Ultimate Guide to Selecting Premium Biophilic Solutions

Not All Preserved Gardens / Moss Walls created Equal! Quality Matters!

The integration of biophilic elements in commercial spaces has evolved significantly, with preserved gardens and moss walls emerging as transformative design solutions. As this market expands rapidly, design professionals face a critical challenge: identifying truly qualified providers in an increasingly crowded field.

While these natural installations may appear similar at first glance, significant differences exist between providers – differences that impact installation longevity, safety compliance, and long-term value. The assumption that all preserved garden solutions are interchangeable can lead to compromised outcomes, particularly when decisions are driven solely by value engineering.

This guide explores the essential criteria for evaluating preserved garden providers:

• Longevity and durability of installations
• Material safety and compliance
• Sustainable practices and certification
• Design flexibility and aesthetic quality
• Implementation expertise
• Long-term value proposition

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Understanding these key differentiators enables informed specification decisions that protect both design integrity and client investment.

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1. Unmatched Quality and Longevity

When investing in preserved gardens, longevity serves as both a quality indicator and a key financial metric. Consider these essential factors:

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Investment Strategy

• Looking beyond initial costs
• Evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Consider complete lifecycle implications:
   
  • Installation investment
   
  • Expected lifespan
   
  • Maintenance needs
   
  • Future removal costs
   
  • Replacement expenses

Quality Indicators

• Seamless panel integration
• Uniform surface appearance
• Consistent color throughout
• Artful & Aesthetic look of gardens
• Professional installation methods
• Documented durability standards

Industry Leadership Metrics Garden on the Wall® demonstrates exceptional value through:

• 10-12 year standard lifespan
• 20+year extended lifespan with unique rejuvenation program
• 1,750+ thriving installations since 2014
• 7-Year Warranty
• Zero installation failures
• Documented long-term performance

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Due Diligence Steps:

1. Review installation portfolios
2. Examine past project longevity
3. Request client references
4. Compare warranty terms

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Superior craftsmanship and proven longevity ultimately deliver the strongest return on investment while ensuring sustained aesthetic excellence.

2. Superior Visual Standards

Visual quality is a crucial indicator of preserved garden craftsmanship. Professional installations should present a seamless, carpet-like appearance across the entire surface, with key quality markers including:

• Uniform moss coverage without gaps
• Consistent coloration and texture throughout
• Invisible panel transitions in large installations
• Natural-looking plant composition and arrangement

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The fabrication method significantly impacts both appearance and longevity. While social media keyword search of #mosswalls shows numerous providers using hot glue guns for fabrication, this method is fundamentally flawed.

Hot glue operates at 250°F in its low temperature setting, far exceeding the recommended 60-85°F temperature range for preserved plants. This excessive heat damages the organic materials, significantly reducing their lifespan and compromising the intended installation’s integrity from day one.

When evaluating providers, scrutinize their fabrication and installation methods. Those showcasing glue gun applications in their social media content should be eliminated from consideration, as these methods cannot deliver the durability and quality that commercial installations require.

To learn more about the visual standards you should look for at a preserved garden / moss wall provider, you can watch this 3 minute short video here: Visual Excellence in Biophilic Design

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3. Customization and Design Expertise

Leading providers offer comprehensive design collaboration services, working directly with interior design teams to create distinctive installations that enhance the overall space with bespoke designs. When evaluating providers, look for:

• Extensive portfolio demonstrating design versatility
• Collaborations with recognized design firms
• Custom capabilities incorporating brand elements
• Diverse selection of moss and plant varieties
• Documented design process and past installations

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Request detailed design portfolios and case studies to assess the provider’s creative range and execution capabilities.

