What is the difference between vinyl wallpaper and non-woven wallpaper? Choosing the right wallpaper

Which wallpaper is better, vinyl or non-woven? For what situations are these finishing materials suitable and what are their advantages and disadvantages? Let's figure it out now.

What is non-woven wallpaper

These trellises are made from paper. The main component of the material is the most common cellulose. About 30% polyester fibers are added to it and processed using non-woven fabric technology. As a result, we get a dense, textured and very practical material.

What is vinyl wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper consists of two layers:

• Non-woven fabric. This is a dense, reliable base.
• Polyvinyl chloride film. This is a decorative layer.

Polyvinyl chloride is applied to trellises either by foaming or hot stamping.

Foaming

Polyvinyl chloride is applied to the substrate and foamed. As a result, a deep, clear relief appears on the trellises. This wallpaper is thick, soft and loose to the touch. Outwardly, they resemble non-woven ones, but heavier.

They mask wall defects well, but are relatively easy to tear and scratch.

Attention: it is very difficult to distinguish foamed vinyl from non-woven fabric. Don't buy wallpaper by eye. Consult the seller, or better yet, read the factory label. There you will find all the characteristics of the material.

Hot stamping

The basis of such a covering is paper or non-woven fabric. A polyvinyl chloride mass is applied to the base layer, then the pattern is “rolled”.And only after this they use hot stamping, giving the coating a relief.

Wallpaper made in this way is not afraid of water, it is difficult to scratch it or rub it off with constant touching.

One of the options for hot stamping is silk-screen printing. A pattern of silk threads is laid on a non-woven base, and then secured on top with film.

Let's compare foam vinyl, non-woven wallpaper and fashionable silk-screen printing according to the main criteria. Let's see who gets the most points!

Comparison of non-woven and vinyl - 10 important characteristics

1. Durability

The average lifespan of vinyl is about 12 years. For careful owners, walls covered with this material can last for 15 years, maintaining their decorative appearance.

Flizelin never dreamed of such characteristics. 10 years maximum - and this is with careful handling.

2. Resistance to external influences

The PVC film covering vinyl trellises is highly durable. It is tear-resistant, not afraid of water and household chemicals - moderate aggressiveness, of course. Do not water the wallpaper with toilet cleaner.

Such a coating is difficult to scratch or “paw” to the point of bald patches. But with non-woven wallpaper this is possible. The loose material is easily scratched and torn. If dirt gets on the paper, it will be instantly absorbed, and you are unlikely to be able to remove the stain.

3. Decorative

Vinyl can be anything: smooth, embossed, plain or colored. If you see “brick-like”, “fabric-like” wallpaper, a complex relief pattern or contrasting textures, it’s probably vinyl.

You can easily choose an option for the kitchen, living room, and bedroom.

The non-woven covering looks much more modest. These are plain or unpainted wallpapers, the only decoration of which is relief.If you wish, you can find options with a pattern, but if you are going to repaint the walls in the future, the colored pattern may appear from under the paint.

4. Possibility of design changes

Non-woven fabrics can be painted, and more than once. Moreover, each coloring makes the wallpaper denser. An excellent choice for those who like to change the interior of their premises, but do not want to overpay for major renovations.

The non-woven coating can withstand up to 7-8 stains. If you hang this wallpaper, you can change the color of the walls at least every year.

Vinyl wallpaper created by foaming can also be painted. But smooth embossed ones will no longer work - the paint will not stick to the PVC film. And why? Hiding expensive, spectacular wallpaper under paint is barbaric.

5. Eco-friendliness

Non-woven fabric is cellulose. That is, paper is one of the most environmentally friendly materials on the planet. Vinyl is a plastic film. If you're concerned about planetary pollution, the choice is clear.

But what about security? Harmful fumes, condensation, chemical dyes - can they harm your health?

If the manufacturer uses low-quality PVC, yes. This coating releases toxins into the air and can cause allergies or breathing problems over time.

Buy products from reliable manufacturers and check quality certificates in stores. Choose wallpaper especially carefully for rooms where children or people with allergies will live.

6. Vapor permeability

You've probably read a hundred times that non-woven coverings breathe. But what does it mean? Will there always be fresh air in a room covered with such wallpaper?

Not really. The non-woven fabric is made of paper, which means it actually allows steam to pass through.Unlike vinyl, which is sealed in PVC film. But wallpaper doesn't hang in the air, we glue it to the walls! Stone and concrete allow so little moisture to pass through that it does not affect the microclimate of the room in any way. If you want to prevent dampness in the room, open the windows for ventilation and clean the ventilation.

Believe me: wallpaper will not save you, even if it breathes three times.

But there is another side to the coin.

If you live in a house where the walls are constantly damp, the vapor permeability of the coating is really important. A stone soaked in water must release moisture somewhere. If you have non-woven wallpaper on the walls, they will let steam through, and you open the window and excess moisture will leave the room. The walls will dry faster.

