bank account frozen whilst they investigate. Bloody builders Eh?

HI Dave.
Sorry to here about your son getting ripped off, it's disgusting, hopefully he will get his money back through proceeds of crime, if it gets that far.

My son as just ok a chap to do his three bedrooms hall stair and landing, gave him the money for the materials, he was supposed to start Monday but said he was finishing off his other job, he also did not turn up today, i know the guy and told son if he makes any other excuse to drop him, have no fear we will get the money back that's for sure.

I'm hoping all is going to be fine others wise it's going to be dad to the rescue and work for me once again, we are getting to old for it now hey mate.

Dropping someone can leave you with a hill of difficulty to climb. I once walked in to B&Q, all innocent like, and I'd no sooner set foot inside when I was confronted by an old guy wearing an orange fleece. I could not believe his cheek, he actually smiled as he asked if I wanted decking. Well, I thought that I'd best get the first one in ... and that's when the kerfuffle started.

My internet speed seems to have recovered today after its go-slow yesterday.

Gets bloody worse, they put a new doorway in a support wall. Oh yes we installed a lintel and plastered it up all neat and tidy. pushed a screwdriver through above the door, lintel made out of fresh air. now have to hire a couple of acrow's

Well seems my lad dodge a bullet, chap turned up today and removed two radiators moved an electric light, took of some skirting, and then realised all the walls were old wet plaster which has blown so loose in patches etc, which i told him about three weeks ago, and decided the job is bigger than he thought so would be an extra £5,000 son got his deposit back, less the little bit of work that had been done, so only down by 300.

Of cause he/they are not doing the job now, so will be looking at it the weekend so no Nano for me this weekend.

Well I was asked recently if I minded if our group appear at a small charity bash in support of meningitis. Bit of background:
I was in a band over 40 yr ago, we did a few pubs and clubs for a while but real life took over and we all went back to real life after 3yr together. Now, around 18months ago we all got together again for a drink. From there we keep in touch and have the luxury of access to a warehouse if we want to have a mess about with some songs. we even played a few songs at one of the band members family birthday party.
So, this small charity gig has now snowballed out of control into this.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=12 ... 2207520000
Not helping to keep my blood pressure down at all!

Your band's repertoire will have been interesting back in the day Dave. Starting in the early 80s will have given you what went before to pick from and to cover which I think were the eras of many of the best and most famous bands and artists who could perform live on stage without the need for canned music and support. I was looking recently online at some of the now long-gone local venues where bands and live shows were commonplace and entrance could be had for coppers. I knew of a few bands from memory that went on to become very big names and to stand the test of time, such as Slade, Queen and The Who etc., but I was quite surprised by the number. Very few if any from the 60s and 70's did not appear here in local venues like The Locarno, The Rink and The Bay Hotel on the seafront. Even The Beatles were listed appearing back in their early days in the 60s at the local Empire Theatre, sadly the theater where Sid James died on stage in 1976 and literally so. Local rumour is that his ghost has haunted the theater ever since then.

Well what a weekend, not sure I enjoyed the sleepless nights trying to remember lyrics and links, it made me remember just how stressful I found it all those years ago.
Over the weekend we helped raise over £9,000 for the Meningitis charity.
We did two one hour spots which was what we used to do. Stress levels at the start were off the scale for all of us but thankfully the small bits that went wrong added to the atmosphere and the crowd could tell by the way we were dressed we were there to have fun. I did get the feeling they were laughing AT me rather than with me regarding my suit .
By the time we were half way through the second spot we were more relaxed and had a blast. So much so that apparently we have agreed to perform at future charity events as the main attraction. Alcohol has a lot to answer for, what the hell have we done!!!

takestock wrote:Well what a weekend, not sure I enjoyed the sleepless nights trying to remember lyrics and links, it made me remember just how stressful I found it all those years ago.
Over the weekend we helped raise over £9,000 for the Meningitis charity.
We did two one hour spots which was what we used to do. Stress levels at the start were off the scale for all of us but thankfully the small bits that went wrong added to the atmosphere and the crowd could tell by the way we were dressed we were there to have fun. I did get the feeling they were laughing AT me rather than with me regarding my suit .
By the time we were half way through the second spot we were more relaxed and had a blast. So much so that apparently we have agreed to perform at future charity events as the main attraction. Alcohol has a lot to answer for, what the hell have we done!!!

Hi Dave.
Very snazzy that suit, glad i had soe sunglass close to my PC do you have any sound to these photo or video's be nice to hear it, shame the Four Ashes is not still going we could have got them to book you for the week end

Some of the early 60's stuff here, then we moved on to 70's and 80's. Sound not the best from the back of the stage. everything was mic'd up and put through a massive pa system, was bloody loud.
https://www.facebook.com/61577177044467 ... 3660967150

Since seeing that suit Dave I've not been able to get "Any Dream Will Do" out of my head. Might be a good number to consider for fun in future while sporting that attire - audience participation could be encouraged with the vocals.

Been struggling to get the site to load today, attempts have mostly timed out and a problem with the Apache server is flagged. So decided to Google a short while ago for any Apache problems today and, apparently a critical vulnerability was discovered with its software today leaving it vulnerable to remote denial of service attacks. The main recommendation is to upgrade from 2.4.66 to 2.4.67 which I do not know if that is applicable or not to the site. There are a couple or so of other snippets of advice which I found via Search Assist together with the info posted above in the following link: Click

Anyone else experienced any problems today?