They sometimes say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think that most people would agree that is the case when it comes to wallpaper. Some people love it, and other people hate it but if you feel it is best for your home, how do you estimate the cost?
To estimate the cost of wallpapering a room, you should measure the square footage. This is done by measuring the length and the width of the wall and multiplying those two numbers. You should then divide that number by 27 to get the number of single wallpaper rolls needed for the job.
There are many different factors to consider when estimating the cost of a wallpaper job. Although there are averages out there, not every average is going to work for every job.
For example, for a standard roll of American wallpaper, you will get about 35 ft.² of coverage. You might wonder why we are using 27 as a figure. It is because of waste.
Most wallpapers have a pattern so there is going to be some waste when you go from one sheet of wallpaper to the next side-by-side. This could be calculated to a certain extent, but even the length of sheets is going to make a difference in how much waste you will have.
There is also going to be waste because you may have some partial sheets that don’t reach from the floor to the ceiling. There isn’t much you can do about this waste, other than using it above doorways and windows or below the windows.
Wallpaper Cost Estimator / Calculator
As we said, the standard wallpaper role is 35 ft.² in the United States. You may also find a double roll, which is going to be twice as much wallpaper. If you aren’t careful, you may end up spending twice as much because you are getting extra wallpaper.
As far as extra wallpaper is concerned, however, you also need to calculate some overage for additional waste and mistakes. Unless you are a professional, you are going to waste some paper in the process.
Have you considered the different types of wallpaper you may be using? Some wallpaper is a peel-and-stick, and it is typically the least expensive and somewhat the most difficult to work with.
Some may argue that it is easier to work with, but it tends to be more permanent once you fix it in place.
Other types of wallpaper include those that already have the paste on the wallpaper and others that are dry and need the paste applied. In these cases, you will often be able to shift and move the wallpaper as you work with it.
Another factor that is often overlooked is the removal of wallpaper. This may not cost you anything at the moment, but it could be an expensive process at some point in the future.
Wallpaper is semipermanent and it will last many years more than a coat of paint. If you make the decision that the wallpaper is right for you and your household, make sure that you consider everything involved.
Let’s consider some of the different factors that will help us to get all of the costs that we need for the project. This includes the cost of the material, labor, and incidentals.
How To Calculate How Much Wallpaper Materials Needed
One of the first steps of the process is to calculate how much material you will need when wallpapering. This isn’t a difficult thing to do, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Get the square footage of the room being wallpapered by measuring the length and width and multiplying those two numbers. You can then divide that number by 27 to determine how many rolls of wallpaper you need. That will account for any waste and give you a close figure.
The pattern is one of the most important things to keep in mind when estimating how much wallpaper you will need. It’s not simply a matter of doing the math, you need to think about the pattern carefully.
Many people try to choose wallpaper without a discernible pattern so they can have as close to zero waste as possible. If the pattern is long, however, you may have a lot of waste.
Don’t worry about any openings in the walls as you are doing the calculations. It is generally recommended that you have at least 10% more than what you need, so that will account for the overage for the most part.
Other materials that you may need include wallpaper paste, wallpaper tools, plastic to cover the floor and furniture, ladders, and any other tools that are necessary. Make sure that you include those in the cost of the job.
How To Calculate Cost Of Wallpaper Materials
Are you ready to take the next step and calculate the cost? The cost of wallpaper materials is relatively straightforward, but how much will you be spending?
The average cost for wallpaper is going to be about $7.50 per square foot. You can pay a low price for some peel-and-stick wallpaper, perhaps even under one dollar per square foot or you could spend thousands of dollars for some of the more expensive wallpaper options.
Of course, very few people are going to be spending thousands of dollars per square foot when wallpapering their homes. It is there as a point to consider, however, because you definitely do get what you pay for.
Don’t expect to spend a little bit of money and be just as happy with the job as you would be if you spent twice as much. You should also do your research in advance to make sure you are choosing a type of wallpaper that is well-known for being high-quality.
Something else to keep in mind is that there are some wallcoverings that are different than standard wallpaper. For example, they have wallpaper murals that can cover a very large wall and you may be able to do so for a low price.
If you really want to add something interesting and beautiful to your home, one of those wallpaper murals is certainly something to consider.
How To Calculate Cost Of Wallpaper Installation (Cost Of Materials, Labor, Incidentals)
If you don’t plan on doing this as a DIY project, you will have to consider the cost of installation as well. This may sometimes also include materials, but labor is going to cost extra.
If you hire a wallpaper professional to come into your home, you can expect to pay them anywhere from $25 up to $75 per hour. Depending upon how quickly they work, that could add up to one dollar per square foot up to $10 per square foot.
I would not recommend that you hire someone who is not experienced to hang wallpaper in your home. It requires a certain amount of finesse and if it isn’t done properly, you aren’t going to be very happy with the job.
In addition, if you hire somebody that is well-qualified and has a company for hanging wallpaper, they will probably have the insurance necessary to work in your home. They may also be bonded, which provides additional benefits.
In the end, you are going to increase the price of wallpapering your home by a considerable percentage when you hire someone to do the work for you. If you want a way to be happy with the job, however, hiring a professional is the way to go.
Other Things To Consider When Estimating A Wallpaper Project
As is the case with any type of work that is done around the home, there are going to be some unforeseen issues that can occur when wallpapering. It’s important to keep these in mind because they can affect the timetables and the price.
1. Damaged Walls – If the walls are not flat and smooth under the wallpaper, you are not going to be happy with the finished project. Any type of bump is going to show up clearly and it will practically ruin the look.
It may cost extra to have the repairs done before hanging the wallpaper but it will keep you from being unhappy with the finished project.
2. Fixtures – There are likely to be some obstacles in the room that need to be worked around. These could include anything from sconces to countertops.
Although it is possible to put the wallpaper up to these areas and carefully cut the edge, it is not going to look nearly as nice as if they were removed.
If there is one thing you want from your wallpaper project, it’s a seamless look. Removing the fixtures will cost more but it will give you the look you desire.
In order to estimate how much wallpaper costs per project, you take the square footage of the room and divided it by 27. This will indicate the number of rolls you need to purchase. Add 10% and then multiply that number by the cost per roll.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 2, 2023.