And vinyl will slow down steam, and moisture will settle on the plaster under the wallpaper. There will be a real greenhouse for mold and bacteria.

7. Easy to stick

Non-woven wallpaper is easy to glue:

• clean the wall from the old coating;
• lubricate it with special glue;
• cut the panel to the required length and glue it to the wall;
• smooth out any unevenness.

Important: non-woven wallpaper does not need to be coated with glue!

These panels do not stretch or deform, they do not tear, even when saturated with glue. But this wallpaper is twice as wide as the others: not 53 cm, but 106. On the one hand, you will make fewer joints, which means the work will take less time. On the other hand, gluing wide rolls is physically difficult - they sag, bend and slide. It is difficult to cope with such a task alone, so it is better to work together.

Vinyl flooring is more difficult to glue.

• The glue is applied to only one surface: either the wall or the wallpaper. This is indicated in the instructions for the coating.
• The “format” of vinyl can be both wide and narrow. You can choose a more convenient option.
• This material is quite heavy. If you use the wrong glue or get the proportions wrong, the panels will come off.
• Due to the greater mass, a wide and long canvas is physically difficult to hold in weight.

These problems are easy to fix - choose high-quality glue, follow the instructions, call help. But still difficulties arise with vinyl.

8. Ability to hide wall defects

Do you have uneven walls and don’t have time for additional plastering? Buy vinyl trellises. Just not silk-screen printing, but relief foam ones. They are dense and thick, so they perfectly smooth out unevenness. And deep relief and light matte coloring will visually mask the remaining problems.

Important. Smooth wallpaper with a glossy surface will highlight all the irregularities and defects. Do not use such materials on poorly plastered walls.

The non-woven coating is not as thick, so it masks irregularities less well. Of course, defects can be hidden with additional painting - but this is extra work and extra costs.

But non-woven fabric can stretch. If your house shrinks slightly and cracks appear on the walls, this coating will be a real salvation. The wallpaper will not tear, but will stretch a little. It is possible that they will move away from the walls here and there, but this problem is easy to fix.

Fill a syringe with PVA, pierce the paper bubble and inject glue inside. Then smooth out the wallpaper and it will stick to the wall again.

9. Versatility

Vinyl wallpaper is not afraid of moisture, it can be washed and cleaned. You can use this coating in any room.

Flizelin is a hopeless loser in this regard. You can’t put this kind of wallpaper in the hallway or kitchen: it gets dirty and can’t be washed. In the bathroom or toilet - they will become saturated with moisture and get wet.It’s also not a good idea in a nursery: a child might touch the wall with a dirty palm, draw something, or spill paint on the trellises. And then what? Repaint the room?

10. Price

The cheapest non-woven wallpaper costs 500 rubles. per roll. Foamed vinyl of the same price category will cost 300 rubles. – almost twice as cheap. For silk-screen printing you will have to pay at least 700 rubles.

Final table of differences - pros and cons

Now let’s compare the results and count the number of advantages.

So... Fanfares, drumming, applause - we meet our winner! Foamed vinyl scored as many as 6 pluses.

Like it or don’t like it – homeowners’ opinion

Every man to his own taste. Each person has their own preferences and life circumstances. But still, reviews can give a hint in a situation where it is difficult to make the right choice.

Sergey:

“We hung non-woven wallpaper 5 years ago. There wasn't enough money, so we chose based on price. I’m happy with everything: it was easy to glue, they look beautiful, and if you get tired, you can repaint it at any time.”

Olga:

“We put silk-screen printing in the living room, and non-woven fabric in the bedroom. Only three years have passed, and the area above the bed has already been wiped to a shine; now the walls need to be painted. And in the living room the wallpaper is like new. We had to put silk-screen printing everywhere.”

Ilya:

“In the hallway, in the nursery and in the kitchen we have vinyl wallpaper - thick, with a relief pattern.And in the living room and bedroom there are non-woven ones. To be honest, I don’t see much of a difference. But we are neat people, we don’t grab walls with greasy hands. And my son is 15, he knows what he’s doing.”

Marina:

“We put foam vinyl everywhere. A week later I come back from work, and the wallpaper is all on the floor. I have no idea what happened: either the glue was defective, or the craftsmen failed. But it was terribly offensive: they spent so much money in vain. And time! I spent several days shopping around, comparing prices and colors.

I gave up on fashion and stuck ordinary paper wallpaper everywhere. They’ve been hanging for 6 years now – and everything is fine.”

So what to choose, vinyl or non-woven wallpaper? According to the table, the most practical option is foamed vinyl. But it's up to you! Make a list of requirements and think: what criteria are really important to you? Focus on these characteristics and you will find the “wallpaper of your dreams.”