Walls can be any finish... from the ultra exotic silks
to fine woods... even the fronts of file cabinets.
There are about as many wall coverings available to the
commercial environment as there are personalities that will
work in the facility.
From the ultra-exotic...fine silks and suede, to the sensible...vinyl
and laminate, walls can be maintained.
Fabric-covered walls are a designer's dream and often,
a facility manager's nightmare. The fancy wall coverings
are found predominantly in reception areas, elevator lobbies,
conference rooms and as accent walls in high-image hallways.
If silk, they are difficult to clean. Applied to elevator
lobby walls, the silk may be subjected to deliveries and
splashes from trash collection. The conference rooms, certainly
the area to be considered for high image finishes, are also
in an area where visitors are entertained and fed in addition
to being deposed. The beauty of the silk can be obliterated
in one splash of Lo Mein or Marinara Sauce. The oils in
food, so often served in the conference rooms in the facility,
must be removed utilizing a solvent-based cleaning solution.
Most silks are applied to the walls with a solvent-based
adhesive. A water-based solvent must then be used. However,
some silks, once exposed to any liquid are permanently stained.
There are solvent-treated sponges that are recommended for
silk walls that are somewhat effective.
Fabric that is cleanable with either a solvent or water-based
solution, and applied with a glue that doesn't interfere
with cleaning, should be demanded by the firm when the finishes
are discussed. All too often the fabrics are chosen for
affect with no thought given to maintenance.
There is no wall covering that compares with vinyl for
a fabric look-alike that is sturdy and cost-effective. There
are vinyl walls that were designed to look so much like
fabric they have been accepted as silk. Unless marred by
a gouge or ripped by a sharp object, the vinyl-covered wall
will last as long as the facility. Keeping vinyl clean is
obviously a project that can be assumed often without damage
to the vinyl and within budgetary constraints.
Wood walls suffering rough treatment can be refurbished
on a regular basis and are among the more cost-effective
wall coverings to maintain. The exquisite finishes available
help to enrich the overall look of the facility and, if
addressed on a regular basis, can be kept looking like first
installed.
The painted wall, if finished in a water-based latex, is
difficult to maintain because marks and soil are virtually
impossible to remove without removing the paint, as well.
An annual paint job will keep the walls from becoming dingy
and soiled.
