We present arguments for and against painting walls and wallpapering them, and also compare them in terms of installation complexity.
When starting a renovation, you want the updated interior to be beautiful and remain unchanged for as long as possible. Therefore, it is important to choose a practical, durable design, among the most popular finishing options: wallpaper or painting the walls, which is better – we’ll figure it out today. We’ll also tell you which rooms the decor is suitable for and where it’s best not to use it.
Wallpaper: pros and cons
Gone are the days when only paper strips were glued to walls. The material could be more or less dense, but in any case, it was just paper, which quickly became unusable. Modern coatings are made differently. In most cases, these are two- sometimes three-layer canvases, where decorative and protective layers are applied to the base. The properties of the decor depend on the materials used in its manufacture.
Paper
Dense, breathable, environmentally friendly. Able to mask small defects in the base. They deteriorate when exposed to moisture, and are fragile and short-lived. Cannot be used in wet areas.
Non-woven
Eco-friendly, plastic, easy to stick on and remove. Masks have minor surface imperfections. Can be painted several times, and they dampen sound well. They do not like moisture and cannot be washed. The material is transparent, and stains on the base will be visible.
Vinyl
Very durable, hides any unevenness, waterproof, UV resistant. Durable and available in a variety of designs. They cannot be considered completely safe. When heated and burned, they release toxic substances.
Fiberglass
Durable, moisture resistant, non-toxic. Can be washed with a stiff brush. Therefore, they are stuck in the kitchen, in bathrooms, behind radiators, etc. They serve up to 30 years. They are used only for painting and are difficult to remove from the base.
Wallpaper panels vary greatly. This must be taken into account when choosing which is better: wallpaper or walls to be painted. Embossed vinyl will not lose its properties and attractive appearance for more than a decade. Whereas plain paper, even thick paper with water-repellent protection, will not last long. Much depends on the correct choice of material.
So, in a bathroom where there is always high humidity, you cannot glue paper or non-woven fabric. They will spoil very quickly. Fiberglass, on the contrary, will last a long time. It is possible to use hot-stamped vinyl, but it is still advisable to trim the “wet” areas with tiles or something similar. Despite the variety of wallpapers, they have common advantages.
Benefits of wallpaper
- Possibility of self-gluing. It is especially easy to work with non-woven fabric, which does not need to be lubricated with glue.
- Large selection of different textures and colors.
- The ability to hide small, and in the case of vinyl, significant defects in the base.
- Pleasant to the touch textured or smooth surface.
Flaws
Among the general shortcomings, we note the difficulty in dismantling the panels. Some types of decor are difficult to remove. Most wallpaper is sensitive to mechanical damage and moisture. Only fiberglass can be thoroughly washed. It is quite difficult to repair a damaged surface. The area where the damaged fragment had to be removed and then a new one pasted on is almost impossible to make invisible.
Paint: pros and cons
Painted walls have long ceased to be associated with government agencies, hospitals, and other unpleasant places. This design technique is used in many spectacular interior solutions. A variety of coloring compositions allows you to obtain decor with the desired properties. Several types are used for interior decoration.
Water-based preparations
Easy to apply and dry quickly. With a wide range of colors, there are textured products that partially cover defects in the base. Under the influence of moisture or direct contact with liquid, the coating quickly becomes unusable.
Water-dispersed
They form moisture-resistant, vapor-permeable coatings that are resistant to mechanical damage. Can be applied in rooms with high humidity. Only white and black mixtures are available. The desired shade is obtained by tinting. At low temperatures, the paint deteriorates.
Acrylic
Manufactured based on acrylic resins. The film formed as a result of dyeing is elastic and durable. It is water-repellent, unaffected by UV radiation, and protects the metal from corrosion. A significant disadvantage is the high price.
Latex
Latex has been added to the composition. After drying, a practical water-repellent coating is formed, partially masking surface imperfections. It is easy to apply, dries quickly, and can be used on smooth and textured substrates.
