Most wooden map installation mistakes are easier to prevent than to fix. Before you start gluing, make sure the whole map fits where you want it, check the wall and lay out all the pieces. Choose tape or adhesive suited to your wall, and leave enough time for it to hold firmly before touching the map again.<\/p>\n
Below are seven things worth checking before and during installation. For help with different types of walls, see our wooden world map mounting guide<\/a>. Keep the instructions for your particular map and chosen adhesive nearby as you work.<\/p>\n You fix the first continent to the wall, then realise there is no room for the islands beside it. A shelf or curtain may be in the way, or the map may sit too close to the ceiling. Moving pieces that are already glued down can damage both the map and the wall.<\/p>\n If an installed map needs to move, check our guide to removing and reinstalling a wooden wall map<\/a> before trying to detach any pieces.<\/p>\n First, lay the pieces on a clean, protected table or floor. Measure the width and height of the complete map, including any accessories you want to display. Use the supplied positioning templates to check where the pieces will go on the wall before applying glue or tape.<\/p>\n Look at the planned position from the doorway and from where you normally sit. Check how it lines up with the sofa or cabinet below it, not just the empty wall. If you are still choosing a size, our wooden world map size guide<\/a> explains what to measure.<\/p>\n Tape that works on a smooth painted wall may not work on wallpaper or rough plaster. Loose paint can come away with the map still stuck to it. Dust and damp patches can also stop the tape or glue from sticking properly.<\/p>\n Check the area where the map will hang. Is the paint peeling? Are the wallpaper edges lifting? Repair those problems first, then prepare the wall as directed by the tape or glue manufacturer. If you have just painted, also check how long the paint needs to dry before anything can be attached to it.<\/p>\n If you are unsure what will work on your wall, send Your Wooden Map a clear photo and the name of your map model before buying mounting materials. Mention whether the wall is painted, wallpapered or plastered, and whether it was recently decorated.<\/p>\n Small islands can stay hidden in the wrapping or get mixed up with other pieces. Finding this out after you have glued the continents in place makes the job harder than it needs to be.<\/p>\n Unpack everything and compare it with your order and the installation guide. Put small pieces in a tray so they are easy to find. Keep the packaging until you have checked every part, including any accessories you ordered separately.<\/p>\n The 2D Wooden Map comes with positioning templates and an installation guide. Mounting tape and adhesive are bought separately. If a piece or the guide is missing, contact Your Wooden Map before starting.<\/p>\n A high weight limit on the packaging does not tell you whether the product will stick to your particular wall. Read which materials it is made for, how much to use and how it should be applied. These details matter just as much as the stated holding strength.<\/p>\n The 2D product instructions recommend mounting adhesive together with double-sided tape. Before buying them, check that the chosen products can be used together and are suitable for the back of the map and your wall. Also check whether the pieces need temporary support while the glue sets.<\/p>\n Keep the instructions to hand while you work. If you change to a different adhesive, read its directions before using it. For an LED map, use that model’s installation guide rather than assuming the 2D method will be suitable.<\/p>\n A small tilt is easy to miss when you are standing close to the wall. If you position each piece by looking at the one beside it, the error can grow until the whole map looks crooked.<\/p>\n Use a spirit level to establish a horizontal line, then position the pieces with the supplied templates. Check the gaps before fixing each piece. Do not use a shelf or the ceiling edge as your only guide: they may not be level themselves.<\/p>\n Step back after each section to check the overall result. Correct the position of the next pieces before applying glue. Avoid pulling off a piece that is already stuck: you could damage it or lift the paint underneath.<\/p>\n A piece may seem to stay in place as soon as you press it against the wall, but the glue may still need time to hold firmly. Setting or curing time means the time the glue needs to develop the strength stated by its manufacturer.<\/p>\n Read that waiting time before you start. Follow the instructions on pressing the pieces into place and supporting them if required. Leave them undisturbed for the stated period, and do not pull on them to test whether they are secure.<\/p>\n Tapes and glues have different instructions, so there is no single waiting time for every map. The time spent arranging and attaching the pieces is separate from the time the adhesive needs afterwards.<\/p>\n With an illuminated map, decide how the lighting will connect to power before fixing the pieces to the wall. Otherwise, you may discover that the cable cannot reach the planned connection or has to cross a visible part of the wall.<\/p>\n Choose the LED model and size first. Ask Your Wooden Map where its cable connects and what space the electrical parts need. If wiring must be added or moved, agree the work with a qualified electrician before painting or plastering. Make sure the connections will remain accessible once the furniture is in place.<\/p>\n Lay out every piece, check that the map fits and make sure the wall is ready. Have the templates, spirit level and suitable tape or glue within reach. Read the waiting times in advance. For an LED model, decide where the cable and power connection will go before mounting the map.<\/p>\n You can check what comes with the 2D map on the Wooden Map product page<\/a>. If you need help choosing a mounting method, email info@yourwoodenmap.com<\/a> with your map model and a photo of the wall. Sorting out a question now is easier than removing glued pieces later.<\/p>\n1. Attaching pieces before checking that the whole map fits<\/h2>\n
2. Using the same tape or glue on every type of wall<\/h2>\n
3. Starting before unpacking and checking all the pieces<\/h2>\n
4. Buying tape or glue without checking which surfaces it suits<\/h2>\n
5. Positioning pieces by eye instead of using a level<\/h2>\n
6. Moving the pieces before the glue has had time to set<\/h2>\n
7. Hanging an LED map before deciding where its cable will go<\/h2>\n
Prevent wooden map installation mistakes with a final check<\/h2>\n
Before you open the glue<\/h3>\n