Today, there are many types of finishing available on the building materials market. They differ in texture, color, cost and other characteristics. Relatively new materials deserve special attention. They differ in a lot of positive qualities compared to conventional finishes.
One option that is gaining popularity today is glass wallpaper. Reviews about the presented material, as well as their features, should be considered in detail before purchasing. How to choose the right glass wallpaper will be discussed in detail below.
general characteristics
One of the finishing materials that is gaining popularity is glass wallpaper. Reviews of this product should be considered before purchasing. This is a unique type of finish. It has a fairly high cost, since the production technology is complex.
To make this type of wallpaper, fiberglass is heated to a very high temperature. After this, a thin and long thread is pulled out. It forms a kind of yarn. After this, the threads are almost immediately braided in a special way. This is how fibers are formed. From them the fabric is created.
Fiberglass is applied to the base. In this way it is possible to create modern varieties of wallpaper. The description of the production process was presented very briefly. In fact, many operations are required before the finished wallpaper appears. This is what allows the finished material to be endowed with unique characteristics.
According to reviews, glass wallpaper in the bathroom, nursery, bedroom, living room, and other rooms can be used without restrictions. All components from which they are produced are natural. They do not emit toxic substances. Therefore, the presented type of finishing can be used in almost any room.
Properties of fiberglass
Glass wallpaper is produced under high temperatures: up to +1200 °C.
Under their influence, glass briquettes melt and are drawn into yarn, connecting with its threads.
The fabric created using this technology has the following properties:
- high density, tensile and bending strength;
- stable rigidity;
- ability to repel moisture;
- resistance to temperatures and open fire;
- complexity of deformation;
- breathability achieved due to the mesh structure of the fiber.
Fiberglass wallpaper has a high density and the ability to repel moisture.
The listed properties make glass wallpaper a good option for rooms where it is important to maintain sterile cleanliness and safety.
Thanks to them, the canvas is used not only in the design of residential premises, but also in the construction of ships and aircraft.
Advantages
Fiberglass wallpaper has both positive and negative qualities. To decide on the advisability of choosing such a finish, you need to consider these characteristics in detail. According to reviews, glass wallpaper can be glued to the ceiling or walls in both office and residential premises.
This is one of the most durable types of finishes. He is not afraid of mechanical influences. They are almost impossible to tear or scratch. This makes the material durable. The structure of such wallpaper is very similar to fabric or knitting. It consists of loops. Thanks to this, the material does not interfere with the movement of steam. This allows you to maintain a favorable indoor microclimate.
Wallpapers are made from environmentally friendly components. This is glass. Therefore, fungus or mold does not form on it. The walls will not collapse under the wallpaper.
It is also worth noting that the presented type of finish is not destroyed by mechanical stress. If over time you only need to update a small piece of wallpaper, you can remove the old material and install new trim in its place. The joints of this wallpaper are practically invisible.
Fiberglass wallpaper is not subject to combustion. They are not afraid of water and retain their original appearance even after the room is flooded by neighbors above. In this case, the service life is 30 years or more. Many options for shades and textures allow you to choose the material in accordance with the existing interior.
Glass wallpaper gluing technology
Gluing glass wallpaper is allowed only in a clean, well-ventilated room with a humidity of no more than 70% and a thermometer reading of +10...+23 °C. During gluing, drafts and sudden temperature changes are unacceptable. Optimal working conditions depend on the adhesive composition.
Installation of glass fiber occurs in the following stages:
The room is then left to dry until the glue hardens. At this time, it must be protected from drafts and direct sunlight. The process lasts about a day. Before painting the walls, you need to wait about 3 days for the composition to dry completely.
Flaws
According to reviews, glass wallpaper for the bathroom, kitchen, and office space have a number of disadvantages. This must be taken into account before starting work. The presented type of finish, unlike other types of wallpaper, is absolutely non-plastic. It must be mounted on a perfectly flat surface.
