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Glossary

Not sure what a certain term means? Find it here in our glossary. Simply browse through or navigate by choosing a letter.

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Disparate patterns - Two or more patterns that are each distinct, placed in juxtaposition. An example might be plaids and floral prints. You should carefully consider continuity when you want to install disparate patterns. They could easily clash or distract from the overall appearance of the room.

Decorative painting - Paint process in which a semitransparent glaze color is manipulated to create a pattern which highlights a solid base color underneath.

Denatured alcohol - A solvent used to thin shellac.

Degreaser - A chemical solution or compound designed to remove grease, oils and similar contaminants.

Design - wallpapering - The decorative composition printed onto wallpaper. The recurring design elements determine the vertical and horizontal repeats within a wallpaper.

Diagonal pattern sequence - The diagonal recurrence of a pattern or design across the wall surface. For example, the diagonal sequence of a half-drop match pattern repeats itself at an angle exactly one-half the distance of the vertical repeat.

Dipping - A treatment where wood is immersed in a bath of sealant for several minutes, then allowed to air-dry. A sealant helps to prevent moisture damage to boards.

Deglossing - Roughing up a surface before painting so that it has tooth, a texture that grabs paint. 1118, Scratch coat, First coat of plaster or stucco, "scratched" to bond with the next coat of plaster (the brown coat).

Depth of finish - A desirable visual impression which is illustrated by viewing a thick film of varnish of excellent smoothness or evenness.

Daybed - A bed made up to appear as a sofa. It usually has a frame that consists of a headboard, a footboard and a sideboard along the back.

Diagonal pattern - A pattern that appears at a slant; an oblique pattern.

Dilatency - The properties of some materials in which the resistance to flow increases with agitation.

Disk faucet - A faucet containing plastic or ceramic disks that move up and down to regulate water flow and rotate to control water temperature.

Dew Point - The temperature of a surface, at a given ambient temperature and relative humidity, at which condensation of moisture will occur.

Dead space - Wasted space in closets, under staircases, in corners and under furniture that is suitable for storage.

Defoamer - Product used for controlling undesirable foam.

Directional print - A pattern or design on wallpaper or a border that must be installed in a particular direction in order to appear pleasing.

Delamination - A condition where wallpaper backing separates from the top or intermediate layer of vinyl. One frequent cause is excessive soaking. Some wallpaper, such as grasscloth and stringcloth, should relax only 3 to 5 minutes before installation.

Decoupage medium - A smooth and glossy gluelike liquid used to apply cut-out paper or fabric images to a surface or an object. It is used as both an adhesive and a top coat.

Discoloration - Any departure from the appearance of the original color.

Diagonal pattern effect - An effect that becomes noticeable after you install small-scale or some large-scale patterns on a large wall. The effect may not be evident in a small catalog sample or on a single strip of wallpaper.

Depth - An effect that wallpaper creates in a room regarding its size. If a room is papered in light colors, it appears visibly larger. Darker or bolder colors make the room appear smaller.

DFT - Dry film thickness.

Decorative surface - The top layer of the wallpaper. Manufactures often coat the printed surfaces with a clear solution or laminate to add extra protection.

Decay - The destruction of wood by bacteria, fungi and the like.

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