blankstock 101: FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Blankstock
1. What is blankstock? Blankstock is a soft fibrous paper product composed of mechanical wood pulp, off-white in color; it is used as an underlayment for fine wallcoverings.
2. What does it do? Blankstock provides a smooth receptive surface for the pasted sheet of wallpaper. It absorbs excess moisture from the finish paper and allows the finish paper to dry quickly. It minimizes seam shrinkage. It functions much like an underlayment for carpet. It "softens" the wall, makes the wallpaper look better for a longer time and acts as a buffer between the wall and finish paper.
3. When should blankstock be used? Blankstock should be used anytime the finish paper is especially sensitive, for example, when the finish paper has distemper inks (blockprints); also, when the finish paper is very thin (handprints, especially those with white, open backgrounds); and when excess paste may damage the paper by striking through.
4. Won't the installation cost more? Yes. However, blankstock can be hung quickly - typically, more than twice as fast as finish paper. The finish paper will hang MUCH BETTER AND FASTER on blankstock than without it. Blankstock adds value because it improves the looks and duration of the finished installation, and makes the finish installation easier and more predictable.
5. Should I hang it horizontally? This technique (also called cross-lining or railroading) is not absolutely necessary. It is necessary, however, to use a good butt seam when hanging the blankstock, as a wired seam or a gapped seam may show through thin finish papers.
6. What kind of paste should I use? Almost any type of high-moisture paste such as wheat paste, cellulose paste, or a thinned down clear premix may be used, although blankstock seems to do best with wheat paste. We recommend adding a little household bleach or oil of cloves to the wheat paste, to guard against spoilage in the wet state. A capful of bleach or a few drops of clove oil per gallon is plenty.
7. Should I size the blankstock? Yes. Many paperhangers hang on unsized blankstock and therefore save time, but we note that this is most likely to be successful when done with a medium or heavy paste. If you're going to use a LIGHT paste, high in water content, then sizing becomes more important. The reason is that the sizing provides additional grab at the point of contact.
After an overnight dry, blankstock should be sized with a dilute wheat size. A good proportion is one part mixed wheat to one part water. A little clear or cellulose may be added for flow. Other clear-type pastes and adhesives can be used for size, but they should be thinned way down. A good size should be somewhat watery and sink into the blankstock easily, and should be applied using a 6-inch stain brush or similar. Using a sidelight, watch for the color change as the sizing is applied. Sizing usually dries within 15 minutes. A super-tacky size is the following: 80% cellulose and 20% clay, then thin down to a light brushing consistency.
8. What is the cost? Blankstock costs $4.95 per single roll, in either a 21" or 28" width. The roll size is 36 square feet. The product is put up in 4-roll bolts for the 21", and 3-roll bolts for the 28". Shipping charges are extra. We ship UPS ground and with "signature not required" unless you request otherwise. You may order by phone, or e-mail. A 10% discount applies on an order of at least 48 s/r, and a 20% discount applies on orders of at least 96 s/r.
*** ADDITIONAL SUPPORT *** is available. E-mail us anytime at info@paper-hangings.com. Our policy is to answer e-mail questions within 24 hours. Please zero in on the problem or concern and be sure to add information about the surface, wallprep and wallcoverings. Thank You! For the occasional "Wallpaper Emergency" use only, we offer our customers a cell phone line, too: 413-281-1715.
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