Fiberglass wallpaper: types, advantages, application. Types, safety and environmental friendliness, gluing and painting of glass wallpaper Fiberglass wallpaper

IN modern world It has long become a tradition, when performing finishing work indoors, to use latest technologies. One of these innovations is fiberglass wallpaper. It is important to understand in detail what glass wallpaper is.

Glass wallpaper or fiberglass wallpaper– is it wall or ceiling decorative coating, reminiscent in structure of fiberglass fabric, a special type of rolled wall covering made by weaving.

Manufacturing process

Glass wallpaper - what is it? The basis of glass wallpaper is special glass, which is heated to 1200ºС. Fibers are drawn from this glass and then formed into yarn. various types and thickness. Just as a wool sweater is knitted, material for glass wallpaper is knitted in the same way from glass fibers of various densities and thicknesses. To give a stable shape, the canvas is impregnated with a special solution.

For these wallpapers, textured images are used with the application of decor in wicker and plain weaving.

The basis of special glass is quartz sand, limestone, soda, clay and dolomite. This composition is advantageous in that it is used natural materials, excluding harmful chemical elements and providing wear resistance.

Advantages

Fiberglass wallpaper has a number of advantages, including:

• environmental friendliness;
• hygiene;
• breathability;
• fire safety;
• possibility of repainting;
• durability;
• strength.

Wallpaper is absolutely fireproof, as it does not burn and does not support flames. Due to this, they are used both in residential premises and offices, and in specially designed premises for evacuating people in case of fire. In addition, during a fire, wallpaper does not emit harmful substances.

The glass wallpaper does not contain vinyl or other harmful substances.

At the end of weaving, the canvas is treated with a special impregnation made on the basis of a natural component - starch. This composition perfectly contributes to maintaining a natural microclimate in the room, which has a beneficial effect on the health and well-being of residents.

The natural materials contained in fiberglass contribute to high strength, so glass wallpaper does not scratch, tear, and is not afraid of chemical influences from concentrated detergents and disinfectants. They do not accumulate static electricity, and therefore do not attract dust, but they can be washed well with almost all existing cleaning products. One has only to take into account the properties of the paint with which the glass wallpaper is coated, since not every paint can withstand even water.

Why do you need glass painting canvas?

Glass painting canvas, called gossamer, is a coating for walls and ceilings that combines decorative and reinforcing properties. Due to heating and shrinkage of the walls, tiny cracks appear in the plaster, invisible on the dry surface of the walls. Thanks to the use of fiberglass, further appearance of network-like cracks is eliminated and a clean, flat surface is created. IN in this case the cobweb reinforces the surface.

The use of glass wallpaper and painting fiberglass can be observed almost everywhere where there is a need for beautiful durable surfaces that do not require complex care, and where you need to follow the rules fire safety. Such places can be houses and apartments, offices and restaurants, supermarkets and hospitals, hotels, banks and car dealerships.

These wallpapers, unlike ordinary ones, can last up to 30 years and can easily withstand repainting up to 20 times in any color, completely preserving the relief. When choosing glass wallpaper, you must take into account that the faint relief is lost after several paintings.

Fiberglass wallpapers have different patterns, but the most famous are “herringbone”, “diamond” and “matting”. It is also possible to purchase wallpaper with a unique designer image. Fiberglass wallpaper comes in rolls 1 meter wide and 50 meters long.

Wallpapering process

• Special glue should be applied to the wall, not to the wallpaper. Oscar glue is suitable for this purpose.
• Wallpaper must be glued end to end. To do this, when cutting, an allowance of 5 cm is made in advance to align the pattern, after which the excess must be cut off. For cobwebs or “matting” large allowances are not made.
• When using second-grade wallpaper, cuts from a previous roll, or incorrectly cut pieces, the joint can be made horizontal.

Wallpaper is glued to surfaces made of wood, plastic, metal, concrete, brick. They can be used to cover plasterboard and chipboard. Surface preparation consists of mandatory puttying of large cracks and priming. weak solution adhesive for porous surfaces.

It is also important to consider how to use glass wallpaper for painting.

The paint should be selected taking into account the following nuances: what influences the surface may be exposed to, the intensity of contact with it, how often it needs to be washed. For these purposes, latex gloss and semi-gloss paints are best suited.

