The market for finishing materials is growing every year. There are new ways to decorate walls. In the 70s of the last century, vinyl wallpapers appeared. They were called detergents. Then this material was quite expensive, and not everyone could afford it.
Vinyl wallpapers are more affordable these days. They have become stronger. The demand for them is only increasing. When it comes to repairs, questions immediately arise about how to choose and glue them correctly, what is the difference between the types, how to prepare the walls. You will find answers to all these questions in the article below.
Varieties
Vinyl wallpapers attract not only with their appearance, but also with the number of positive qualities. This allows you to use them in any room. The main - the top layer, which is also decorative, is polyvinyl chloride. The basis is paper or interlining.
Vinyl wallpapers are divided into four types:
- Silkscreen.
- Embossed or foamed vinyl.
- Smooth vinyl.
- Hard vinyl.
Everyonethe view has its advantages and disadvantages.
Silkscreen
Screen-printed vinyl wallpaper is used to decorate bedrooms and living rooms. This is due to the fact that the material has an external resemblance to silk. It looks very impressive and luxurious. But, with all the advantages and beauty, this type of vinyl wallpaper should only be used on perfectly flat walls. They also have an increased strength class and do not fade in the sun.
Production of such wallpapers is carried out using high temperatures.
Embossed or foamed vinyl
The top layer of such wallpaper has the highest strength class. Foamed polyvinyl chloride is the thickest coating among representatives of this class. Sticking vinyl wallpaper of this type requires some skill, as the material is quite heavy. The canvas usually has a relief pattern that will help hide small defects on the walls, such as cracks, bumps.
During production, a vinyl coating is applied to the base, which is subsequently pressed at high temperatures.
Smooth Vinyl
A thin layer of vinyl is applied to the base. The material is very delicate and not resistant to severe external damage. The coating must be applied to pre-aligned walls, otherwise, all defects will be visible to the naked eye.
Hard vinyl
Produced in the same way as the previous type, only the coating is more durable, able to withstand great mechanical stress. These wallpapers can be used fordecorating walls in the kitchen or hallway, but only on condition that the walls are perfectly even.
Benefits of vinyl wallpaper
Vinyl wallpapers are the most popular among their competitors. This is due to a number of positive qualities.
- Strength. The vinyl layer applied to the base (non-woven or paper) makes such a coating resistant to damage. It is quite difficult to tear such material without physical effort.
- Long service life. The average life of such a coating is approximately 10 years. Vinyl does not fade in the sun and is able to repel moisture. That is why vinyl wallpapers are often called washable.
- Moisture resistant. Depending on the thickness of the vinyl layer, the wallpaper can withstand even heavy washing with water. When choosing, pay attention to the label. Some types can only be wiped, while others can be washed abundantly using special products.
- A wide range of colors and textures allows you to choose wallpaper for any style of interior. There are also a lot of different textures.
Thanks to all of the above benefits, vinyl wallpaper has been popular with consumers for decades.
Disadvantages of vinyl wallpaper
Even with so many advantages, vinyl wallpaper has its drawbacks.
- Toxicity. That's a moot point. The PVC from which the top layer is made can be toxic when it reacts with the adhesive, but it depends only onmanufacturer. The use of poor quality raw materials and an irresponsible approach to production can cause such problems. Therefore, it is worth choosing a manufacturer that is proven and has a good reputation. Savings are inappropriate here.
- Do not let air through. Vinyl wallpaper is very tight on the wall and thus creates a barrier to air entry. This can lead to fungal growth. To avoid this, it is worth giving preference to non-woven vinyl wallpaper. They stick easier and allow the wall to breathe.
- Difficulties in gluing. What can I say, but for a good result it is worth having some experience with material such as vinyl wallpaper. They need to be glued exactly end-to-end, as the material is pulled away when it dries. If you have never worked with such wallpapers, you should ask a specialist for help.
- Cost. Prices for wallpaper with vinyl coating are quite high, but this can be compensated by the service life. Although such material costs three times more than paper, it will also last several years longer.
Vinyl Wallpaper Adhesive
To stick this decorating material, you should use a special vinyl adhesive. This will not only allow you to get a quality result, but also save time:
- Vinyl wallpaper tends to stretch when applied with glue, and when it dries, it acquires its original appearance. Because of this, gaps between the canvases may appear and the appearance of the room will be spoiled. Special gluefor vinyl wallpaper has a composition that does not allow the material to stretch, which minimizes the risk of cracks at the joints.
