Wallpaper - a traditional finishing material, which is stably in high demand among domestic consumers. This method of decorating the premises has many weaknesses, but it also has well-founded historically proven advantages. In addition, in recent years, more and more technological varieties of this coating have been actively appearing, which include liquid wallpaper. How to use such exotic material? The technology of laying and care is fundamentally different from the classical approaches, which is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the canvas. Therefore, to begin with, it is worthwhile to understand the design of liquid coatings for walls.
Material Overview
Due to its structure and installation technique, this type of wallpaper is called decorative plaster. The liquid composition is also applied on the surface indoors, both residential and workers. The structural differences of typical liquid wallpapers, the photos of which are presented above, include a high degree of elasticity and wide possibilities for modeling coatings in complex areas. If traditional paper wallpapers can only be glued on flat surfaces, then the liquid consistency allows styling on complex, non-linear areas.
But there are similarities with paper canvases. For example, this applies to properties such as sound insulation, environmental friendliness, insulation and frost resistance. As for the material of the target surface for application, it is best to use liquid wallpaper on a stable basis in the form of cement or brickwork. Features of the preparation of the rough surface for this type of wallpaper will be considered separately.
Coating composition
As a rule, manufacturers produce decorative plaster in the form of a dry mixture, which includes ingredients with different functions. Three main groups of components can be distinguished:
- A natural base, the properties of which have identified the material as environmentally friendly, although there are also modifications with synthetic base fillers.
- Dye. Usually based on acrylic in the aquatic environment.
- The connecting element.
Also, in the basic set with packages, manufacturers supply decorative elements for decorating. They may include various jewelry, mother of pearl, stone chips, crushed mica and other components that perform an aesthetic function.
When choosing by composition, it will also be worthwhile to pay attention to the presence of modifiers that improve the basic properties of the solution. For example, how to use liquid wallpaper on a wall with a problematic rough surface? In this case, an additive that improves adhesion will help. In particular, polyester and epoxy resins are suitable. Base kits also often include various plasticizers, modifiers and solvents. The antistatic properties and moisture resistance are increased precisely and separately. The fire resistance of this material is included in the basic set of operational qualities, which distinguishes it from ordinary and vinyl wallpapers.
Varieties of material by type of base
At the base, as already noted, different materials can be used - mainly natural ones. Among them are the following:
- Cotton. About 95% of such wallpaper consists of pure cotton, and the rest of the filling is made up of functional mixtures, dyes and decorative elements. This is the most effective coating in terms of insulating properties and heat-saving function. Also, cotton is considered the most environmentally safe. But due to the soft structure, care problems may occur. How to use liquid wallpaper, so as not to harm their structure? The main rule is as little abrasive as possible. But it is best to initially add several sealing modifiers to the solution that increase the strength of the composition.
- Silk. It uses natural silk fibers that do not fade under sunlight and are characterized by mechanical wear resistance. Such a cover looks presentable in any interior, for which designers appreciate it. On the other hand, the most expensive liquid wallpaper is made from silk - in Leroy Marlene, the base coat costs 800 rubles, and if you take into account mineral additives, then a package of 1 kg will cost 1,500 rubles.
- Cellulose. The most affordable option, because the basis uses waste wood-particle production. This is a good solution for surfaces with small defects, as the material fills the smallest roughnesses of the rough base due to the increased concealment.
- Cellulose-silk wallpaper. The best choice for rooms with high requirements for thermal insulation. The material combines the density of silk and the ability to accumulate thermal energy of wood waste. This gives a good warming effect, but it will be necessary to protect the coating from direct sunlight, since cellulose wallpapers tend to quickly fade under ultraviolet light.
Solution preparation
In advance, you should consider the technology of using wallpaper in terms of their preparation for application. As already mentioned, liquid wallpapers are mainly supplied ready-made - usually these are dry mixes in kilogram plastic bags. By the way, 1 kg is enough for an area of 4.5-5 m 2 . As for the preparation, in this case it will be enough to dilute the composition with water, getting a solution ready for laying. The dry mixture should be diluted in a plastic container with clean water at a temperature of 40-60 ° C. Moreover, an important nuance must be observed - first, about 10% of the volume of the same kilogram packet is diluted, and then, in parallel with the mixing process, the remaining mass is gradually poured. Ready for application, the solution should have a uniform consistency. Professional tilers also advise to withstand it for several hours before using the mixture, after which add another 1-1.5 liters of warm water.
The second delivery option is less common and is focused on use by specialists. This is an absolutely clean base for coating in the form of the same dry powder (usually white), from which the desired mix is made for specific tasks. How to use liquid wallpaper? At the very least, you need to add the necessary dye to it, otherwise the effect will not differ much from laying the putty. You should also consider a set of operational qualities of the coating - the same adhesion, the need for moisture protection, an increase in hardness, etc. All necessary inclusions are added to the mass as it is diluted with water. The difference with the previous method of preparation is that the finished mixture already contains a basic set of technical and decorative elements.
Preparing Walls for Wallpapering
One of the important advantages of such wallpapers is the ability to level and lightly coat problem surfaces. However, you can rely on this quality only in situations of emergency. As the standard instructions for using liquid wallpaper note, they can only be applied to prepared surfaces - peeled and leveled. That is, it is desirable to eliminate at least large defects by performing a special primer or putty. The smallest traces of old coatings are necessarily eliminated. Even if there is no risk that part of the old paint will lag behind and fall off along with the wallpaper, it must be cleaned. Old coatings can be removed with abrasives like a sander with a felt or felt wheel. The second stage involves a chemical-biological surface treatment, which will consist of spraying antiseptic and antifungal agents, dust removal and drying.