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4. Total Cost of Ownership

Understanding the total cost of ownership (TCO) is critical when evaluating preserved garden installations. While initial investment matters, TCO provides a comprehensive view of your long-term financial commitment, including:

• Initial installation costs
• Expected lifespan of the installation
• Maintenance requirements
• Future removal expenses
• Replacement costs for alternative finishes
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Longevity directly impacts TCO and should be a primary consideration when selecting a provider. It is highly recommended that designers, clients, or contractors:

1. Requesting documentation of oldest installations
2. Contacting facilities teams at reference projects
3. Verifying the provider’s track record for durability

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Quality providers like Garden on the Wall® demonstrate superior value through extended lifespans (10-12 years, extendable to 20+ years through rejuvenation programs). While premium installations may require higher initial investment, they typically offer the lowest TCO due to their exceptional durability and minimal maintenance requirements.

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5. Comprehensive Turn-key Services

A full-service provider should offer end-to-end solutions, from initial design consultation to final installation and touch-ups. This ensures seamless integration of the preserved garden into your project and maintains quality control throughout the process.

There are preserved garden and moss wall providers in the market that ship their garden panels from Europe (Italy, Turkey, Belgium and etc) with printed installation guides, expecting general contractors or millwork subcontractors with no prior experience in the moss wall or preserved garden market to install these gardens. This is a prescription to failure as the overall quality of gardens partly depends on the quality of installation. If a subcontractor or contractor with no prior experience or with little information on the scope is asked to install these garden elements, it would be quite hopeful to expect good delivery methods to be followed.

Services to look for in a preserved garden and moss wall provider should include:

• Custom design and rendering
• In-house fabrication (preferably Stateside, not overseas)
• Professional installation by trained technicians
• Pre-installation inspection against any mishaps or damage during transportation
• Post-installation touch-ups and micro-mossing
• Post-installation attention to gardens, in case there is damage or mishap during installation, or post-installation

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6. Sustainability Credentials and Material Health

In today’s environmentally conscious market, sustainability, and materiality are paramount. Choose providers with robust sustainability practices and third-party certifications proving Material Health and Occupant Health of their offerings. Look for credentials such as:

• Health     Product Declaration (HPD)v2.3 for their whole garden system
• Compliance     with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) VOC standards
• 100%     Bio-Based Test results (to ensure no off-gassing of biomass or     petroleum based chemicals)
• Red     List Free certification, Declare Label, 3E Exchange Passport
• Listed     in mindful Materials and Sustainable Minds Transparency Catalog
• Compliance     with Healthy Hospitals Initiative
• LEED, WELL, and Fitwel contributions

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Leaders in the field, like Garden on the Wall^®, often go beyond basic requirements, offering 100% bio-based product and commitment to Circular Economy practices to ensure not only their product will be safe, and healthy for the occupants of these buildings, but also the product will be enjoyed the longest time at the space, and finally not be a landfill at the end of their life cycle.

The commitment to the health of the buildings, the occupants, and the planet is paramount, and it should reflect in the specification of the company to be chosen for the specific installation.

It is important not to fall for meaningless ISO or ASTM numbers without any 3rd party testing. Greenwashing is quite prevalent in the preserved garden and moss wall market. Decision makers need to make sure they look at all the sustainability, transparency claims and the statements of the providers and look for actual 3rd party test, instead of the ISO numbers with “suggestion only” approach.

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7. Fire Safety and Building Code Compliance

Ensure your chosen provider meets all relevant fire safety standards. Look for Class A fire ratings according to ASTM E-84 testing, preferably without the use of additional fire retardants. This compliance is crucial for meeting building codes and ensuring occupant safety.

If the preserved garden / moss wall provider does not have Class 1 or A test results per ASTM E-84, the use of the fire retardant spray post-installation would cause premature wilting and introduction of dangerous chemicals to the built environment.

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8. Maintenance Requirements and Warranties

One of the key advantages of preserved gardens is their low maintenance nature. Verify that the provider offers truly maintenance-free solutions that require no watering, trimming, or special care.

Additionally, look for comprehensive warranties that cover both materials and workmanship. A 1-year warranty is standard among some providers; however, an industry leader like Garden on the Wall^® offers peace of mind for your investment with their newly instituted 7-Year Warranty for their installations.

