The difference between vinyl and non-woven wallpaper: consider in detail

Gusevsky Andrey Anatolyevich

We see a classic bright living room, the walls of which are decorated with vinyl wallpaper with delicate colors, emphasizing the stylistic orientation of the interior

Still about 20 years ago, there were no problems with the choice of wallpaper. We had to start only from personal taste preferences, and the difference was only in the decorative component.

Today, times have changed, and the concept of wallpaper has become so vast and capacious that it is difficult for a person who rarely encounters repair work to make a choice and understand what the difference between them is. In this article we will talk about how to distinguish non-woven wallpaper from vinyl, and try to figure out which ones are better, better and more practical.

The main differences and confusion in concepts

Vinyl wallpapers are well suited for almost any room, in the photo we see the decoration of the walls in the snow-white dining room

I would like to start our article by answering the question of how to distinguish non-woven wallpaper from vinyl, because in fact, these names are nothing more than an advertising move, but in reality they only introduce a certain confusion. Firstly, both wallpaper options are two-layer, that is, they consist of an upper decorative layer and a lower supporting layer, which is glued directly to the wall and takes on the main load.

Most often, to increase the quality characteristics, manufacturers are not limited to one layer, since such a coating is rather weak and unstable to various influences. So, for example, what we mean by the concept of non-woven wallpaper is actually non-woven wallpaper on a vinyl basis.

Vinyl here serves as a substrate, which comes in contact with the wall, and due to its stability, the coating is much more durable than if it were simple wallpaper, consisting of one layer.

The same applies to vinyl wallpapers, since most often they have a non-woven backing. Such a coating is breathable, that is, the wallpaper is capable of releasing condensation accumulating under their surface. If the vinyl wallpaper does not have an additional layer, then such a coating is monolithic, and not capable of vapor permeability.

Of course, there are a number of tricks to increase the quality characteristics of pure vinyl, but this is a topic for a separate article. So, what is the main difference between vinyl wallpaper and non-woven?

In the material from which they are made. Non-woven fabric is a woven fabric, and vinyl is a plastic with a dense structure. It will not be possible to determine which of these materials is better or worse, since each type of wallpaper has its own requirements, but first things first.

Non-woven wallpaper

Non-woven wallpaper will be an ideal finishing material for the walls of any room, as they have a lot of advantages

Despite its relatively high cost, non-woven wallpaper is in special demand, which does not decrease even with the advent of more modern materials. The secret of such popularity lies mainly in their environmental friendliness, since non-woven itself is a completely natural material, the production of which does not use chemicals.

But here we should not forget about what we talked about above, namely, the vinyl base, and after all, vinyl is a product of the chemical industry, obtained from oil refining products.

No, we by no means want to say that vinyl is unhealthy. This delusion, which is intended, was launched into the mass consciousness of consumers by manufacturers of natural finishing materials. It's just that the ecological qualities of non-woven wallpaper are greatly overstated.

As for the qualitative characteristics, the naturalness of non-woven fabric can be more likely attributed to disadvantages than to advantages, because it is very difficult to compete in strength and durability with plastic, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, and let's look at the main advantages of this finishing material.

pros

Non-woven wallpaper is suitable for multiple painting, and their texture pattern does not suffer from this at all, because sometimes you want to change the color

So:

• High decorative qualities. If you decide which vinyl or non-woven wallpaper to choose, and the esthetic side of the issue is much more important to you, then this is the most suitable option. Non-woven wallpaper looks very attractive, and despite the fact that modern technologies allow you to apply any pattern on any surface, the print on the fabric can be distinguished even with a quick inspection.
• High vapor permeability. A very important factor that largely affects the life of the finish. This is especially true for walls that face the back. Most often cold bridges form on them, and as a result, condensate begins to appear over time.
• Possibility of painting. Most non-woven wallpaper is available in white and involves applying a layer of paint to their surface (seeChoose what to paint non-woven wallpaper for painting) In fact, this is very convenient, since the texture pattern of the wallpaper itself remains in any case, but you can already choose the color scheme at your discretion. Also, you can regularly renew the paint and change the colors of the walls, while not completely redoing the entire repair.
• Like any natural material, non-woven does not have a positive electric charge, and in fact, this is a very convenient quality, since such wallpapers will be much less polluted because the dust simply does not stick to them.

Advice! If you decide to glue non-woven wallpaper with your own hands, but do not have the appropriate experience, be sure to watch the video in this article, which clearly shows the complete instructions for working with this material.

Minuses

If you wish, you can find non-woven wallpaper with increased moisture resistance, and they can easily decorate your bathroom

So:

• Low resistance to moisture. Today you can find washable non-woven wallpaper on the market, but it’s important to understand that the very definition is washable, more aimed at advertising, since in any case, these wallpapers are afraid of water. Of course, they can be wiped with a damp cloth, but they will not be able to tolerate abundant washing, and even more so with the use of detergents.
• Low resistance to mechanical stress. Of course, if you glue wallpaper in the bedroom, then you can not even think about this drawback, the walls in this room are rarely exposed to any kind of impact, but if we are talking about a nursery or a hallway, then it is better to consider another, more durable and reliable option.
• Fast abrasion. If we talk about wallpaper for painting, then this factor will depend on the paint, but if your wallpaper by itself, then from frequent touches, they will quickly lose their decorative qualities. As an additional protection, an additional layer of varnish is often used, but then vapor permeability can be forgotten.
• Absorption of odors. This factor is relevant only for rooms with an aggressive environment, such as a kitchen, where there are constantly sharp and strong odors that will eventually become absorbed into the wallpaper. Eliminate them, then it will not succeed, and you will either have to varnish the walls, or completely change the finish.
• Fading.Any fabric, in constant contact with the sun's rays, over time loses the saturation of colors, and non-woven is no exception. Of course, if your wallpaper is painted, then you can just refresh the top layer from time to time, but if the wallpaper is clean, then it is likely that they will fade after five to seven years.