It is worth considering that the cost of such material is quite high. Therefore, not every buyer can afford glass wallpaper. This type of material is also very difficult to dismantle. They are difficult to remove from the surface. This is a very labor-intensive process.
It is also worth noting that glass wallpaper is used exclusively for painting. In this case, a lot of material is used for finishing. Porous surfaces require a lot of paint. They absorb it quickly. You also need to adhere to the established standards for glue and paint consumption. If their layers are thick, the wallpaper may fall off under its own weight.
Paint for glass wallpaper, reviews of which are provided by experts, must meet the requirements of the finishing manufacturer. Otherwise, stains and smudges appear on the surface, which will be quite difficult to remove later. When applying several layers of a helmet, the texture becomes almost invisible.
Knowing the specifics of using glass wallpaper, you can eliminate all the negative aspects of this material. The advantages that glass wallpaper has make this material popular.
Prices for fiberglass wallpaper
When planning a bathroom renovation, a financial question always arises. From somewhere came the idea that decorating this room would cost a large sum.
This is due to the fact that previously only tiles were used for cladding, the price category of which was familiar to almost everyone. The emergence of new materials gives consumers more options to transform their bathrooms, pushing the boundaries.
Related article: Is it necessary to prime the walls before wallpapering?
These include fiberglass wallpaper, the cost of which is almost equal to the cost of conventional paper-based wallpaper.
Rolls with a width of 50 and 100 cm (rarely 200 cm) are up to 25 m long, and the price for them varies from 1,500 rubles to larger amounts for designer and fashionable options, including those with a pattern in the form of small mosaics .
In any case, such models will not put a strain on the family budget and will be an excellent alternative to tiles, having different textures and shades.
Any bathroom will be transformed with the use of high-strength fiberglass.
A combined design or just a bathroom will also become much more beautiful from the use of this material, which has recently become increasingly popular.
Application area
Looking at reviews of glass wallpaper for painting, one can note many positive statements from both specialists and ordinary customers. This type of finishing can be used in almost any room. Such wallpaper is used to create the interior of apartments, private houses, as well as in office premises, restaurants and shopping centers.
Due to its high environmental performance, unpretentiousness and resistance to various adverse influences, the presented decor can be chosen for interior decoration of hospitals, kindergartens, and schools. The composition of such wallpaper includes clay, limestone, sand and some other natural materials.
A special requirement when using this type of finishing is proper preparation of the base. If there are significant differences in height, unevenness or defects on the wall or ceiling, it is impossible to glue glass wallpaper without prior preparation.
It is also worth saying that the presented wallpapers are not afraid of high humidity and high temperatures. They are easy to clean and can be cleaned with a brush and chemical detergents. Therefore, this type of wallpaper is a good option for decorating a kitchen, bathroom, or relaxation room in a bathhouse.
How to paste or paint wallpaper
Glass wallpaper for painting differs from ordinary canvases in that they have increased thickness and width. But the gluing procedure will be approximately the same, and there is no technological difference when compared with standard materials. If you are going to paint, then you need to do it in at least two layers.
When choosing more embossed designs, apply at least 2 coats of paint, and in some cases you can use 3 or more, so that no unpainted marks are left. In rooms with high humidity it is better to use moisture-resistant solutions.
If you are thinking about this, be sure to protect your body from glass microparticles before work. They may cause irritation. This is a standard safety precaution that I advise you to adhere to while working.
Step-by-step instructions for pasting
There are step-by-step gluing instructions that you can follow:
Preparing the walls. Before you begin, be sure to remove all old coatings and apply primer or putty to the wall. This is necessary so that there are no irregularities left on the surface. Glue preparation
It is important to choose products that will be suitable for this type of painting. Under no circumstances should you use glue for paper wallpaper, as it will not be able to withstand the load. Most often used, which has proven itself in this area
To create a solution, it is mixed with water. Pasting begins from the corner of the room. It is important to avoid drafts that may interfere with the application of the material to the wall. The drawing must be exactly aligned with each other. This should be taken into account when cutting fabrics. After all the canvases have been glued and dried, they can be painted. Before applying the finishing coat, you can pre-treat the materials with a primer.
