Installation Instructions for 54” Commercial Wallcoverings Microvented and Non-Microvented
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Moisture, Mold and Permeability
Vinyl wallcovering can act as a vapor barrier and consequently should NOT be installed on walls that are susceptible to excessive condensation or moisture infiltration.This may be more likely to occur in Humid and Fringe Zone 1 climates.
To reduce the risk of fungal growth within the wall or wall cavity we strongly recommend the use of microvented, permeable wallcovering. The following conditions should be observed:
*The building’s exterior envelope must be weather-tight, and the HVAC system must be operating before and during installation.
*The wall surface to be covered must be completely dry and free of any indications of prior mold/mildew growth before installation.
*The wallcovering supplied by Len-Tex may be made permeable (minimum 8+ perms) by a microventing process. Permeable wallcovering cannot compensate for water intrusion caused by poor building envelope design, faulty construction, building system failure or improper maintenance practices.
Confirm the Product
Before cutting this material, it is your responsibility to confirm the accuracy of the pattern, color and yardage; no returns will be allowed for cut material. You may confirm the wallcovering is microvented by holding in front of a bright light so the penetrations are visible.
Prepare the Wallcovering
When applicable, confirm that consecutive bolt (roll) numbers are being used. If transported during winter months the wallcovering must be allowed to warm to minimum 70 degrees F. To insure a problem-free installation the building temperature must be 70 degrees F prior to beginning work.
Prepare the Wall
All surfaces must be clean, dry, smooth and structurally sound. Sand-finish plaster must be scraped smooth. Cinder or cement blocks must be plastered or cemented smooth before application of the wallcovering. Newly plastered walls must be completely dry before application – verify using a “moisture detector” making sure the walls are dry to the satisfaction of the architect.
Proper surface preparation is key to having great results and success. We recommend priming wall surfaces with a Zinsser primer chosen specifically for the job. When installing microvented wallcovering use Zinsser Shieldz “VP” primer system or equivalent.
When Mold and Mildew is a concern, we suggest the use of Zinsser Shieldz “Plus” primer, or equivalent. By following these instructions, the wallcovering will install easier, last longer, and maintain strip-ability. For assistance with problematic wall surface preparation call Zinsser at 1-888-855-1774.
Apply the Adhesive
Microvented wallcovering is made breathable by microscopic penetrations. Use Shieldz “VP” primer with Zinsser Sure-Grip “VP” adhesive, specifically designed for this product, or equivalent. To prevent adhesive ‘bleed-thru’ the wallcovering adhesive must be applied undiluted – do not thin with water.
For Type I wallcovering, use Zinsser Sure-Grip 122 or 128 vinyl wallcovering adhesive, or equivalent. We suggest using a roller to apply the adhesive to the back of the wallcovering and “book” for 3 to 5 minutes. As an alternative, you may apply the adhesive directly to the wall allowing it to “tack-up” before installing the wallcovering (dry hang).
For Type II wallcovering, use Zinsser Sure-Grip 128 or 134, or equivalent, and if mold and mildew is a concern, use Sure-Grip PLUS adhesive, or equivalent. DO NOT DILUTE ADHESIVES! Apply using a commercial pasting machine or by roller.
For difficult installations, such as columns or outside corners, particularly with Type II wallcoverings use Zinsser 134 or 138 heavy duty clay-based adhesive, or equivalent. You may find that you need to apply adhesive to both the wall and the wallcovering; allow both surfaces to “tack-up” and wrap corners, columns, etc.
