Wallpaper vs. Wallcoverings

Vinyl Wallcovering

Designed for heavy duty commercial applications such as bars and restaurants, lobbies, and corridors. The majority of the composition is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) resin while plasticizers, stabilizers, pigments, and additives are added to enhance the performance and aid in the manufacturing of this product. Typically, vinyl wallcoverings are 54″ wide and sold by the yard. In residential applications, this product would be great for kitchen backsplashes and heavy traffic areas such as mud rooms and corridors.

Installations result in less seams, and less waste compared to wallpaper. Wallcoverings also offer surface texture that serves as a nice alternative to paint.

The main benefit of this product is its cleanability. Day-to-day soil can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water and dried with a lint-free cloth using a blotting action. For more difficult stains use a stronger detergent recommended by the manufacturer and when necessary a soft-bristled brush for scrubbing.

Wallpaper

In contrast to wallcoverings, wallpaper is mainly found in residential and low traffic applications because of the material it is made from – paper! This product is perfect for accent walls and powder rooms. Typically, wallpaper is sold by the roll. The roll sizes differ depending on the origin of manufacturing. American rolls are typically 27″ wide by 5 yards and European rolls are 20″ wide by 11 yards. Generally, it is recommended to wipe with a damp cloth to remove surface dirt and light stains.

At Urban Source, the majority of our wallpapers have a contemporary aesthetic ranging from large scale patterns to interesting textures and use various printing techniques from hand painted to flocking and silk screening.