If you live in a busy household with children and pets, there are most likely problem wall areas that are on the receiving end of these daily activities. A wall surface that is a challenge to keep clean, like a hallway, can be frustrating. Not to fret, there are great materials on the market specifically intended to endure the rough and tumble of an active family. For the best solutions of wall materials in a high traffic area, read on.
Wall Paneling
Run the paneling up the full height of the wall, or the most common application which is to install it up a half to a third of the height of the wall and cap off with wainscot trim. The paneling is highly durable and can be painted or stained in a wide variety of colors. With the right finish applied, the paneling is perfect for high traffic areas.
Bead-board: One of the most popular and can be found in the wood building materials section of any the home improvement store. Its main characteristic is the vertical scored strips in the panel that are approximately one to three inches in width. The wood paneling can be cut to your required lengths and is easy to set up.
Plank Paneling: A variation of the bead-board, plank paneling has wider vertical strips typically up to six inches in width.
Modular Paneling: A pre-designed system of paneling components available on the market, used to create configurations of a mix of solid paneling pieces framed with wood molding and capped with wainscoting. Makes for a grand looking design, and is very hard-wearing.
Wall Tile
Wall tile is extremely durable and comes in a huge selection of sizes and colors. Tile that is specifically manufactured for wall applications is not as thick as its floor tile counterpart, so it is able to adhere securely to the vertical surface.
Durable Paint Finishes
What are the best paints to use for high traffic areas? The most demonstrated of the paint finishes are semi-gloss and satin finishes. If you are looking for paint finishes that stand-up to rigorous activities, easy to clean, and long-wearing than satin or semi-gloss are the top picks.
Although high gloss paint has the most durable finish level available, the highly reflective properties may show flaws, particularly in dark colors, so keep that in mind when selecting a high gloss paint. Satin and semi-gloss paints are also washable and thus hold up well to scuffing and scrubbing.
Wall Covering
Woven wall coverings, such as rattan, sea-grass or bamboos are attractive and can be suitable, if you determine that your specific traffic area can accommodate more attention to upkeep.
Like so many products these days, wall-coverings have expanded their options, to include metal and laminate, both are good durable materials that are easy to maintain. Vinyl wall coverings are one of the most common of materials, because of their durability, wide range of colors and patterns.
Easy Maintenance
What about maintenance, and what’s both easy to clean and durable to scrub? The most durable and scrub-able material on this list is tile, paneling comes in a close second, then paint, and vinyl wall-covering is also very resilient if maintained and cleaned properly.
Use this list for easy reference on, “the best wall covering options and solutions for beautifully durable and easy to maintain walls in a high traffic area”, for your next home remodeling project.