It is necessary to apply the paint twice with an interval of approximately 12 hours. At the same time, it is important not to allow excessive amounts of glue and paint, otherwise the glass wallpaper may separate from the surface under its own weight.

In high traffic areas it is better to use waterproof paint, abrasion resistant.

Room design

Now that we have basic information about this material, it is important to think about how to make glass wallpaper in the interior of the room look the best in the best possible way. With the help of glass wallpaper of different textures and different patterns, painted in the desired colors, you can realize your fantasies by dividing the room into zones using a combination different colors and shades.

Special stencils when decorating wallpaper will allow you to choose the frequency and number of patterns.

Enough good choice– decorating a hall or other rooms with glass wallpaper, since in this case there is no need to specially select wallpaper for furniture. Just choose desired color wallpaper and draw on it yourself. Green, yellow, pink and other “live” shades are considered the most spectacular for residential premises. To give the room elegant looking You can decorate the walls in a floral design using special stencils with patterns or geometric combinations. More and more often today, glass wallpaper is used to decorate the bedroom. Thanks to its unique texture and delicate flowers This wallpaper will give the room for sleeping and relaxation an atmosphere of coziness, comfort, harmony and warmth. Why do you need to think through the design down to the smallest detail? To promote good mood and well-being. For the bedroom you can use gentle pastel shades– beige, light green, pink, blue.

It is not always possible to decorate the interior beautifully. suspended ceilings, therefore, in this case it is appropriate to cover the ceiling with glass wallpaper. It should be noted that the process of gluing glass wallpaper to the ceiling is practically no different from gluing with vinyl or paper analogues - the operating principle is the same.

Preparing and pasting the ceiling

• First of all, you need to prepare the ceiling for wallpapering. The surface must be smooth, cleaned of old, worn-out plaster; lime; fat
• Irregularities on the ceiling can be eliminated using starting putty and then drying. For a durable surface, it is best to completely putty the ceiling.
• Before starting puttying work, be sure to prime the ceiling or separate places. For this purpose you will need a wool roller.
• Immediately before gluing the wallpaper, the ceiling needs to be coated with a primer again to finishing works and let it dry well.
• Seams and screws on drywall or foam plastic also need to be puttied and the entire surface coated with a primer.

When gluing wallpaper, the temperature should be 18–25ºС, and relative humidity– about 70%. During and after work, the room must be protected from direct sunlight and drafts. Oscar glue is also suitable for the ceiling, both in liquid and dry form.

• Before starting work, you need to cut the wallpaper to the required length using a painting knife, ruler, rule or level. For the first sheet, draw an approximate line with a pencil.
• Then you need to dilute or pour the glue into a convenient container.
• With the help paint roller The glue is applied to the entire width of the wallpaper sheet with some margin.
• During this work, you cannot do without an assistant who will help you apply wallpaper sheet to the ceiling and smooth it using a plastic wallpaper spatula. For ease of gluing the next strip, the sheet does not need to be pressed down strongly.
• The next strip is glued joint to joint. It is important to monitor the weave of the fibers along the edge of the wallpaper sheet. To make the joint invisible, the weaves must match. If the wallpaper sheet does not lie correctly, you need to move it in the right direction with your palms pressed tightly.

When the glass wallpaper has dried well, you can apply paint using a wool roller.

Kitchen interior

Fiberglass wallpaper in the kitchen is a more acceptable option than tiles, as they have more benefits. It is important to think carefully about the design and color of the wallpaper so that it fits harmoniously into the interior of the kitchen.

When choosing wallpaper for the kitchen, it is important to consider that in this room they are most susceptible to contamination. And since this coating will need to be cleaned from grease and stains, it is better to use moisture-resistant glass wallpaper that is vapor-permeable. However, contact with steam may affect their appearance, so you should choose wallpaper of fairly high quality for the kitchen.

When purchasing glass wallpaper, you need to pay attention to the color - it should not be too bright or, conversely, gloomy. The color of the wallpaper depends on the lighting in the kitchen. For kitchens with excessive sunlight You can use cool shades such as green, blue or gray. If you need to give the interior more richness and light, then in this case they will be suitable warm shades: yellow, pink, orange.

