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SA Painting Professionals

Licensed wallpaper installers

Wallpaper & Feature Walls in Adelaide & South Australia

Wallpaper and feature walls give a room its focal point: a papered bed head wall, a mural in an entry, a grasscloth in a dining room or a deep-colour painted wall behind the sofa. The work suits homeowners, renovators, landlords refreshing a rental and business owners fitting out a reception, cafe or retail space. SA Painting Professionals strips old paper, prepares and seals the wall, hangs the new covering plumb with patterns matched and seams flat, and hand-finishes painted, limewashed and textured feature walls.

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  • Licensed and insured
  • Free itemised quotes
  • Trade-quality paints
  • Licensed
    Licensed & fully insured
  • Free
    Itemised, no-obligation quotes
  • 1,890+
    SA suburbs & localities serviced
  • Trade-quality
    Paints and coatings on every job

Overview

Wallpaper & Feature Walls done properly

Wallpaper only looks as good as the wall under it. Every job starts with the surface: old paper is stripped and the paste washed off, holes and cracks are filled and sanded, new plasterboard is sealed and the wall is coated with a wallpaper primer, or size, so the paste grips evenly and the paper can be removed cleanly years later without tearing the plaster. Rough or patched walls get a lining paper first. Then the first drop is set out plumb from the most visible corner, the pattern is matched at every seam, each length is trimmed cleanly at the cornice, skirting and architraves, and seams are rolled flat with no paste on the face.

The range of wallcoverings has grown well beyond the paper most people remember. Non-woven papers are hung with paste on the wall and come off dry in one piece. Vinyl and paper-backed vinyl are washable and suit kitchens, laundries and busy hallways. Grasscloth, textile and cork coverings give texture and depth but show their seams by design, and custom-printed murals arrive as numbered panels sized to the wall. Peel-and-stick papers suit renters and short-term fit-outs. We tell you before you buy which of these will work on your wall and which will show every bump.

Not every feature wall needs paper. A painted feature wall in a deep or saturated colour needs a tinted undercoat and usually three coats to cover evenly, cut in sharp at the corners and cornice. Limewash and mineral paints give a soft, cloudy finish that suits older homes. Polished plaster, suede and metallic effects are trowelled or brushed in layers by hand. Geometric designs and colour blocking are set out with a laser level and masked with low-tack tape. Painted timber panelling and VJ boards are finished as feature walls too, in washable low-sheen or satin enamel.

Most wallpaper and feature wall jobs are one or two days in a lived-in home, so we plan around the room. Furniture is moved to the centre and covered, floors are sheeted, power is turned off at the switchboard while plates and fittings are removed and refitted, and windows and doors are masked. Low-VOC paints and pastes keep odour down so the room is usable the same evening. Wallpaper needs a stable temperature while the paste dries, so we avoid hanging in a room with no doors and windows in the middle of a hot northerly, and we tell you if the wall needs a day of drying before pictures go back up.

Freshly painted living room with white walls and charcoal trim

Get a quote for wallpaper and feature walls

Send a few photos or book a site visit. We reply within one business day with a free, itemised written quote and no obligation.

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What's included

What our wallpaper and feature walls service includes

The work that goes into the job before, during and after the paint goes on. Every item is spelled out on your quote.

  • Wall inspection and measure

    We check the wall for flatness, old paper, cracks, damp and the type of plaster, measure it and calculate the number of rolls or panels including the pattern repeat and a cutting allowance. If you have a paper in mind we confirm it suits the wall and the room before it is ordered.

  • Old wallpaper removal

    Existing paper is scored where needed, softened with steam or a removal solution and scraped off in sheets, with the old paste washed from the wall so it cannot bubble up under new paper or paint. Vinyl faces are peeled first, then the backing is soaked and stripped. Damage found underneath is repaired, not covered.

  • Wall preparation and lining

    Holes, cracks and gouges are filled and sanded, textured or patchy walls are skimmed or fitted with lining paper so they are flat enough for a smooth finish, and new plasterboard is sealed. Painted walls are washed and sanded to remove gloss. Mould is treated and the cause pointed out to you before anything goes over it.

  • Sizing and priming

    The wall is coated with a wallpaper primer that seals the surface, evens out porosity so the paste dries at the same rate across the wall and gives a base the paper can be stripped from cleanly in future. Under a painted feature wall, a tinted undercoat is applied so deep colours cover in fewer coats.

  • Hanging, pattern matching and trimming

    The first length is set out plumb with a laser level, the pattern is matched at each seam and centred on the wall or above the bed where it matters, and every drop is trimmed cleanly at the cornice, skirting, architraves and switch plates. Seams are butt-joined and rolled flat, and paste on the face is wiped as we go.