Silicone
They have the best hiding power of all, covering quite significant defects. They form a dense elastic film that repels liquid. Washable and universal in use.
This is only part of the interior painting. Their choice is even wider. Let us list the advantages common to all.
Benefits of paints
- Easy to apply, repair work can be performed by every novice craftsman.
- Maintainability. The damaged fragment can be easily repainted.
- Most of the compositions are moisture-resistant and resistant to mechanical damage.
- Wide selection of decorative materials.
Flaws
You can only paint a carefully leveled base. This is the main drawback of the technique. Surfaces with defects will have to be leveled before painting; this is labor-intensive and costly.
Comparing the complexity of installation
One of the significant selection criteria is the simplicity and ease of application of the design. Let’s figure out what’s easier to paint or glue.
Surface Preparation
Wallpaper and paint require an even base. Cracks, dents, and bulges will not be completely covered by the finish. The only exception is foamed vinyl. The soft textured fabric hides imperfections. In other cases, preparatory work will be required. In the “full cycle” they are carried out in several stages.
- Dismantling old finishing. The expired design is deleted. Not a single fragment should remain. Everything is carefully removed and cleaned.
- Leveling the base. It is necessary to determine the degree of curvature of the planes. Depending on the result, a decision is made on the degree of complexity of the upcoming work. For minor distortions, the base is only puttied. “Lapped” walls need to be leveled. If the plane extends more than 50 mm, drywall is used. In other cases, they are leveled with plaster.
- Applying the finishing layer of putty. It will cover the remaining small irregularities. After drying, the material is sanded. The result is a white, absolutely flat surface.
- Priming. A primer is necessary to improve the adhesion of the base and design, and to solve some special problems. For example, a solution with an antiseptic or fungicide will prevent the development of fungus and mold in damp areas.
Main works
A well-prepared base is the key to the quality of the new finish. Gluing the canvases is quite simple. The material is cut into strips of the required size. If adjustment of the pattern is required, this is taken into account when cutting. You must select glue and glue the panels exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Every decor requires the right approach. For example, non-woven fabric is laid on a base coated with glue. Thick vinyl is slightly soaked with the adhesive mixture, only then applied to the wall that has been treated with it.
Painting compounds are applied to the surface with a roller or brush. This depends on the consistency of the liquid mixture. To get a good result, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. He explains how the product can be diluted, how thick it should be, etc. If you plan to apply several layers, be sure to allow the previous one to dry completely.
After all this work has been carried out, the walls are ready for further finishing. It doesn’t matter whether the wallpaper is supposed to be painted or glued, this is the only way to get a prepared base. If it was initially relatively flat, some operations are skipped. But puttying and priming are required in any case.
Which is cheaper: painting the walls or hanging wallpaper?
It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. The cost consists of the price of the material, the cost of preparatory work, painting, or gluing. The preparation in both cases is approximately the same, therefore, its price is also similar. The cost of the main work is also comparable. A significant difference can be in the price of decor.
Much depends on its quality. You can only buy paper sheets and water-based emulsion cheaply. They won’t last long. Expensive design is more durable. On average, the costs for materials of the same price category are approximately the same in both cases. This is provided that the canvases do not require adjustment. If it is necessary, then expenses increase. It is safe to say that the final price of both types of decor is approximately the same.
Conclusions
Let’s summarize and find out which finish is better:
- Their performance characteristics are approximately the same. Among the types of decor there are moisture-resistant, durable, environmentally friendly, etc.
- The installation complexity is also similar. Preparation of the base for both finishes is similar. The sticker process is perhaps a little more complicated than painting. Work skills are desirable in both cases.
- The cost varies significantly, depending on the chosen decor. If you compare the prices for the services of masters, then painting on average will be slightly cheaper.
Choosing wallpaper or wall painting is not that difficult. Both options are good and quite affordable. In any case, there are many design options, among them you can easily find the one you like the most.
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