Bathroom finishing

The traditional finishing material for bathroom walls is ceramic tiles. But due to their resistance to moisture and temperature changes, glass wallpaper will do an excellent job as a wall covering in the bathroom.

Another advantage of this wallpaper is its low cost compared to ceramic tiles, and in case of damage, the damaged area can always be quickly and easily replaced.

The use of glass wallpaper is practical, as it is environmentally friendly and safe, and more aesthetically pleasing than tiles. In addition, you can select various shades to give the bathroom the right type- from romantic soothing to invigorating.

So, by showing your imagination, using all your skills and abilities, using glass wallpaper you can create an original, most effective and unforgettable interior.

Video

Watch a video about fiberglass wallpaper:

After watching this video, you will learn how to glue glass wallpaper.

Market finishing materials does not stand still. It is constantly updated with new, modern materials. Wallpaper can be found everywhere. New varieties of them, for example, fiberglass, are increasingly finding their use during repairs. Before traditional types they have a number of advantages. Durable, wear-resistant, moisture-resistant and chemicals, durable material- that's what glass wallpaper is. Their use, with further painting, is a beautiful in appearance, a practical option for finishing both walls and ceilings.

Glass wallpaper: material characteristics

For newcomers to repair work The question often arises: fiberglass wallpaper - what is it? This concept means a material obtained from glass at a temperature of 1200 degrees. Threads of different thicknesses are pulled from it, which are then woven into fabric. It is then treated with glue made from starch (modified). This further increases strength and helps maintain the original shape.

The use of existing technologies makes it possible to obtain strong “webs” (in this case, light fibers are pressed on a wet paper based), canvases with texture. Conventional machines produce patterns that resemble geometric shapes(Christmas trees, diamonds and others), and jacquard ones are more complex, sophisticated compositions. The variety of textures of products used for gluing increases the decorative properties of fiberglass.

The composition of the glass melt used includes the following components:

• quartz sand;
• lime;
• dolomite;
• soda.

Fiberglass is sold in rolls. Most often products have white. When pasting is performed, the canvas becomes transparent.

• smooth (otherwise they are called fiberglass, or “cobweb”);
• embossed (a denser version).

Smooth glass wallpaper is used for:

• leveling the walls for their subsequent painting;
• reinforcing surfaces and hiding minor defects on them.

Using relief fabrics, the base is finished.

Using smooth and textured glass wallpaper, you can simultaneously reinforce the finishing layer (even a plastered surface), decorate walls and ceilings.

Advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass wallpaper

Pasting walls with glass wallpaper has its pros and cons. The first are summarized in the table below.

The disadvantages include the following factors:

• relatively high cost compared to other classic types of wallpaper, much smaller range;
• there is a possibility of difficulties arising when dismantling the created finishing coating;
• low quality products- fragile, can break right in your hands;
• it is necessary to prepare the surface of the base almost perfectly in order to glue the strips;
• When working with fiberglass, you must wear protective clothing because it is scratchy.

The distribution and scope of glass wallpaper is significantly influenced by its advantages and disadvantages. High price acts as a deterrent, but if you look into it in detail, many undeniable advantages lead to saving money.

Before gluing glass wallpaper for painting, you need to select it correctly. It is recommended to purchase quality products. The following simple manipulations will help you make your choice:

• take a piece of wallpaper;
• stick to the base;
• paint;
• then press it down with a spatula;
• if the piece is not deformed, then the quality of the product is suitable.

If it is not possible to acquire a piece of the selected wallpaper, then you should purchase the product from famous brands. Today these are, for example, the following world-class companies:

• Swedish “Johns Manville” with fiberglass wallpaper Wellton, Tassoglas, Oscar;
• concern from Germany “Vitrulan Textilglas GmbH”, producing “Vitrulan”.

There is a misconception among non-professionals that the denser and thicker the canvas, the higher quality and better it is. But in fact, this is not true, because quite often product manufacturers use a lot of impregnating composition during processing. In this case, the drawing loses its clarity, because impregnation does not provide texture.

It should also be taken into account that papered walls may not look the same as the material looks in a roll. This is explained by the use of fluffy (wider) threads in some models of fiberglass wallpaper, which, when pressed, shrink and become flatter. The product loses its original shape and volume.