Most often used, which has proven itself in this area. To create a solution, it is mixed with water. Pasting starts from the corner of the room
It is important to avoid drafts that may interfere with the application of the material to the wall. The pattern must be exactly aligned with each other
This should be taken into account when cutting fabrics. After all the canvases have been glued and dried, they can be painted. Before applying the finishing coat, you can pre-treat the materials with a primer.
Reviews from experts
Considering reviews of glass wallpaper in the bathroom, kitchen, residential and public spaces, it should be noted that there are many positive statements from experts about this type of finishing. This is a universal material that can be glued to different types of substrates. Fiberglass wallpaper can be used for walls and ceilings made of wood, brick, metal, concrete and other types of materials.
Experts also note that this type of wallpaper has a high density. This is the most reliable and durable material that exists on the market today. Fiberglass wallpaper has good reinforcing qualities. They do not allow cracks to form on the walls and prevent the appearance of various defects on the basis. This significantly extends the life of the building itself.
This material does not accumulate static electricity. Thanks to this property, dust does not settle on the wallpaper. The finish does not lose its attractive appearance much longer than other types of similar materials.
Such wallpaper can be painted up to 20 times. At the same time, they do not lose their attractive appearance and do not become deformed. However, it is worth considering that when purchasing low-quality wallpaper (from unverified sellers and manufacturers), such materials may be fragile. The material may break or crumble. High quality fiberglass does not have such properties.
Decorating a bathroom with glass wallpaper
Finishing in the form of glass wallpaper in the bathroom is gaining popularity due to its long service life and unusual appearance. The coating is resistant to heat and moisture, does not deform even with prolonged exposure to direct water flow, and has anti-vandal properties. The variety of relief textures and the ability to repeatedly repaint the finish in any color without losing quality allow it to be used in a bathroom with any design and stylistic solutions.
Fiberglass wallpaper is a finishing material for walls consisting of impregnated fiberglass.
Varieties
There are different types of glass panels. They can be embossed or smooth. The second type of materials is also called “cobweb”. They are used to strengthen the base and to create a decorative finish. According to reviews, glass wallpaper “gossamer” corresponds to its name in appearance. Their surface does not have a pronounced relief. It looks like a spider's web. This group of fiberglass wallpaper is also called fiberglass.
Smooth varieties of this type of finish are less dense. Their surface is smooth. This type of finishing is often used in new buildings. They prevent the occurrence or growth of microcracks that may appear during shrinkage of the building.
Relief varieties are very popular. They are more dense than smooth glass wallpaper. Their reinforcing qualities will be higher. This type of material is also used as a finishing material. It is more resistant to mechanical stress.
Textured glass wallpaper is produced in different ways. If fiberglass fabric is produced on a regular machine, they will have simple geometric shapes on the surface. These can be diamonds, squares, herringbone, etc. Jacquard machines produce wallpaper with a more complex and interesting pattern. The cost of this type of material is higher than that of other varieties.
Adhesive base - which one to take?
Standard glue is not suitable for fiberglass sheeting. Therefore, you will need to purchase a special composition for this type of wallpaper, for example “Oscar” or “Quelyd”. Types of glue:
- Dry. It must be diluted manually to prepare the adhesive mixture. The advantages of dry formulations are long shelf life and low weight. Disadvantages include difficulty in use due to the need to manually dissolve the mixture.
- Ready. It is a ready-made adhesive mass dissolved with water and diluted with additional additives, such as antiseptics, enhancers and additives. The strengths of the finished glue are ease of use, long-term storage, the ability to withstand repeated cycles of freezing and defrosting, and lower consumption due to the absence of excess. Disadvantages include heavy weight and high price.
