Housing Decisions by Evelyn Lewis & Carolyn Turner Chapter 14 Creating Interior Backgrounds Wall Coverings

Walls make up the largest surface area of a room. The protect against the outdoors & reduce the noise entering a room. They hide pipes, wiring, and insulation. They also divide spaces. When choosing a wall covering, it is essential to consider the color involved, the condition of the walls and the function of the room.

Most commonly used wall coverings are: paint, wallpaper, paneling, mirrors, fabric and carpeting. Neutral colors are more often used than vivid colors because they provide a background to the rest of the room and furnishings.

Washable wall surfaces are recommended for bathrooms, kitchens, children’s rooms and hallways because walls in these areas tend to become soiled more quickly than bedrooms or living rooms.

Wall Construction

Wall Construction It is important to consider how the was is constructed before planning backgrounds. Materials that can be used: 1. gypsum wallboard 2. plastic wallboard 3. Paneling 4. plaster 5. masonry

Gypsum Wallboard This is known as drywall and sheetrock. The most common used material for interior walls and ceilings.

Plastic Wallboard Durable decorative finish that is used for interior walls. Comes in enamel & plastic laminate finishes. Primarily used in kitchens & baths.

Plaster Paste used for coating walls and ceilings that hardens as it dries. Smooth or rough surface. Require special skills and material. Cost more. Used in older homes & commercial buildings.

Masonry Both exterior & interior walls. Cement blocks are common form of masonry. Use in large rooms. Brick/Stone form entire walls (fireplaces) & costly. Easy to maintain.

Paneling Made from plywood but can be produced from a synthetic material. gives a warm attractive appearance to a room. It requires little maintenance. It comes in a variety of forms and prices.

is attractive but expensive is attractive but expensive. Manufactured paneling is a thin layer of fine wood bonded to less expensive wood.

Wall Treatment

Wall Treatments Wall treatment is coverings for the interior wall. It should harmonize with the floor & ceiling. Reflect the people that use the room.

Housing Decisions by Evelyn Lewis & Carolyn Turner PAINT 50 Lessons Over Easy Housing Decisions by Evelyn Lewis & Carolyn Turner

Paint is a thin coating designed to maks and protect the surface beneath it. It is the fastest & cheapest way to change a room.

Paint Usually Consists of 4 Components Liquid: water or mineral spirits, which allow the paint to be applied, then evaporates. Pigments: gives the paint it’s color and hiding power.

3. Additives: modifies the paint’s characteristics. 4. Binders: the plastic-like material that binds the pigments and additives to the surface.

Main Types of Paint Latex: it is flexible, thins and cleans up with water, dries quickly, and has non-toxic fumes. Oil: sometimes called “alkyds”, have greater adhesion over smooth, nonabsorbent surfaces, such as plastic and metals. They can hold a greater percentage of solids, often allowing single-coat coverage.

Sheen & Finish both refer to the reflective characteristics of the paint after it has dried (flat or satin). Painters usually use theterm interchangeably.

Used for high traffic area walls. Ex.: doors, trims, and shelving. Semigloss Flat Used for high traffic area walls. Ex.: doors, trims, and shelving. Soft finish to walls & ceiling. Do not use for windowsills or kitchen or bathroom walls and woodwork. Flat paints are usually the least expensive and the most difficult to clean. Best for use on walls and ceilings (except in the kitchen or bathroom).

Eggshell Satin Best for use on walls and ceilings. Can be used in kitchens or bathrooms. Walls in any room because it resists dirt better than flat.

Gloss Best for doors, trims, shelving, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, and wet rooms.

Painting Tips There is a big difference between a paint that is dry to the touch and one that is fully cured. Fully cured means that all liquid has evaporated and the color has reached maturity. A paint can dry to the touch in 24 hours, but can take up to 30 days to full cure.

Faux Finishes

Faux Finishes French word meaning false. Faux finishes simulate the look of another materials, such as a stone or wood, by using various techniques to apply paints to a surface. More popular finishes are marble, granite, and wood grain looks.

Paint can be applied in a number of different textures & patterns to Create a decorative finish on the wall. Achieved by applying paint to the wall with materials other than a common paint brush.

Marbleizing: Treatment that looks like marble. Stenciling: Applying paint by using a cutout form to outline a design or lettering.

Sponging A sponge is dipped in the paint and dabbed on the wall to add pattern. Paint is applied with a sponge over a base coat, giving a mottled or blotchy texture.

Spattering Paint on a brush is flipped onto the base coat, giving a speckled appearance.

Strippling Similar to sponging, but a more delicate effect is achieved by using a strippling brush to apply a colored paint lightly over the base color.

Ragging One or more colors are applied over the base coat, and then partly removed by blotting or rolling with a rag to achieve a marbleized effect. Applied to pieces of cloth.

Glazing Layers of one or more transparent colors are applied on top of a base coat. The result gives the illusion of various depths on the wall.

How Much Paint Do I Need You end up with a number that is close to the actual wall area you have to cover with paint. In general, you can expect 1 gallon of paint to cover about 350 square feet. There are on-line paint calculators available to make this an easier process!

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has been used to cover walls since the 16th century in Europe and since colonial times in America.

The use of wallpaper can change the apparent dimensions of a room. A bold, bright wallpaper pattern can make a room appear smaller and a scenic pattern can make a room seem more spacious. Before purchasing wallpaper, you should bring home a large sample to try for color and pattern.

Before purchasing wallpaper, you should bring home a large sample to try for color and pattern. Wallpaper can be washable, scrubbable and strippable.

Vinyl-faced wallpaper is backed with fabric or heavy paper, it is durable and popular.

Heavy embossed wallpaper has raised surface areas as a part of the design, can be used to create a formal effect.

Prepasted wallpaper is easy to “hang;” it must be soaked briefly in water before hanging.

Strippable wallpaper is easily strippable, which means that it can be removed from the wall easily. Other papers must be removed by steaming and scraping.

Grass Cloth Is made of loosely woven plant fibers that are backed with paper.

Borders Narrow strips of decorative wallpaper used around doors, windows, and areas where walls and ceilings meet or on wall in various heights parallel to the floor. Borders can be used alone or with other wall coverings.

Murals Are complete scene that do not have a repeat. Some murals may require nine or ten panels to complete the scene murals are usually placed on only one wall in a room.

When purchasing wallpaper, match the batch numbers on all of the rolls purchased to insure colors match.

Fabric Can be attached to the wall with glue, tape, or staples. Stretched over a frame and hung on the wall. Add color, warmth, texture, and interest to a room.

Molding is strips of wood or resin used for trim or ornamentation in a room. The main purpose is to finish of a window, door, wall or to prevent damage to the wall.

Crown molding is hung were the ceiling meets the wall. 2. Plate/Picture rail is a wide molding hung 6 ft. off the ground used for display purposes

Chair Rail is hung 3 feet from the floor to prevent the backs of chairs from damaging walls or for decoration.

Baseboard/kickboards hide the break between the wall and floor.