Should I hire someone to hang wallpaper?

Hire a pro when the paper is expensive, the pattern is large or must match across seams, the wall is tall or awkward, or the old paper has to come off first. A plain, forgiving paper in a small, square room is a reasonable first project to do yourself.

When hiring is worth it

Pattern matching. A pattern that has to line up at every seam, or a mural, is much less forgiving than a plain texture. A trained installer plans the layout so seams land where they hurt least.

Costly paper. When a roll is expensive and ordered in a fixed run, one misjudged cut can cost more than the labour you saved.

Tall or tricky walls. Stairwells, two-storey foyers and walls with many corners, windows and niches are slower and riskier on a ladder.

Wall preparation. Hanging goes on a clean, smooth, primed wall. If old paper has to come off first, the removal is the harder half of the job. See how to remove old wallpaper and what removal costs.

Older houses. If your home was built before 1978, it is more likely to have lead-based paint.^[3] That is another reason to bring in someone who works with the paint underneath.

When to do it yourself

A small room, a forgiving paper and a wall in good shape make a sensible first project. Pre-pasted or paste-the-wall papers are easier to handle, and a small bathroom or accent wall limits the downside.

What a pro adds

A professional brings the tools and habits that keep a job tidy: a plumb line to start the first drop straight, a sharp blade for each trim cut, a seam roller, and a way of planning drops so the pattern runs evenly across the room. They also see problems before the paper goes up, such as a wall that is damp, a patched area that will show through, or an outlet box that sits proud of the surface.

Ask whether the quote includes ordering extra paper, because paper from a later print run can differ in colour. A pro will usually tell you how many rolls to buy before you order.

What it means for the schedule

Wallpaper needs a clean, dry, primed wall, so it goes up after repairs and before furniture comes back. If a painter is also repainting trim or the ceiling, ask for the paper to be hung last so that nothing gets splashed. Allow a full day for a small room and longer for a hall or stairwell.

What Virginia says about who may hang it

Virginia's Board for Contractors defines painting and wallcovering contracting to include "the installation of surface coverings such as vinyls, wall papers, and cloth fabrics."^[1] DPOR's guide says a valid Virginia contractor's licence is required for the licence category in which the contractor is to work when the work is valued at $1,000 or more, and that "Unlicensed contracting is against the law."^[2] Look up a business's licence with DPOR before you sign.

How to hire well

Ask for written quotes on the same scope. DPOR advises to "Solicit at least three bids for the work you need."^[2] Say who supplies the paper and paste, whether wall repair and priming are included, and what happens if the roll runs short.

DPOR's advice is to "Insist on a detailed written contract"^[2] and to "Limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less."^[2]

Stop and call a pro if

• The wall has peeling paint in a pre-1978 house. Do not scrape it yourself.^[3]
• The wall is damp, cracked or soft under the old paper.
• The paper is hung high or over a stairwell.
• The pattern is large, expensive or must match across many seams and you are not confident.

Next steps

Read painting answers or browse painters in the Loclis directory. When you are ready, describe the wall and paper and licensed local painters can quote it.