A

Activator

A diluted paste material used by some to activate pre-pasted wallpaper. Claims to improve slip and adhesion.

Acrylic

A type of plastic resin used as a pigment binder or surface coating. It is useful under most wallpaper and on most wall surfaces including existing wallpaper and vinyls. Does not protect new drywall when ever the wallpaper has to be removed.

Adhesive

A substance that causes two materials to adhere. Most wallpaper adhesives are cellulose, clay or starch based.

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B

Baseboard

Decorative molding or trim found at the bottom of the wall, along the floor.

Blown Vinyl

Wallcovering with a raised, three-dimensional surface created when an expansion agent is added to the vinyl and heated. Good for covering imperfect wall, it is usually sold as white “paintables” that can be painted with latex paint.

Bolt

A unit of fabric or wallpaper, typically consisting of multiple single rolls. 48"-54" commercial wallpaper are normally packaged in 30 yard bolts, typically 2 single rolls = a bolt of 20 1/2" wide wallpaper.

Booking

Folding the ends of a sheet of wallpaper, pasted side to pasted side, toward the middle of the sheet. This activates the paste, lets the material relax, and makes the material easier to handle. Relaxing period varies with different types of wallpaper.

Border

A horizontal band of decoration (usually wallpaper) hung around a room on a wall as an architectural detail. Used to accent around doors, windows, along ceiling lines or as a chair rail.

Butt Seam/Butt Joint

A joint where the two edges touch but do not overlap one another. This is the most popular type of seam in wallpapering in which two strips are merged without any overlap. Check seam when set up and lightly secure with seam roller.

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C

Cellulose Paste

The adhesive often applied to prepasted wallpapers. It is non-staining, odorless, vermin-proof and mildew retardant, mixes easily and will not ferment. Used in hanging natural materials such as grass cloths, linens, silk strings, etc.

Chair Rail

A rail that is fixed below the midsection of a wall where a chair back would touch, placed 32"-36" off the floor.

Coated Paper

Paper that is coated with vinyl so that it retains its wet strength, enables printing on its surface and maintains its shape when it dries.

Collection

A line of wallpaper patterns sold together in the same sample book.

Color Run

A set of numbers and/or letters given to a particular batch of wallpaper rolls printed at the same time. Each time a new ink or different batch is printed, the dye-lot number will change. Make sure all rolls have the same run number. This insures uniformity during installation.

Colorway

One of the colors in which a given design is offered. Each design is usually printed in multiple colorways within a collection. Most wallpaper patterns are printed in two or more different colorways.

Commercial Wallcovering

Wallcovering made specifically for use in commercial settings such as hotels, restaurants, offices and public spaces. They are sold by the linear yard packaged in 30 yard bolts.

Commercial Wallcoverings are classified as:

Type I: (Light Duty) - For use in office areas, hospital patient rooms & hotel rooms.

Type II: (Medium Duty) - For use in foyers, lounges, corridors, classrooms and hospital wards.

Type III: (Heavy Duty) - For use in areas subjected to very hard use such as hospital corridors.

Contract Wallcovering

see Commercial Wallcovering

Coordinates

Two or more papers designed and colored to be used together in the same or adjoining areas. Papers that blend with each other used to tie together two different rooms or walls, also used over and below chair rails.

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D

Double Cutting

Is the process of overlapping two pieces of wallpaper and cutting through both layers to make a butt seam. After cutting, the top piece is peeled back and the bottom piece is removed. This technique is used when creating border chair rails, at the end of a job and when making repairs. A new sharp blade should be used on every cut.

Double Roll

A bolt of two single rolls of wallpaper, packaged in a continuous length. This allows more useable yield from the wallpaper itself.

Drop Match

A half-drop match is a wallpaper in which the design runs diagonally and the ceiling line is the same with every other strip. A multiple drop match is a wallpaper that uses four or five strips before the vertical design repeats.

Dye Lot

A set of numbers and/or letters given to a particular batch of wallpaper rolls printed at the same time. Each time a new ink or different batch is printed, the dye-lot number will change.

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E

Embossing

A raised effect created when heat or cold pressure is used to impress a design into wallpaper. Best used when installing over imperfect wall conditions. Never use a seam roller on this paper. Because this will flatten or burnish the raised effect.

European Roll

see Metric Roll

Expanded Vinyl

Wallpaper with a raised, three-dimensional surface created when an expansion agent is added to the vinyl and heated. Good for covering imperfect walls, it is usually sold as white "paintables" that can be painted with latex paint.

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F

Fabric-Backed Vinyl

A durable vinyl wallcovering with a synthetic, non-woven backing used most often in commercial installations.

Flock

Wallpapers made with shredded fibers to replicate the fuzzy texture of velvet.

Foil

Very delicate, non-breathable wallpaper made by applying a thin sheet of printable metal to a paper or fabric back.

Free Match

Patterns with seams trimmed in open areas between design elements rather than through design elements. Free-match patterns may have straight-across matches or drop matches, but the design elements still need to be aligned.

