Perforated Wallcovering.

Perforation, Permeability and Mold.

 

Like any other building material, wall surfacing materials, such as vinyl wallcovering and paint, should be selected taking into account the condition of a building. One of the characteristics of vinyl wallcovering is that it has little or no moisture permeability. This characteristic can be an important benefit in terms of cleanability and wall protection and in limiting interior moisture (e.g., bathrooms) from entering the wall cavity. However, if deficiencies in the design, construction or maintenance of a building, or other circumstances allow liquid or vapor moisture to accumulate in a wall or wall cavity, vinyl wallcovering can act as a vapor barrier restricting the escape of moisture and increasing the risk of mold growth and other damage from trapped moisture.

Building deficiencies that can lead to moisture accumulation in a wall or wall cavity include unsealed building exteriors (roof, walls, windows, etc.), inadequate or unbalanced HVAC systems, use of wet construction materials, or leaking pipes. If the source of the moisture accumulation is not eliminated, mold growth and other damage are likely to occur. Depending on the condition of a building, moisture accumulation can be more likely in hot, humid climates such as the southern coastal region in the United States.

Good design, construction and maintenance practices can prevent moisture accumulation. In all cases, moisture and sources of moisture accumulation must be eliminated before installing any wall surfacing material and routine building maintenance must always include prompt correction of any sources of moisture accumulation.

While vinyl wallcovering contains additives to resist mold and other microbial growth on the product itself, these additives will not prevent mold growth if moisture is allowed to accumulate in a wall or wall cavity.

OMNOVA offers state-of-the-art perforating for all of its vinyl wallcovering products. While perforation of wallcovering has been available since at least 1960, the new perforating system in our Columbus, Mississippi, manufacturing facility offers the latest perforating technology.

Perforation (also called micro-perforation or micro-venting) is a process in which thousands of very small holes are made in a substrate, such as vinyl, to make it more permeable.

For those walls in a building where particular conditions create a risk of moisture accumulation, a more permeable wall surface treatment may be appropriate. In comparison to conventional vinyl wallcovering, the enhanced permeability of perforated wallcovering may reduce the risk of moisture accumulation until the moisture source is corrected.

Not all perforations are the same. The level of permeability achieved with perforation can vary greatly depending on the type, quality and consistency of perforation, number of holes, size of holes, and the potential for hole closure or obstruction. OMNOVA's industry leading perforation technique significantly increases the permeability of vinyl wallcovering without compromising the visual integrity of the wallcovering design. OMNOVA’s perforated wallcovering has approximately 280 holes per square inch while many other perforated wallcoverings only have 150 to 180 holes per square inch. OMNOVA perforation results in up to 87% more holes per square inch.

 

Learn more about OMNOVA’s Process!