Wallpaper Repair

How to Reproduce Wallpaper to Repair Holes

I accidentally punctured a hole in my wall! And the worst part is I PUT A HOLE IN MY WALLPAPER! I can't find it anywhere!

It's only a hole that's 4 Inches by 4 inches, but it's destroyed my living room!

I stumbled on this site while looking for the wallpaper on-line, and I was hoping you might help me find a way to fix this problem; i.e. finding a way to duplicate the part of the wallpaper that's been damaged.

Please help! (If possible :P)

James

Since you can't find replacement wallpaper, you will need to make your own patch. Decide on an inconspicuous spot like one behind the T.V. or a bookcase. Locate a 6 by 6-inch section that contains the same pattern area which you punched out.

You're going to borrow that piece of wallpaper to make your patch. Don't worry; you'll replace it later.

Outline the square lightly in pencil. Cut around the square using a straightedge and a wallpaper-scoring tool or craft knife. [ A wallpaper scoring tool is designed to cut only through the wallpaper and not the paper surface of the drywall. ]

If your paper is dry-strippable, the next step will be easy.

Pry up one corner of the square and try to peel it away at a 45-degree angle. If that doesn't work, you will need to use warm water and perhaps even wallpaper removing chemicals.

How easy it comes off depends on how old the paper is and how strong the glue is. Just work very carefully so that you get the section off in one sheet.

Purchase a yard of white wallpaper with the same texture as your living room wallpaper. Make sure it has no plastic coating so that you can have your design printed on it.

Cut a few 8-inch square sheets. You may need to make more than one copy to get the colors right.

You can have color copies of your wallpaper pattern made at your local copy center or scan and print them yourself if you have a laser printer.

Copy machines and laser printers use toner, which is less susceptible to ink bleed than inkjet ink. Choose the copy that is the closest match and spray it with clear acrylic to seal it.

Clear acrylic spray is available in matte and gloss finish. I recommend Krylon Crystal Clear Universal Coating.

Applying Your Wallpaper Patch

If your copy matches your wallpaper very well, it is best to use the copy to patch the hole in the wall and return the square you cut out to its original place behind the T.V. or whatever (since it is a perfect fit there).

Be sure the wall is dry and you have removed all traces of wallpaper paste. Position your patch over the hole, carefully lining up the pattern.

Tape the patch in place with painter's blue masking tape. Use a craft knife to cut through both layers of wallpaper (your patch and that on the wall). Try to follow lines in the wallpaper pattern to make the patch job less noticeable.

Lay the patch cutout aside. Peel/scrape away any cut sections of wallpaper from the wall to make the patch fit perfectly. As before, be sure to remove all traces of dry wallpaper paste.

Apply wallpaper paste to the patch and smooth it into place. Wipe away any paste on the surface with a damp sponge and use a seam roller to press the edges down.

Wipe once more with a damp sponge.