• make markings on the base;
• cut the canvas into fragments of the required length, depending on the height of the ceilings in the room, with a margin of 5 cm to 10 cm;
• apply glue evenly to work surface using a roller, and hard to reach places use a brush;
• according to the mark, lean the first strip against the wall;
• smooth the fragment using a plastic spatula: all movements are carried out from the center line of the strip to its edges;
• cut off excess material from above and below with a knife;
• glue the next piece end-to-end;
• In this way they cover the entire room;
• Use a rag to remove any squeezed out excess glue.

Here's how to stick glass wallpaper in different ways in the corners:

• the first strip is fixed in the corner (creating an overlap of about 10 cm on the other wall), and the next piece is glued with a three-centimeter overlap onto it, further cutting off the excess level with a knife;
• glue the fragment (with a margin of up to 3 cm to the other plane) and cut off the excess along the corner line, and proceed in the same way with the strip of the other side.

When working in areas with switches and sockets, turn off the power supply to the apartment or the corresponding internal lines. Then proceed like this:

• dismantle covers of switches and sockets;
• wallpaper is pasted on top of them;
• holes of the required sizes are cut in the right places;
• put the covers back on.

After the glass wallpaper has dried, it can be painted. Water-dispersed and water-emulsion ones serve these purposes.

During subsequent finishing, the question may arise: is it possible to glue ordinary wallpaper onto glass wallpaper? The answer to this is yes, this is permissible, but only if there is no strong relief on their surface.

Fiberglass wallpaper For painting, glue only end-to-end. When gluing, there must be no drafts, and the temperature should be maintained in the range from +18 to +25 degrees. Required humidity level - no more than 70%

The quality of fixation and durability of the glued canvases are determined by which adhesive is chosen, because the composition must be purchased exactly suitable for fiberglass. In addition to knowledge of how to properly glue glass wallpaper, you also need to select suitable paint. Using appropriate dyes, you can at will Change the interior design of any room many times. Both gluing fiberglass wallpaper and painting it in the desired color is quite easy to do yourself. The help of a partner will not be superfluous and will significantly speed up the work.

The description, varieties and characteristics of glass wallpaper are given in the video below.

Practical recommendations for gluing fiberglass materials are given in the following video.

ABOUTgluing walls and ceilings with glass wallpaper for painting, taking into account compliance with the work technology, allowshow to decorate them and protect them from the effects of various destructive factors: high humidity, microorganisms, mechanical influences.

Glass wallpaper is high quality new material for wall decoration. They are made from special fiberglass fabric, popularly known as fiberglass. The glass material itself is made from the very ordinary glass, or, more precisely, from a combination of sand, clay, soda and limestone.

Starting a conversation about unusual material for wallpaper, my friends often ask - “ glass wallpaper, what is it?? So that you do not have such questions, I will tell you briefly about the technology for creating this type of wallpaper:

quartz sand, glass, soda and dolomite are straightened and then poured into glass fiber. After the glass fiber manufacturing process is completed, it is woven directly into fiberglass. And only after these production stages have been overcome, glass wallpaper with a colorful pattern is born. The shape and appearance of fiberglass is provided by special solution, with which it is thoroughly impregnated. The fiberglass wallpaper is ready for painting, this is what it looks like:

Glass wallpaper photos in the interior

Advantages of glass wallpaper

Fiberglass wallpaper is a unique type of wallpaper that can be painted. Their uniqueness lies in the following properties:

• Glass wallpaper does not allow air to pass through. Due to its airtightness, moisture does not accumulate under this finishing material, which eliminates dampness, mildew and mold in the rooms. This is very important for residents of the first floors (especially if we are talking about “Khrushchev” buildings). modern version wall coverings will be a real salvation.
• High fire protection characteristics. Special tests have shown that among all types of wall coverings, glass wallpaper is the most protected in this industry. They were awarded the most high degree non-flammability. And as a result, they are non-toxic because they do not emit harmful and toxic substances when burning.
• Natural material. The wallpaper consists of purified quartz sand, special protected glass, soda and dolomite. Thanks to this, an environmentally friendly environment is created in the room.
• High strength. These wallpapers have a number of high performance in the area of ​​reinforcement of the top finishing layer. Their base consists of fiberglass - this is one of the strongest materials. For example, if the wall decoration consists of ordinary wallpaper or decorative putty, then if cracks appear on the wall, there will be cracks in the finish. This is possible as a result of shrinkage of new buildings. In the case of glass wallpaper, there will be no cracks in the finish.

