PVC-free Type II Wallpaper Installation Guide

PVC-Free Type II is the commercial-grade wallcovering substrate we've chosen for residential, hospitality, and cultural interiors that need to last. It carries the same durability and cleanability you'd expect from traditional vinyl — without the PVC. Made with a polyester face, a 100% post-consumer recycled woven scrim backing, milled in the USA with water-based latex inks, and qualifying for LEED credits, it's a substrate that respects the spaces you live in and the world they're part of.

This guide walks through everything you (or your installer) need to know to hang Pine + Feather wallpaper printed on PVC-Free Type II — from acclimation and wall prep through booking, hanging, trimming, and care. Professional installation is recommended; if you're working with a trade installer, share this page directly.

In this guide

About PVC-Free Type II wallcovering

PVC-Free Type II is a commercial-grade, vinyl-alternative wallcovering manufactured by DreamScape® and offered through our Spoonflower Trade catalog. It features a subtle linen-embossed face, a woven textile scrim backing, and meets Type II commercial wallcovering standards with a Class A fire rating.

We chose it because it lets Pine + Feather patterns live in high-traffic spaces — kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, hotel rooms, healthcare lobbies, museum kiosks — without compromising on durability or indoor air quality. With 31% total recycled content, USA milling, and LEED qualification, it's the eco-friendly wallpaper choice for designers and homeowners who care about where their materials come from.

Is this vinyl wallpaper? Not exactly. People often use "vinyl" as shorthand for any durable commercial wallcovering, but PVC-Free Type II is a vinyl alternative. You get the strength, cleanability, and longevity of traditional vinyl wallcovering — without PVC. Because the material composition is different, it handles slightly differently during installation, especially when booking and trimming. Follow the steps below for best results.

Where it works best: permanent installations on properly prepared, primed walls. It is not intended for temporary applications on melamine, gator board, foam core, or other composite boards.

Technical specifications

Content Polyester/natural fiber face with refined linen texture; 100% post-consumer recycled polyester woven scrim backing. 31% total recycled content.
Weight 315 g/m²
Thickness 22 mil
Finish Matte, linen emboss
Roll dimensions (untrimmed) 24.5″ W × 27′ L (62.2 cm × 823 cm)
Roll dimensions (installed) 24″ W × 27′ L (60.96 cm × 823 cm)
Trimming Untrimmed; double cut with 1/2″ overlap
Printing Digitally printed in the USA with water-based latex inks. Milled in the USA.
Fire rating Type II commercial, Class A (certificate available on request)
Installation temperature 65°F and above
Installation humidity 45% RH
Storage 65°F and above, 40–50% RH

Tools and supplies

Most professional installers will already have their preferred kit. If you're sourcing supplies for the first time, plan to have:

  • Paste roller (installer's preference)
  • Soft plastic smoother and/or brush smoother
  • Sharp utility knife with a fresh supply of replacement blades and a blade receptacle
  • Seam roller
  • Non-abrasive soft cellulose sponge and/or microfiber towels
  • Straight edge, drop cloth, ladder, buckets, work table, pasting machine (optional)
  • Lead pencil for any marking on walls or the back of the wallcovering — do not use a ballpoint or felt-tip pen, as they may bleed through the surface

Best primer for PVC-Free Type II wallpaper

Use a white pigmented, mold-inhibiting wallcovering primer. Installer's choice of the following or a similar alternative:

  • ROMAN ECO-988 Pigmented Primer
  • ROMAN PRO-977 Ultra Prime® Pigmented Primer

Application rate: 400–450 ft²/gal. Allow 24 hours at room temperature for the primer to fully dry before applying paste.

Best paste for commercial wallpaper installation

Installer's choice of the following or similar alternative. We recommend choosing an adhesive that contains a mildew inhibitor:

  • ROMAN ECO-888 Clear Strippable Adhesive
  • ROMAN ECO-788 Clay Strippable Adhesive
  • ROMAN PRO-880 Ultra Clear Strippable Adhesive
  • ROMAN PRO-774 Clay Strippable Adhesive
  • ROMAN 234 Premium Grade Heavy Duty Clear Adhesive

Paste application rate is per installer recommendation. Apply paste evenly to the back of the wallcovering using a roller, brush, or pasting machine.

