About Papoir

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much do you charge for professional wallpaper installation services?

  Pricing is highly dependent on the material and space where it'll be installed. Since a high quality installation depends on the combination of material and wall conditions, each estimate will be tailor-made to your project and provide specifics on the primers, adhesives, and prep work that's included for a successful installation.
  
  With how many factors are involved in determining the complexity for an installation, I prefer to provide estimates for the entire wallpaper installation project rather than simply by the roll ordered. That said, installation for a standard residential double roll (27" by 27' or 21" by 33') ends up being about $150/double.
  
  In pricing, I also tend to consider the following: window reveal wraps, arches, vaulted ceilings, ceiling installations, ceiling heights, cabinets to work around, ladder configurations, crown molding, cutting against tile/grout, doors and windows, delicate materials (such as flocks, foils, laminates, etc), pattern complexities, substrate materials, special techniques (such as table trimming), accessibility for loading in and out of the site, travel, and quantities of wallcoverings, to name a few.
  
  Since there's a lot of variation in projects' requirements, feel free to reach out to discuss the specifics. I do use a standardized pricing workbook to keep my estimates consistent across projects. When beginning your planning phase, please share a list of materials you're considering using for your project and the current state of your wall surfaces so I can provide an estimate given your specific needs.

• What's your typical process for project completion?

  New customers should expect to have a discussion on the walls, materials, and measurements needed. This will typically be accompanied by photos and/or architectural designs. If feasible, I prefer seeing the space in person and feeling the samples of the intended material for the project in my hands. Since an accurate estimation of wallpaper depends on the roll lengths, pattern repeats, ceiling and floor grades, windows and doors, among other architectural features, measuring the space in person is ideal.
  
  When I have a good understanding of the scope of the project, I'll construct a bid and email it to you with an estimate for how long it will take. After this, we'll discuss scheduling and I'll put your project on my calendar.
  
  I always work cleanly. I will need space to set up my equipment (a table or pasting machine). If the project will take multiple days, I prefer to identify an area in the room that's out of the way but not too far from the surfaces I'll be finishing. Everything near the wall(s) needs to be moved about 3 feet away (for my ladder). And I request that all window treatments, mirrors, wall art, and any other detatchable items are removed from the walls. If the walls aren't primed, I'll prime them with an appropriate product and ventilate the space while it dries. After this, I'll fix any minor wall imperfections with spackling compound (or joint compound if it's more major and prime and seal it), and then begin the installation. After three sheets are up, we'll look over the materials and discuss any potential oddities for us to decide whether to continue with the install.
  
  When the installation is complete, I wrap the faceplate covers (if it's compatible) to match the patterns in the material, clean up all of my scraps and clean any excess adhesive from the walls while doing a "pre-punch"-list before looking over the finish product with you. Then I'll clean up my tools, load out, and invoice you for the project in the estimated amount.

• What training do you have that relates to your work?

  I was taught how to hang wallpaper by a great paperhanger in the mid-2000s and worked as a paperhanger with him for well over a decade, installing more than half a million square feet of materials; I've worked on numerous high end resorts and homes. Some of the projects I'm most proud of include The Shore Lodge (McCall), The Grove Hotel (Boise), The Hunt Lodge (McCall), The Boise Centre on the Grove (Boise), St. Luke's Hospital (Meridian), Coach Pete's Office (Boise State University), The Waterbear Bar (Boise), Miss Saigon (Tucson), and various homes featuring a very diverse set of wallcoverings.

• How did you get started doing this type of work?

  My best friend's family owned Quality Paperhanging since the early 90's. The primary installers at the firm were the owner, four of his sons, and me. When I'm in Boise, I generally subcontract from them for any bigger jobs and take on personal projects on the side.

• What types of clients do you work with?

  I work with interior designers and decorators, homeowners and small businesses, general contractors, paint companies, and other paperhangers.

• What advice would you give a homeowner looking to hire a paperhanger?

  I'd always discuss the material, preparation, and installation timeline with the professional you're considering working with before making any material purchases beyond simple samples. Some materials are very low quality, especially when selected from online marketplaces like Wayfair and Amazon, and may be of a "print-on-demand" nature that precludes any guarantees. Many professional paperhangers will avoid installing low quality materials.
  
  A common misconception is that wallpaper can go over any walls. There are thousands of wallpaper substrates available to manufacturers and they each behave differently. Typically, the drywall needs at least a level 4 (smooth) or level 5 (perfectly smooth) finish. In addition, the walls most certainly will need a wallpaper-specific primer that's compatible with both the substrate and wall profile. PVA primers that are typically used beneath paint are no match for wallpaper adhesive and will likely fail during the installation process.
  
  When comparing estimates, be sure to understand what prep work will be performed because this will have a huge impact on the longevity and quality of the installation.

• What questions should customers consider before talking to professionals about their project?

  Generally, customers should think about what the purpose of the space is going to be, what their remodel and art budgets are, what sort of wall preparation will be necessary, what sort of material would work best for the space, how long they're wanting the installation to last, and how soon do they wish to have the project completed.
  
  Since there are a wide array of materials, and common materials used in each Commercial, Residential, and High End installation differ, a paperhanger who has only installed commercial vinyl may not be the best choice for a grasscloth or a delicate residential material that calls for table trimming (cutting the seams on a table to be butted on the wall). So they should also take into consideration whether there's a paperhanger locally who's qualified to install their material.