Paperhangers
Overview
Paperhangers transform interior spaces by covering walls and ceilings with decorative wallpaper, fabric, or advertising materials. They measure and cut materials precisely, apply adhesives, and use brushes and rollers to smooth out wrinkles and bubbles for a perfect finish. The job requires attention to detail, steady hands, and physical stamina, as paperhangers often work on scaffolds and use specialized tools like steam machines and plumb bobs. Many paperhangers work independently or for construction companies, collaborating with interior designers and contractors on both residential and commercial projects.
Did you know?
The job requires extensive physical labor including prolonged kneeling, reaching overhead, and exposure to adhesives and chemicals that may cause health concerns over time.
At a Glance
Median Wage
$49,184.55 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast Growing
Top Skill
Mathematics
Key Responsibilities
- Fill holes, cracks, and other surface imperfections preparatory to covering surfaces.
- Mix paste, using paste powder and water, and brush paste onto surfaces.
- Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, using hand tools.
- Trim excess material at ceilings or baseboards, using knives.
- Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
- Staple or tack advertising posters onto fences, walls, billboards, or poles.
- Measure and cut strips from rolls of wallpaper or fabric, using shears or razors.
- Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming knives.
- Remove paint, varnish, dirt, and grease from surfaces, using paint remover and water soda solutions.
- Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.
- Apply thinned glue to waterproof porous surfaces, using brushes, rollers, or pasting machines.
- Measure surfaces or review work orders to estimate the quantities of materials needed.
- Remove old paper, using water, steam machines, or solvents and scrapers.
- Check finished wallcoverings for proper alignment, pattern matching, and neatness of seams.
- Mark vertical guidelines on walls to align strips, using plumb bobs and chalk lines.
- Smooth rough spots on walls and ceilings, using sandpaper.
- Apply adhesives to the backs of paper strips, using brushes, or dunk strips of prepasted wallcovering in water, wiping off any excess adhesive.
- Apply sizing to seal surfaces and maximize adhesion of coverings to surfaces.
- Set up equipment, such as pasteboards and scaffolds.
- Apply acetic acid to damp plaster to prevent lime from bleeding through paper.
Career Considerations
Physical Demands
The job requires extensive physical labor including prolonged kneeling, reaching overhead, and exposure to adhesives and chemicals that may cause health concerns over time.
Market Dependency
Employment opportunities fluctuate significantly with housing market trends, home renovation cycles, and changing interior design preferences in American households.
Precision Requirements
Success depends on developing meticulous measuring, cutting, and application skills since mistakes can be costly and damage client relationships in this service-oriented field.