When it comes to installing wallpaper, achieving a seamless finish can make all the difference between a professional result and a project that looks less polished. One of the most critical aspects of this process is handling wallpaper seams properly. In this guide, we’ll explore the best practices for making your seams virtually invisible and ensure a flawless installation.
Butt Seam vs Double Cut: Which Should You Use?
Choosing between a butt seam and a double cut during a wallpaper install largely depends on the type of wallpaper and the look you want to achieve. First, it’s important to understand what a butt seam and a double cut are:
- Butt Seam – Two wallpaper edges are aligned side by side without any overlap. This method is ideal for residential wallpaper, especially those with repeating patterns that must match perfectly.
- Double Cut – One piece of wallpaper overlaps the other, and a cut is made through both layers simultaneously. The excess is then removed, creating a clean, precise seam.
Here are some recommendations on when to use each type:
- Butt Seams – Best for thin wallpaper and patterned designs. This method helps avoid visible overlaps, maintaining the integrity of the design. It’s commonly used for decorative residential spaces.
- Double Cuts – Recommended for commercial wallpaper installs or thicker wallpaper, where precision is important.
For professional results, it’s best to choose the method that suits your wallpaper type and environment.
Double-Cut Methods
Double cutting wallpaper is a reliable technique used by professionals to ensure clean, flawless seams. With this method, you can match patterns perfectly and avoid the risk of overlapped wallpaper, which can be particularly noticeable with thicker materials.
One key tool in this process is the seam buster, a specialized tool that protects the wall from accidental damage while cutting. Using a seam buster helps prevent cutting too deep, which could lead to slicing through the drywall beneath the wallpaper.
It’s essential to avoid cutting directly on the drywall without proper protection. If the drywall paper is damaged, it can absorb moisture, potentially loosening the wallpaper over time. Furthermore, drywall damage may cause the wallpaper seams to pull apart, creating gaps and making the seams more visible.
Double cutting ensures a precise, smooth finish, but it’s important to execute this method with care, using the proper tools to protect both the wallpaper and the underlying wall surface.
Keeping Seams Clean
Maintaining clean seams during wallpaper installation is essential for a professional, polished look, especially when working with intricate or delicate wallpaper like grasscloth. A major challenge during the double-cut process is the risk of paste squeezing out from the edges and onto the wallpaper surface, which can be difficult to clean without causing damage. To avoid this, the pros often rely on KLASS Blue Tape. This tape serves as a protective barrier, preventing excess paste from reaching the decorative face of the wallpaper while ensuring clean, precise cuts.
By applying KLASS Blue Tape before making cuts, you can significantly reduce the risk of paste bleeding onto the wallpaper, which can be especially problematic with materials that are harder to clean or more absorbent. Also, using the tape helps you maintain the integrity of the wallpaper edges, allowing you to create invisible seams without leaving behind any residue. If you want to hang your wallpaper seamlessly, KLASS Blue Tape is a must-have tool in your kit.
When to Use a Seam Roller
A seam roller is a helpful tool for ensuring proper adhesion between wallpaper strips, especially along the edges where seams meet. However, it’s important to use this tool with care. Rolling the seam too aggressively can result in excess paste being squeezed out, which may lead to weak adhesion or visible paste marks on the wallpaper. In addition, certain delicate materials, like grasscloth or string cloth, can be easily damaged by overuse of the roller, crushing the fibers and leaving noticeable lines in the surface.
When working with natural wallcoverings, it’s best to limit the use of the seam roller and apply gentle pressure only where necessary. For standard wallpaper, a light touch is often all that’s needed to secure the seam without disrupting the pattern or surface. Keep in mind that ensuring adequate paste coverage during installation can reduce the need to roll the seam excessively.
More Tips for Hiding Seams
- When dealing with darker wallpaper, one way to prevent making wallpaper seams visible is by coloring the edges of the paper before installation. Pro installers often use crayons, watercolor pens, or markers to match the wallpaper color and avoid any white seams from showing through.
- Another effective method is tinting your primer to match the wallpaper. If seams pull apart over time, the tinted primer helps conceal gaps.
- Alternatively, painting the wall where the seams will lay can also reduce visible gaps for a cleaner finish.
Come to ROMAN for High-Quality Wallpaper Supplies
Achieving flawless wallpaper seams requires a mix of precision, the right tools, and proper techniques. Careful attention to detail will ensure a clean, professional finish. To further enhance your project, explore ROMAN’s full line of wallpaper adhesives, primers, and other products to get the best results every time.
