Which wallpaper is better - vinyl or non-woven?

More recently, the market for finishing materials could offer customers only paper wallpaper. Today, its range is simply amazing. It is not strange that many consumers are lost in the question of which wallpaper is better. And here it is not only the design, but also the quality, durability and properties of different coatings. In this article, we will consider the most popular and high-quality options for wall covering, and try to figure out which wallpapers are better - vinyl or non-woven.

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Vinyl Products

Such wall decor has two layers:

• the first is woven or paper;
• the second is made of a material of synthetic origin - polyvinyl chloride.

Important! Other names for synthetic raw materials are PVC, Vinnol, Vinyl, Onion, Corvik.

In simple words, PVC is plastic. Linoleum, furniture edges, stretch ceilings and even clothes are also made from it.

Important! Gramophone records are also made of polyvinyl chloride.

This component is, to some extent, both a plus and a minus of vinyl products.

Important! The first vinyl wallcovering materials were first released by United Wallpaper back in 1947.

Benefits

To figure out whether vinyl or non-woven wallpaper is better, you need to evaluate and carefully weigh all the advantages of each of the coating options. First, consider the PVC material:

• Polyvinyl chloride is not susceptible to water and fire. Such wall coverings are waterproof, they can be brushed with detergents even on the basis of alkali or chemical solvents.
• The material is not afraid of scratches or other mechanical damage. Of course, it is not worth testing it with a knife or blade, and it is quite resistant to accidental damage.
• The finished product does not react in any way to direct sunlight or exposure to light.
• The wall decor is impregnated with a special composition, thanks to which mold and fungus do not form on the walls.

Important! Such materials are especially relevant in the kitchen and bathroom, where the humidity level is often elevated.

• The building material does not absorb any odors.
• Due to the plasticity of vinyl, wallpaper can withstand deformation. This is especially true for new buildings, which in the first few years give a natural shrinkage, as a result of which the walls are slightly distorted.
• Modern technologies have allowed to create a wide range of wall materials with a wide variety of drawings, including three-dimensional images. Such wall decor will become a real decoration of any home.

The disadvantages of vinyl products:

• Since vinyl is a synthetic material obtained by artificial means, it is not able to pass air.

Important! There are microscopic pore wallpapers that provide better breathability. However, they do not allow talking about the environmental friendliness of the material.

• Poor coating can release harmful substances into the room, for example, formaldehydes.

Important! Such wallpaper is undesirable to use in the bedroom, living room and especially in the nursery.

• The material itself is quite heavy, so it creates an additional load on the walls of the room.

Important! This nuance is relevant if you are pasting thin partitions from plasterboard or other lightweight building material.

Types of Vinyl Products

There are several types of vinyl wall decor. Consider them in order to have a general idea of ​​the choice of such material:

• Foamed. They are dense relief sheets. Due to the heterogeneous structure, they perfectly mask various kinds of wall defects.

Important! Such materials are more suitable for the decor of non-residential premises, since they are not very moisture resistant.

• Washable. Suitable for pasting the walls of the kitchen and bathroom.
• Screen printing. In such products, the second layer has silk threads, so they feel silky and pearly to the touch. Wallpaper does not change its original color for many years. They are the most expensive product option with such a base for walls.

Important! The service life of a vinyl wall covering reaches 10 years.

How to glue vinyl products on the walls?

Many people wonder before buying, which wallpaper is better to glue? Let's get acquainted with how this process occurs with vinyl products:

• Glue should be applied to the wallpaper, withstand 3-5 minutes, after which the material can be applied to the wall.

Important! It is very important not to overdo the glue on the products, so that their paper base does not deteriorate.

• For such a material, a special glue suitable for heavy wallpaper is suitable.
• You can glue butt, which simplifies the process.
• For gluing such products, at least two people are needed.

Important! If you do not have experience with this material, then it is better to turn to professionals for help.

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Non-woven wallpaper

Vinyl or non-woven wallpaper - which is better? The answer to this question can only be found by comparing these two materials. We have already talked about the first type of wall decor. It's time to find out what non-woven materials for walls are.

Structure

Unlike double-layer vinyl wallpaper, this type is homogeneous and made from natural raw materials - fibrous cellulose.

Important! Interlining is also used in the decoration of certain elements of clothing, for example, the edges of blouses, suits, models of outerwear. This helps keep clothes in shape.

