When purchasing wallpaper for residential premises, consumers first of all think about its environmental characteristics. Indeed, today there are a huge number of unscrupulous manufacturers who make wallpaper from insufficiently high-quality and reliable materials.
Moreover, if your family has Small child, the issue of safety is the most important when choosing wall covering options.
As vinyl wallpapers become increasingly popular, consumers are beginning to wonder whether Are they sufficiently environmentally friendly and harmless to human health?? Let's figure it out.
Hazardous properties
When we're talking about about the safety of vinyl wallpaper is usually implied two main aspects:
- how clean the materials used in their manufacture are;
- How safe are the vinyl wallpapers themselves during operation, depending on various external factors.
In order to find out the answer to the question whether vinyl wallpaper is harmful, you need to familiarize yourself with information about its composition. You've probably heard that vinyl wallpaper consists of two main layers: the inner layer is paper or, A external is vinyl or polyvinyl chloride, speaking in scientific language.
As a rule, it is this name that confuses consumers, because it is a complex chemical compound and, therefore, may be unsafe for human health.
In fact, this material does have several negative characteristics, however, they are not critical for our health. The peculiarity of polyvinyl chloride is that it quite durable material that does not allow moisture, steam and air to pass through.
Such properties provide ease of care for vinyl wallpaper(cleaning and getting rid of dust), but they interfere with air exchange in your room. Due to this, unwanted microorganisms and fungi can develop under the inner layer of wallpaper, which can lead to various diseases. This is where it manifests itself the main harm of vinyl wallpaper.
The dangerous components in their composition can not only worsen your well-being, but also lead to various diseases, including allergies to vinyl wallpaper.
Remember! The cheaper the vinyl wallpaper you purchase, the more likely it is that it has characteristics that can be harmful to human health.
If you are seriously thinking about whether vinyl wallpaper is harmful or not, then we advise you to pay attention to the features of their production and the labeling of the rolls when purchasing. Most safe vinyl wallpapers are brands from European manufacturers , because it is in these countries that there is increased control over compliance international standards quality.
Some manufacturers (Germany, France and others) include various antifungal components, which provides them with additional reliability and the possibility of use in rooms with high level humidity, for example in the bathroom.
A feature of inexpensive vinyl wallpaper is their lack of ability to circulate air, in other words, they don't allow your walls to "breathe", but today some manufacturers produce types of wallpaper that contain special material with micropores, due to which vinyl wallpaper can allow air to pass through.
In addition, the air circulation in the room directly depends on the type of material from which the walls are made: as a rule, in city apartments the walls are made of material that is initially incapable of allowing air to pass through (concrete, reinforcement), and, therefore, even when using breathable wallpaper you you will not be able to ensure full air circulation.
Another risk to human health and well-being is the content of vinyl wallpaper. formaldehyde, which is quite harmful when evaporated, and the weathering process itself is quite long and can last several years.
However, some experts studying this issue argue that the volumes of evaporated substance are insignificant in order to cause serious damage.
In order for vinyl wallpaper to be strong, durable, and also attractive to buyers, they are made using a large number of plasticizers, stabilizers, dyes and others chemical substances , which can also affect negative consumer assessments.
But, you must admit that these elements surround us on all sides and are found in almost any piece of furniture, however, this does not prevent us from continuing to use them.
How to minimize damage from use?
In order for the damage caused by vinyl wallpaper to be minimal, we recommend that you follow several procedures when purchasing and using them:
- When buying vinyl wallpaper, be sure to pay attention to its composition, manufacturer, and presence of environmental labeling. Do not buy wallpaper that has a minimum cost - the lower it is, the greater the risk that you will regret your choice;
- In order for vinyl wallpaper to serve you for a long time, but at the same time not cause harm to your health and the health of your child, periodically carry them out external cleaning using detergents;
- in order to solve the problem of periodic evaporation of harmful substances, we advise you to ventilate the room more often, and also, if possible, install special ventilation devices.