Wall preparation and priming

Acclimation

Allow the wallcovering and adhesive to acclimate together in a clean, dry, protected space at 65°F or warmer before installation. Do not crease the material at any point — creases may not disappear after hanging.

Wall condition

Walls must be smooth, clean, dry, and free of mold, mildew, grease, or other stains. To prevent mildew growth, treat walls with bleach, Lysol, or another approved mildew-inhibiting product before priming. On new walls, drywall joints should be taped, mudded, and sanded smooth. Remove any nail heads, nicks, gouges, or surface imperfections. All loose paint, old wallcoverings, and residual adhesive must be removed, and any damaged areas repaired.

Priming

The residual moisture content of the wall must be less than 4% before priming. Prime with a white pigmented, mold-inhibiting wallcovering primer (see options above). Recommendations are based on installation over gypsum drywall sheetrock. Allow the primer to dry fully — 24 hours at room temperature is a good baseline — before applying paste and hanging the wallpaper.

Booking the wallpaper

"Booking" is the brief rest period after pasting the back of a panel and folding it onto itself. It allows the paste to activate evenly and the substrate to relax before hanging. For PVC-Free Type II, the wallpaper booking time is 10 minutes — a meaningful improvement over many traditional commercial substrates.

Before you book

  • Confirm walls are cleaned, prepped, and primed.
  • Verify installation conditions: 65°F or warmer, around 45% relative humidity.
  • Unroll each roll to find the top of the pattern. The printed barcode on the roll marks the bottom of the pattern.
  • Inspect panels before pasting: pattern scale and size, color match between panels, surface free of defects, edges with enough room for the 1/2″ overlap and double-cut trimming. If anything looks off, stop and contact us before hanging.

How to book the wallpaper

  1. Apply an even coat of adhesive to the back of the wallcovering using a roller, brush, or pasting machine. Cover the entire panel, including the edges, but do not over-apply — excess paste can cause minor bubbling.
  2. Avoid puddling and dry spots.
  3. Fold the ends of the panel toward the middle so the pasted sides meet — but do not press flat or crease the fold.
  4. Let the panel rest for 10 minutes. Do not crease the booked material at any point.

Hanging and trimming

Hanging the panel

Unfold the booked panel and position it on the primed wall, aligning to your starting line. Smooth the panel onto the wall with a soft plastic smoother or brush smoother, working from the center outward to push out air pockets and bubbles. Wipe excess paste off the surface immediately with clean water and a soft cellulose sponge, then blot dry with a clean cloth. Use the soft side of the sponge only — abrasive sides can scuff the linen emboss. Paste left to dry on the surface can leave a white residue that's difficult to remove.

If pattern matching looks off

Stop and contact Pine + Feather before continuing. We'd rather pause and resolve it than have you keep hanging a panel that won't line up.

The double-cut wallpaper seam method

Overlap adjacent panels by 1/2″ for pattern matching. Trim with the double-cut method, cutting through both panels at once with a straight edge so the two trimmed edges meet seamlessly. A few details make the difference between a clean seam and a frayed one:

  • Use a sharp new blade for every cut. Dull blades fray the edges and produce poor seams.
  • Make long, confident cuts. Hesitation creates loose strings.
  • Never pull a stray string — trim it carefully with microscissors.
  • Roll the seam lightly with a seam roller as needed. Avoid excessive pressure, which can squeeze paste out from under the seam.

Finishing

Trim excess material at the top, bottom, and sides of the wall and around any openings (windows, doors, outlets, fixtures). Inspect the finished installation for any remaining paste residue and clean immediately.

