Compare liquid and ordinary wallpaper

Our experts in the field of construction and repair examined the features and properties of two types of wallpaper — ordinary and liquid, made a comparative analysis of their advantages and disadvantages, which will help you make an informed choice in favor of one or another material.

Ordinary wallpapers

Manufacturers produce many varieties of wallpaper, which can be divided into the following categories depending on the materials from which they are made:

1. paper;

2. non-woven;

3. vinyl;

4. textile;

5. fiberglass;

6. coated with natural materials;

7. metal.

paper wallpaper

The most popular type of this roll finishing material. They are divided into three types: simplex, duplex and for coloring.

Simplex wallpapers are made from a single layer of paper canvas with coloring and applying a simple pattern in a typographical way.

Duplex — are made from two or three interconnected layers of paper, which are coated with special compounds to impart moisture resistance and color stability. Then on one side with the help of rotational printing and using stencils, thickly rubbed ink is applied. The surface of the web material can be smooth or embossed, which is obtained by extruding a variety of patterns when rolling paper through rollers with an embossed surface.

Roll materials for painting consist of two or three layers of paper, which is impregnated with a special water-repellent compound, the surface is white and may have an embossed or coarse-fiber structure. An embossed surface is obtained by squeezing out various patterns; coarse-fiber wallpaper for coloring is made with the addition of wood chips to the composition. Materials for painting can be painted and repainted many times — from 5 to 15 times.

non-woven

They are made on the basis of interlining — a non-woven material, which is a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers. They can have a smooth or textured surface, which is given to this roll material using hot stamping. A variety of non-woven wallpaper can be used for painting.

Vinyl

They consist of two layers — the bottom layer is non-woven or paper, on which a thin layer of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is applied, after which embossing or drawing is done. The bottom layer is impregnated with a special composition that protects against the appearance of fungus or mold.

A variety of vinyl materials includes silk screen printing, where a layer of vinyl with silk threads is applied to the bottom layer of paper, imitating pure silk fabric.

Other varieties of this type of material are foamed vinyl, embossed wallpapers imitating natural stone or ceramic tiles, and polyplene.

Textile

They are a paper base on which fibers of artificial or natural fabrics are glued — cotton, linen, silk, jute, viscose, etc.

fiberglass

They are made on the basis of fiberglass, which is produced from natural raw materials, including quartz sand, dolomite, soda and lime. They can consist of one layer or two layers — in this case, the fiberglass is glued to the paper backing. An embossing is made on the surface, giving a different kind of relief texture in the form of rhombuses, matting, Christmas trees, etc. Designed for subsequent painting with water-based or latex paints, and can withstand more than 10 repainting procedures.

Wallpaper coated with natural materials

With a paper base on which a thin layer of natural materials is glued, such as cork, bamboo, cane, natural wood veneer. They are used to create original interiors in the style of «country», «oriental», «ethnic», etc.

metal

They consist of a paper base on which a thin layer of metal foil is glued, then drawings or embossing are applied. They are vapor-tight, so they should only be applied to surfaces that absorb moisture well.

The liquid wallpaper

They are a dry mixture, which is diluted with water before use and then applied to the walls like plaster using spatulas, graters, rollers or special pistols. The mixture may include: cotton and cellulose fibers; waste from the woodworking and textile industries; waste paper; decorative elements — acrylic dyes, silk fibers, sparkles, mineral chips, etc.; adhesive compositions; antiseptics. Liquid wallpaper is also produced in the form of ready-to-use solutions sold in buckets.

Ready-to-use dry mixes or mortars are suitable for use by unskilled performers. For professional work, mixtures of white color and without decorative elements are produced, used in the creation of exclusive design projects for interior design. In this case, before use, the necessary dyes and decorative elements are added to the white base in accordance with the decisions of the design project.

They are divided into several main types: silk — with a predominance of silk fibers; cellulose; cotton; mixed type — with a combination of fibers of other types, silk-cellulose or silk-cotton.

Table of advantages and disadvantages

The main differences between materials

The main differences between the materials are as follows:

1. in the method of application;

2. maintainability — liquid wallpaper is easier to repair, if necessary, replaced without damage to the appearance of individual damaged areas;

3. with the help of liquid wallpaper, you can finish surfaces of any shape in the most inaccessible places, unlike rolled materials;

4. liquid wallpaper is elastic, unlike rolled materials, which is important when the building sags after finishing work.

What is the similarity of materials

The similarity of materials is as follows:

1. both types can be used to decorate rooms of the same functional purpose;

2. ease of finishing work — both types of materials can be used in work by unskilled performers;

3. a wide choice of finishing of both materials — colors, textures.

Conclusions: An unequivocal answer to the question: what is better — liquid or ordinary wallpaper cannot be given, since there are many varieties of both materials that have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suitable for use in different conditions. When choosing, the following criteria should be taken into account: the functional purpose of the room, the nature of the interior design, the mode of operation in terms of changes in humidity and temperature, and financial capabilities.