Fabric Backing & Finishing Company

WALL & BOOK COVER BACKING FAQs

What is Fabwall ^® Non-Woven Backing?

FabWall ^® is a non-woven backing primarily used for fabric wall pasting. A medium-weight, moisture-resistant, breathable non-woven is applied to the back of fabric. This backing imparts the necessary stiffness to make fabrics suitable for wallpaper applications. Our proprietary process incorporates a moisture barrier film between the non-woven backing and the fabric, which prevents the glue from seeping through and staining the face of the fabric.

What is FabPaper ^® Paper Backing?

FabPaper ^® is a paper backing primarily used for book and album covers. A heavier weight, non-breathable paper is applied to the back of the fabric. This backing imparts the necessary properties for cutting on vacuum tables and pasting on cover board.

My customer wants to use woven fabric as wallpaper in the boardroom. I understand you can process fabric to make it suitable for wall pasting. Can you explain?

Paper backing is a generic term for this process, but we do not actually use paper. We use a specially formulated non-woven fabric. This provides stiffness and moisture protection to your fabric, which makes it suitable for wallpaper (pasting) applications.

Our proprietary process incorporates a moisture barrier film between the non-woven backing and your fabric to prevent the glue from seeping through and staining the face of the fabric. The face of the fabric is also treated with our stain protection finish.

We provide detailed instructions on wall preparation and installation. These instructions can be used as a guide by any experienced installer.

Fabric covered walls create a luxurious effect and offer unique options for patterns and textures on vertical surfaces. They also add sound absorbing and insulating qualities to a room.

I make custom photo albums and like to use woven linen and silk fabrics for album covers. Fabrics must be backed for cutting and pasting on the board. What do you recommend?

We suggest FabPaper ^® backing. This is a non-breathable paper applied to your fabric. It is excellent for applications such as book binding and album covers. It provides the necessary stiffness to your fabric, and because it is non-breathable it allows easy cutting on slitters or vacuum tables.

Why do you use non-woven backing in place of paper backing?

Non-woven backing is not as rigid as paper and therefore it is easier to work with when applying fabric to walls. We have developed backing techniques to keep grain distortion to a minimum. Our processes also provide moisture proofing, which will prevent any staining of the face of the fabric from glue seepage. Backed fabrics can be double cut without fraying, allowing for sharp, clear edges at the seams.

Why do you prefer Non-woven backing over acrylic coating?

Acrylic backing is a liquid coating that is applied to the back of the fabric. This is not suitable for fabrics which are not stain protected because the coating can seep through and stain the face of the fabric. Unlike acrylic, non-woven backing is applied to the back of the fabric using a heat-activated dry adhesive that does not penetrate through the fabric.

Our non-woven backing also has a protective layer of stain protection to keep glue from seeping through and staining the face of the fabric during installation.

What is the maximum width of fabric that you can apply non-woven backing (wallpaper backing) to?

Our normal width is up to 60 inches. Under certain circumstances and depending on the type of fabric, we can apply backing up to 118 inches wide. Please inquire.

Do I have to have stain protection with non-woven backing?

We highly recommend that you include our stain protection finish to keep your wallpaper fresh looking and stain resistant, but you may request not to apply stain protection.

We are looking to make fabrics into wallpaper. We are going to be using a striped and a plaid fabric and want to ensure that patterns will not distort due to backing and the paper will not begin to sag. The fabric is 100% cotton.

We regularly back stripes and plaids with non-woven backing. It is very stable and provides stiffness as well as moisture resistance to make it suitable for wall pasting.

Though we try to keep the pattern straight and minimize distortion during our treatment, it is not guaranteed. Any waviness will actually be improved due to our process. It will not get worse. In order to control distortion of the pattern, we request that the length of the roll be limited to no more than 10 yards. This may require a larger size bolt to be cut prior to backing. For example, prior to backing a 19 yard bolt, we will cut it into one 10 yard piece and one 9 yard piece.

We are looking for someone to back some raw silk for wallpaper. I was wondering if you use Formaldehyde-free glues when you back fabric.

The adhesive used to bond our non-woven backing to your fabric is an environmentally safe, formaldehyde-free, odorless compound.

Our silk fabric received a non-woven backing finish, and we noticed some crease marks upon delivery. Can they can be removed and will they come back after installation?

Creases or marks are due to handling during shipping. These creases on the fabric can be easily removed by using a hand iron. Set the iron to use the highest temperature (it will not hurt the silk). Try a little piece first. Use a little steam only if necessary. A hair dryer can help to dry the fabric quickly. This will avoid staining the silk in case excessive steam is used. Non-woven backing will allow for some flexibility. Once the fabric is glued on to the wall, the creases will not come back. For best results, please experiment with a small test strip first.

Your instructions on wallpaper hanging recommend to first cross line the wall with blank stock. In looking up the purpose of cross lining the wall, it seems like the only wallpaper that actually requires this is old high-end English pulp papers (apparently American wallpaper has never required cross lining). While it might make for a nicer finish, it's not entirely necessary. The old papers were highly susceptible to water damage and edge curling. Cross lining both stabilized the wall surface and added another layer against moisture. I would really like to dispense with the cross lining. Would that be possible?

Cross lining with blank stock is generally a great idea, whether you need it or not. Direct pasting without cross lining has also worked well. In the United States, cross lining is generally not used. You are correct. We recommend using the "dry method" of hanging the fabric. Apply glue directly to the wall and let it dry. Then apply a second coat, and when it is tacky you may apply the fabric. In the United States, drywall (gypsum) is used and it is very porous and sometimes requires 2 or 3 coatings of glue, especially when it is not previously painted or treated. Clear acrylic glue is recommended, as indicated on the instructions. However, it is the choice of the installation professional, as it is a matter of preference. For best results, please experiment with a test strip first.