Install the Wallcovering
Before installing, EXAMINE PATTERN FOR COLOR AND REPEAT IN DESIGN. Some patterns should be lined up, matched and/or alternately reversed depending upon color and texture in order to insure color uniformity. Hang first strip even with plumb line. Use strips in exact order as they are cut from the roll. Fill in over and around doors and windows as you come to them with strips cut in consecutive order from the roll. CUT AND INSTALL THREE (3) STRIPS ONLY. After the first three (3) strips have been installed, inspect all for color shading. If satisfactory, proceed with work. If not satisfactory and you are unable to determine the reason for any shading, stop work and get in touch with your supplier. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT PERMANENT LIGHTING BE IN EXISTENCE PRIOR AND DURING INSTALLATION OF ALL WALLCOVERING. DO NOT INSTALL WITH TEMPORARY “PIGTAIL” LIGHTING. Manufacturer accepts no responsibility for hanging of additional material.
Seaming
Seaming of vinyl wallcoverings may be done in one of the following two methods:
The first method is to butt the material. This holds the cleaning to a minimum which is especially important when working with deep textures and dark color. The best butt seams require pretrimming with a straight edge on a cutting table.
The second and advised method is to overlap strips on the wall and cut through the overlap taking care not to score the drywall. Lap the strips about (2) inches and using a straight edge and appropriate double cutter, cut through the double lapped thickness. Remove the top and bottom strips and work into a tight seam using a seam roller, WallWiz, polyethylene, or PVC smoothing blade.
NOTE: Do not use steel blade knives for smoothing wallcovering or seams. Vinyl wallcovering surface is softer than steel blades and damage to wallcovering surface will occur.
As each strip is installed, carefully wash excess adhesive from seams. Use a sponge dampened with clean, warm water, changed frequently, and dry with a clean soft towel. Adhesive residue will discolor seams or leave a dull vertical area. If this occurs refer to FAQ section of the Len-Tex Corp. web site at www.lentexcorp.com for further cleaning procedures. Adhesive not cleaned promptly from surface of wallcovering will be very difficult to remove – DIF GEL or similar product will help in these conditions.
Taping seams with 2” masking tape before lapping and cutting will eliminate any potential problems with adhesive residue.
Always carry wallcovering around corners approximately 6” making no corner cut. If a corner cutting is unavoidable, do not overlap and cut – butt each strip separately resulting in a tight corner seam.
Trim excess material from base moldings, door and window frames with a suitable razor knife and cutting guide.
Wrapping Outside Corners
This protocol was developed to assist wallcovering installation when encountering minor, out of plumb, out of square or bowed corner beads. This technique will improve the installer’s ability to properly secure the wallcovering and minimize the formation of bubbles which might otherwise result due to the impediments caused by characteristics of the existing gypsum board/corner bead installation.
1. All surfaces of the gypsum board should be primed with a high quality acrylic primer.
2. Apply one layer of clay adhesive to each side of the corner, extending out from the corner by 9” on each side.
3. Let the adhesive dry to the touch (approximately 15-25 minutes).
4. Install the pasted wallcovering to the first side of the corner, smoothing towards the corner bead. As you approach the corner bead, shift to using only a sponge to gently wrap the corner by 4-6” on both sides. This will begin to re-activate the previous adhesive.
5. Once gently set along the corner, withdraw the wallcovering from both sides of the corner by the same 4-6” area and hold it open (away from the surface) for 1-2 minutes.
6. Now reapply the first side of the corner, using multiple vertical smoothing motions right up to the corner bead.
7. Continue the re-application by turning the corner using the sponge to reset the second side for 4-6”, followed by gently tugging the goods around the corner to tighten them.
8. If necessary, use the sponge to firmly set the 1” at the corner bead itself, taking care to remove any visible air pockets in the zone.
9. Continue to smooth the second side into place using multiple vertical strokes which begin along the corner bead and progress away from it towards the leading edge of the wallcovering.
Warranty
Len-Tex wallcoverings come with a 5 year limited warranty. For full details of warranty coverage please refer to our website: www.lentexcorp.com Zinsser “Plus” system comes with a written 5-year mold & mildew-proof guarantee. Call 1-888-855-1774 for details.
For a comprehensive understanding of mold occurrence and prevention please visit: www.wallcoverings.org or request from your distributor a copy of “Mold – Cause, Effect and Response”.
