Bark House® Birch Leather Bark Wall Panels were created to reveal the broader range of texture, color, and depth that nature’s pallet provides just beneath the surface. We meticulously separate the layer away from the white birch bark to present the varied shades of light tan and random black lenticels as a more rugged material choice of wall finish in the birch bark pallet.
The white birch bark is sourced in the Appalachians with 100% grading and hand crafting at our Bark House shop in North Carolina.
Attaching to Gypsum or Drywall
To mount Bark House® bark laminate wall panels to gypsum board (or drywall), apply a typical trowel-able wall adhesive with a 3/16 notched trowel to the surface of the gypsum board or the back side of the panel being installed. Seat the laminate panels and use a few finish nails to pin them to the wall to hold them in place until the glue dries. If the panel is slightly bowed or does not completely compress, a minimal number of trim screws may be required.
Attaching to a Ceiling
Follow the installation guides for walls, with the exception of using trim screws instead of trim nails until the adhesive dries.
*Important Note about Single Surface Lamination* Any substrate that has a bark veneer or 3D wood
attachment has the capacity to warp or cup. We do not recommend that panels “float” as in cabinet door applications
without an additional back side lamination to balance it out. This may be achieved by laminating our bark treatment
to both sides or by laminating a separate finish wood veneer.
There is no concern with single surface lamination when panels are affixed to studs or wall surfaces per our
installation guide.
What are Birch Leather Wall Coverings?
Bark House® Birch Leather Wall coverings are monolithic panels created to utilize the second layer of white birch (Betula papyrifera) bark. This layer of the bark has some of the lichens and scarring of the powdery white outer layer but is a faint brown tone. The wall coverings are handcrafted and do not include the option of feathering the edges of individual panels. All bark laminate panels were originally designed and created by Bark House cofounder, Marty McCurry.
How are laminate wall coverings priced?
Our Laminate Wall Coverings are priced by the square foot. The price will depend on the type of bark, the substrate material, and any finishes that you wish to add.
How are laminate wall coverings fabricated?
Each laminate order is custom fabricated, and every order is unique. We can fabricate panels ranging from 4’x8′ on 1/4″ on a birch plywood substrate, up to 5’x12′ on 1/2″ MDF substrate. We epoxy laminate the bark to your panels after our skilled craftsman carefully designs the piece. You may choose an FSC backer and specify a glue of your choice for an additional fee.
Can I custom cut the panel on-site?
Yes. We advise using a finishing blade and a track saw.
Can I use laminate wall coverings outside?
Bark House® laminate wall coverings are only recommended for interior use, if you have a unique exterior application in mind, please reach out to us to discuss potential solutions.
Will I see the seams on a Birch Leather Panel?
Yes; we use multiple sheets to make one typical panel. The edges are torn into a jagged pattern and overlapped to form a random display of color and texture. We can flush cut the outer edges of the panel or leave a jagged edge in order to lap onto another panel. This effect is more evident than the feathered edge of the white and gold birch bark panels.
What species is Birch Leather?
Birch leather is white birch bark with the outer layer removed. It is generally tan in color with highly pronounced lenticels and occasional interruptions of limb scars.
What are bark lenticels?
A lenticel is an open pore that can be found on certain bark materials. The shape, color, size and prevalence of lenticels is one of the characteristics used for tree identification. It adds a distinctive quality to wall coverings. In nature, they control gas and water vapor exchange.
What is the texture of Birch Leather?
This inner layer of birch bark is often described as having the look and feel of suede leather.
Do I need a finish on Birch Leather?
No, but a low sheen lacquer finish enhances the features and gives an elegant glow to the surface.
Will the Birch Leather panel look just like the sample that I received?
The products are derived from natural material, so no two will be the same.
Can I Wrap the White Birch laminate around a Column?
We do not offer this option.
How do I install laminate wall coverings?
As with all of our products, we provide detailed installation instructions. Our Laminate Wall Covering Installation guide is found here.
How do I clean my interior bark wall coverings?
We recommend that you use the brush attachment on your vacuum for an occasional cleaning.
How much will it cost to ship my bark wall covering panels?
Bark Shingles are shipped in the most economical way possible for the size of your order. Most shipments will be done via Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight, and the cost will depend on your order size and shipping location. We are happy to provide you with a quote. Please email [email protected].
How do I get an estimate for laminate wall coverings?
To place an order for laminate wall coverings, our sales team will need:
- Type of bark laminate that you wish to order
- Substrate type
- Panel dimensions
- Finishes/Edging details
- Shipping address details
See the section above labeled “Product Options” which will walk you through this process.
Does Bark House offer a trade or volume discount?
Bark House® Laminate Wall Coverings and Panels are custom fabricated for each individual client. We are unable to offer discounts on these products due to the level of craftsmanship that is required for every order.
What is the minimum order needed to purchase laminate wall coverings?
We do not have a minimum order for Laminate Wall Coverings.
Why is there an added fee for small panel sizes?
A number of factors dictates a 20% upcharge for panels less than 3ft x 3ft including project set-up fees, cutting down larger sheets of bark material, and the degree of difficulty working with a smaller scale.
Why is there an added fee for panels over 4 ft wide?
The main factor impacting the cost of wider panels is due to the difficulty in reaching across a wider field of work and the increase of internal weaving that must occur for the natural look of bark to be achieved.
We store Bark House Birch Leather Laminates in a climate-controlled warehouse to prevent them from warping and wicking water.
If you need to store your Laminate Panels prior to installation we recommend that you:
- Keep your Laminate Panels in their crate lying flat to prevent warping
- Store your panels in a dry and secure location, not out in the elements, or under a tarp.
Failure to follow these guidelines can compromise your finished application