- Usually, the manufacturer specifies how to apply the adhesive, only on the surface of the wall, on the canvas, or on both.
- Do not buy glue in reserve. The consumption of adhesive composition for vinyl wallpaper is much less than when working with other wall coverings. The packaging should contain information on how many rolls the finished product will last.
- It is worth paying attention to the adhesive indicator for vinyl wallpaper. The finished mixture, as a rule, has a lilac or purple hue. This is quite convenient, since when applying glue to the canvas, you can see where there is glue and where there is a dry surface. Particular attention should be paid to the edges. The wallpaper is glued back to back, so poorly coated edges can pull away from the walls, spoiling the look of the room.
Preparing walls for gluing
Before you begin to work on gluing the walls with vinyl wallpaper, the surface should be carefully prepared. This must be done in several stages:
- Removing old wallpapers. This step is the most important. If the previous layer of wallpaper is not removed, then the new vinyl wallpaper will eventually swell or even begin to move away from the wall. This will not only spoil the appearance, but also require significant financial costs for restoration. It is better to do this with a spatula. The surface of the wallpaper should first be moistened.
- If the walls were painted, then remove the paint alsonecessary. Vinyl wallpaper, regardless of the base, does not fit well on a smooth surface and the life of the material is significantly reduced. Paint removal work takes some time. To do this, you can use a building hair dryer, a grinder with a metal nozzle, or purchase a special wash. Do not just prime the painted surface or clean it, making it rough. Vinyl wallpaper after sticking on such a wall will not last long.
- Now is the time to check if the walls are even or not. If the walls are very uneven, then you can fix them with putty or drywall. Most importantly, approach the process with all responsibility so that the work does not have to be redone after.
Step by step guide
The technology of gluing walls with vinyl wallpaper differs from the standard surface decoration with paper materials. This will require some knowledge and experience. Special attention requires gluing non-woven vinyl wallpaper. The material is very delicate.
- Before starting work, you should make sure that all rolls are from the same batch. If not, then you need to compare the pattern and shade.
- Now you need to cut the wallpaper. The canvas is taken with a margin of 50-90 mm on each side. Stock must always be taken into account.
- Use special glue for vinyl wallpaper. Apply evenly on each canvas, if indicated on the package, if not, then only on the wall.
- Wallpaper is glued to the surface without tension. It is especially important not to stretch them in width. In order to press well, you need to use a specialrubber roller. Gently, without much effort, smooth the surface and walk more carefully around the edges. This applies to both non-woven vinyl wallpaper and paper backing.
- It is necessary to create optimal conditions for work. Drafts should be avoided when sticking vinyl wallpaper. This may cause air bubbles to form.
- After applying glue to the surface of the canvas and the wall when gluing paper-based vinyl wallpaper, and when applying only to the wall for non-woven wallpaper, it is necessary to withstand 5 to 10 minutes. This is important, the adhesive must saturate the surface for greater adhesion of materials.
These simple steps will help you hang your own vinyl wallpaper. The technology is simple, but requires some skill. Remember, the material is very capricious, if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to entrust the matter to professionals.
Recommendations from experts
Vinyl-based wallpapering in each case requires a certain approach, but there are still basic rules. Experts advise following general recommendations, and then the process will not cause problems:
- Vinyl wallpaper in corners should overlap. The joint cannot be made in the corner itself. It is best to step back 2-3 cm. The canvases will lie more evenly in this way.
- When working with vinyl wallpaper, involve an assistant. It's almost impossible to do the job alone. This applies to both standard 50 cm and meter wide wallpapers.
- The material is heavy, but this does not mean that you should apply maximum effort when working with it. Glue must be carefully.
- Do not stretch the sheets, especially if the adhesive has already been applied. The material shrinks when dried and there is a risk of getting cracks at the joints and irregularities.
- The wall should be carefully prepared. Clean off all unnecessary, align as much as possible.
Vinyl wallpapers are very difficult to stick, but the result is ready to overshadow even the most difficult work. The variety of colors and shades, as well as the structure, thickness, texture makes this material the most commonly used. The main condition for choosing such wallpapers is the reputation of the manufacturer.
Let the product cost a little more, but the manufacturer will be responsible. Don't skimp on your he alth and comfort.
These tips will help you master DIY vinyl wallpapering. A little practice and you will get the perfect result. If there is a desire, then everything will definitely work out, and the article will help you with this.
