Modern cement walls, as found across Porvorim's complexes and colonies, are a good base for wallpaper: flat, square and dry on the inside. The exception is the wall that faces the open plateau. Rain is driven hard against it for the whole monsoon, and seepage shows as a stain near the window or the ceiling line. Paper never goes over that; the leak is fixed first, or the wall gets a PVC panel. Everywhere else, vinyl wallpaper is a practical finish for a working family, since fingerprints and crayon wipe off. In row houses and bungalows the stair wall is tall enough to carry a bold textured or 3D design.
- Flats in the large complexes: a papered wall behind the TV or bed, chosen from the inner walls shared with the next room.
- Upper-floor rooms on the windward side: look below the window for seepage stains first, and use PVC panels if any appear.
- Children's rooms in family bungalows: wipeable vinyl in a pattern that can be changed as they grow, kept off the outer wall.
Porvorim sits on the plateau across the Mandovi from Panjim, along the highway to Mapusa. It has the state legislative assembly and secretariat, and has grown into the largest residential suburb in North Goa, with apartment complexes, bungalow colonies such as Defence Colony and Alto Porvorim, shops and schools.
Porvorim offers every kind of modern home: flats in large complexes, row houses and independent bungalows. Most are owner-occupied by working families. Large windows and sliding doors are standard, and many homes have a balcony that needs shade or rain protection.
The plateau is open and breezy. Upper floors get strong wind and driving rain in the monsoon, and laterite dust in the dry months. Homes along the highway have traffic noise.
Hilltop and plateau homes
Exposed walls on high ground are driven with rain in the monsoon. Paper the sheltered inner walls, and treat any wall that has shown damp patches before covering it. Vinyl wallpaper is the safe choice.
Apartments and town flats
In a flat, one papered wall behind the sofa or the bed changes the room for little cost. Shared walls with a neighbour's bathroom or kitchen should be checked for damp. Vinyl wallpaper wipes clean, which suits homes with children.
Visiting Porvorim
Porvorim is about fifty minutes from the showroom, just across the Mandovi bridge. We measure free of charge and visit with Socorro, Sangolda and Penha de Franca.