Application technology
If several packages are required over a large area, it is advisable to mix the solutions prepared from them. Even if they have formally the same color, minor discrepancies in tones are possible, which will be noticeable after the coating dries. Dilution eliminates possible color differences.
Directly laying is most conveniently carried out with a plastic trowel. Even better, if it is transparent, this will allow you to see the distribution of material through the tool, making more accurate adjustments to liquid wallpaper. How to apply them to the wall in terms of physical technique? The grater in the process should be kept at an angle of 10-15 degrees. The hand smoothly leads the tool to the side or from bottom to top, distributing the composition in a small layer on the surface. It should be noted that the consumption of about 1 kg per 5 m 2 is relevant if the coating is applied with a thickness of 1.5-2 mm. This is enough to form a high-quality decorative base.
If the material is poorly applied, then a little more water will need to be added. In the course of work, it is recommended to take small portions, stretching the material on the surface with a minimum number of seams. How to use liquid wallpaper when laying so that they form a uniform coating over the entire area? To do this, use a wide trowel or rule. This tool allows you to distribute the composition immediately with a large surface coverage, eliminating the risks of the formation of obvious joints and seams.
At first, the material may look transparent and uninteresting in terms of decorative properties, but after drying, the texture will appear by itself. The polymerization of the coating occurs within two days - a specific drying period is determined by the thickness of the deposited layer and the moisture coefficient. In any case, it is advisable to ventilate the room for two days after finishing measures.
General recommendations on the progress of work
If laying is carried out in a room with a high level of humidity (in the bathroom or in the kitchen), then after drying it is advisable to process the coating with acrylic varnish. After such refinement, the surface can be washed without the risk of damage to its structure. Although experts still do not recommend using this type of finish in places where a high level of moisture prevails.
The features of decorative plaster include the possibility of their reuse. Liquid wallpaper can really be removed after improper installation and glued to another place. Careful dismantling with the use of a new adhesive additive makes it possible to reuse even several times. The binder component will be of key importance. The usual wallpaper glue diluted with a primer is best suited for such tasks.
If the laying surface is tolerant to contact with moisture, then it will not be superfluous to pre-moisten it before laying the material. This applies not only to the reuse of wallpaper, but also to the principle of applying decorative plaster.
How to use liquid wallpaper after application?
During operation of this coating, two problems may arise: contamination and mechanical damage. In both cases, a special approach will be required, different from situations with paper wallpaper and ordinary plaster. So, if the surface of the coating was dirty, then you can try to remove the non-ingrained dirt with an eraser or a napkin. But the stubborn marks and stains in this way cannot be eliminated. This problem can be dealt with either by applying bleach, or by using soft abrasives by physically cleaning the place of contamination.
Although decorative plaster is considered to be a mechanically resistant coating, accidental exposure to a sharp object may well break off a small fragment. How to use liquid wallpaper on the wall during the repair process? Even at the stage of laying the coating, you should not try to completely spend the entire volume with residues, if this is not necessary. Also, do not throw away surplus. They are just what will be needed to repair the damaged area.
First, the spoiled place is abundantly wetted with water, and after it is softened, after 30-40 minutes, you can perform the termination with a new portion of wallpaper. Correction of the texture is performed by the same grater. It is important that the composition enters the cleavage cavity as densely as possible and fills the entire internal space. Outside, the surface is modeled in accordance with the intended texture.
Top material manufacturers
The material is quite unusual, but it is represented quite well on the Russian market - both by domestic and foreign manufacturers:
- French company Senideco. Under this brand, compositions with different textures are produced, which also differ in fiber density and a set of protective properties. It is recommended to contact the products of this company if you plan to lay cotton wallpaper.
- Cote company. Another French manufacturer, actively experimenting with paints, silk fibers and various decors like gold and silver threads - in fact, the original advantage of this product lies in the originality of textures.
- Dufa company. German manufacturer specializing in finished structural plaster. This is the same wallpaper in the form of a solution, but focused not so much on the decorative as on the technical-protective function. Dufa compounds are actively used in the design of office and public spaces. In addition, they are inexpensive - in Leroy Merlin, liquid wallpaper of this brand in the amount of 18 kg can be purchased for just 1,500 rubles.
- The company "Stenol". The Russian manufacturer, which may be of interest to those who are looking for budget-level solutions. In terms of decorative and some technical and structural properties, this product may be inferior to the proposals of the above competitors, but the basic level of quality is stably maintained and increased with the release of each new series of the composition.
Conclusion
This type of interior decoration offers unique possibilities for decorating a room based on a standard wall covering. Such a design is made original by drawings of liquid wallpaper, the textures and textures of which are completely determined by the author, using various means of decoration like stone chips, sand, mica, colored fibers and other elements. At the same time, one should remember the disadvantages of decorative plaster, since it is characterized by a sensitive structure. Experts warn users against using this type of wallpaper in places where there is a risk of direct water on the surface. Also, do not overestimate the durability of the coating with its strength properties. As with other types of plaster, the structure of this material has a wear resistance limit that is quite achievable under domestic conditions.