As you can see, non-woven wallpapers have an almost equal number of advantages and disadvantages, and we have not come close to answering the question of which wallpapers to choose vinyl or non-woven.

Vinyl

Vinyl wallpapers on a paper or non-woven basis can be suitable for a bedroom, this is everyone’s desire

As we said above, vinyl is a product of refining petroleum products, but contrary to popular belief, it is completely safe for human health. This is confirmed by the recommendations of the supervisory construction agencies, which offer vinyl wallpapers for use in public and child care facilities.

Misconception about the harmfulness of vinyl appeared at the dawn of its existence, when formaldehyde was used in production. It was he who was considered harmful to health, and then only when exposed to high temperatures or during combustion.

Vinyl of the old type, when ignited, began to emit toxic gases, which in themselves were very dangerous. Over time, formaldehyde was completely excluded from vinyl technology, and replaced with safe substances.

Moreover, special flame retardants were added to the composition, which prevent fire, and when exposed to an open flame, they turn plastic into carbon dioxide, which, as is known from chemistry classes at school, not only does not burn, but also prevents the spread of fire. Simply put, vinyl wallpapers can be considered completely safe, and this is far from their only plus.

pros

Vinyl wallpapers can be easily used in the kitchen, as they are not afraid of humidity and temperature changes

So:

• High resistance to mechanical stress. Of course, vinyl wallpapers can be scratched or torn, but it will take a lot of effort. The material is so dense that accidental contact with sharp objects will not leave a trace on it.
• Moisture resistant. Any vinyl coverings, including wallpaper, can be washed fearlessly and even used with household chemicals. The picture will not lose its colorfulness, and the structure of the canvas will not be disturbed, therefore such wallpapers are most often used in rooms with high humidity and dirtiness, for example, kitchens or hallways.
• UV resistance. Even with constant exposure to the sun, vinyl wallpapers do not fade or fade. The fact is that a pattern or a monotonous color is not applied to the surface of the canvas, in this case, the paints are one with the wallpaper at the molecular level, and therefore vinyl is not afraid of direct sunlight.
• Wide range of decorative designs. Looking at the photos in this article, you can understand how wide and rich the range of vinyl wallpapers is, and these are far from complete collections. Any pattern can be applied to the vinyl canvas, and even give it a relief structure. By the way, some manufacturers today produce special designer wallpapers, the picture on which will be completely exclusive.
• Resistance to deformation. As you know, the walls of a newly built house can cause natural shrinkage over the course of several years, and many of the finishing materials become unusable, but not vinyl, which is characterized by high ductility. Such wallpapers completely follow the contours of the walls, and when shrinking, they are deformed along with them.
• Wear resistance. Vinyl wallpapers can be glued even in the hallway, where the walls traditionally have an increased effect.It is here that the coatings undergo the most frequent touches, and many of them lose their decorative qualities over time. Vinyl wallpaper is not scary, and you can touch it with your hands without fear that prints will remain on the surface.

From all of the above, we can conclude that the main difference between non-woven and vinyl wallpapers is their strength and wear resistance. But vinyl, unfortunately, has a number of disadvantages to be reckoned with.

Minuses

Vinyl wallpapers can imitate various materials, which allows you to choose the right texture for any style of interior decoration

So:

• Low vapor permeability. Vinyl itself is a dense material that is not capable of releasing steam outside. On the other hand, he does not let it in under his surface, but the condensate that has accumulated over time in this case, simply has nowhere to go and he begins to grow into mold or fungus.
• Great weight. Vinyl wallpapers themselves are very heavy and this factor must be taken into account when sticking them on light partitions, constructed for example from drywall or fiberboard. Of course, vinyl will not be able to damage even the lightest structure with its weight, but it will create a significant load and will contribute to the natural deformation of the wall.
• The certain difficulty of sticking. We are all used to the fact that in order to glue the wallpaper, you need to put it on their back side and attach the canvas to the wall. With vinyl, the situation is somewhat more complicated. Due to the relatively large weight, the adhesive is applied not only to the canvas, but also to the wall, and this is an extra time and effort.
• Fast soiling. As mentioned above, natural materials do not attract dust to their surface, unlike artificial materials, which is vinyl. Such a coating will have to be washed and cleaned more often than non-woven ones, but given the high resistance to moisture, this nuance should not cause any particular difficulties.

And in conclusion

Nowadays, drawings and texture of wallpaper can imitate not only building and finishing materials, but also furniture, for example, book racks

So, what is the main difference between non-woven wallpaper and vinyl? Of course, in the material from which they are caught, and this is precisely what affects their quality characteristics.

If you choose the decoration for the living room or bedroom, then non-woven fabric is exactly what you need. It is pleasant to the touch and looks attractive. In these rooms there are no significant loads on the wall surfaces, so the coating will last a very long time and will not have to be restored.

It is quite another matter if you select wallpapers for the kitchen or, for example, the hallway. It is better to give preference to a more dense and hardy coating. Vinyl can easily cope with all the negative influences that are traditionally present in these rooms, and even in the case of severe pollution, washing the surface will not be difficult.