Fiberglass wallpaper is suitable for pet owners, as animals will not be able to chew, scratch or otherwise damage the surface. In addition, if someone gets them dirty, the wallpaper can be easily cleaned and washed with water.

IN lately wallpapers that do not require pre-primer. Moreover, many of them are soundproofed (find out what thermosound insulation is). All thanks to the rubber backing, which absorbs sound waves. And probably one of the latest achievements in this area is magnetic wallpaper. You can hang on them, for example, metal frames with pictures without any fastening.

Wallpaper classification

This product is available in different price categories. It all depends on the quality of the material and the following criteria:

The 1st grade of glass wallpaper (full-weight glass wallpaper) has a high density (over 100 g/sq.m.). Thanks to this density, this wallpaper is very durable. Also, some companies offer wallpaper with highest density(more than 200 gr./sq.m.). In this case, the durability of these wallpapers is more than 30 years. They can be repainted several times and still look like new.

Economy class - these glass wallpapers have a low density, below 100 g/sq.m. This is also the most common wallpaper on the finishing materials market. The low density of the material will not allow it to last long. In addition, if you need to repaint them, the texture of the wallpaper itself will be clogged with paint.

2nd grade (non-standard) - some builders claim that the 2nd grade differs from the 1st grade only in the defective packaging. But that's not true! The second grade is exclusively a defect. And therefore, all the results of defects may appear in the canvas (holes, knocked-down patterns, protruding threads).

Scope of application

Glass wallpaper is finishing coat. Subsequently, paint of any color is applied to the wallpaper. Their originality is manifested in the fact that after applying the paint, the pattern or texture of the glass wallpaper itself appears. They can be used anywhere, especially in places where the walls are subject to heavy loads (kitchen, hallway; also, when using special paint, they can be used in the bathroom). Widely used in public places, such as offices, schools, hotels, or other government institutions.

Gluing process

First you need to prepare the wall. It needs to be cleaned of dust and old wallpaper. If there are large defects on the wall, be it cracks or gouges, they need to be puttied and sanded. The wall needs to be primed, and diluted glue should be used as a primer.

After this, you need to liberally apply glue to the wall to glue 2-3 strips. Apply stripe by stripe and smooth with a rubber roller or wallpaper spatula. If necessary, adjust the stripes according to the drawing.

Fit the strips end to end. The first strip must be glued evenly, plumb or level. Cut off excess parts using a utility knife. After drying, it can be painted with two layers of paint.

Creation process

Stage 1 - quartz sand, glass, soda and dolomite are placed in a furnace and melted at a temperature of 1200 degrees. Next, fibers are pulled out of them.

Stage 2 – weaving looms. At this stage of production, machines are used to produce simple patterns And . More sophisticated equipment is used to make more complex patterns. On such machines, each thread of the fiber can be controlled, making it possible to create patterns of any complexity.

Stage 3 – impregnation of wallpaper. This stage is unique for each manufacturer. The composition of any company's impregnation is a secret.

Stage 4 – sorting and packaging. They are usually cut one meter wide and 25 or 50 meters long. Hermetically sealed and a tag is attached.

History of glass wallpaper

The first such wallpaper appeared in Europe back in the 1930s. More wide application they received already in the 1970s in France, Germany and Sweden. And in our countries, glass wallpaper appeared in the 1990s. And since then they have occupied a worthy place in the finishing materials market.

Video - all about fiberglass wallpaper (what is fiberglass wallpaper?)

Important: a niche for a TV made of plasterboard will look great together with glass wallpaper.

More and more new models are appearing on the building materials market, characterized by increased strength, lightness and wear resistance. Moreover, this concerns not only the materials used for exterior finishing premises. Over the course of several years, ordinary wallpapers have turned into high-tech models with amazing properties. It is glass wallpaper and their features that will be discussed in this article.

There are a lot of myths about new and unfamiliar material, but most of them are far from reality. Fiberglass wallpaper consists of many thin fibers that intertwine with each other. When magnified many times, the structure of this material resembles a knitted fabric. All thin but elastic fibers made from special glass. There is no point in drawing analogies with glass wool, since the “threads” in such a fabric are much thicker and stronger. Then the prepared “yarn” is processed on special machines, which is how the wallpaper itself is made.

