How do I find the best plumbob for wallpapering?

Hayley
by Hayley
  4 answers
  • 2dogal 2dogal on Nov 17, 2018

    Anything heavy tied to a string will work as a plumb bob. A metal O ring, a heavy key, a fishing weight. If your corner walls are straight, you can measure out from the corner along the wall.

  • Kami Kami on Nov 17, 2018

    Don’t laugh! My house is very old we had to use a string of yarn and 4 of the same washers tied to one end. That method worked like a charm. We were surprised cuz the fancy tool purchase proved ineffective for a house with character.

    Cheers!

  • William William on Nov 18, 2018

    Why a plumb bob for wallpapering? All you need is a yard stick and four four level.


    A simple brass or metal bulb with a point on the end uses gravity to help builders determine exact vertical alignment. Whenever you need to straighten a doorway, wall or other tall vertical structure that is longer than a conventional level.


    Making a Plumb Line


    For a successful hanging job, it is essential that your wallpaper be hung straight. Most homes, however, have walls and ceilings that are often slightly out of alignment. To compensate for this, you must begin your job with a truly vertical plumb line. In fact, you should make several vertical plumb lines around the room as you go along.

    To make vertical plumb lines:

    • Decide where you want to begin your hanging (see the Where to Start section in this Web site).
    • Line up a carpenter's level or straightedge/level and lightly draw a straight vertical line with a pencil. (Always use a pencil as inks may bleed through your wallpaper after it is hung.)
    • Line up your first strip of wallpaper with this line.
    • For best results, make several plumb lines around the room to make certain all wallpaper strips are straight.

    Special Tip: If you are starting your hanging at a corner, make your plumb line half an inch less than the width of your wallpaper from the corner. This way, your wallpaper will overlap on the adjoining wall by about a half-inch and can be covered by your final strip.

  • Edie Edie on Nov 23, 2018

    I use an antique plumb bob but agree that one can be made from a string with a small weighty object. Choose something that won't move the string more than a quarter inch from the wall and mark along the string. Can also use a snapped chalk line but I think those are too messy. And almost no corner/wall is truly plumb...so never just measure from the corner...pattern will be "off" eventually as you move away from your start point! But you knew that or you wouldn't be researching plumb bobs!