Whether wallpaper will last in Socorro depends on which end of the village the house stands in. On the higher ground towards Porvorim, the newer villas and colony houses have dry cement-plastered walls, and textured, 3D and imported vinyl papers all do well, most of all in large rooms where a bold pattern has space. Down towards the fields and springs, houses sit in shade and feel damp through the monsoon; there, keep paper off every outside wall and use it only on inner walls that stay dry. Old houses add a further caution: their lime plaster should not be sealed. Paper a later partition, or choose PVC panels on a frame where a wall is doubtful.
- Villas near Porvorim: a mural or large-repeat vinyl on a tall living-room wall, set out from the top so the pattern sits right at eye level.
- Shaded houses on low ground: inner walls only, primed against fungus beforehand, and nothing on a wall that faces the garden.
- Old village houses: later partitions alone; the thick lime-plastered originals stay in paint, which lets them dry out after each monsoon.
Socorro is a large village next to Porvorim, running down from the plateau to fields and springs. It keeps a village character, with a church, old houses and narrow lanes, while new villas and housing colonies have grown along the side nearest Porvorim.
Socorro has old houses with gardens, and many new independent houses and villas built by families who wanted space near Porvorim. Homes are lived in all year.
The village is inland, green and well shaded. Low-lying parts are damp in the monsoon; the higher ground near Porvorim is breezier.
Villas and gated homes
Large walls suit large patterns and murals, which would be lost in a small room. Double-height walls need the pattern planned from the top so the repeat lands well at eye level. Air-conditioned rooms hold wallpaper very well.
Old Goan houses
Old walls are lime-plastered and need to breathe. Sealing them under vinyl can trap moisture, so a wall is tested first, and loose or powdery plaster is made good. Often the answer is to paper a later partition wall and leave the old lime walls painted.
What do you suggest for a shaded house in Socorro that feels damp in the monsoon?
Light, washable curtains and blinds that do not hold moisture, rugs that can be lifted and dried, and no wallpaper on outside walls.
Do you fit mosquito nets on large windows?
Yes. Sliding and pleated nets are made to the size of each window, including wide ones.
