Wallpaper or coverings are coming back into fashion again. This textile offers a wide assortment of textures, colors and patterns that fit into many high-rise design plans, both commercial and residential. Wall coverings range from delicate and fragile (think rice paper or spun silk) to tough and durable (paper backed vinyl and sheet vinyl). When deciding on the type of wall covering is right for your building, there are some key points to take into consideration.
Traffic patterns play a huge role in deciding which kind of treatment to use. For instance, if you are looking at covering the walls in a busy lobby, hall or conference room, you will probably want something that is easily cleaned and very durable. Some coverings have a fire rating, which could make your insurance company happy. Generally speaking, there are three main types of wallpapers.
Type I
This is a light duty category used for office areas, upper walls in hospital rooms, hotel rooms or bedrooms. Each linear yard typically weighs in at 12 to 19 ounces.
Type II
Weighing in at 18 to 28 ounces per linear yard, this option is a medium to heavy-duty covering. This is a great option for foyers, corridors and lounge areas. If there is a chance of routine scuffing, consider coverings in this category.
Type III
The heaviest duty of all, this one is perfect for those walls that need the highest level of protection. The lower half of a hospital room wall is an ideal candidate for a paper that weighs in at 33 to 38 ounces per linear yard.
Any pattern that has to be carefully matched to the panel next to it can run up labor costs and this should be taken into consideration during the selection process. Applying fabric to walls also incurs some higher costs, since it can’t be passed through the pasting machine or stretched the way paper of vinyl can be. If your building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, or if you are trying to get LEED certification, there are wall coverings that give you credits when they after installation.