  • Murals and panelled papers

    Custom-printed murals and large-scale panelled papers are laid out dry first to check the sequence, the scale against the wall and where windows and doors cut through the image. They are hung in order with overlaps double-cut where the manufacturer requires it, so the picture reads as one piece across the wall.

  • Painted and hand-finished feature walls

    Deep-colour walls get a tinted undercoat and two or three topcoats, cut in sharp at corners and cornice. Limewash, polished plaster, suede and metallic finishes are built up by hand in layers with the sheen and pattern you approved on a sample board. Geometric designs are set out, masked and painted in sequence with crisp edges.

  • Fittings, protection and clean-up

    Switch plates, power points, curtain tracks and picture hooks are removed and refitted, power is isolated while plates are off, and floors and furniture are covered throughout. Offcuts are labelled and left with you for future repairs, and the room is cleaned and handed back the same day on most jobs.

Our process

How we approach wallpaper and feature walls

From first contact to the final walk-through, this is how a job runs with us.

  1. Step 01

    Enquiry and room details

    Send a photo of the wall, its rough dimensions and a link or name for the paper or the colour you are considering, and we reply within one business day. In metro Adelaide we measure on site and check the wall; regional jobs are quoted from photos and measurements first.

  2. Step 02

    Quote, quantities and samples

    Your free, written quote lists the removal, preparation, priming, the number of rolls or panels with the pattern repeat allowed for, and the hanging or painting. You can supply the paper or we can order it for you. For painted and textured finishes we make up a sample board so you approve the colour and effect first.

  3. Step 03

    Preparation

    Old paper comes off, walls are repaired, lined where needed, sealed and primed, and the room is protected. On a wall that needs skimming or lining this is a day on its own with drying time before hanging, and we tell you that in the quote rather than on the day.

  4. Step 04

    Hanging or painting

    Wallpaper is hung plumb with patterns matched and seams rolled, usually in a day for a feature wall and two or three for a whole room. Painted feature walls take a day for the undercoat and first coat and a return visit for the final coat once it is dry, so the colour is even and the edges are sharp.

  5. Step 05

    Inspection and handover

    We check every seam and edge with you under the room's own lighting and in daylight, fix anything that shows, refit the plates and fittings and leave the offcuts and a note on when the wall can be touched, cleaned and hung with pictures. Most rooms are back in use the same evening.

Materials

Wallcoverings, pastes and feature wall finishes we use

The right wallcovering or finish depends on the wall, the room and how hard the surface will be used, so we help you choose before anything is ordered.

  • Non-woven wallpapers

    Non-woven papers are the most common choice for feature walls today. They are hung with paste applied to the wall, do not expand or shrink when wet, hide minor imperfections and strip off dry in whole sheets when you want a change, which makes them a sensible choice for rentals and for owners who redecorate often.

  • Vinyl and commercial wallcoverings

    Paper-backed and solid vinyl coverings are washable and scrubbable, so they suit kitchens, laundries, hallways, children's rooms and commercial spaces. Heavy-duty commercial vinyls are used in cafes, medical suites, offices and hotel corridors where walls take knocks and regular cleaning, with mould-resistant paste in humid rooms.

  • Grasscloth, textile and natural coverings

    Grasscloth, sisal, silk and cork coverings bring texture that paint and print cannot copy. They are delicate, cannot be wiped clean, show their seams as part of the look and need a very flat, well-sealed wall and careful handling, so they suit dining rooms, bedrooms and studies rather than busy family spaces.

  • Custom murals and panelled papers

    Digitally printed murals are made to the wall's dimensions and supplied as numbered panels. We measure the wall, allow for cornices, skirtings and openings, check the proof against the wall and hang the panels in sequence so the image lines up across every seam and sits where you want it in the room.

  • Wallpaper primers and pastes

    A wallpaper primer, or size, is applied to every wall before hanging so the paste grips evenly and the paper comes off cleanly later. Pastes are matched to the covering: clear non-woven paste for paste-the-wall products, heavier vinyl adhesive for commercial vinyls, and low-odour, mould-resistant products in bathrooms and laundries.

  • Feature wall paints and specialty finishes

    Painted feature walls are finished in low-VOC interior acrylics from trade ranges such as Dulux, Taubmans, Haymes and Wattyl over a tinted undercoat. For hand-finished walls we use limewash and mineral paints, polished plaster, suede effect, metallic and pearlescent coatings, chalkboard and magnetic paints, each built up in the layers the product calls for.

Pricing

What affects the price of wallpaper and feature walls

Every quote is itemised, so you can see exactly where the money goes. These are the factors that move the number most.

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No two surfaces are in the same condition, so we quote each job properly rather than guessing. Send photos or book a site visit and we reply within one business day.

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  1. 01

    Wall size and number of drops

    A single feature wall is a day's work, while a full room or a stairwell with high walls takes several days. The number of drops, and how many are cut around windows, doors and fittings, matters more than the square metres.

