Wallpaper Product Questions

Why is wallpaper priced by the single roll and sold in double rolls?

Today’s current packaging, which is used industry-wide, dates to original merchants who sold rolls packaged single, double, and sometimes triple or larger, as needed. To systematize pricing, the single roll, as the smallest unit of measure, was established. Over time the double roll also became standardized to reflect the cultural trend toward automation, moving away from more expensive, custom applications. But the single roll, as the minimum measurement, remained the pricing standard.

What is the 'run number' that is noted on my wallpaper label?

Each time a specific color design or wallpaper pattern is run by our presses, it is given a run number or lot number. Although most people never need to know the lot number, if you run short of wallpaper to complete your job, it is best to order your wallpaper from the same run number for the best color match. If for some reason, the wallpaper is no longer available in your run number, you can use any of our press runs to finish the job. But for optimal results, keep the unmatched run on a single wall, trying not to hang two long strips of two different runs together, because although our color matchers are some of the best in the world, it is impossible to achieve an exact match from one run to another.

Why do wallpapers come in varying widths? Will I get more paper on a wider roll?

York Wallcovering produces paper on two roll sizes: 20 1/2 inches wide by 33 feet long and 27 inches wide by 27 feet long. The roll size is determined by the printing process used to create the paper. There is approximately the same amount of square footage on each roll.

Why are some papers prepasted and others unpasted? Which is better?

There is really no quality difference between York Wallcovering's pre-pasted papers and un-pasted papers. All of York Wallcovering's products are of superior grade material. The main difference comes down to installation preference.

Pre-pasted wallpapers work well for the do-it-yourself homeowner, eliminating the second step of adding paste to the wallpaper back or wall. Design professionals often choose unpasted papers because they are more typically installed by professional paper hangers who prefer greater control over the amount of paste added, dependent upon paper weight or specialty print type.