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G

Grass cloth

A handmade product made by applying woven grasses to a paper backing. Grass cloth contains natural shading effects that have to be expected because it is a handmade product. Usually imported from Asia.

Gravure

A printing process which provides good quality at high speed and relatively low cost. The design image is etched into a series of cylinders that transfer ink to paper.

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H

Half-Drop Match

Patterns appear to run diagonally across the wall in such a way that every other strip is identical at the ceiling line. It takes two strips of wallpaper to complete the pattern horizontally.

Hand Prints

Wallpapers that are printed by hand by forcing inks through a screen.

Header

The short strip of wallpaper hung above a door or window.

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I

In-Register

Wallpapers with a heat-embossed texture that perfectly matches the pattern. Often shiny or light-reflective in appearance.

Inside Corner

A corner that does not protrude into a room.

International Symbols

Straight match	Drop match	Random match	Good Lightfastness
Prepasted	Peelable	Strippable
Scrubbable	Washable	Wipeable

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L

Level

A device that uses a bubble in liquid to determine a horizontal line or plane.

Light Reflective

Wallpapers with a heat-embossed texture that perfectly matches the pattern. Often shiny or light-reflective in appearance.

Linear Yard

A lengthwise measure equal to one yard.

Lining Paper

Blank wallpaper stock, which can be used under wallpaper to absorb moisture and provide a smooth wall surface to hang on. It maximizes adhesion, provides a smooth surface and minimizes the possibility of mildew and staining. Lining paper seams are installed horizontally and the final wallpaper seams are installed vertically.

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M

Matching

Hanging strips of wallcovering so that the design will be in correct relation to the preceding strips. The types of matches: random, straight and drop. Also, coordinating different wallpapers or fabrics.

Matte Finish

A dull finish. A surface that has very little shine or light reflection.

Metallic

Very delicate, non-breathable wallpaper made by applying a thin sheet of printable metal to a paper or fabric back.

Metric Roll

A single roll, usually 20.5 inches wide and approximately
16 feet long containing 28 to 30 square feet of wallpaper.

Mildew

A discoloring of organic materials such as paint, paper and cloth caused by fungi. Grows in dark and moist environments, bath, showers and basements.

Miter

Seaming two edges of material diagonally at a corner or cutting two lengths of wallpaper/border at a 45° angle to form a right angle when they are joined.

Molding

A decorative strip made from a shaped length of wood or plastic.

Multiple-Drop Match

Patterns require three, four or five strips of wallpaper for the pattern to complete itself. A one-third-drop pattern requires 3 strips to complete the pattern and 4 to repeat the pattern. A one-quarter-drop pattern requires 4 strips to complete the pattern and 5 to repeat the pattern and so on. If the match is neither a straight across nor a half drop then it is most likely a multiple drop.

Mylar

A polyester film occasionally used to make wallpaper with a foil-like appearance. It will not tear but it will burn.

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N

Neutral Colors

Colors that lack hue, such as black, white, gray and brown.

O

Outside Corner

A corner that protrudes into a room, formed when two walls that join not facing each other, usually at a 90° angle.

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P

Paintable

Wallpaper with a raised, three-dimensional surface created when an expansion agent is added to the vinyl and heated. Good for covering imperfect walls, it is usually sold as white "paintables" that can be painted with latex paint.

Paper-Backed Vinyl

Wallpaper with a solid vinyl decorative layer laminated to a paper backing. Also called solid vinyl. Very durable, scrubbable and peelable.

Pattern

A design printed on wallpaper that is repeated. Also refers to the number assigned to the design in a sample book.

Pattern Match

Hanging strips of wallcovering so that the design will be in correct relation to the preceding strips. The types of matches: random, straight and drop.

Peelable

Wallpaper that can be dry-peeled from the wall leaving the substrate.

Plumb

Perfectly vertical.

Plumb Line

A string or cord with a weight at one end that is used to determine a vertical line.

Prepasted

Wallpaper that has adhesive applied to the back at the time of manufacture. The paste is activated when the wallpaper is dipped in water. Allow ample amount of time to relax.

Pre-trimmed

Wallpaper from which selvage edge has been trimmed off at the factory. Most wallpaper is pre-trimmed to make installation process easier.

Pressure Sensitive

Borders that do not need to be soaked to activate the paste. Should only be installed on clean, smooth, non-porous surfaces. Not recommended for use over vinyl wallpaper.

Prime

The act of applying a primer to the wall prior to installing wallpaper.

Primer

Acrylic paint-like product applied to the wall prior to the installation of wallpaper, specially designed to promote slip, adhesion and stripability. Used in place of size.

Production Run

A set of numbers and/or letters given to a particular batch of wallpaper rolls printed at the same time. Each time a new ink or different batch is printed, the dye-lot number will change.

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R

Railroading

Applying wallpaper horizontally. Technique also used for installing border or lining paper.

Random Match

Wallpaper in which the pattern of each strip is the same no matter how adjoining strips are positioned. Always read hanging instructions.

Registration

The correct alignment of colors on a printed sheet.