Read about soundproofing materials for ceilings - all the secrets and subtleties of soundproofing are described in detail.
At improper use vinyl wallpaper is harmful to health, so it's best to stick to these rules. If you do not have the opportunity to carry out these procedures, but you are concerned about the safety of vinyl wallpaper, we recommend that you do not glue them in residential areas or rooms where a large number of people are constantly present.
When choosing wallpaper, it is necessary to take into account a variety of factors, from its combination with the interior to its physical properties. Another point that is often taken into account is the environmental friendliness of wallpaper.
Famous German wallpaper collection with geometric patterns
This is especially important when they are chosen for a child’s room. Then I would definitely like them not to be dangerous to his health. For adults, however, this is also true, and if the wallpaper on paper based Usually there are no complaints in this regard; vinyl wallpaper, according to many, can cause quite serious harm. But is this true?
Origin of opinion
Why do people think that vinyl wallpaper is dangerous? The point is in their composition. They have two layers. The first is the bottom, there are wallpapers on a paper basis or, as an option, on a non-woven basis. There are usually no complaints about him.
But the top one, which is made from polyvinyl chloride, worries many, as it is of purely chemical origin. Are people right who believe that such wallpaper is dangerous? Partially. It's all about the properties of this layer. It is waterproof and also steamproof.
Typical use of two types of wallpaper: plain and patterned
On the one hand, this is an extremely positive quality, which allows the coating to be very easy to clean. It can be easily washed and can be cleaned without any particular difficulty. But this property also turns out to be a disadvantage. After all, if there is no air exchange, then condensation begins to accumulate under the wallpaper.
It is this that becomes the source for the development of quite dangerous pathogenic fungi. They usually cause the main harm and cause health hazards, which even doctors warn about. An allergy may occur to these fungi, then the health consequences may be different, but definitely only negative.
Poor quality material
Another reason why there may be a danger to human health is insufficiently high-quality wallpaper. Often these are just Chinese counterfeits of popular brands that are not used very well. good materials. Sometimes it's just wallpaper that was produced using outdated technologies. In this case, they may emit formaldehyde fumes, which are a source of toxic materials.
There is an opinion that if the wallpaper is silk-screened, then there is no need to be afraid that it will be harmful. But this is not so, because silk-screen printing is the same vinyl with the addition of silk threads, natural or artificial.
Silk-screen wallpaper is easy to recognize by its characteristic shine
There are generally a lot various types vinyl wallpaper, for example, chemical embossing, compact vinyl, heavy vinyl and much more. Sometimes you don’t even know that you are purchasing this material, so you should be interested in this in advance when choosing the most suitable wallpaper.
New wallpapers
It was previously mentioned that outdated types of wallpaper are harmful. But are the new generation vinyl wallpapers, which are made taking into account all the latest achievements, harmful? After all, it is not so difficult to ensure that such wallpaper is not dangerous; it is enough to use environmentally friendly materials, and also make the surface breathable and microporous.
It's possible to do this with modern technologies, but it is important to understand that it is unlikely that this can really be attributed to cheap products from little-known companies. You need to focus only on large brands from countries that have been successfully producing such wallpaper for a long time, using modern approaches to their production. This could be, for example, Finland, Germany, Sweden and so on; usually the level of quality in these countries is more than high.
Up close, the pattern of the wallpaper seems complex, but from a distance it resembles a monochromatic version
You can also understand that this wallpaper is not particularly hazardous to health by the indication on the label that the vinyl is microporous. The composition may also contain various antifungal components, which is also very important, because then the likelihood of the appearance of all kinds of negative formations decreases significantly.
Other selection criteria
If you are selecting vinyl wallpaper, then the selection criteria that will help you choose the most best option, can be much more than just the name of the country of origin and the inscriptions on the labels.
Modern design involves a mixture of different materials
The first important step when choosing is to personally familiarize yourself with a sample of the wallpaper that you intend to purchase. Be sure to buy the wallpaper in person, and when you do, smell it. This is a simple and even primitive method, but it is very effective.
