White Beach Hotel has two Japanese tatami rooms. The paper in the shoji window screens was discolored and in some places torn. I decided to tackle replacing it and asked Koji, one of the cooks, if I could buy shoji paper in town. He assured me I could get it at Handy Home Center, the local Home Depot type store. Of course, I googled the process before shopping to make sure I knew the requirements. Japan Garden Co. in the UK had a detailed description of each step and not surprisingly, YouTube also had a how to video.
To remove the old paper, you spray the screen with water and then peel the paper off. Scrape off any remaining paper bits and then make sure the frame is clean and dust free. After allowing the frame to dry thoroughly, spread a bead of glue on all the edges. Roll the paper over the screen, pull tight and trim the excess paper. Spray the reverse lightly with water. As the paper dries, it will shrink and pull taut. Replace in the window and your screen will be as good as new.
Wetting the old paper, prior to removal.
A shoji screen half stripped of the old paper.
Shoji frames drying.
Stretching paper on the shoji frame.
Trimmed and almost finished.
After stripping, glueing, papering and trimming, as good as new.
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You learn something interesting everyday. I have always left that sort of thing to my mother-in-law (God bless her soul).
This has inspired me to repair the next “Shoji” frame all by myself!!
13.06.2011, 11:27 am