Let's consider how vinyl wallpapers differ from paper ones.
Many people in our country are accustomed to believing that paper wallpaper is the best option for wall decoration, and newfangled vinyl is a solid chemistry and harm to health. But is it really so, and which is better to choose, paper or vinyl wallpaper, we will talk in this article.
The content of the article
What are the wallpapers
The modern market of building and finishing materials is so full of a variety of wallpapers that it is no wonder to get confused, especially when the opinions of friends and acquaintances radically differ on this issue.
To begin with, modern wallpapers can be of the following types:
- Vinyl.
- Vinyl on a non-woven basis.
- Non-woven.
- Paper.
- Paper on a non-woven basis.
There are also rarer varieties:
- Cork.
- Metal.
- Textile.
- Acrylic
As you can see, the main difference is the top layer of the wallpaper itself, and it depends on it how high-quality and durable the repair in the apartment will be. We must not forget when choosing a specific purpose of the room, as it is known that paper or non-woven fabric does not tolerate moisture well, but at the same time perfectly absorb all kinds of odors. While polyvinyl chloride is completely neutral to water, but, in turn, is unable to "breathe".
There is also a common opinion about the dangers of vinyl to human health. We must say right away that this is a fallacy, and in fact modern vinyl does not contain active chemicals. Of course, there are a number of restrictions on the use of this material, especially when it comes to children's rooms or bedrooms, so you should pay special attention to the quality of the material and the name of the manufacturer.
Important! Vinyl wallpapers, because of their popularity, most often become objects for fakes, so you should always ask the seller for certificates of quality and compliance. If the seller for some reason cannot provide all the necessary documentation, this is an occasion to think and look for another store.
If we talk about the ways of sticking, then, regardless of whether paper wallpaper or vinyl, the technology is no different. The glue is applied directly to the wallpaper, and after that they are glued to the wall. The only difference is that vinyl wallpapers should be soaked with glue for 3-5 minutes, and paper can be glued immediately.
And if you still decided to glue the wallpaper with your own hands, then for clarity, you can watch the video, which shows step-by-step instructions.
Vinyl wallpapers
Unlike most types of wallpaper, vinyl is not at all afraid of moisture, so they can be glued even in the bathroom or kitchen, where there are constant temperature changes, and humidity is increased.
But this particular feature often becomes the most significant minus, since neutrality to moisture can also work in the opposite direction, that is, vinyl wallpapers not only do not allow moisture to pass under their surface, but also do not let out the accumulating condensate.
Today, some manufacturers have partially solved this problem and began to produce so-called perforated vinyl wallpapers that have a porous structure, that is, microscopic holes through which moisture can penetrate outward, but they are not ideal, since they are already poorly suited for gluing in the bathroom.
Advantages
They are:
- Do not fade in the sun.
- They do not have shrinkage deformation.
- Poorly susceptible to mechanical damage.
- Resistant to moisture.
- Not afraid of even the most powerful detergents.
- Do not absorb odors.
- A very large selection of drawings, including three-dimensional ones.
- The dense structure of the wallpaper is able to hide irregularities and blemishes of the base on which they are glued.
disadvantages
They are:
- When burning emit toxic fumes that are harmful to health.
- Poor quality vinyl wallpapers can produce an unpleasant plastic odor that is almost impossible to remove.
- Relatively difficult gluing process.
As you can see, positive qualities prevail, and this is what most consumers are guided by when choosing vinyl or paper wallpapers.
Paper wallpaper
Many of us are accustomed to this type of wall decoration since childhood. A few decades ago, paper wallpapers were the only alternative to painted walls, and of course, many will recall frayed or half-torn pieces of wallpaper, as in the photo.
Modern paper wallpapers have become much stronger and it is not so easy to tear or scratch them, but paper remains paper, with all its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
So:
- Paper is an environmentally friendly and harmless material.
- Wallpaper easily and quickly glued, and light weight allows them to be used on the ceiling.
- Relatively low price.
Unfortunately, the positive qualities of paper wallpaper end there, but often they are enough to make a choice not in favor of a vinyl competitor. But there are much more negative factors, and many of them impose certain restrictions on the use of paper wallpaper in the repair of an apartment or house.
disadvantages
- They can fade in the sun.
- The paper can not be washed, but only wiped and then only with a slightly damp cloth.
- Very low resistance to mechanical stress.
- Fast soiling.
- Paper wallpapers quickly absorb all odors and cannot be removed.
Advice! Children and pets in the house are the primary threat to a new repair, therefore, choosing paper or vinyl wallpapers, it is better to give preference to the second option, as it is more resistant and wear-resistant.
To summarize
To understand the question of how vinyl wallpapers differ from paper, is not enough. It is much more important to clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages of each material, as well as what are the requirements for repair.
And finally, here are a few important factors that you need to remember not only when choosing wallpapers for your home and when working with them:
- Vinyl wallpapers are much more resistant to all kinds of damage and pollution.
- Even washable paper wallpaper models are very afraid of water, so you can only wipe them.
- If vinyl wallpapers meet all quality standards and there is a corresponding document, then there will be no smell of plastic in the house.
- Paper wallpapers, unlike vinyl, have the ability to breathe, respectively, condensation will not accumulate under their surface.
- Thick vinyl can hide most of the imperfections of the walls, while under the paper the surface will have to be carefully leveled.
- Despite the vapor permeability of the paper, under such wallpaper it is also necessary to produce a primer and impregnation.
Advice! Regardless of which vinyl or paper wallpaper is selected, the walls will have to be primed, as this will significantly increase the life of the coating, but one layer is enough for paper, and there should be at least three of them for vinyl.
Of course, any material can find its advantages and disadvantages, but vinyl wallpaper is a more modern and practical material, developed taking into account all the necessary nuances.Adherents of classic paper wallpapers will always be there, and do not forget that those paper wallpapers that we remember from childhood have not been produced for a long time, and new technologies have replaced them, and even the paper has become different - more durable and wear-resistant.