- Based on PVA. This type of glue is characterized by additional tenacity and reliability. The compositions are quite moisture resistant, so they are often used in bathrooms or kitchens. Their disadvantages include uneven drying and difficulty in the gluing process.
- Dispersive. The strongest and most durable type of glue. Used when gluing heavy wallpaper, especially on the ceiling. For lightweight fabric, it is used diluted to reduce consumption. It is more expensive than standard formulations. It's hard to remove.
This is interesting: How can you replace tiles in the bathroom - an alternative to tiles
Fiberglass sheeting requires a special adhesive.
If possible, you should choose an adhesive composition from the same manufacturer that produces fiberglass itself.
Its characteristics are optimal for finishing, which will increase its service life and make the installation process easier.
Reviews about the Wellton brand
Today, glass wallpaper from different manufacturers is on sale. They differ in technical characteristics, cost and quality. Experts do not recommend purchasing products from little-known companies. Such products may be fragile and may not meet international standards.
One of the most famous and popular varieties of materials of this type is, according to reviews, Wellton glass wallpaper. It is one of the longest established and a leader in the industry. The manufacturer produces not only glass wallpaper, but also related products. These are, for example, special adhesives, primers, etc. The Wellton brand is distinguished by exemplary quality.
The company's main plant is located in Sweden. Many collections of glass wallpaper go on sale. They differ in design, cost and density. The most expensive is the “Classic” collection. It is manufactured at a factory in Sweden. Pattern and texture may vary. Depending on the type of design, the cost can range from 6 to 13 thousand rubles. per roll 50 m.
The Optima collection has an average price. It is produced in China. Such glass wallpaper is sold in rolls 25 m long. The cost is 2.5-3 thousand rubles. The Decor series wallpaper is also produced in China. Their length is 12.5 m. The cost ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 thousand rubles.
A subsidiary of the Swedish company is the Oscar brand. Its production facilities are also located in China. According to reviews, Oscar glass wallpaper has a simpler pattern. The cost ranges from 1 to 2 thousand rubles. per roll 25 m.
Recommendations for choosing canvases
Operating Parameters
The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing glass wallpaper is the purpose of the canvas. There are wallpapers on sale: for walls, ceilings and universal
This separation is due to the density and texture of the canvases.
To decorate ceilings, it is better to choose options such as “cobweb” or “herringbone”, and use “diamonds” with its large structure when decorating walls
Depending on the density of the material, glass wallpaper is:
- 1st grade - high quality. They are packaged in rolls and equipped with end caps.
- Grade 2 is the most common product group. They are inferior in density and quality to the first grade. Packed in regular polyethylene.
- Non-standard - have a visually noticeable defect, for example, a broken pattern or protruding threads.
Cloths of grades 1 and 2 have high and medium density.
If you can choose medium-density wallpaper for decorating ceilings, then for decorating walls you should use canvases with a density of at least 100 g/sq.m.
Among the leading manufacturers supplying a truly high-quality product of this type, it is worth highlighting:
- Johns Manville and its Vitrulan and Tassoglas products. In the assortment you can find not only standard options, but also a line of designer wallpapers.
- Czech brand Vertex. Manufacturer of inexpensive and high-quality wallpaper, the range of which includes the main types of weaving.
- Chinese brand Nortex. It produces high-quality products of different densities and textures (matting, parquet, modern, rain, diagonal).
Some manufacturers offer glass wallpaper with a fluffy texture. But you should be careful with this type of material. Externally they look great.
However, when gluing, if you walk over them with a spatula to smooth them over the surface, they lose their luster. To avoid disappointment when purchasing finishing materials, preference should be given to products from a trusted manufacturer.
To decorate bathrooms, choose the most moisture-resistant glass wallpaper
Please also pay attention to the vapor permeability of the material.
