If you are preparing a ceiling, this should be done before the walls. Ideally, start at a window wall and paper across the room, moving away from the window with subsequent lengths. However, there may be times when you will prefer to use the shortest distance across the ceiling rather than handle very long lengths.
1. Mark a guideline on the ceiling, parallel with one wall and about 13mm (1/2") less than the paper width out from it. The line should also be at a 90º angle to the adjacent wall (see fig. 19).
2. Paste the first length and fold, concertina style, leaving to soak until supple.
3. Carry it over your arm to the starting point on the ceiling and then support it on a hand-held baton (a taped-up, partly used roll of lining paper or short length of broom handle will do).
4. Open the first fold, slide the paper into position against the guideline and start to smooth it down onto the ceiling (see fig. 20).
5. Continue unfolding and brush into position, finally trimming at each end, leaving about 13mm (1/2") overlapping the wall at the ends and along the length (see fig. 21).
6. Continue with successive lengths, butt joining to the previous one until the ceiling is covered.
Electrical fittings. Some decorators prefer to dismantle these to make papering easier. If so, the power must be switched off at the mains and any surplus pasted paper trimmed away to avoid any being left under the reassembled fitting. Alternatively, you can cut around ceiling fittings as described earlier (figs. 16, 17 and 18).
Textured (embossed) white ceiling papers usually require painting after application. If so, Albany vinyl matt, silk or soft sheen emulsion is ideal.
White blown vinyls can sometimes cause a chemical reaction when painted with silk emulsion. If you would like a silk finish, give the blown vinyl an undercoat of matt emulsion first.
