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TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
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Helpful Tips
| Clean surfaces of dirt and loose particles |
| For ease of installation work in sections 8 feet or less when adhering FlatWire to the surface |
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Concealing with compound may take several coats. Do not sand before second coat of compound has been applied and is dry. |
| Each additional coat of compound should extend two inches beyond the edge of the previous coat. |
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Always tape off FlatWire Ready® Connectors when mounted on the wall before the concealing process. Taping the connectors off with painters masking tape will keep compound and paint out of the connector jacks. |
| Before adhering bends in FlatWire to the wall, crease the fold to make sure the bent edge is flat. |
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When concealing a bend in FlatWire, do not overlap mesh tape, as this will add thickness, making wire concealment difficult. |
Installation Techniques
| The degree of visibility of the wire after installation will vary based on several factors, including, but not limited to, the method of application, the skill of the applicator, and the surface to which it is applied. Any visibility of the wire after installation does not constitute a product defect and is not covered by the manufactures warranty. |
| The most common technique is to conceal FlatWire with concealing compound found at your local hardware store. |
| 1. Apply FlatWire to surface following "Step 2 - Stick it" from the general installation. |
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2. Apply FlatWire Ready® Mesh Tape over the FlatWire ensuring a tight bond. At all bends, extend the mesh beyond the FlatWire by 1". Note: Do not overlap mesh tape. This will add thickness and make concealment more difficult |
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3. Start the compound process by filling your mud pan with concealing compound. Preferably with a taping knife, scoop the compound so it is dispersed evenly on the knife blade. |
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4. Apply the compound over the mesh tape holding the knife at an angle, pressing down flatter as you move along. You should apply the first coat at least 6" wide evenly over the whole mesh tape. Once finished with the first coat, the mesh tape may still be slightly visible. |
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5. Apply several coats using the same process making each coat wider. Note: Each coat should be allowed to dry thoroughly according to the manufacturer's instructions so that the surface does not crack and can be sanded easily. |
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6. After the concealing compound is completely dry, sand lightly until all edges are feathered. ("Feathering" refers to the process of spreading the concealing compound out wide and sanding to blend the compound with the surrounding surface) Note: Do not sand firmly as this may result in contact with the mesh tape. |
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7. Once sanded completely, clean surface with a damp, lint-free cloth. |
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8. Paint, texture, or wallpaper your FlatWire Ready® walls. |
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9. Once complete the FlatWire will be virtually invisible! |
| Even though you can wallpaper directly over FlatWire, we recommend that you follow the steps on concealment using the concealing compound first before applying wallpaper. This will give you the smoothest outcome. |
| 1. Apply FlatWire to surface following "Step 2 - Stick it" from the general installation. |
| 2. Preferably follow concealment steps from "Step 4 - Make it Disappear". |
| 3. Apply wallpaper sizing to the wall. (The sizing seals the walls and allows you to slide the wallpaper into place with ease.) Regardless if you apply the wallpaper directly on the FlatWire or if you conceal it first, sizing the walls before applying wallpaper is an important step. This is especially important if you ever decide to remove the wallpaper so that you don't remove the FlatWire also. |
| 4. Once you have applied the wallpaper sizing, install the wallpaper following the manufacturers instructions. |
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When painting FlatWire you must first spray the FlatWire Ready® Spray Adhesive directly on the FlatWire instead of the wall. This will keep from having overspray on the wall to clean. |
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Apply the FlatWire to the wall. One way to make the FlatWire less noticeable when painting it directly is to install the FlatWire along existing sight lines of the room. (i.e. along the baseboard, in corners, along chair railing and trim) This will blend the lines of the FlatWire with the lines of the room. Be sure to clean up excess adhesive for smooth finish. |
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Simply paint the wire to match surface. |
| Painting FlatWire with Textured Paint: |
| Painting FlatWire with textured paint requires the same steps as painting with traditional paint. The added advantage of textured paint is that it makes installed FlatWire virtually invisible without the need for concealing compound. (see paint manufacturers for more detailed instructions on painting with textured paints) |
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