Metal wallpaper: how to choose and stick

Metal wallpaper relatively recently appeared on the market of building materials, but is already in well-deserved demand. They are incredibly beautiful, cast in silver, gold or bronze, can have absolutely any pattern or embossment. They bring extra light into the room, visually expand space, and differ in the mass of positive operational qualities. What are the advantages of metallic wallpaper, how to choose and stick them correctly?

Metallic wallpaper, or metallized, consist from two layers of material: the first is paper or non-woven, the second is aluminum foil. The foil can be either smooth or have some kind of pattern, embossing, a certain color, etc.

The advantages of metal wallpaper

Metal wallpapers have a huge number of advantages, thanks to which they become more and more popular and in demand:

1. unique appearance, which immediately distinguishes this finishing material from the mass of others. These wallpapers fit perfectly into the interior in any style: from high-tech to classic. Moreover, due to its reflective properties, such wallpapers are able to slightly increase the space, which is important for small rooms;
2. resistance to ultraviolet rays: under sunlight, metal wallpapers do not fade and do not lose their original appearance;
3. such a coating is enough easy to care: you can just wash it regularly so that it remains beautiful and shiny;
4. metal wallpaper - beautiful sound insulator, therefore, the apartment will become a little quieter;
5. this type of coating due to the presence of aluminum foil protects households from the negative influence of power lines;
6. in installation, this type of coating is also quite simple, and the principle of sticking does not differ from installation paper or non-woven wallpaper;
7. metal wallpaper completely not afraid of moisture, therefore, they can be washed with a damp sponge, and used in rooms with high humidity;
8. coating not afraid of mold, mildew, the influence of other pests, which means it will serve you for many years;
9. durability Such wallpaper is 10-15 years old.

The disadvantages of metal wallpaper

Like any other finishing material, metal wallpaper has some disadvantages:

1. high price - the main minus. Such a coating is more expensive than paper or vinyl wallpaper, but it also has a special appearance, and durability at an altitude, so the price is justified;
2. the need to carefully level the surface under the application of such wallpaper, since the coating itself is very thin, and each hole and crack on the wall will be clearly visible;
3. due to its structure metal wallpaper does not breathetherefore condensation may accumulate on the walls. To avoid this, it is necessary to ventilate the rooms more often or organize a powerful ventilation system;
4. thin layer of foil subject to mechanical damage, therefore, in apartments where small children and animals live, it is undesirable to use such coverage.

How to choose metal wallpaper?

As mentioned above, metal wallpaper is a two-layer material, which can be based on:

• paper;
• flesilin.

Naturally, non-woven wallpaper is more preferable, because it is easier to install and better to operate, they are more durable and have higher adhesion to the surface of the walls.

The outer metal layer may have a certain color, which is applied in one of the following ways:

• industrial dyeing, and in this case, you can get almost any desired shade;
• oxidation - Artificial oxidation of the surface of the foil due to the action of certain reagents. As a result, the coating receives additional protection against corrosion.

After the coloring process, the wallpaper may expose decorative processingduring which a pattern is applied to the surface, embossed, or some interesting elements are applied, such as imitations of forged products, etc. In addition, at this stage can also take place blackening or platingto get a wallpaper with a unique look. Everyone can choose the most suitable option from the many presented, so that the finish fits as much as possible into the interior and meets the design idea.

The peculiarity of metal wallpaper is that they successfully fit into almost any interior. So, for hi-tech, smoother wallpapers with a silver tint are suitable, and embossed wallpapers with a golden tint are classic.

When choosing, pay attention not only to the appearance of the product, but also to its packaging. It must be airtight and holistic, and the material itself should not be exposed to the effects of surrounding objects, since it is easily damaged. Metal wallpapers are sold in rolls, like all other wallpapers, but the thickness of the material is about 1 mm, so the finish requires the most careful handling.

Also pay attention to everything certificates of quality and safety, to be sure that the material will serve you for many years, and at the same time will not harm the health of any household.

Metallic wallpaper can be used. in almost any roombut are best suited for the living room, where they emphasize style and luxury. Designers still do not recommend pasting all the walls with such wallpaper: they can be mounted on one wall or used as part of the decoration on each wall. Combining metallic wallpaper with other types of finishes it is also advisable in order to create a favorable microclimate, because the metallized coating does not let air through. Such wallpapers are perfectly combined with other natural types of wall decoration: stone, cork, brickwork, etc.

Do not forget that it is important not only to choose the right metallic wallpaper, but also to choose the appropriate place for them. So, if the goal is to visually expand the space, then they can be glued to the wall opposite the light source (window or lamp).

Metal wallpaper is a rather expensive material, as their production is laborious. Do not buy too cheap coverage, as it is unlikely to be of high quality. Better pay attention to products such well-known manufacturers as Tekko and Arte.

How to stick metal wallpaper?

After selecting and purchasing the material, you must immediately proceed to surface preparation. Metal wallpaper is quite thin, so it is not able to mask even the most minor wall defects. That is why you have to carefully level the surface. It will be necessary to remove all the remnants of the old coating, carefully putty or plaster the wall. If the leveling process seems too laborious, then you can ease your task and use sheets of gypsum board or plywood for wall cladding. Non-woven wallpaper is even thinner than paper, and requires a more careful approach.

As for glue, then it is selected depending on what material was used in the base: paper or non-woven.Wallpaper on a paper basis is greased with glue, and then mounted on the walls. If a non-woven base is used, then the surface of the walls should be lubricated with glue. The sticking process in no way does not differ from the installation of paper or non-woven wallpaper.

Starting installation, do not forget disconnect the apartment, because metal wallpapers conduct electricity well. Turning on electrical appliances until the wallpaper dries is not recommended for safety reasons.

Wallpaper patterning carried out taking into account the measured height of the walls. In addition, you must not forget about the allowance, as well as the need to compare the picture, if any. You can make markings on the wall: the width of the first roll is laid off from the corner, a vertical line is drawn with a laser level. Then a piece of the same width is laid aside from it, a line is drawn again. In the future, they will help you to properly and evenly paste the wallpaper.

The first strip is glued very carefully, from top to bottom, smoothing with a roller. Second lane glued buttmatching pattern. Excess glue is gently wiped with a sponge.

Finally

Metal wallpaper is a unique type of decoration that can decorate any room. They add luxury, visually increase the space, have good performance and are easy to care for. It’s easy to choose them: there are wallpapers with a variety of patterns and colors for sale. In gluing, they are also simple, and the process is almost the same as installing paper or non-woven wallpaper, so almost everyone can cope with this task.