The design diversity of the material is not as great as that of vinyl products. Often these are smooth and plain products. Although there are embossing, and drawing, and relief. And even in this situation, the non-woven fabric looks stylish and rich.

Important! The service life of non-woven wallpaper, as discussed above, is up to 10 years.

Benefits:

• Due to the fact that the base of the product is made of natural raw materials, the wallpaper is able to “breathe”, which prevents the presence of stale air in the room.
• The material is homogeneous and dense, so such products do not stretch and do not tear, like vinyl.
• Such wall material is able to perfectly mask the unevenness of the walls. Before gluing, you can refuse plastering microcracks and leveling surfaces.
• After gluing, the non-woven wall decor does not shrink, which is important for apartment owners in a newly built house.
• During the subsequent repair, non-woven materials can not be torn off the walls, but the next layer of new wallpaper can be applied to the old one.
• Any type of non-woven wall product can be painted. Paint will only help strengthen the structure of the decor.

Important! Wallpaper painting can be done even if the material does not have a special mark and instructions about it.

The disadvantages of non-woven products:

• A significant disadvantage of this wall covering is its cost. Such products cost an order of magnitude higher than vinyl, and even more so, paper ones. This is due to the complexity of production.
• Flizelin is unstable to moisture and water. Under its influence, it very quickly loses its properties, so you should not even think about intensive washing of walls with such a coating.

Important! The maximum that can be done during cleaning is to wipe the walls with a slightly damp cloth. And then, such actions are best done occasionally.

• Non-woven material for gluing walls is unstable to mechanical damage.They can easily be damaged due to careless handling, play of children or animals.

Important! To give moisture resistance to non-woven wallpaper and increase the quality parameters, they are sometimes coated with a layer of varnish. Thus, the coating becomes washable, however, the vapor permeability property is lost.

How to glue non-woven products on the wall?

This type of wall covering is quite convenient for installation:

• Glue must be applied directly to the wall.
• Wallpapering is done end-to-end.
• It is better to choose a special glue intended for heavy wallpapers.

Important! Even a person who has never done wall repair before can handle gluing non-woven materials.

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Non-woven vinyl wallpaper

Not so long ago, manufacturers released a product for wall decor, which has a non-woven backing and vinyl spraying. Thus, they combined the virtues of the two types of wallpaper.

Features of this type of wall decor:

• Products can be soaked and washed using various detergents.
• Pasting is quite easy and convenient. The process technology is identical with non-woven products.
• Walls with such a coating can be painted up to five times.

Important! Paint is recommended to choose a water-dispersible or acrylic.

• The material perfectly masks defects, roughnesses and roughness of the wall, therefore there is no need for preliminary leveling, puttying and plastering.
• Unlike paper wallpapers, the vinyl layer does not absorb dust. Especially this nuance is relevant for allergy sufferers, asthmatics and all people who care about their own health.
• Due to the vinyl layer, the breathability of such a wall covering is very low.

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Which wallpaper to choose - vinyl or non-woven?

Summarize all of the above and, finally, decide on which is better to buy wallpaper:

• Non-woven products are made from natural raw materials, and vinyl - from synthetic. Therefore, the latter are not able to pass air, unlike non-woven ones.
• It is more convenient to work uniquely with non-woven material. In this case, glue is applied immediately to the wall. In the case of vinyl - on the wallpaper itself and you still have to wait a while.
• The cost of vinyl is much lower than the price of non-woven materials.
• Vinyl products have a more diverse design and color scheme.
• A very important aspect of the choice is which wallpaper you can wash - vinyl or non-woven. The former, without prejudice to appearance and characteristics, can be washed with plenty of water with the participation of detergents. Flizelin is strictly forbidden to wet.
• Regarding the preservation of the appearance, the vinyl coating of the walls does not fade, but the non-woven can be painted without any problems in any color, thereby adjusting the design of the walls.

Important! What wallpaper is better to glue in the bedroom - non-woven or vinyl? In this case, it is better to give preference to non-woven products, especially when it comes to a children's bedroom. Vinyl products are more suitable in the kitchen and bathroom.

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Stock footage

It is very difficult for many to decide which wallpaper is better. If you are faced with a choice, and it is hard for you, then reconsider once again all the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of wall coverings, and try to determine for yourself more priority qualities. The best wallpapers for walls are those that combine safety, comfort, coziness and beauty.