Spoonflower has partnered with DreamScape® for this commercial-grade vinyl-alternative wallcovering. With a woven textile scrim backing, it's made to last and has a subtle linen embossed face. Our PVC-Free Type II wallcovering is a permanent solution and is not intended for temporary wall applications on melamine, gator board, form core or other composite boards.
Is this vinyl wallpaper? Not exactly. While many people use the word “vinyl” to describe durable, commercial-grade wallpaper, this wallpaper is a PVC-free alternative. This wallpaper is designed for high-traffic spaces and offers the same durability and performance you’d expect from traditional vinyl wallcovering, but without PVC. That means it’s a better choice for indoor air quality while still being tough enough for busy, high-traffic areas. You get the strength and cleanability of commercial wallpaper. Because it’s made from a different material than traditional vinyl, it may handle slightly differently during installation (such as when booking or trimming). Be sure to follow the provided installation instructions for the best results.
A copy of our full Technical Specifications & Installation Guide can be downloaded at the bottom of this article. Professional installation is highly recommended. You may consider locating a member of the Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA) in your area for installation.
Preparation
Supplies
Primer:
Installer choice of below or similar alternative
- ROMAN ECO-988 Pigmented Primer
- ROMAN PRO-977 Ultra Prime® Pigmented Primer
Paste:
Installer choice of below or similar alternative
- ROMAN ECO-888 Clear Strippable Adhesive
- ROMAN ECO-788 Clay Strippable Adhesive
- ROMAN PRO-880 Ultra Clear Strippable Adhesive
- ROMAN PRO-774 Clay Strippable Adhesive
- ROMAN 234 Premium Grade Heavy Duty Clear Adhesive
Other Supplies:
- Rollers based on installer’s preference
- Soft plastic smoother and/or brush smoother
- Sharp utility knife with extra blades and blade receptacle
- Seam roller
- Non-abrasive, soft cellulose sponge and/or microfiber towels
- Other: Straight edge, drop cloth, ladder, buckets, table, pasting machine (optional), etc.
Wall and Wallcovering Preparation
Allow the wallcovering and adhesive to acclimate under clean, dry and protected conditions above 65°F. Do not crease the material prior to or during installation, as creases may not disappear.
Walls should be smooth, clean, dry and free of mold, mildew, grease or other stains. To prevent further mildew growth, walls should be treated with bleach, Lysol and/or other approved mildew-inhibiting products.
On new walls, drywall joints should be taped, mudded and sanded smooth. Remove any nail heads, nicks, gouges and other surface imperfections. All loose paint, old wallcoverings and any residual adhesive must be removed. Walls should be repaired.
Priming Walls: Residual moisture content of the wall must be < 4%. Walls should be primed with a white pigmented, mold-inhibiting wallcovering primer. Recommendations are based on installation on a gypsum drywall sheetrock surface. Allow adequate drying time before applying paste and the wallcovering.
Wallcovering Preparation: Spoonflower wallcoverings are packaged with the bottom of the design rolled to the outside of the roll. Unroll each roll to find the top of the design. Inspect all materials prior to installation for the following: print scale and size of panels are correct, color matching of panels is acceptable, print surface is free from defects and edges have enough space for overlap and trimming (overlap is 1⁄2”). If you see any issues, please contact us at help@spoonflower.com.
Installation
Book the Wallpaper
Make sure the walls are cleaned, prepped and primed before attempting to install pasted wallcovering.
Optimum installation conditions are above 65° F. Lay out the area to be covered as appropriate for the wallcovering to be hung. Locate the printed barcode on the roll. This is the bottom of the design. Identify the top of before starting installation.
Apply an even coat of adhesive to the backing of the wallcovering using a roller or pasting machine. Avoid puddling or dry spots. Ensure that the edges of the panel are covered with paste. Do not over-apply paste as minor bubbling may occur.
Fold the ends of the panel to the middle and allow the panel to book for 10 minutes. Do not fold or crease the booked material.