Care after installation

Monitor for moisture

After installation, monitor the walls for any moisture or vapor infiltration. Any moisture that appears must be addressed promptly to reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth.

How to clean PVC-Free wallpaper

PVC-Free Type II is cleanable and built for high-traffic spaces. For routine cleaning:

  • Use a damp, non-abrasive microfiber cloth.
  • Mild detergent dish soap and warm water are sufficient for most marks.
  • Dry the surface immediately with a soft, lint-free towel.
  • Do not aggressively rub or scrub.

Avoid: solvent or ammonia-based cleaning agents, household spray cleaners, and powder cleaners. The wrong cleaner can pull color, abrade the linen emboss, or leave stains.

Frequently asked questions

What is PVC-free wallpaper?

PVC-free wallpaper is a commercial-grade wallcovering made without polyvinyl chloride. Traditional "vinyl" wallpapers contain PVC; PVC-Free Type II achieves the same durability and cleanability using a polyester face with a recycled polyester scrim backing. The result is a healthier indoor air quality footprint without giving up commercial-grade performance.

Is PVC-free wallpaper durable?

Yes. PVC-Free Type II meets Type II commercial wallcovering standards and carries a Class A fire rating. It's engineered for high-traffic residential and commercial spaces — kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, hospitality rooms, and healthcare environments — and is cleanable for routine maintenance.

Can you install PVC-free wallpaper yourself?

It's possible for an experienced DIY installer, but we recommend professional installation. PVC-Free Type II uses the paste-the-paper method with a 10-minute booking time and a double-cut seam technique, both of which take some practice to execute cleanly. If you'd like to find a professional, the Wallcovering Installers Association maintains a national directory.

How do you clean PVC-free wallpaper?

Wipe gently with a damp, non-abrasive microfiber cloth using mild dish soap and warm water, then dry immediately with a soft, lint-free towel. Avoid solvent or ammonia-based cleaners, household sprays, and powder cleaners.

Does PVC-Free Type II qualify for LEED credits?

Yes. The substrate qualifies for LEED credits based on its recycled content (31% total post-consumer recycled material), USA milling, water-based latex inks, and PVC-free composition. Certificates are available on request — contact us if you need documentation for a project specification.

What's the difference between paste-the-paper and paste-the-wall installation?

Paste-the-paper means the adhesive is applied to the back of the wallpaper itself, which is then booked (rested) before being hung on a primed wall. PVC-Free Type II is a paste-the-paper substrate with a 10-minute booking time. Paste-the-wall installations apply adhesive directly to the wall instead — a different method used by other substrates in our lineup.

What's the recycled content?

PVC-Free Type II contains 31% total recycled content. The woven scrim backing is 100% post-consumer recycled polyester.

Where is PVC-Free Type II made?

PVC-Free Type II is milled in the USA, and Pine + Feather patterns are digitally printed onto it in the USA using water-based latex inks.

What's the fire rating?

Type II commercial grade with a Class A fire rating. Certificate available on request for project specifications.

What walls is it not appropriate for?

PVC-Free Type II is designed for permanent installation on properly prepared, primed walls. It is not intended for temporary applications on melamine, gator board, foam core, or other composite boards.

For hospitality and commercial specifiers

PVC-Free Type II is built for the projects designers, hospitality firms, and cultural institutions specify into the world. Its Type II commercial grade, Class A fire rating, LEED-qualifying composition, and USA milling make it appropriate for hotels, restaurants, healthcare environments, museums, and luxury residential interiors. Pine + Feather offers custom commercial wallpaper installation runs, trade pricing, and project-specific certification documentation. For LEED submittals, fire rating certificates, or wholesale pricing, reach out directly and we'll send full specifications.

Find a professional installer

For projects where the installation quality matters as much as the pattern, we recommend working with a member of the Wallcovering Installers Association (WIA). Find an installer near you at wallcoveringinstallers.org.

Questions about a specific Pine + Feather pattern, a custom commercial run, or an installation scenario we haven't covered? Get in touch — we read every email.