If the wallpaper is of poor quality, if its material is harmful to humans and contains negative fumes, then such products will immediately smell sharp and extremely unpleasant.
Many people view this method with skepticism, but in fact, you can be very confident in its objectivity. simple method– smell the most expensive European vinyl wallpaper that is available in the store, and then, for contrast, the cheapest. The difference will be noticeable immediately, unless, of course, you have a runny nose. If the smell is already present, then it’s easy to imagine how it will spread throughout the apartment after purchasing the wallpaper and leaving it on the walls for a long time.
One type of vinyl allows you to perfectly imitate natural finishing materials
If you have strong doubts that you can choose the wallpaper correctly and still want to take it, you can do it this way. After all, the house already contains a lot of PVC, for example, in chipboards, plastic windows and other elements.
But then try to glue such wallpaper in those rooms where you traditionally spend minimal time, or where good ventilation(for example, in a kitchen where there is an exhaust hood), but it’s best not to experiment with a children’s room; they only need environmentally friendly wallpaper that is not dangerous.
Nonwoven
As previously mentioned, vinyl wallpaper can be paper-based or non-woven. Real non-woven wallpaper is not harmful, but the problem is that manufacturers are trying in every possible way to reduce the cost of production, and therefore it is far from a fact that it will contain real non-woven wallpaper.
Funny, somewhat space-like pictures on the wallpaper
There is a possibility that instead of a non-woven base there will also be some relatively cheap and low-quality form of vinyl, which will release the same negative substances. So the basic principle of choice is the same - do not buy cheap wallpaper from little-known manufacturers. You will only save once, but you will pay a much greater price later when your health is harmed.
To be on the safe side, you should ask the seller for a certificate of conformity that comes with the product, as well as a sanitary and epidemiological report. If the product is good, then these documents will certainly be available.
High-quality German wallpaper from the Rush brand
Safe wallpaper
Let's say that you decide not to take vinyl wallpaper, because you are not sure that you will be able to choose correctly suitable option. What alternative should I find for them?
Fiberglass wallpaper is safe and of high quality. Another option is expensive wallpaper made from safe materials, such as bamboo or cork. Well, or just take paper ones, they are not so strong and not so durable, but still, from a safety point of view, they definitely won’t let you down.
Do good repair, to the envy of your neighbors, you need to choose wisely, while choosing high-quality and safe materials; if it is wallpaper, then it should not have a detrimental effect on a person’s well-being. Manufacturers offer a variety of options to suit every budget. It is worth noting that when producing cheap and low-quality wallpaper, damage to human health will be caused, since production technology is not always followed.
Production of non-woven wallpaper
To understand whether non-woven wallpaper is harmful to the body, it is worth looking at its production and what components manufacturers use. The composition of the wallpaper has a unique production technology. People preparing for renovations want to make the decoration of their apartment more beautiful and practical, which is why they choose non-woven wallpaper, even if they are harmful to health. If ordinary paper wallpapers are less practical and are made of cellulose, arranged in a chaotic manner, then non-woven wallpapers consist of carefully laid and then pressed fibers. Outwardly, you might think that there is some kind of fabric on the wall, but in fact this is a cunning idea of the manufacturers. To create a visually more luxurious and rich interior effect, polymer and viscose fibers are added during the manufacturing process; in addition, they can be impregnated with glue or a special strengthening composition.
In fact, non-woven fabric was not intended to create paper sheets, since it was originally used in shoe workshops. The main advantage of the material is that it has a reinforcing, non-deformable base, which is what attracted wallpaper manufacturers. And shoe manufacturers used the material as a lining in clothing and textile production.
Cons for consumers
Despite the advantages of non-woven wallpaper, consumer reviews also speak of its disadvantages. Disadvantages of using non-woven wallpaper:
- High cost in the total cost of finishing the rooms;
- Easily damaged;
- Not moisture resistant material;
- When ignited, the substance formaldehyde is released, which is harmful to general condition body;
- Dust can accumulate in the pores of decorative wallpaper options.
