It would seem that today the market of finishing materials and wall coverings is so saturated that it is quite difficult for ordinary customers to choose the necessary material without consulting a specialist. Nevertheless, building supermarkets with enviable regularity receive original and interesting new products. We want to tell you about one of them.
Metallic wallpaper since its inception has interested not only buyers, but also professional finishers. One of the advantages of this coating is its versatility. Endowed with unique decorative and operational characteristics, the material can be used in any stylistic solution: classic and Empire style, modern or hi-tech.
Metallic wallpapers blend wonderfully with different types of finishes. And this, you see, opens up the widest scope for the imagination of designers. If you are planning to transform the apartment and create a spectacular extraordinary atmosphere, then you will not be able to find the best option.
Metallic wallpaper: what is it?
Initially, metallized canvases were used in industry to protect against negative electromagnetic radiation, which, incidentally, invisibly accompanies us in everyday life. Metallized wallpaper for walls is a two-layer material. Its front surface is made of the finest aluminum foil (0.0016 mm). The basis is paper, vinyl or non-woven. To reduce the electrical conductivity of the metal, as well as protection against corrosion, it is artificially oxidized or coated with translucent dyes.
Metallic wallpapers are famous for their textured coating, which is applied:
- patination;
- embossed;
- chemical etching;
- blackening;
- hand painted etc.
As you can see, the choice is wide.
Metallic wallpaper: the merits of the material
Such paintings are characterized by stylistic diversity, which allows you to satisfy the most sophisticated aesthetic preferences. However, when choosing a wallpaper, you should remember that this variety, like all finishing materials, is endowed with its own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages of this material include:
- immunity to ultraviolet rays;
- wear resistance;
- low thermal conductivity;
- moisture resistance;
- biological inertness;
- environmental safety.
disadvantages
These include:
- susceptibility to mechanical damage;
- vapor tightness;
- the need for perfect preparation of the surface to be glued.
Metallized wallpapers can be easily damaged, so it makes no sense to use them for decoration with aggressive factors (kitchen, hallway, children). And another significant drawback - this material virtually eliminates air exchange, so a room with this design should often be ventilated or use artificial ventilation.
Wallpaper selection
When choosing metallized wallpapers, photos of which you can see in our review, you should start from the general stylistic decision of your interior. This material looks the most advantageous in high-tech and classic Empire styles. It is recommended to use metallic wallpaper in the dining room, living room, office or lobby. In these rooms, especially often there is a lack of free space, which will help to expand the luster of the metal surface of the walls.
By the way, it is not necessary to cover the entire room with such canvases. The alternation of narrow and wide stripes, combinations of patterns and shades, framing of door and window openings, borders or niches will help to introduce solemnity and special charm into the interior.
Metallic wallpapers are the center of the interior composition, so the selection of their texture and color is very important. For example, the Empire style is characterized by antique moods, which are usually realized with the help of artificially aged interior items - various decorations, stucco moldings, figurines, etc. For such an environment, walls cast with bronze, silver or gold will become an ideal background.
No less impressive is the combination of a metallized canvas - plain, embossed - with high-tech furnishings. If you want to emphasize the overflow of metallized wallpaper in the interior, you can additionally use natural materials - cork, stone, bamboo decor or even the simplest brickwork.
Preparatory work
Metallic wallpapers, like ordinary canvases, are produced and sold in rolls. The material is very thin: its thickness in rare cases exceeds 1 mm, but in terms of weight it is practically not inferior to wallpaper “heavyweights” - vinyl sheets. This must be taken into account at the stage of preparation for finishing.
Since this wallpaper has a smooth, light-reflecting surface, special requirements are imposed on the preparation of the base for gluing. It should have good absorbent properties and be perfectly smooth. After gluing, the foil layer will prevent the evaporation of moisture, which is part of the adhesive. On the wall with defects, they immediately appear on the front side.
If you understand that it will not be possible to eliminate all the errors of the base, use drywall. Do not forget that the metal foil conducts electricity well, so it is necessary to exclude contact with the wiring.
Sticking Features
Before you begin, you need to prepare the necessary tools:
- docking roller;
- wallpaper spatula;
- a napkin and a sponge to remove glue;
- a ruler;
- scissors;
- level and plumb;
- construction pencil;
- roulette.
Pre-mark the main surface. This will reduce material consumption and prevent errors during the cutting of paintings.
Now you need to prepare the material. It is not stiff, so you need ordinary stationery scissors or a knife. It is necessary to monitor the coincidence of the pattern on adjacent canvases. On metallic paper-based wallpapers, glue is applied to the canvas, and if the base is non-woven, then only on the wall.
In the first case, the processed canvases are stacked on a previously prepared litter with the face down. Metallized wallpapers are glued from top to bottom, smoothing them gently to the edges from the center with the help of a wallpaper spatula wrapped in a dry cloth.
Then you need to remove excess glue from the front with a sponge and process the joints with a roller.
Care
The surface of metallized canvases is very resistant to UV rays. Their shine does not fade over time, but during operation it is necessary to periodically clean them with a soap solution and a sponge. The front side of the canvas, made of foil, is not afraid of any temperature changes or moisture.