Removal Solution

A solution used to soften existing wallpaper and paste for easy removal. It will stain floors, so use a drop cloth.

Repeat

The distance from the center of a design element to the center of the same element the next time it appears.

Reversing

The technique of hanging every other strip of random-match wallpaper upside down to minimize side-to-side shading.

Roll

The basic unit of measure for a sidewall usually expressed as a single roll.

Rotary Screen

A method of machine printing wallpaper in which ink is forced through printed screens attached to cylinders.

Run

A set of numbers and/or letters given to a particular batch of wallpaper rolls printed at the same time. Each time a new ink or different batch is printed, the dye-lot number will change.

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S

Scrubbable

Wallpaper that can be washed frequently with warm water and mild soap.

Seams

Edges where two wallpaper strips are joined.

Seam Roller

Small wood or steel hand roller used to adhere wallpaper to the wall at the seams. Do not use until the paper has had a chance to set up.

Segment

A single unit or roll of border.

Self Adhesive

Borders that do not need to be soaked to activate the paste. Should only be used on clean, smooth, non-porous surfaces. Not recommended for use over vinyl wallcovering.

Selvage

The unprinted edge of wallpaper that has not been pre-trimmed at the factory.

Shading

Heavier ink coverage on one side of the strip than the other which can increase the visibility of seams of textured wallpaper. Reversing each strip can reduce the impact of shading. Dark edges will thus butt to dark edges and light to light minimizing the shading.

Sidewall

What most people refer to as wallpaper, as opposed to borders.

Single Roll

Standard unit of measure for wallpaper. Wallpaper is usually packaged in double or triple roll bolts, to minimize waste during installation, but priced by the single roll.

Size (Sizing)

A sealer once used to prepare the wall before paper was applied. For the most part, acrylic wallpaper primers have replaced size.

Slip

The ability of wet or pasted wallpaper to slide around on the wall during installation in order to align seams and reposition the paper. The adhesive and the primer influence slip.

Smoothing Brush

A wide brush used to smooth wallpaper and work out air bubbles while hanging.

Soffit

The area in kitchens or laundry rooms extending from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling that is often covered with a border, used to hide old pipes or air ducts.

Solid Vinyl

Wallpaper with a solid vinyl decorated layer laminated to a paper or fabric backing. Very durable and often used in heavy traffic areas, halls, stairwells, kitchens and baths due to its ability to withstand repeated cleanings.

Spackling Compound

Compound used to fix holes and gouges in drywall

Stain Resistant

Wallpaper with the ability to resist most types of stains.

Straight Edge

A long steel ruler used as a guide to trim the selvage off of untrimmed wallpaper or to cut lengths of wallpaper at inside corners.

Straight Match

Patterns in which the same elements of the design are horizontally aligned an equal distance from the ceiling line. They are always the same on every strip.

String

Wallpaper featuring string, silk or yarn bonded to a paper backing.

Strip

A single piece of sidewall, as long as the height of the wall.

Strippable

Wallpaper that can be dry-stripped, leaving a minimum amount of residue on the wall.

Substrate

The backing of wallpaper that goes against the wall and that is laminated to the design layer. Can be made of fabric or paper.

Surface Printing

A printing method utilizing a raised printing surface. Patterns have a raised look on the paper and the finished product resembles an oil painting.

Swatch

A sample cutting of wallpaper or fabric.

Symbols

Straight match	Drop match	Random match	Good Lightfastness
Prepasted	Peelable	Strippable
Scrubbable	Washable	Wipeable

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T

Triple Roll

A bolt of three single rolls of wallpaper packaged in a continuous length.

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U

Unpasted

Wallpaper requiring paste to be applied to the back of the paper before hanging.

Useable Yield

Square footage of useable wallpaper after allowing for waste to match the pattern. The quantity of wallpaper that is actually installed on the wall.

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V

Vertical repeat

The distance from the center of a design element to the center of the same element the next time it appears. Every patterned wallpaper will have a vertical repeat, with the exception of murals and random patterns.

Vinyl

A manmade material which is often coated or laminated onto wallpaper backing to give the product improved washability.

Vinyl-to-vinyl adhesive (vinyl over vinyl; VOV)

A special paste designed to adhere border to vinyl wallpaper and to adhere vinyl wallcovering to itself, such as at inside corners.

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W

Wainscot (Wainscoting)

Paneled lining, usually wooden, on the lower half of an interior wall.

Wallcovering

General term used for wall treatments, including paper, vinyl and fabric.

Wall Liner

Blank wallpaper stock, which can be used under wallpaper to absorb moisture and provide a smooth wall surface to hang on. It maximizes adhesion, provides a smooth surface and minimizes the possibility of mildew and staining.

Wallpaper

A wallcovering made of paper.

Washable

Wallpaper that can be cleaned by using a mild soap (nothing with ammonia) and a soft lint-free cloth or sponge.

Water Tray

An open tray used to hold water to soak prepasted wallpaper.

Wipeable

Wallpaper that can be wiped with a damp (water only)
lint-free cloth or sponge.

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