Danger to humans
When choosing a reliable wallpaper manufacturer, you should not doubt the quality and safety of its products, since only cheap analogues can cause real harm to human life. One may be skeptical about the issue of danger, but there are irrefutable facts that indicate its presence. Vinyl material does not have such a high ignition temperature, from 160 to 200 degrees, but at the slightest fire everything will quickly catch fire and formaldehyde will be released, the most dangerous element in the composition of this material.
The texture of the material is such that it can be dangerous for allergy sufferers due to its porous composition, since dust can accumulate in the pores, mold or condensation can occur. But world-famous manufacturers are trying to avoid such nuances by creating special micropores in top layer which increase air penetration and prevent accumulation large quantity moisture. When applying a design with paint, its quality in cheaper analogues can also be called into question; there is a possibility of using particles of heavy metals such as zinc and copper in its production. Paint applied to wallpaper can highlight harmful substances V environment. When purchasing wallpaper, it should not smell like acetone or turpentine. Availability unpleasant odor indicates non-compliance with production technology.
Scrupulousness when choosing wallpaper will not be superfluous, since world-famous wallpaper manufacturers must comply with all product quality standards, conducting checks before releasing products to the consumer market. The seller in the store must have a certificate of conformity and a sanitary-epidemiological conclusion. Non-woven wallpaper can be harmful if moisture accumulates in it and fungus forms, which will negatively affect the well-being of people with respiratory tract disease and asthma.
Is there an alternative
Manufacturers of finishing materials have not yet found an alternative to non-woven wallpaper, since the latter are wear-resistant and easy to care for. Even with changes in temperature, they clearly do not react, belonging to the class of non-woven materials. Because of unique composition non-woven fabric, it is used in the manufacture of packaging and medical material. The strength is much higher than that of paper, thus it does not shrink when clearly wet. Such wallpaper can perfectly hide wall imperfections and visible cracks; in addition, they are durable and wear-resistant. The structure was developed by manufacturers so that they can be colored to suit any taste, but this does not reduce the number of pores.
Basic selection rules
If you decide to start a renovation, you should inquire in advance about materials from well-known and trusted manufacturers, so as not to get a pig in a poke. What to pay attention to:
- real genuine material should have a dense, solid structure that is difficult to simply pick out with a fingernail;
- the seller of the product must have documents confirming quality and certification;
- markings for various purposes applied to the wallpaper will guarantee the authenticity of the product;
- Before purchasing such products, you should know that they are dangerous for allergy sufferers and people with upper respiratory tract problems.
Currently, the choice of wallpaper is not just great, it is huge! And not the least of them is vinyl. But you should understand that in addition to beauty, the material must also be safe. Let's try to find out how harmful vinyl wallpaper is to human health.
Types of vinyl wallpaper - the advantages of chemistry
Before we figure out whether vinyl wallpaper is harmful or not, let’s explore what types they are divided into. So, the division of wallpaper into different categories depends on what material their surface and bottom layers are made of. There are vinyl wallpapers on the following bases: paper, non-woven and fabric.
Preference is given to a non-woven base, as it gives the wallpaper such properties as lightness and strength. In addition, they also help to increase the level of sound insulation(which is not typical for other species). It is worth noting that this wallpaper can be glued to the walls of a new house. They are not afraid of possible shrinkage of the timber and various cracks on the surface of the walls.
Vinyl wallpapers According to the type of surface, they are also divided into embossed, embossed, having a smooth surface and with silk-screen printing. When choosing among those listed, it is worth highlighting the relief ones. They have a voluminous, dense coating that will hide various wall defects or unevenness. But you should pay attention to the fact that embossed products are most susceptible to all kinds of damage, so you need to handle them with extreme care and caution.
