It would seem that today the market of finishing materials and wall coverings is so saturated that it is quite difficult for ordinary buyers to choose the necessary material without consulting a specialist. Nevertheless, building supermarkets with enviable regularity receive original and interesting new items. We want to tell you about one of them.
Metallic wallpaper since its inception has interested not only buyers, but also professional finishers. One of the advantages of such a coating is its versatility. Endowed with unique decorative and performance characteristics, the material can be used in any stylistic solution: classic and empire style, modern or high-tech.
Metallic wallpaper goes great with different types of finishes. And this, you see, opens the widest scope for the imagination of designers. If you are planning to transform your apartment and create a spectacular extraordinary environment, then you will not be able to find a better option.
Metalized wallpaper: what is it?
Initially, metallized fabrics were used in industry to protectfrom negative electromagnetic radiation, which, by the way, invisibly accompanies us in everyday life. Metallized wallpaper for walls is a two-layer material. Its front surface is made of the thinnest aluminum foil (0.0016 mm). The basis is paper, vinyl or interlining. To reduce the electrical conductivity of the metal, as well as to protect against corrosion, it is artificially oxidized or coated with translucent dyes.
Metallic wallpapers are famous for their textured finish, which is applied:
- patina;
- embossed;
- chemical pickling;
- blackening;
- hand-painted, etc.
As you can see, the choice is wide.
Metallic wallpaper: the virtues of the material
Such canvases are characterized by stylistic diversity, which allows satisfying the most sophisticated aesthetic preferences. However, when choosing wallpaper, one should also remember that this variety, like all finishing materials, is endowed with its own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages of this material include:
- immunity to UV rays;
- durability;
- low thermal conductivity;
- moisture resistance;
- biological inertia;
- environmental safety.
Flaws
These include:
- susceptibility to mechanical damage;
- vapor tightness;
- need for perfectpreparation of the pasted surface.
Metallic wallpaper can be easily damaged, so it makes no sense to use them to decorate rooms with aggressive factors (kitchen, hallway, children's). And one more significant drawback - this material practically excludes air exchange, so a room with this design should be often ventilated or artificial ventilation should be used.
Wallpaper selection
When choosing metallic wallpaper, photos of which you can see in our review, you should start from the general stylistic decision of your interior. This material looks most advantageous in high-tech and classic empire styles. It is recommended to use metallic wallpaper in the dining room, living room, office or hall. In these rooms, there is often a lack of free space, which will help expand the shine of the metal surface of the walls.
By the way, it is not at all necessary to paste over the whole room with such canvases. The alternation of narrow and wide stripes, combinations of patterns and shades, framing of door and window openings, borders or niches will help to introduce solemnity and special charm into the interior.
Metallic wallpaper is the center of the interior composition, so the selection of their texture and color is very important. For example, the Empire style is characterized by antique moods, which are usually realized with the help of artificially aged interior items - various decorations, stucco moldings, figurines, etc. ForIn such a situation, walls cast in bronze, silver or gold will be the perfect backdrop.
The combination of a metallized canvas - plain, embossed - with high-tech furnishings looks no less impressive. If you want to emphasize the play of metallic wallpaper in the interior, you can additionally use natural materials - cork, stone, bamboo decor or even the simplest brickwork.
Preparatory work
Metallic wallpaper, like ordinary canvases, is produced and sold in rolls. The material is very thin: its thickness in rare cases exceeds 1 mm, but in terms of mass it is practically not inferior to wallpaper "heavyweights" - vinyl sheets. This must be taken into account at the stage of preparation for finishing.
Because this wallpaper has a smooth, light-reflecting surface, there are special requirements for the preparation of the substrate for gluing. It should have good absorbent properties and be perfectly even. After pasting, a layer of foil will prevent the evaporation of moisture, which is part of the adhesive. On a wall with defects, they will immediately appear on the front side.
If you understand that it will not be possible to eliminate all the errors of the base, use drywall. We should not forget that metal foil conducts electricity very well, so contact with the wiring must be avoided.
Features of gluing
Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary tools:
- docking roller;
- wallpaperspatula;
- cloth and sponge to remove glue;
- ruler;
- scissors;
- level and plumb;
- construction pencil;
- roulette.
Pre-mark the main surface. This will reduce material consumption and prevent errors when cutting fabrics.
Now you need to prepare the material. It is not rigid, so you will need ordinary clerical scissors or a knife. It is necessary to monitor the coincidence of the pattern on adjacent canvases. On paper-based metallized wallpaper, glue is applied to the canvas, and if the base is non-woven, then only on the wall.
In the first case, the processed canvases are stacked face down on a pre-prepared bedding. Metallized wallpapers are glued from top to bottom, smoothing them gently to the edges from the center with a wallpaper spatula wrapped in a dry cloth.
Then you need to remove excess glue from the front side with a sponge and process the joints with a roller.
Care
The surface of metallized sheets is very resistant to UV rays. Their luster does not fade over time, but during operation it is necessary to periodically clean them with a soapy solution and a sponge. The front side of the canvases, made of foil, is not afraid of temperature changes or moisture.
