A beautiful mural starts with a properly prepared wall. Follow these steps to get your surface ready, then use the installation guide included with the material you ordered.
1. Clear your workspace
Move furniture and decorations away from the wall and remove wall hangings. Leave enough space to lay out and inspect your mural panels before installation.
2. Repair imperfections
Check for holes, cracks, loose paint, and uneven areas. Repair holes and cracks with a suitable patching compound, following its manufacturer's instructions. Let repairs dry completely, then sand them smooth and remove the sanding dust.
For Peel & Stick: the wall must be completely smooth. These materials are not suitable for textured walls. Texture can prevent proper adhesion and cause bubbling, lifting, or detachment.
3. Clean the wall and let it dry
Remove dust, dirt, and grease using a cleaning method suitable for your wall finish. Remove any cleaning residue and allow the surface to dry completely before proceeding. Do not apply your mural to a damp wall.
4. Check the wall color and paint
Install only on solid white or very light, evenly colored walls. Dark or brightly colored backgrounds may show through the material and affect the final appearance.
For freshly painted walls: wait at least 4 weeks before applying Peel & Stick. The paint must be fully cured, not simply dry to the touch. Follow any longer curing time specified by the paint manufacturer.
5. Check whether your wall needs primer
Primer requirements depend on your wall surface, paint, and selected mural material. Follow the installation guide and the primer manufacturer's directions, including drying and curing times.
Important for Peel & Stick: do not apply directly over non-stick or washable paints, including finishes labeled scrubbable, stain-resistant, or scuff-proof. These coatings are designed to repel adhesives. A mural-specific primer is required before installation on walls with these finishes. If you are unsure which primer is suitable, email us before proceeding.
6. Inspect your mural before installation
Lay out all numbered panels and check the dimensions, print quality, and pattern alignment before hanging any panel. Contact us before installation if you notice a problem.
Use the correct installation method
Peel & Stick has a self-adhesive backing. Non-Woven Prepasted uses a water-activated adhesive. Non-Woven Unpasted requires wallpaper paste. Always follow the guide for the material you ordered.
Our mural panels are designed for an edge-to-edge, butt-joint fit with no overlap. Do not stretch the material during installation.
Need help? Email contact@thefineartmurals.com with your selected material and details of your wall surface and paint. We will help you review the preparation before you begin.