The main priority of vinyl wallpaper is that it allows you to decorate your walls in the form of imitation of various coatings: granite, marble, ceramics and all sorts of patterns. Perhaps this is due to the huge selection of patterns and materials. Besides, vinyl covering can be washed, which will keep the walls of your home in good condition perfect cleanliness!
Vinyl wallpaper is harmful to health - where did this opinion come from?
So, let’s look at the issue of the harm of vinyl wallpaper, or rather, where this assumption came from. This material has two layers. The bottom one, which we talked about above, can be made of paper, fabric or non-woven fabric. There are no complaints about him.
It's all about the top layer, which consists of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is this mysterious word that worries our compatriots so much. Indeed, polyvinyl chloride is clearly a chemical compound, and chemistry is harmful to human health in most cases. But are vinyl wallpapers harmful, are they dangerous for us and our body?
It is worth noting that there is some truth in this opinion. Polyvinyl chloride has the property of being waterproof. On the one hand, this is a big plus; the walls are easy to care for, they can be washed without any danger.
But the downside here is that the air exchange in the room is disrupted; the wall covering simply does not allow air to pass through.
The impermeability of vinyl wallpaper provokes the formation of harmful and dangerous fungi that form on the wall underneath. In addition, according to doctors, a person may develop allergies if the sheets evaporate toxic fumes of formaldehyde. But don’t panic, this only applies to cheap Chinese fakes stuffed with chemicals. Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to the manufacturer, do not try to save on quality and, consequently, on your health.
Chinese vinyl wallpaper - why are they dangerous?
A person knows how to adapt to everything, modernize and do what previously seemed impossible. New generation vinyl products have passed this stage. It consists in eliminating all the disadvantages and increasing the advantages.
Manufacturing specialists came up with a technology that made wallpaper “breathable”. In this case, the PVC layer is made with many micropores that allow air to pass through. As mentioned above, it is worth choosing quality manufacturers. After all, they are the ones who have already implemented this technology, which does not apply to fakes from China. In European countries, they carefully monitor the environmental safety of vinyl wallpaper batches produced and maintain strict control.
We advise you to choose wallpaper coverings produced in Germany, Finland and Great Britain. Manufacturers in these countries add an antifungal component to the wallpaper, which will protect you from the possible development of harmful microflora. In a word, the improved production system allows us to confidently state that modernized vinyl wallpapers do not pose a danger to human health.
How to make the right choice of wallpaper?
So, we have figured out that vinyl wallpaper is harmful to health only in cases where we save on purchases. Now let's learn how to choose this product correctly in stores. First, having chosen the wallpaper sample you like, take the roll in your hands and unwind it a little. Imagine this wallpaper on the wall of your room, feel it for strength.
We draw conclusions - harm or not
It should be noted that the majority building materials are currently made from one or another chemical elements. This applies to plastic windows, suspended ceilings, wiring insulation and even bags in which we put food! All of the listed objects contain polyvinyl chloride, which some people are so afraid of.
Don't beat yourself up so much about this. But you should analyze the information! For example, experts say that truly dangerous fumes come from chipboards. And, as we know, almost all furniture is currently made from them!
But if you are still tormented by vague doubts, do not glue vinyl wallpaper in the bedroom and nursery. Decorate with them the walls of well-ventilated rooms where there is no high humidity. This could be a corridor, a hall, a spacious living room or an office. And the rest of the rooms, where you spend most of your time, can be covered with simple paper wallpaper or more expensive and high-quality bamboo, . They are made from plant ingredients that do not contain chemicals.
Let us repeat once again the main points when choosing vinyl wallpaper:
- Don’t skimp on quality manufacturers; choose the material wisely.
- Carefully read the label, which indicates the composition, production, etc.
- Don't buy vinyl wallpaper if it has a strong, chemical smell. High quality material, even if it is the cheapest, it will not stink of chemicals.
- Ventilate your apartment regularly. Provide rooms with walls covered with vinyl wallpaper with the necessary flow of fresh air.
- Make sure that there is no excessive humidity or dampness in the apartment.
