HOW TO PUT WALLPAPER AROUND SOCKETS AND SWITCHES

When it comes to putting wallpaper on a wall, we may come across an element that does not allow us to wallpaper the entire surface completely. We are referring to sockets and switches, which can be easily saved if you follow the tips we are going to explain today.

Wallpaper is a perfect solution if you are looking to give your home a radical change, whether in some of the bedrooms or throughout the kitchen. As we say, saving the sockets is not difficult if you know how, so we are going to share our tips here.

 

Tips for putting up wallpaper with sockets

The first thing you should do when putting up decorative wallpaper when there are sockets nearby is very simple: turn off the power. In fact, you should do this whenever you are going to work with any electrical system in or near your home.

Not only can you inadvertently touch a conductive element and get a shock, but drops of adhesive paste or moisture itself can cause internal circuits to have a problem. Before proceeding, make sure there is no electricity with a voltage meter.

These devices, similar to a screwdriver, will measure the presence of current at a point and alert you with a small light. Place the metal tip on the metal of the socket and your finger on the other end to act as a conductor (don't worry, you won't hurt yourself). If the light comes on, it means that the electricity has not been cut off or that there is some residual electricity, which may disappear in a few minutes.

 

Once you have secured the work area, it's time to prepare the wallpaper and remove the frame of sockets and switches. We will work directly on the wall and then place these trims to make it look perfect.

Now we will try to place the wallpaper in the usual way, all over the wall, while noticing where the socket or switch space is. When you get to that area, brush the paper or use a roller to stick to it, always from the outside towards the switch itself on all four sides.

 

Now that you have it covered, with a knife make a cross cut in the wallpaper, from the corners of the socket or switch hole. This will give you the space you need to remove excess wallpaper paste and the ability to finish gluing the entire surface of the wallpaper to the wall.

Fold out these triangles and wait for the usual drying time recommended for the type of paper and adhesive you are using. When ready, trim these pieces without reaching the edge of the switch, always leaving a couple of millimetres for the overlap. Press the wallpaper against the edges and you're done.

All that's left to do now is to replace the frames and trims before switching the power back on. However, we recommend waiting at least another 30 minutes, as there may be some unseen adhesive residue that has not yet dried. This way you will avoid more than one problem with the power supply.

We hope this system will be useful for you and will help you to leave the wall you want to wallpaper in perfect condition. As you can see, using wallpaper is much less complicated than you might imagine.

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