  2. 02

    Wallpaper type and pattern repeat

    Grasscloth, textiles, murals and large-repeat patterns take longer to hang and waste more paper at each drop than a plain or small-repeat non-woven. The quote shows the rolls or panels needed with the allowance included.

  3. 03

    Condition of the wall

    Flat, sound, painted plasterboard needs sanding and priming only. Old paper to strip, cracked plaster, textured finishes or a wall that needs lining or skimming add a day and drying time before hanging can start.

  4. 04

    Painted finish and colour depth

    A deep red, navy or charcoal feature wall needs a tinted undercoat and an extra coat compared with a mid-tone, and limewash, polished plaster and metallic effects are built up by hand in several layers over more than one visit.

  5. 05

    Ceiling height and access

    Standard walls are worked from a hop-up or platform. Stairwells, void walls and double-height entries need scaffold or a platform and slower, more careful hanging to keep long drops plumb and the pattern matched.

  6. 06

    Fittings and openings

    Switch plates, power points, cabinetry, wall lights, curtain tracks and windows all have to be worked around or removed and refitted, and each one adds cutting and matching time compared with a plain wall.

FAQ

Wallpaper & Feature Walls questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most about this service.

Can I supply my own wallpaper?
Yes. Many customers choose their paper first and bring us in to hang it. Send us the product details and we will tell you how many rolls or panels to order, including the pattern repeat and a cutting allowance, and check that all rolls come from the same batch so the colour matches across the wall. We also confirm the paper suits the wall and the room, since some coverings need a flatter wall or a drier room than others.
Can you remove old wallpaper and paint the wall instead?
Yes. Old paper is scored, softened with steam or a removal solution and stripped, and the old paste is washed off completely, because paste left on the wall bubbles and flakes under new paint. The plaster is then repaired, sanded and sealed with a sealer that locks down any remaining residue before it is painted. Walls that were papered to hide damage sometimes need skimming, and we tell you that once the paper is off.
Will wallpaper work in a bathroom or laundry?
It can, with the right product and placement. Vinyl and paper-backed vinyl wallcoverings are washable and cope with humidity, and we hang them with a mould-resistant paste on a well-sealed wall away from direct splash zones such as inside the shower or directly behind a basin. Good ventilation matters more than the paper. Grasscloth, textile and plain paper coverings do not belong in wet rooms and we will say so if that is the plan.
Which wall should be the feature wall?
Usually the wall you see first when you walk in, or the wall that anchors the room's main piece of furniture, such as the bed head or the wall behind the sofa or the dining table. A feature wall works best when it is uninterrupted, so a wall with several doors or windows is a poor candidate. We also look at the light: raking light from a nearby window shows every bump, which changes what we recommend for the surface and the finish.
Why does a dark painted feature wall need extra coats?
Because deep and saturated colours contain less white pigment, so each coat hides less of what is under it. A navy, forest green, charcoal or deep red wall goes on over a grey or colour-tinted undercoat and usually needs two or three topcoats to look even, particularly where the light rakes across the wall. It costs a little more time than a mid-tone but avoids the patchy, streaky look of a dark colour applied straight over white.
Will wallpaper damage the walls of a rental property?
Not if the wall is prepared properly. A wallpaper primer applied before hanging seals the plaster and lets the paper be stripped later without tearing the surface, and non-woven papers come off dry in sheets. Peel-and-stick papers are an option for tenants who need to remove the wall themselves, though they show more on an uneven wall. Landlords often use a durable vinyl or washable non-woven that stands up to a few tenancies.
How long does a feature wall take?
A single papered feature wall on a sound wall is usually done in a day, including removing and refitting the fittings. A whole room takes two or three days, and stripping old paper, lining or skimming adds a day and drying time before hanging. A painted feature wall takes a day for the undercoat and first coat and a short return visit for the final coat. Hand-finished walls such as limewash and polished plaster are built up over several visits.
Do you do wallpaper for shops, offices and restaurants?
Yes. We hang commercial vinyl wallcoverings, murals and branded graphics in cafes, restaurants, retail fit-outs, medical suites, reception areas and hotel corridors, and paint feature walls in brand colours. Commercial work is scheduled around trading hours or into a fit-out program with the other trades, and heavy-duty coverings are chosen for walls that take knocks and regular cleaning. Low-odour pastes and paints mean adjoining areas can stay open.

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Service areas

Where we offer wallpaper and feature walls

Adelaide based and servicing all of South Australia, from the CBD and suburbs to the Hills, the coast and the regions. Choose your region to find your suburb page, or search for your suburb directly.

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Free, itemised quotes for homes and businesses across Adelaide and all of South Australia. Send the quote form and we will be in touch within one business day.

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