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9. Innovation and Industry Leadership

Choose a provider that demonstrates innovation and thought leadership in the field. This could be evidenced by:

• Patented preservation or installation techniques
• Ongoing research and development efforts
• Educational initiatives like CEU courses for designers
• Industry awards and recognitions

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Companies at the forefront of innovation often set standards for the entire industry, ensuring you're getting cutting-edge solutions for your projects.

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10. Production Capacity and Lead Times

Production capacity and inventory management are critical factors for large-scale or time-sensitive installations. When evaluating providers, assess:

• Available inventory of moss and plant materials
• Monthly fabrication capacity
• Typical lead times for different project scales
• In-house production capabilities
• Quality control processes

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Garden on the Wall^® maintains substantial material inventory and offers a monthly fabrication capacity of 2,500 sq ft through its dedicated U.S.-based production facility.

This capacity ensures timely delivery for large-scale projects while maintaining consistent quality standards. Unlike smaller operations or overseas manufacturers, their US based operations eliminate extended wait times and quality control risks through the proven domestic production process, while also complying with US based construction codes.

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11. Client Portfolio and References

When evaluating providers, examine their project portfolio across diverse sectors and scales. A proven track record should include:

• Varied installations across multiple industries
• Projects comparable to your scope and setting
• Verifiable long-term client satisfaction
• Detailed  case studies and references

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Garden on the Wall^® has executed over 1,750 installations for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare institutions, hospitality chains, mixed-use, and senior living facilities. The extensive portfolio of the company offers relevant examples for any biophilic design vision, backed by documented client satisfaction and proven performance.

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12. Fabrication Location

Manufacturing location and compliance standards are crucial considerations for preserved garden and moss wall installations in U.S. commercial spaces. Key concerns when evaluating providers include:

• U.S.-based manufacturing facilities
• Compliance with domestic building codes
• Material safety documentation
• Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) certification
• Supply chain transparency
• Third-party testing verification

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Installations using materials manufactured outside U.S. jurisdiction may present significant risks:

• Non-compliant substrate materials
• Unauthorized adhesives
• Potential Proposition 65 violations
• Unverified chemical emissions
• Inconsistent quality control
• Limited post-installation accountability

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Designers and clients must ask the provider where these garden panels will be crafted, and how they’re shipped to their finalinstallation sites. The crafting of gardens that are made somewhere outside of the U.S. poses number of risks that need to be avoided.

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13. Acoustic Benefits

Preserved garden installations offer acoustic benefits with some providers offering 3rd party tests, helping to reduce noise levels in open spaces. If this is a priority for your project, look for providers who can offer documented noise reduction coefficients for their products.

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Conclusion – Selecting the Right Provider; a Guide to Excellence in Preserved Garden / Moss Wall Installations

When integrating preserved gardens or moss walls into your biophilic design project, choosing the right provider is crucial for long-term success. Key evaluation criteria include:

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Quality & Longevity

• Documented installation lifespan
• Proven track record of durability
• Reference projects with verifiable performance

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Aesthetic Excellence

• Portfolio of successful installations
• Design versatility
• Seamless integration capabilities

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Safety & Compliance

• Class 1 Fire Testing certification (ASTM E-84)
• 100% Biobased verification (ASTM-6866)
• Health Product Declaration (HPD) v2.3 for complete garden system
• VOC compliance documentation (CDPH VOC Standards)

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Due Diligence Guidelines:

1. Look beyond marketing materials and verify claims
2. Request specific test results and certifications
3. Examine actual installation examples
4. Contact reference clients
5. Review comprehensive material safety data

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Investment Considerations

• Total cost of ownership analysis
• Life-cycle performance metrics
• Maintenance requirements
• Long-term value proposition

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Garden on the Wall^® sets industry standards through:

• Comprehensive third-party testing
• Documented safety compliance
• Proven long-term performance
• Superior aesthetic outcomes
• Transparent business practices

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This systematic approach ensures your preserved garden/moss wall installation delivers lasting value while maintaining the highest standards of safety, sustainability, longevity, materiality, and design excellence.

For more information on this subject and other related information, please visit our website: www.gardenonthewall.com

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