Despite the fact that identical fibers are initially prepared, the result is completely different models wallpaper You can find glass wallpaper with a simple geometric pattern or an exquisite openwork relief.

There are two main types: smooth (“cobweb”) And with raised pattern. For finishing In rooms, only wallpaper with relief is used. The “web” is intended for leveling surfaces. This material has reinforcing properties and helps hide wall imperfections. Paint must be applied on top of it.

Fiberglass wallpaper with relief can also be painted, but this is only decorative solution. The density and wear resistance of this material are high, so it can be used as an independent finishing coating.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass wallpaper

An unfamiliar material often raises doubts, and the presence of glass in the composition increases anxiety. But the glass wallpaper is completely safe for human health. The thickness of the fiber and its elasticity do not allow the material to crumble and break. Glass microparticles do not fly in the air and, accordingly, do not fall into respiratory system. All components from which glass wallpaper is made are don't call allergic reactions . These wallpapers are manufactured in factories in Germany; all models undergo quality control and meet safety standards. Moreover, this material can be found in European hospitals and kindergartens, which emphasizes its reliability and compliance with the highest quality standards.

Another advantage of this material that sets it apart from its competitors is increased resistance to high temperatures. This means that glass wallpaper can be used even in the kitchen next to the stove. They are also completely safe during a fire, since they do not burn and do not turn into toxic, caustic smoke.

Behind the glass wallpaper easy to care for, if they become dirty, they must be washed with water or a cleaning agent. This coating is not afraid of moisture, does not swell or lose its shape. Increased wear resistance allows you to enjoy beautiful finish at least 20 years. And with proper care, glass wallpaper can last more than 30 years.

Embossed wallpaper can be painted with acrylic and latex paints to refresh the interior. The manufacturer guarantees up to 20 layers of paint without changing the texture. But for such experiments, we recommend that you purchase exclusively white material.

There are few “disadvantages” of glass wallpaper, but the main one is high cost. The new and high-quality material has not yet become popular, and its production is a labor-intensive and expensive process. Therefore, the price of glass wallpaper and special glue for them is quite high. Also, pasting walls can cause problems for non-professionals, since the technology is slightly different from the traditional one.

In order for glass wallpaper to look good on the walls, you need to glue it correctly. Even a non-professional can cope with this, but all instructions must be strictly followed.

1. The wall must be prepared in advance. Clean the surface of old wallpaper, paint and crumbling putty. After this, the walls need to be leveled (if necessary) and well primed.
2. You need to purchase suitable glue. Usually it is sold immediately with the material, but if it is not included in the kit, then select a high-quality analogue. Glue for paper or even non-woven wallpaper will not work. Do you need special composition for very heavy materials, otherwise the wallpaper simply will not stay on the wall or ceiling.
3. During installation, you will have to cut the sheets, which will lead to the appearance of small glass particles. Therefore, we advise you to choose clothes with long sleeves and wear a mask when working.
4. It is quite difficult to distinguish the front and back sides, so the manufacturer usually marks the “wrong side” with a gray stripe. Also, the roll is usually rolled with the front side inward.

Otherwise, glass wallpaper does not differ from the traditional one. The canvas is cut into separate parts, which are glued to the walls.

Attention! The glue is applied to the wall, not to the cut.

If you plan to paint the wallpaper, then you can start this stage only two days after finishing the finishing. During this time the glue will have time to dry completely.

How to properly glue glass wallpaper: video

Features of care

A huge advantage of such wallpaper is that removing stains and dirt from them takes just a few minutes. They are resistant even to strong detergents , but there should be no abrasive particles in the composition. Wipe glass wallpaper with a damp cloth soaked in a suitable solution to remove dirt.

Please note that painted wallpaper can be seriously damaged during maintenance. The wear resistance of paint is usually lower than that of wallpaper. Therefore, in this case, you should choose a cleaning agent based on the paint parameters.

Use of new and modern materials immediately gives the interior special atmosphere. Fiberglass wallpapers differ in their patterns from simple ones. geometric shapes to interesting openwork patterns, so they can suitable for decorating any room. They can be found both in the decoration of bedrooms and in bathrooms. The ability to repeatedly paint such wallpaper in any color also allows you to create interesting images and even change stylistic orientation premises.

