Many home design trends are mentioning how wallcoverings are coming back. These days, they aren’t even used just on walls. There are a lot of design schemes where you can create amazing focal points and add a textured look to areas other than walls.

In the past, the wall covering trend received a bad reputation because of mold build up behind the wallcovering. But, these days there are many ways that you can prevent mold growth and keep your home or business allergy safe.

The most important thing is properly prepping the walls before the paper is installed. If you already have mold from your old wallcovering, don’t remove it without the right contamination procedure.

You don’t want to expand the problem to other walls or by releasing a huge amount of spores into the air. However, you shouldn’t be discouraged to try some amazing design ideas because of fear of mold.  So, let’s talk about the right way to prevent mold growth behind wall coverings.

You don’t want to expand the problem to other walls by releasing a huge amount of spores into the air. However, you shouldn’t be discouraged to try some amazing design ideas because of this. So, let’s talk about the right way to prevent mold growth behind wall coverings.

Bleaching

Any mild signs of mold or mildew can be cleaned with a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water and a rag or sponge both of which you should disspose of upon completion.  Any mold that is thick like carpet, or has taken over entire walls would need a specialist to come remediate the area as well as check air quality and mold threat level.

Priming

One-step primers like Killz or Zinsser provide a chemical block on the surface that is somewhat impervious to mold growth. These specific primers are also great at blocking stains that bleed through paint like water marks. By applying a coat of these primers, you can prevent future mold growth due to a surface or area overly exposed to moisture or excessive water.

Microperfing Wallcovering

Many commercial wallcovering manufacturers like MDC Wallcovering offer micropered or micro-vented wallcovering, which is wallcovering that is put through a machine that punctures thousands of tiny holes into the wall covering to provide better ventilation and air movement so that moisture does not build up.

 Some manufacturers offer microperfing as a custom service, to which they will micorperf any wallcovering purchased for an additional cost.  Customers would request this service if they know they are placing wallcovering in an area that is often subject to excessive moisture conditions.

Walls that have been around for a few years need extra attention. Old paint creates problems depending on how long it was on the wall or how it was applied. Certain paints need to be sealed in order to avoid becoming unbalanced and make sure that your favorite wallcovering textures are installed successfully.

Smooth Wall Imperfections

Any kind of chips, cracks, nail holes and general wall irregularities should be taken care of by filling them with a good spackling compound. This process needs to be done before the primer is applied. A wide knife should be used to apply the spackle straight from the can, and it should be forced into the holes to ensure a smooth surface. After it dries, sand it smooth before applying the primer.

Just in Case

Acrylic primer should be used to seal walls that have been covered with high or semi-gloss paint. If you have a room where mildew is consistent, you need to contact a mold specialist for a professional opinion before continuing with the installation. If no moisture problems are present, just wipe the walls lightly with any household cleaner.

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