Install the Wallpaper
Install the wallcovering with a plastic smoother or soft brush, working out air pockets and bubbles. Stop the installation if there’s a question about panel color matching and contact Spoonflower. Remove excess paste immediately with clean water, a soft cellulose sponge and blot dry with a clean cloth. Use the soft side of the sponge if there is an abrasive side. Allowing paste to dry on the surface may leave a white residue and may be difficult to remove.
Overlap panels as needed for pattern matching. The intended overlap before trimming is 1⁄2”. Trim with the double-cut method. When trimming the paper, it’s important to make sure you use a sharp new blade for each cut. Dull blades will cause frayed edges and poor seams. Loose strings can appear if there is hesitation during cutting. Make long, confident cuts. Never pull a string; instead, trim with microscissors.
Roll the seams lightly with a seam roller as necessary. Avoid excessive pressure when rolling the seams to avoid squeezing out paste. Trim excess material at the top, bottom and sides of the walls and along any openings like windows or doors.
After installation, the walls and wallcoverings should be monitored for potential moisture or vapor infiltration or accumulation. Any such infiltration or accumulation after installation must be promptly eliminated to reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth.
Removal
Wall preparation is the most crucial step for a successful removal. There are two options for removal. The first and recommended option is Dry Strippable. If you try this method and the wallpaper is not separating for the wall cleanly, see the Wet Removal step.
Dry Strippable Removal
Tools for Dry Removal:
- Putty knife, utility knife or scraper
- Sponge
- Bucket + warm water
- Dish detergent
- Find a seam and follow it to the top of your wall. This is your starting point. Gently slide a putty knife, utility knife, or scraper under the seam and lift the corner of the wallpaper.
- Pull the wallpaper away from the wall at a 10-degree angle until the entire top of the roll is separated from the wall. Continue to move your hands as you pull the paper, keeping your hands closest to where the paper is still attached to the wall. This will help prevent wall damage. Gently work the wallpaper from the wall, pulling down instead of out.
- If the wallpaper is not easily coming off using the Dry Strippable method, you can apply warm water to the surface of the paper to help remove it. See the Wet Removal instructions below.
- Once all wallpaper has been removed, use a sponge with warm water and about ¼ tsp dish detergent to wipe down walls, cleaning off any small bits of paste that didn’t come off when you removed the paper.
- Used wallpaper cannot be recycled. Please dispose of it in your trash.
Wet Removal
If the dry strippable method isn’t working, applying water can help reactivate the paste and allow you to remove the paper from the wall.
Tools for Wet Removal:
- Painter’s tape
- Drop cloth or plastic sheet
- Old towels or absorbent fabric you don’t mind getting dirty
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Bucket + warm water
-
Dish detergent
- Prepare your space. Wet removal can be messy, so cover all furniture or move it out of the way. Cover floors and baseboards with a drop cloth or plastic sheet and use painter’s tape to attach the covers above moldings to protect them from any water. You can use old towels or absorbent fabric to line the floor at the bottom of the wall.
- Spray the front of the wallpaper with warm water to help reactivate the paste. Start spraying from the bottom and work your way to the top. Once the panel is wet, wait about 10 – 20 mins to let the water soak in. If you prefer, you can use a sponge for this step.
- Once the water has absorbed through the paper, remove the paper following the Dry Removal Step #2 above. If the paper is still not separating from the wall, wet the paper again and wait for the water to soak in.
- Once the water has absorbed through the paper, remove the paper following the Dry Removal Step #2 above. If the paper is still not separating from the wall, wet the paper again and wait for the water to soak in.
- Wet the paper as many times as needed to get the paper to peel off. Designs that have more ink saturation may require more water.
- In extreme cases, you can use a scoring tool, like a sanding block, to penetrate the paper and allow water to soak in.
- Once all wallpaper has been removed, use a sponge with warm water and about ¼ tsp dish detergent to wipe down walls, cleaning off any small bits of paste that didn’t come off when you removed the paper.
- Used wallpaper cannot be recycled. Please dispose of it in your trash.
Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA)
Spoonflower is a proud member of the Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA). The WIA is the only trade association dedicated exclusively to the interests and needs of wallpaper installation professionals. You can find out more about the WIA on their website, here.