Grasscloth & Natural Wallpaper

Natural fibres can be susceptible to mould if moisture is allowed to penetrate behind or into the wallcovering. This is why we don’t recommend grasscloth in high-humidity rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens without adequate ventilation and a protective sealant.

If you notice early signs of mould — discoloration, spotting, or a musty smell — do not attempt to clean with water or damp cloths as this will compound the problem. Address the source of moisture first. In mild cases, a dry brush along the surface may help. In more serious cases, the affected section will likely need to be replaced.

Prevention is straightforward: ensure the wall surface is fully dry and sealed before installation, keep the room well ventilated, and avoid hanging grasscloth in rooms where condensation is a regular occurrence.

Yes — this is completely normal. Grasscloth is made from natural plant fibres and has a mild earthy scent when first unrolled and during installation. The smell is more noticeable in the first few days after hanging and will dissipate naturally as the adhesive cures and the room airs out.

To speed up the process, ventilate the room well during and after installation — open windows where possible and allow air to circulate for 48 to 72 hours. The scent is not harmful and most people find it fades to undetectable within a week.

If you’re sensitive to smells, ordering a sample first is a good way to assess the scent before committing to a full room installation.

Natural fibres are sensitive to prolonged UV exposure and grasscloth will fade over time in direct sunlight — this is true of all natural wallcoverings, not just ours. In rooms with large south-facing windows or significant direct sun through the day, you may notice lightening of the colour over several years.

To slow fading, UV-filtering window film or blinds make a meaningful difference. Rooms with indirect or diffused light are ideal for grasscloth and will preserve the colour significantly longer.

If you’re installing in a bright room, it’s also worth ordering a little extra wallpaper at the time of purchase. Dye lots change between print runs, so patching years later with a new roll may not be a perfect match.

Yes it is! Grasscloth wallpapers are designed to be dimensionally stable when installing and dry strippable making for easy removal. They peel off easily when it’s time to change, so there’s no need for steaming or soaking. Simply lift a corner at the base of the wall and peel upwards!

Small tears in your grasscloth wallpaper are repairable! Wallpaper scraps can be used as a patch. Begin by removing any rough edges around the tear with a utility knife. Then cut a piece of wallpaper slightly bigger than the area you are trying to repair, make sure the pattern matches exactly, and cover the torn area with the patch. Use your knife to cut out a shape through the patch piece and the wallpaper underneath. The shape should be larger than the torn area. Now remove the underneath wallpaper that was cut out by your new shape. Apply paste to or activate the adhesive on the patch and fit it into the shape cut out of the wallpaper. Wipe away excess adhesive and smooth the wallpaper surface with a soft, clean, dry cloth.

Grasscloth wallcoverings are delicate products. Avoid using any water to clean. Even damp sponges can leave stains behind. Gentle dusting using a dry cloth or feather duster can be used or a vacuum on a low-powered setting. For printed grasscloths, special care is needed to not compromise the print on the wallcovering which can chip away if improperly cleaned. Stains, dirt, oil and odors may be impossible to remove. DO NOT RUB.

Grasscloth can be hung DIY, but it’s not a beginner project. We recommend a professional installer for first-time hangs.

The main challenges are width and cleanliness. The rolls are wide and difficult for one person to handle alone. More critically, grasscloth stains easily – any paste that squeezes out at the seams and touches the face of the paper can cause permanent marks. Use paste sparingly and work clean throughout.

A few rules to hang by:

• Never use abrasive tools – no rubbing or scrubbing the surface
• Keep paste off the face of the wallpaper at all costs
• Account for obstacles (windows, doors, pipework) before you start – each one adds complexity
• Our wallpapers use a butt-join seam, which makes alignment straightforward once you’re set up

If you want to test your confidence before committing to a full room, order a 1-yard sample and practice the paste and handling first. It’s the best way to understand how the material behaves before you’re standing on a ladder.

Grasscloth is a specialist wallcovering and not all wallpaper hangers have experience with natural fibers. When looking for an installer, it’s worth asking specifically whether they have hung grasscloth or natural wallcoverings before. The handling, paste technique, and seam management are different enough from standard wallpaper that prior experience matters.

A few ways to find the right person:

• Ask your interior designer. If you’re working with a designer, they will almost always have a trusted installer they use for specialist wallcoverings.
• Check trade associations. Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA) certifies professional hangers across the US and holds a directory you can search by state.
• Ask us. Our Wallpaper Trade Directory lists installers familiar with Milton & King wallcoverings. Search by location to find a professional in your area.

When you speak to a potential installer, ask to see previous grasscloth or natural wallcovering work if possible. The quality of seams and the cleanliness of the finish around obstacles like outlets and switches will tell you a lot.

Yes we recommend you do. Inspect every roll to ensure that all rolls are in good condition, with no faults present. In the unlikely event that there is a manufacturing error with your product, it’s much easier to rectify the issue prior to installing it. We cannot accept liability for defects that are apparent at the time of hanging, nor can the company be responsible for any consequential loss. After hanging 2 or 3 lengths we strongly recommend that you carefully inspect the results again.

Sizing a wall refers to a diluted coat of paste you apply to the wall prior to wallpapering. It is typically recommended for untreated/unpainted porous plaster walls or drywall. Sizing creates a uniform surface for the grasscloth wallpaper to adhere providing for grip and slippage when installing. Be sure the sizing is evenly applied and fully dry before installing the wallpaper. Take care that there are no streaks that may dry as raised bumps that will show through the wallpaper. In most cases, like a painted wall, a primer will be enough to prepare your wall.

Primer acts as a protectant/sealer that prevents the paste from being absorbed into a unpainted wall and allows it to grip to slick surfaces. It is highly recommended that you prime a wall before hanging grasscloth wallpaper because it creates an even surface for the wallpaper to adhere to as well as makes the wallpaper removal process much easier should you ever decide to update the wallpaper.

Preparing a wall for grasscloth wallpaper is like laying good foundations for a beautiful home. It needs to be done methodically, and thoroughly. So find the perfectionist within you and follow these steps:

• You want the wall as clean as possible, so remove all traces of dirt, old wallpaper and flaking paint.
• With a suitable filler, even out cracks and irregularities to achieve a satisfyingly smooth surface.
• Once you’ve smoothed, filled, and sanded your wall, make sure all surfaces are clean and dry.
• Remove electrical coverings.

You’ll need:

• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper paste
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Drop cloth
• Soft bristled smoothing brush
• Straight edge
• Pencil
• Level or Plumb-bob
• Craft knife (with ample blades)
• Seam roller (if available)

Grasscloth wallcovering should be wet hung by applying the adhesive directly to the back of the grasscloth. We recommend ROMAN PRO-838 HEAVY DUTY, ROMAN 234 or ZINSSER SURE GRIP HEAVY DUTY tub adhesives at full strength – DO NOT DILUTE.