The modern building materials market offers a wide variety of wall coverings, expanding the range from year to year and trying to satisfy consumers with any tastes and financial capabilities. These relatively new wall coverings include fiberglass wallpaper.

What kind of material is this?

This is decorative wall covering, its structure resembles fiberglass fabric. As source material a certain type of glass is used, from which high temperature pull fibers to form yarn different thicknesses and types. The material itself is then woven from this yarn: for painting fiberglass (or “gossamer”), a simple canvas is prepared, and for glass wallpaper, textured decorative weaving is made.

For the production of special glass for glass wallpaper, only natural materials, which guarantee the absence of harmful chemical additives and provide high wear resistance. Fiberglass contains quartz sand, lime, soda and dolomite. Glass wallpaper is produced mainly in Germany and Sweden - countries known for their highest quality standards.

"Cobweb" is painting fiberglass, so named because of its external resemblance to a spider’s web. It is both a decorative and reinforcing material used for finishing preparation surfaces. For example, when buildings shrink, tiny cracks appear in the plaster, and fiberglass creates flat surface, eliminating the appearance of cracks. The “web” also gives strength to the coating paint, does not burn and is easy to use.

“Gossamer” differs from glass wallpaper in its lower density; its purpose is to smooth the surface and achieve a “marble” effect. The “cobweb” is more reminiscent of a smooth canvas, while the weaving of the glass wallpaper is textured. “Cobweb” is best glued to the ceiling, and glass wallpaper is the material that is used for final finishing walls and other surfaces.

Fiberglass and painting fiberglass are used in the most different places: in offices, in hotels, in hospitals, in supermarkets, in restaurants, in banks, in car dealerships, and, of course, in houses and apartments. Service life is up to 30 years, depending on the paint, the quality of the glue and the frequency of washing. And the paint can be renewed up to 6 times.

Fiberglass wallpaper is produced in a wide variety of textures. The photo shows various patterns of glass wallpaper: herringbone, leaf, diamond, matting, zigzag, cat, vertical and even flowers.

You can paste over a wide variety of surfaces: wood, metal, plastic, concrete, plasterboard, chipboard and cleaned brickwork. Large cracks must be pre-sealed, and porous surfaces must be primed.

How to glue and paint them

• Glass wallpaper looks the same on both sides, but sometimes manufacturers put a special gray stripe on the reverse side.
• Special glue must be applied to the wall, and not to the wallpaper. The canvases are glued end to end. When gluing a “matting” or “cobweb” there is no need for large allowances; for other textures, an allowance of 5-10 cm is made to fit the pattern.
• Horizontal joints are possible if there is a cut left from the roll or the material was cut unsuccessfully.
• They are painted twice, with an interval of at least 12 hours. They are painted for the first time two days after gluing.
• When using wallpaper in a high-traffic area, choose waterproof, abrasion-resistant paint. Latex gloss or semi-gloss paints work very well.
• In order not to overspend the paint twice, before painting the glass wallpaper must be thoroughly primed with a diluted glue solution, otherwise it will absorb a lot of paint.
• As with regular wallpaper, glass wallpaper must be protected from drafts and sun rays until completely dry.

Advantages and disadvantages

Fiberglass wallpaper is a relatively new material for us, the pros and cons of which not everyone has yet understood. Some say that this is the best material available today, and all of Europe uses only this coating. Others argue that glass wallpaper is harmful. Let's try to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this wall covering.

Photos of interiors

Flaws

• The price varies greatly depending on the texture and pattern.
• For work, you must wear closed clothing with long sleeves and a medical mask, as some people may experience irritation from microparticles of wallpaper that get on the skin.
• It takes more paint on glass wallpaper than stated on the cans - they absorb it strongly.
• If there is an excess of glue and paint, glass wallpaper can separate from the wall under their weight.
• The weakly expressed texture is lost after several layers of paint.
• Stains from wallpaper can be difficult to remove if the paint is chosen incorrectly.
• They are very difficult to remove from the wall during the next renovation.

Despite the shortcomings, they have a number of undeniable advantages that make this material popular not only in European countries, but also here.