Wallcovering and Perforation

The permeability of the vinyl wallcovering itself can be increased by perforation. If vinyl wallcovering is given high quality perforation, is properly installed on a permeable wall surface and properly maintained it will have greater permeability than vinyl conventional wallcovering which has not been perforated. 

However, the permeability of an actual building wall with perforated wallcovering can be affected by many factors including the following:

First, the level of wallcovering permeability achieved by perforation will vary greatly depending on the quality and type of perforation, number of holes, size of holes, consistency of perforation, the potential for hole closure or obstruction and the type and thickness of the wallcovering.

Second, the permeability of the wall itself can be affected by many factors, including wall construction, wall materials, and wall conditions (including the type, thickness and number of layers of paint or primer). If a wall already has low or no permeability, then installing perforated wallcovering will not provide any permeability benefit over conventional vinyl wallcovering which has not been perforated. 

Third, the method and/or materials used for wall surface preparation and wallcovering installation can reduce or eliminate the permeability of the wall itself. Examples include use of non-permeable primer or non-permeable adhesive. In addition, sanding a wall may reduce permeability.

Fourth, the installed wallcovering must be properly maintained and no action is taken, such as cleaning with a solvent or applying a coating material, that reduces or eliminates permeability.

Neither perforated wallcovering nor any other wallcovering is a solution for and should not be used in buildings which have or may have wall or wall cavity moisture accumulation or other moisture problems. Neither perforated wallcovering nor any other wallcovering will prevent mold growth or other moisture related damage if moisture accumulation is permitted to occur in a wall or wall cavity.

IMPORTANT: Due to its higher permeability, perforated wallcovering will not prevent building interior liquid or vapor moisture from going through the wallcovering into the wall and wall cavity. Protecting walls from interior liquid or vapor moisture intrusion can be an important requirement in many applications.