What is vinyl wallpaper
This material consists of two layers: the first is a fabric or paper base, the second is the front layer of polyvinyl chloride. This substance is used in the manufacture of linoleum and has a strong and dense structure, so these wallpapers are not afraid of mechanical stress - they can be washed and brushed.
Wallpaper made of vinyl has the following positive qualities:
- vinyl is not subject to burning;
- not afraid of moisture;
- does not fade in the sun;
- perfectly resists scratches and other mechanical stresses with hard objects.
The negative properties of vinyl include:
- the front layer of PVC, under the influence of heat, emits harmful volatile substances (formaldehydes are especially harmful, therefore it is not necessary to talk about the environmental friendliness of this coating);
- vinyl does not allow steam and moisture to pass through, so molds or fungi may form under such a coating.
Vinyl products are available in a wide range of colors. Also, according to reviews, textures imitating valuable breeds of wood, ceramics or leather are popular.
Rolled vinyl products are distinguished by types of:
- washable;
- foamed;
- with silkscreen printing.
The minimum service life of such a coating is ten years.
What is non-woven wallpaper
Flizelin is a fibrous cellulose, which is often used in the clothing industry as a lining material. Due to the naturalness of the main substance, rolled products of their given material can allow moisture and steam to pass through, which allows the walls in the apartment to breathe.
Thick wallpaper made of non-woven fabric requires minimal preparation of the base - they perfectly eliminate minor flaws of plasterers. For non-woven products, many colors and types of embossments are not provided, but these wallpapers often act as a basis for painting, which, combined with a relief surface, gives an excellent visual effect.
The positive qualities of this material include:
- do not require dismantling during repair, new wallpapers can be glued directly to the old base;
- All kinds of non-woven trellis can be painted.
- high price;
- low resistance to mechanical stress.
- looking at the edge of the material, you can determine the type of wallpaper by thickness and structure: vinyl products are thicker and consist of several layers, and non-woven ones are thin and single layer;
- you can recognize the material by tearing a small piece from the roll: fibrous, uneven edges indicate non-woven, and if there is no pile, it means vinyl;
- it’s also not difficult to sort out the type of material if you check the non-front side - for vinyl products, embossing is noticeable on the reverse side as well, and for non-woven wallpaper the back is even.
- The corridor is optimally vinyl.
- The kitchen is made of vinyl only.
- The bathroom is only vinyl, but it is better to choose a more resistant coating (tile).
- The bedroom is only non-woven.
- Children's room - only non-woven.
- Living room - any material will do.
Negative points:
The minimum service life is also ten years.
How to distinguish non-woven wallpaper from vinyl
You can try to do it by touch or by visual inspection. So, how to understand what kind of roll material you have in your hands:
Another way to understand the difference between non-woven and vinyl wallpapers: if you touch non-woven products, you can feel a soft, velvety base, and vinyl always remains smooth and cool.
Comparison of the characteristics of these types of wallpaper
To understand the differences between the two materials, they should be compared by the main parameters.
Which are cheaper. A standard roll of non-woven wallpaper with a width of 1000 mm and a length of 10 000 mm will cost about 1000 rubles, and vinyl products will cost 700 rubles, with the exception of vinyl trellis with silk-screen printing, in which case the prices can be quite high.
Which last longer. For both types of coatings, the minimum service life is ten years, but the actual period of use depends on the degree of exposure to the surface. Significantly reduces this indicator the presence of animals in the apartment and leprosy of young children. With an active dynamic effect, vinyl products will last longer, as they better resist various damages.
Which do not burn out. At the initial stage of production, plants could not give non-woven protective properties against ultraviolet rays, but now both coatings successfully cope with this problem.
Which is easier to glue. Working with non-woven wallpaper is much easier than decal vinyl trellis. In both cases, it is necessary to use only special adhesive solutions, but for gluing the walls with non-woven products, it is enough to impregnate the surface with glue and attach dry wallpaper to it.
Vinyl trellis is laid out on the floor and impregnated with glue, after which the already heavy enough material becomes even heavier, so gluing the walls with vinyl wallpaper is best done together with an assistant, otherwise it will be difficult to get a high-quality finish.
Which are harder. The density of non-woven wallpaper is much less than PVC products. Accordingly, the latter will be more severe. Based on this feature, it is recommended to use only a special type of glue for vinyl products.
Which are thicker. Since vinyl trellis consists of several layers, they are thicker than non-woven trellis, but at the same time, special care must be taken when installing more massive vinyl wallpapers - despite their thickness, they are easier to tear.
Which is easier to wash. Thicker and more durable vinyl wallpapers can be safely treated with a wet cloth and even brushed with a brush. In order to protect the base from mold and fungus, it is treated with antiseptic agents, which makes it possible to use this type of wallpaper in rooms with high humidity (kitchen, bathroom).
You can remove dirt from the surface of non-woven products only with a slightly damp cloth, as cellulose is destroyed by moisture and strong friction.
Which is safer. Non-woven wallpaper contains natural substances and is absolutely safe, while the front part of vinyl products is made of polyvinyl chloride, which emits harmful volatile chemical compounds, so vinyl trellis is not recommended to be glued in living rooms, children's and bedroom rooms.
Which are stronger. When choosing wallpaper, consumers often have doubts about the strength of the coatings. Indeed, vinyl or non-woven - which better resists mechanical stress?
Both materials have a long service life (at least 10 years), but at the same time, heavier vinyl is better resistant to hard objects, while non-woven wallpapers are afraid of scratches and easily tear.
Which are breathable. The most significant difference between vinyl and non-woven wallpapers is vapor and air permeability. Thick and durable vinyl is not a conductor of moisture and air, so a fungus can form under the trellises located on the outer walls. To avoid this scourge, before gluing the walls, the surface should be treated with special antiseptic primers. Lighter interlining allows air and steam to pass through, so mold and mildew do not occur.
What and for which room is better to choose
Having found out the characteristics of each material, you can easily figure out which wallpaper to choose - vinyl or non-woven, based on the purpose of the room. It is recommended to glue the wallpaper as follows:
Given these recommendations, you can precisely decide on the question of which wallpaper is better - vinyl or non-woven for a particular room.