Wallpaper has been used as an interior decorative finish since at least the 16th century, when Chinese hand-painted papers were imported into Europe and block-printed papers were produced in England and France. Modern wallpaper is a sophisticated engineered material available in a wide range of substrates, each with distinct installation requirements, durability characteristics, and aesthetic effects. The choice between paper types fundamentally affects how the material is hung, how it performs over time, and how it is eventually removed.
Vinyl Wallcoverings
Vinyl-coated wallpaper consists of a paper or fabric substrate with a surface layer of acrylic vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The vinyl coating provides scrubability and stain resistance while the paper backing gives the material body and makes it easier to hang. These papers are suitable for moderate-traffic residential areas including living rooms, dining rooms, and adult bedrooms. They can be cleaned with a damp sponge but are not fully washable.
Solid vinyl wallpaper has a fabric or paper backing completely encapsulated in a vinyl layer. It is the most durable residential wallcovering type, fully scrubbable, and suitable for high-moisture areas including bathrooms and kitchens. Solid vinyl is also the base specification for commercial wallcoverings. However, solid vinyl has very low vapour permeability, which can trap moisture within the wall assembly, potentially promoting mould growth in poorly ventilated spaces.
Fabric-backed vinyl, the premium category, bonds the vinyl surface layer to a woven cotton or polyester fabric backing rather than paper. This construction is specified for Type II commercial wallcoverings and provides exceptional tear resistance during installation and superior durability over the product's service life.
Non-Woven Wallpaper
Non-woven wallpaper uses a substrate made from a blend of cellulose and polyester fibres that have been compressed and bonded without weaving. The key practical distinction of non-woven paper is that it does not expand when wet, allowing for paste-the-wall installation. The adhesive is rolled directly onto the wall surface, and the dry wallpaper is then applied to the pasted wall. This method is faster, cleaner, and eliminates the booking time required for traditional papers. Non-woven papers also strip easily during removal, peeling off the wall in full sheets without the soaking and scraping required for older wallcoverings.
Most non-woven papers sold today are produced in Europe, with German and Belgian manufacturers dominating the market. Brands like York Wallcoverings, Graham and Brown, and A.S. Creation account for a significant share of the North American non-woven market.
Natural Fibre and Grasscloth
Grasscloth wallpaper is handmade from natural fibres including jute, sisal, hemp, arrowroot, raffia, and sea grass, hand-woven onto a paper backing. No two rolls are identical, and variations in colour and weave are considered part of the material's character rather than defects. Grasscloth is typically sold in 36-inch-wide rolls rather than the standard 27-inch width of most wallcoverings, and the narrower 27-inch width remains common for imports.
Installation of grasscloth requires particular care. The adhesive must not contact the face of the material, as it will permanently stain the natural fibres. Seams are visible by design, and installers must carefully sort rolls to ensure the most consistent colour match between adjoining strips. Grasscloth is not suitable for high-humidity environments or areas subject to direct sunlight, which can cause fading.
Other natural fibre wallcoverings include cork veneer, bamboo, and wood veneer on paper backing, each offering unique textures that are difficult to replicate with synthetic materials.
Pattern Repeat and Matching
Pattern repeat is the vertical distance between identical points in the wallpaper pattern. A random match means no horizontal alignment is required between strips. A straight match aligns the pattern at the same point across the width of each strip. A drop match offsets each strip by half the pattern repeat height. The pattern repeat, combined with the wall height and roll length, determines the number of rolls required. European papers typically specify repeat in centimetres; American papers in inches.
A typical roll of wallpaper contains approximately 28 to 30 square feet of material, but the usable yield is reduced by pattern matching waste. For a pattern with a 27-inch repeat on a standard 8-foot wall, the installer loses approximately 27 inches per strip, reducing usable yield by roughly 28%. This waste must be calculated into the quantity ordered.
Commercial versus Residential Wallcoverings
Commercial wallcoverings are classified by ASTM F793 into three categories. Type I, with a minimum weight of 10.5 ounces per linear yard, is suitable for light commercial traffic. Type II, at 15 ounces per linear yard minimum, is the specification for most commercial applications including hospital corridors, hotel guest rooms, and office spaces. Type III, at 20 ounces per linear yard minimum and typically fabric-backed, is specified for high-abuse areas such as hospital emergency departments and airport concourses.
Type II wallcoverings are categorised as Class A interior finish materials under ASTM E84 with flame spread ratings of 25 or less and smoke developed ratings of 450 or less. This fire performance classification, combined with the durability requirements, makes Type II the benchmark specification for all public and commercial buildings.