Buyer Guide
Quality Control for Natural Wallcovering
What quality checks happen before your wallcovering ships? Here's our 5-stage QC process — from raw fiber inspection through pre-shipment verification — and what you can do to protect your order.
Key Takeaways
- 5-stage QC: Raw fiber → dye lot → in-line → finished roll → pre-shipment.
- Every roll individually inspected — not batch sampling.
- Color checked against approved sample under standardized D65 lighting.
- Dye lot consistency verified across the entire production run.
- SGS third-party inspection available at buyer's cost.
- Photo documentation of finished rolls provided before shipping.
- 14-day quality claim window after delivery for any issues.
What Are the 5 Stages of Quality Control?
| Stage | When | What's Checked |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Raw fiber | Before production | Fiber quality, moisture content, contamination, color consistency |
| 2. Dye lot | After dyeing | Color accuracy vs. approved sample, batch uniformity |
| 3. In-line weaving | During production | Weave density, pattern consistency, fiber attachment |
| 4. Finished roll | After production | Full unroll inspection: color, defects, dimensions, backing |
| 5. Pre-shipment | Before packing | Final audit: roll count, labeling, packaging, documentation |
How Is Color Consistency Verified?
Color is the most critical quality parameter for natural wallcovering. Our verification process:
- Reference standard: Your approved production sample is the baseline — every roll is compared to it
- Standardized lighting: Color checks performed under D65 daylight-equivalent lighting (6500K) to eliminate observer bias
- Cross-roll comparison: Random rolls from across the production run are placed side by side to verify uniformity
- Edge-to-edge check: Each roll is unrolled to inspect for color shifts between the beginning and end
- Photography: Photos of finished rolls under standardized lighting are shared with the buyer before shipping
Important: Natural variation in color and texture is inherent to hand-woven products and is not considered a defect. The QC process ensures variation stays within the acceptable range agreed during sample approval. See our sample evaluation guide for what constitutes normal vs. defective variation.
What Defects Are Checked on Every Roll?
| Defect Type | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Color deviation | Roll differs from approved sample beyond tolerance | Rejected, re-dyed |
| Weave gaps | Missing fibers creating visible holes in the weave | Rejected |
| Loose fibers | Fibers not securely bonded to backing | Rejected |
| Backing delamination | Fiber layer separating from paper/non-woven backing | Rejected |
| Staining | Foreign material marks, adhesive spots, moisture marks | Rejected |
| Dimensional error | Roll width or length outside ±2% tolerance | Rejected |
| Edge damage | Torn or crushed edges from handling | Trimmed or rejected |
Rejected rolls are not repaired and re-shipped — they are removed from the order and replaced with new production. This means your order may be slightly larger than expected (we over-produce by ~5% to cover rejections).
Can You Arrange Third-Party Inspection?
Yes. We support and encourage independent quality verification:
- SGS pre-shipment inspection: The most widely recognized third-party QC service. SGS inspectors visit our facility, inspect a statistical sample of your order, and issue an independent report. Available at buyer's cost (~$250–400 per inspection).
- Bureau Veritas or Intertek: Alternative inspection bodies with similar services
- Your own inspector: You're welcome to send your own representative to inspect production
- Video inspection: For remote buyers, we offer live video walkthrough of finished production via WhatsApp or WeChat
What Documentation Do You Receive?
| Document | Contents | When Provided |
|---|---|---|
| Production photos | Finished rolls under standardized lighting | Before shipping |
| QC report | Inspection results, defect log, pass/fail summary | Before shipping |
| Dye lot certificate | Batch number, color formula, production date | With shipment |
| Physical spec sheet | Weight, width, length, backing type, composition | With shipment |
| SGS report | Independent third-party inspection results | Before shipping (if ordered) |
What Is the Quality Claim Process?
If you discover a quality issue after delivery:
- Document within 14 days — photograph the defect, note the roll number and carton number
- Contact us with evidence — email photos plus your order number and description of the issue
- We assess — compare your photos against our pre-shipment documentation and QC records
- Resolution — depending on the issue: replacement rolls shipped at no cost, credit applied, or joint assessment if the cause is ambiguous (e.g., installation damage vs. manufacturing defect)
Tip: Always inspect rolls on arrival before starting installation. It's much easier to resolve quality claims before material is on the wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you inspect every roll or just a sample?
Every roll. Each roll is fully unrolled and visually inspected for color, weave quality, backing integrity and dimensions. This is standard practice for natural wallcovering because defects are not detectable from the outside of a rolled product.
What is your defect rate?
Our typical production rejection rate is 3–5% — these rolls are caught during QC and never ship. We over-produce by approximately 5% to ensure your order quantity is met after rejections. The goal is zero defects in delivered product.
Can I visit the factory?
Yes, absolutely. Factory visits are welcome. We're located in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. We can arrange facility tours, meet the production team, and walk through our QC process in person. Contact us to schedule a visit.
Related Guides
Evaluate Samples
7-point quality checklist.
First Bulk Order
Complete ordering process.
Shipping Guide
Packaging and transit.
Lead Time
Production timeline.
MOQ Guide
Minimum order quantities.
Real vs Faux
Material identification.
Questions About Quality?
Request our detailed QC report template or ask about third-party inspection options for your next order.
Ask About QC