30 Trade Terms
Trade Glossary
Materials
Term
Definition
Non-WovenSubstrate
A composite substrate of bonded natural and synthetic fibers. Dimensionally stable when wet; paste-the-wall compatible; dry-strippable on removal. Industry-standard backing for mid-to-premium residential and contract wallcovering since the early 2010s.
Type I VinylCommercial
Per ASTM F793: minimum face weight 7 oz/sq yd. Suitable for light commercial settings — offices, retail, boutique hotel guest rooms. Passes Class A fire rating; resists moderate traffic and cleaning.
Type II VinylCommercial
Per ASTM F793: minimum face weight 13 oz/sq yd. Specified for heavy commercial use — corridors, healthcare, schools, hospitality back-of-house. Scrubbable, impact-resistant; highest available abrasion and tear ratings.
GrassclothNatural
Woven natural plant fiber — jute, seagrass, sisal, or abaca — laminated to a paper backing. Organic color variation between rolls is inherent and expected; book match is required. Not washable; requires breathable adhesive.
FlockTextile
Fine fibers adhered to an adhesive-printed pattern, creating a raised velvet pile surface. Originated 17th-century England as a silk-cut-velvet substitute. Contemporary versions range from historic reproductions to tonal sculptural patterns.
MylarMetallic
Polyester film with a metallic coating laminated to a fabric or paper backing. Delivers reflective surfaces from satin to mirror-bright. Developed commercially in the 1960s; peaked in residential use in the 1970s; returns regularly in high-fashion interiors.
CorkNatural
Sliced natural cork bark laminated to a backing. Provides acoustic absorption and organic thermal warmth. Available in natural buff, stained, or printed variations. Requires moisture-resistant adhesive; not appropriate for high-humidity applications.
Arte International "Agra Langsat" — a digitally printed non-directional pattern on non-woven backing; paste-the-wall compatible, dry-strippable.
Pattern & Match
Term
Definition
Vertical RepeatSpec
The distance along the roll length after which the pattern completes one full cycle. Printed on product labels as "V.R." A 27" repeat on 9-foot walls wastes approximately one full strip in trimming; calculate before ordering.
Horizontal RepeatSpec
The width of one complete pattern unit across the roll face. A horizontal repeat equal to the roll width produces a seamless tile; a repeat less than the roll width creates a multi-unit tile per strip.
Straight MatchMatch Type
Adjacent strips align identically at the same height. Zero offset between strips; no extra waste beyond standard cutting allowance. Also called flat match.
Drop MatchMatch Type
The pattern drops by a fraction of the vertical repeat between adjacent strips. Half-drop (most common) offsets by V.R. ÷ 2; quarter-drop by V.R. ÷ 4. Increases material requirement; use the manufacturer's coverage table, not raw square footage, for ordering.
Book MatchInstallation
Every other strip is reversed before hanging. Standard for grasscloth, sisal, seagrass, linen, and silk wallcoverings to mask directional shading between rolls. The reversed strip must still match the pattern; always confirm with a sample dry run before cutting.
NondirectionalPattern
Pattern has no defined top or bottom. Strips may be alternated inverted without visible disruption. Reduces waste in rooms with multiple windows, doors, and interruptions. Common in texture, abstract, and geometric patterns.
ColorwaySKU
A single color variation of a pattern design. Each colorway is a separate product number with its own dye lot. Confirm colorway number — not just pattern name — on every purchase order. Cross-colorway mixing is never correct.
Arte International "Horus Bone" — a nondirectional geometric; any strip can be inverted with no pattern interruption, minimizing jobsite waste.
Production & Specification
Term
Definition
Screen PrintProduction
One mesh screen per color passes ink through a defined stencil onto the substrate. Maximum color fidelity; precise registration; premium cost. Each additional color requires setup of a new screen and increases per-yard price.
Digital PrintProduction
Large-format inkjet printing direct to substrate. No screen setup; unlimited color palette; enables custom scale and custom colorways at economical short-run quantities. Dominant production method for murals, custom work, and designer collections launched post-2010.
Block PrintProduction
Hand-applied printing using carved wooden or linoleum blocks. Each impression is individual; minute variation between blocks creates the signature character of hand-printed goods. Longest lead times; highest labor cost; bespoke and artisan collections only.
Dye LotQA
Production batch identifier. All rolls from a single dye lot match; lots differ subtly. Always specify same-lot procurement on purchase orders and instruct clients to keep one surplus roll per lot for future repairs.
Roll LengthSpec
Linear content per package. US residential standard single roll: approximately 11 yards / 10m. Double roll (most common retail unit): approximately 22 yards / 20.5m. Wide-width commercial goods: sold by the linear yard, cut to order. Always verify before calculating coverage.
WidthSpec
Trimmed horizontal dimension. US residential standard: 20.5"–27". European standard: 20.5" (52cm). Commercial wide-width: 48"–54". Wider stock reduces seam count on large walls; confirm before specifying for panoramic or mural applications.
Arte International "Bouquet Emerald" — a screen-printed large-format floral requiring careful drop-match installation.
Installation
Term
Definition
Paste-the-WallInstall
Adhesive applied to the substrate wall surface; dry strip hung and slid into position. Non-woven backed goods only. Cleaner, faster than paste-the-paper; reduces risk of paste contaminating the face. Confirm manufacturer approval before specifying.
Paste-the-PaperInstall
Adhesive applied to the back of the cut strip, which is then folded (booked) for soak time before hanging. Required for natural fiber, most paper-backed, and pre-trimmed antique wallcoverings. Paste type must match substrate: starch for paper, heavy-duty methylcellulose for grasscloth and vinyl.
BookingInstall
Folding a pasted strip face-to-face (paste surfaces together) and allowing it to rest for the manufacturer's specified soak time — typically 3–8 minutes. Ensures the substrate absorbs moisture evenly before hanging; prevents edge-drying and bubbling.
Double CutSeaming
Seaming technique where the two overlapping strips are cut simultaneously with a straight edge and sharp blade. Both waste pieces are removed, leaving a perfect butt seam. Required for heavy vinyl and embossed goods; optional but recommended for most types.
StrippableRemoval
The decorative face and backing remove together, dry, in one piece. Leaves the wall surface clear for immediate re-priming. Standard on all non-woven backed goods. Confirm before specifying in rental or hospitality properties where lifecycle turnover is expected.
PeelableRemoval
Decorative face peels away from the backing separately. Backing remains adhered and must be soaked and scraped off independently. More labor-intensive than strippable removal; factor into lifecycle cost on renovation-heavy projects.
Performance & Compliance
Term
Definition
Class A / Class 1Fire
The most stringent surface-burning classification per ASTM E84. Flame spread index 0–25; smoke development index 0–450. Required by code for commercial occupancies, healthcare, education, and many hospitality applications. Confirm with AHJ before specifying.
Abrasion ResistanceDurability
Measured by the Wyzenbeek or Martindale test; expressed as number of double-rubs without visible wear. Higher double-rub count = more durable surface. Minimum 50,000 double-rubs typically required for heavy commercial specification; 25,000 for light commercial.
Scrub ResistanceDurability
Per ASTM D2486: number of wet-scrub cycles the face can endure without color loss or surface degradation. Type II commercial vinyl: minimum 300 cycles. Washable residential goods: typically 50–100 cycles. Confirm before specifying kitchens, bathrooms, or high-contact walls.
Memo SampleTrade
A full-width cutting distributed at no charge for client presentation and light evaluation. Standard memo is 8"–18" length, providing one full horizontal repeat. Designer Wallcoverings ships memo samples free of charge from its full catalog of 8,000+ SKUs.