Paperhanger

Paperhangers are specialised in hanging up wallpaper. They apply adhesives to the paper, or to the wall in the case of reinforced wallpaper, and fix the paper straight, well aligned, and avoiding the inclusion of air bubbles.

Paperhangers usually work forty hours a week, although many work part time. They earn higher wages for overtime work. Paperhangers work indoors, so the weather has little effect on their work.

Paperhangers often work in crews or with helpers, so they must be able to work well with other people.

The following job titles also refer to paperhanger:

wall paperer
decorator paper hanger
wallpaper decorator
paper hanger
decorator, paperhanger
wallpaper hanger

A high school diploma is preferred but not required. Mathematics courses are important, as are language skills, because paperhangers must be able to communicate with their clients and subcontractors. Many paperhangers learn their trade while working as helpers for experienced workers. In paperhanging, more than in any other construction field, it is easy for a helper to gain recognition as a qualified craft worker.

Another way to enter the field is by participating in a three or four-year apprenticeship program.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Paperhanger is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to paperhanger.

ceiling installer
construction painter
resilient floor layer
plasterer
carpet fitter

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of paperhanger. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of paperhanger with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

paperhanger supervisor
construction painting supervisor
insulation supervisor
plastering supervisor
construction quality inspector

These skills are necessary for the role of paperhanger.

• Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
• Mix wallpaper paste: Create wallpaper paste from flakes. Use the correct proportions based on manufacturer’s instructions and circumstances. Mix well to create a smooth paste.
• Snap chalk line: Stretch a line covered in fine, non-staining chalk between two points and snap it against a surface to produce a straight line.
• Protect surfaces during construction work: Cover floors, ceiling, skirting boards and any other surfaces with various materials such as plastic or textile to keep them from being damaged or stained when performing construction or renovation work like painting or plastering.
• Hang wallpaper: Hang a pasted and soaked piece of wallpaper on the wall. Mark a straight line on the wall and hang the top piece of the paper. Unfold the rest of the paper and fix it as well. Work out any air bubbles with your fingertips or a brush and inspect the finished result.
• Transport construction supplies: Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers’ safety and protection from deterioration.
• Inspect construction supplies: Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
• Prepare wall for wallpaper: Make sure the wall is prepared for papering. Remove any dirt, grease, or debris. Make sure the wall is smooth and dry. Coat plaster or other porous material with a sealer to make sure the wallpaper paste is not absorbed.
• Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
• Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
• Remove wallpaper: Remove existent wallpaper, or traces of it, from a wall without damaging the wall. Use one or several techniques and tools, including putty knife for peeling, scoring tool for perforating the paper, paint roller for soaking and steamer for hard to remove paper, based on the circumstances and type of wallpaper.
• Apply wallpaper paste: Apply wallpaper paste evenly, usually onto the wallpaper. Lay out the wallpaper and paste it. Fold the wallpaper over itself without creasing to facilitate the hanging. Let the paper soak before applying. If using non-woven wallpaper or reinforced wallpaper, which does not need to soak, paste the wall instead.
• Cut wallpaper to size: Use large scissors or other cutting implements to cut wallpaper to size. Mark the paper where it is to be cut, leaving extra space where appropriate. Mark or crease the paper and cut it straight and without fraying.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of paperhanger. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
• Types of paint: Varieties of paint and chemicals used in their composition.
• Types of wallpaper: Various types of wallpaper such as woven and non-woven, glass fibre reinforced, and pattern wallpaper and the procedures to hang them.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of paperhanger. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Advise on construction materials: Provide advice on and test a wide range of construction materials.
• Answer requests for quotation: Make up prices and documents for the products that customers may purchase.
• Use sander: Use different types of drywall sanders, automatic or manual, handheld or on an extension, to sand surfaces to a smooth finish or to rough them up for better adhesion.
• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
• Maintain work area cleanliness: Keep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.
• Calculate needs for construction supplies: Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.
• Tape drywall: Seal the joints between panels of drywall. Fill the tapered edges of the panels with joint compound and press joint tape into the compound. Let dry and cover with one or several layers of joint compound, leaving time for each layer to dry and sanding lightly to obtain a smooth finish.
• Work safely with chemicals: Take the necessary precautions for storing, using and disposing chemical products.
• Mix paint: Thoroughly mix different types of paint manually or mechanically. Start from basic paints or from powder and mix in water or chemicals. Check the consistency of the resulting mixture.
• Keep personal administration: File and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.
• Order construction supplies: Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.
• Process incoming construction supplies: Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.
• Paint surfaces: Use brushes and rollers to apply a coat of paint to a prepared surface evenly and without leaving drops.
• Clean painting equipment: Disassemble, clean, and reassemble paint sprayers and other vehicle painting equipment.
• Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Demonstrate products’ features: Demonstrate how to use a product in a correct and safe manner, provide customers with information on the product’s main features and benefits, explain operation, correct use and maintenance. Persuade potential customers to purchase items.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

7131 – Painters and related workers

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References

1. Paperhanger – ESCO
2. Painter and Paperhanger Job Description – StateUniversity.com
3. Featured image: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1984-1126-029 / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de