Wallpaper Installer Career

*A job as a Wallpaper Installer falls under the broader career category of Paperhangers. The information on this page will generally apply to all careers in this category but may not specifically apply to this career title.

Job Description for Paperhangers : Cover interior walls or ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, or attach advertising posters on surfaces such as walls and billboards. May remove old materials or prepare surfaces to be papered.


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Paperhanger Career

What Paperhangers do:

  • Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
  • Remove old paper, using water, steam machines, or solvents and scrapers.
  • Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.
  • Check finished wallcoverings for proper alignment, pattern matching, and neatness of seams.
  • Apply adhesives to the backs of paper strips, using brushes, or dunk strips of prepasted wallcovering in water, wiping off any excess adhesive.
  • Set up equipment, such as pasteboards and scaffolds.
  • Apply sizing to seal surfaces and maximize adhesion of coverings to surfaces.
  • Trim excess material at ceilings or baseboards, using knives.
  • Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming knives.
  • Measure surfaces or review work orders to estimate the quantities of materials needed.
  • Fill holes, cracks, and other surface imperfections preparatory to covering surfaces.
  • Measure and cut strips from rolls of wallpaper or fabric, using shears or razors.
  • Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, using hand tools.
  • Smooth rough spots on walls and ceilings, using sandpaper.
  • Mark vertical guidelines on walls to align strips, using plumb bobs and chalk lines.
  • Apply thinned glue to waterproof porous surfaces, using brushes, rollers, or pasting machines.
  • Mix paste, using paste powder and water, and brush paste onto surfaces.
  • Remove paint, varnish, dirt, and grease from surfaces, using paint remover and water soda solutions.
  • Apply acetic acid to damp plaster to prevent lime from bleeding through paper.
  • Staple or tack advertising posters onto fences, walls, billboards, or poles.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Holland Code Chart for a Paperhanger