Q: The use of vinyl wallpaper on the inside of perimeter walls has been eliminated by many designers because mold sometimes grows under the vinyl. But clients anxious for a cleanable wall surface still ask us about its installation. Is there some practical replacement?

A: There is a variation of vinyl wallpaper that works just as well while eliminating the potential for mold growth on wall surfaces. And this whole process revolves around the original offender, vinyl wallpaper.

Some designers and architects are still unaware of a process called porolating. The process leading to porolating begins when the client chooses the style of vinyl wallpaper he or she wants installed. There is no limit to what he or she can choose. In fact, this process is very affordable if matching existing patterns rather than replacing with new is the ultimate goal.

Once it's selected, the vinyl is sent to a production facility that performs the porolating process. Porolating involves preheating the vinyl just prior to its entering a special machine. As the vinyl passes through the machine, it is perforated with small needles, creating up to 150 tiny holes per square inch. The preheat process is done to affect the "memory" of the vinyl. If it weren't heated, the vinyl would close back over the hole and no benefits would be gained.

Porolating isn't expensive. For as much as 500 square yards, the standard price involves a $100 setup fee and 75 cents per square yard. If you do more than 500 yards, the setup fee is usually waived.

We've seen the results of vinyl wallpaper that doesn't breathe, and the variety of mold growth it can encourage is dramatic. We've also seen the results of walls with porolated vinyl, and the results - indicating a lack of mold growth - are just as dramatic. When nothing else will do, vinyl can still do the job. And the potential for mold growth can be eliminated.

Travis West is the president of Building Air Quality Inc., a Houston-based indoor air quality consulting firm. He can be reached at twest@baq1.com, or toll-free at 866-367-1177.

QA archive >>

If you have a question for a mold expert, please send it to Brett Lyon, senior editor of construction.com at brett_lyon@mcgraw-hill.com.