In a room where there is high humidity, the canvases glued to the wall will often come into contact with steam, and products of insufficient quality can quickly lose their presentable appearance
Decorative properties
One of the selection criteria is the type of thread weaving. “Matting”, “herringbone”, “diamond” - this is just the appearance of the weaving, which does not in any way affect the technical parameters of the material. The choice depends only on the preferences of the buyer.
When purchasing glass wallpaper, pay attention to the color of the canvas. It shouldn't be too gloomy or depressing.
Don't overdo it with bright colors, which can strain your eyesight over time, causing irritation.
The shades used to decorate the bathroom are designed to create a homely atmosphere, filling the atmosphere of the room with notes of harmony and beauty.
The choice of colors depends on how lit the room is. Do you want to add light and richness to your interior? Then choose yellow and peach, green and blue.
If you want to slightly ease the tension of abundant streams of light, use calm shades: blue, gray, purple.
Reviews of the brands “Vitrulan”, “Norton”
According to reviews, Vitrulan glass wallpaper is also of good quality. The company's production facilities are located in Germany. Glass was originally produced here. The company then became the world's first glass wool manufacturer. This manufacturer began working in the 19th century. Translated from Latin, the name of this company is translated as “glass fiber.”
Today Vitrulan produces a huge number of types of glass wallpaper. There are different collections. They differ in technical characteristics, cost and design. The cost varies from 2.5 to 7.5 thousand rubles. per roll 25 m. The company also produces related products that are used in wallpapering.
It also maintains a leading position in the market. Its main market is our country. The company's production facilities are located in China and the Czech Republic. Collections differ in texture, pattern, density and cost. The price can vary from 1.5 to 2.5 thousand rubles. per roll 25 m long.
also supplies the market with an economy class line. The cost of such glass wallpaper can range from 1 to 1.5 thousand rubles. per roll 20 m.
Other popular manufacturers
Glass wallpaper and other brands are in demand in our country. They are known for decent quality and are reasonably priced. According to reviews, X Glass wallpaper is in good demand. This is a Finnish company whose production facilities are located in Russia. Manufactures products of this brand. This allows us to supply high quality products to the market at an affordable cost.
Also, buyers in our country choose American glass wallpaper. Its product range is wide. The cost of these glass wallpapers is average. Also, according to reviews, glass wallpaper and “Mermet” are of decent quality. They are made in China. The cost of such glass wallpaper is reasonable.
The procedure for pasting walls
According to reviews, you can glue glass wallpaper in the kitchen, bathroom or living rooms yourself. To do this you will need to prepare the base. It is leveled if necessary. Minor defects can be left. Porous materials need to be primed. Glue is being prepared.
Next, the composition is used to treat the wall where the piece of wallpaper will be pasted. The material must be overlapped if the pattern is textured. For smooth glass wallpaper, you can make a joint into a joint. You need to walk over the surface of the canvas with a rubber roller. This will distribute the glue evenly and remove air bubbles from under the wallpaper.
The finish should dry within 24 hours. At this time, drafts are not allowed. The glue makes the material soft. It can be damaged. Therefore, care must be taken during the pasting process. Otherwise, the result of the work will be unsatisfactory. After pasting the wallpaper and drying it, you can apply a special paint to the surface in accordance with the chosen interior design.
Having considered what glass wallpaper is, reviews of this material from buyers and specialists, you can choose the right material for finishing any room.
Glass wallpaper and ceiling
When fiberglass wallpaper first appeared, it was used more often for ceiling decoration. The fine weave of the fabric is ideal for its design.
Before wallpapering, the ceiling is checked for defects. The canvas cannot hide large flaws, so you must first prime the surface. And then the fiberglass wallpaper is glued according to the general scheme as for the walls. We'll talk about this in more detail below.
Every year there are more and more textures of glass wallpaper; designs can also be produced to order. It is not necessary to limit yourself to a white canvas; you can safely decorate the ceiling to your taste.
Fiberglass wallpaper will not only give the ceiling a beautiful appearance, but will strengthen the base underneath and prevent new cracks from appearing.
