Do-it-yourself laminate wall decoration: technology and artistic nuances. Non-standard solution: finishing walls with laminate How to properly sheathe walls with laminate
Practical flooring - the original purpose of laminated boards. Designers' ideas have stepped forward, the latest trends in interior design are laminate wall decoration. The reason for the popularity was the high operational properties material combined with originality and aesthetics. Classification, characteristics, finishing options and the procedure for installing the laminate on the walls will be described below.
Distinctive features of the laminate
Preferences when choosing a finishing material for the floor in favor of the laminate are quite understandable. Facilitated maintenance compared to carpet, no traces of furniture movement, durability are the main advantages of laminated board coating. Over time, when most people felt the benefits of laminate on their own, the trend became its use in wall decoration. The key advantages of the material include the following points:
- Environmental Safety.
- Long service life (over 10 years).
- Laminate is not able to absorb odors and accumulate dust.
- The variety of textures and colors allows you to create an interior with individual wall decoration.
- Easy installation.
Numerous advantages accompany some disadvantages:
- When decorating walls using a laminate, its deformation as a result of high humidity is possible.
- Laminate board is prone to fading and swelling in the heat and cracking when exposed to low temperatures.
- Relatively high cost of laminate. Compared to wallpaper, paint, plaster, it loses in price ratio, but the use of MDF panels in wall decoration will cost even more.
Material classification
It is possible to classify a laminate according to several criteria: the method of fastening, resistance to mechanical stress, which accordingly affects the thickness and price of the material. The method of fastening is one of the important characteristics when choosing a material for wall decoration. There are the following types of laminate:
- Glue. In this case, there are no locks on the laminated board, the elements are fixed to each other by gluing. Wall mounting is also done using liquid nails or silicone glue. It is not difficult to form a finish with adhesive panels, difficulties will arise during dismantling, especially if the task is to maintain the integrity of the parts.
- sheet piling. In this case, the panels contain tongue-and-groove locks, allowing you to leave minimal joints between the elements. To finish the walls, you will need to make a crate; the use of clamps or small nails along the shunt groove will help create a secure fixation. This method allows even the ceiling to be decorated with a laminated board.
- clicky. It has a specific fastening system, which is an improved version of the tongue and groove lock. To connect the panels, the laminate is placed to the installed board at an angle of 20 °, after which the grooves are joined and snapped into place. When carrying out wall decoration, the installation of battens is also necessary. Strengthening the strength of the installation of panels allows their additional processing with glue.
The rule of matching price and quality for laminate flooring is especially relevant. Therefore, if you want to get a durable wall finish, saving on cost is not recommended. The characteristic of resistance to mechanical stress is determined by the class of the laminated board.
Advice! The load on the floor is significantly higher than on the walls, so for flooring they stop at 33 or 34 material classes. To finish the side surfaces, it is enough to purchase panels with a class from 21 to 31.
Nuances of choice
When choosing a laminate for finishing a room, one should take into account various factors that will affect it during operation. The style of the interior also matters.
- It is better to postpone the decoration of the walls of the children's room for a later period, when the child grows up. Replacing damaged panels will result in a large amount; you can temporarily use less expensive interior design options.
- The presence of a cat with a habit of marking territory is a serious limitation for installing laminate on walls. Over time, it can swell at the joints and gradually absorb unpleasant amber.
- When planning to use laminate for wall decoration, consider the interior of the room. The color and texture of the panels should resonate with the furnishings; it is preferable to decorate a small room with light shades.
- Please note that a perfectly flat surface is required for the installation of adhesive panels. Significant differences on the side surfaces are best covered with a crate.
Design options for various rooms
Depending on the room where it is planned to install a laminate on the side surfaces, we offer various options its application.
The corridor
There are two main methods of finishing the walls of the corridor with a laminated board. In the first case, they start from the length of the panels, combining the laminate with other material around the entire perimeter of the room. The second approach in interior design is to form an accent wall where the main hallway furniture is installed.
Comment! Installation of panels on a horizontal plane contributes to the visual expansion of the room, this method is suitable for corridors with high ceilings. Traditional vertical fixation visually raises the ceiling.
Kitchen
Laminate when decorating the walls of the kitchen is usually located in the apron area. The choice of shade directly depends on the facade of the furniture, its combination is the key to a harmonious interior design. It is easy to care for such a surface due to the stability of the material before processing. chemicals to keep clean.
Living room
A full-fledged finish of the side surfaces of the living room with a laminate is inappropriate. The dosed design of the accent wall is the most the right decision in room design. Mostly panels sheathe the area behind the TV.
Separate details in the form of lighting or shelves with souvenirs will be an interesting addition to the interior. The classic approach is vertical or horizontal wall decoration. Diagonal fastening is less common due to the complexity of fastening and increased material consumption.
Bedroom
The laminate on the accent wall of the bedroom looks no less original. Usually this area is located behind the head of the bed. The combination of the shade of furniture with the finishing material contributes to the formation of a harmonious interior. Similar to the design of the living room, they are attached to the wall lighting or shelves with your favorite accessories.
Loggia or balcony
Application as finish coat surfaces of a balcony or loggia with a laminate require a careful approach.
Attention! An elegant finish will retain its attractiveness for a long time in the presence of high-quality heat and waterproofing of the room. In the absence of proper conditions, the material is capable of deforming without the possibility of recovery.
attics
Finishing the walls of the attic with the use of laminate looks organic. In addition, the designers went further, or rather higher, and suggest using the material to cover sloping ceilings. The wood texture of the laminated panels will fit perfectly into the finish country house, contributing to the formation of an atmosphere of proximity to natural conditions.
A superficial overview of the ways in which laminate flooring can be used in various rooms testifies to its inexhaustible potential in wall decoration. Having familiarized yourself with the nuances of fastening, it will be easier to stop at a suitable option.
Separate moments of the installation process
When choosing various kinds laminate for wall decoration should take into account some of the nuances:
- Glue laminated panels are mounted on a perfectly flat surface. Pre-installation of drywall sheets on the wall will help to achieve the desired result. But still, adhesive material is rarely used for wall decoration.
- The blade laminate is fixed to the crate by lubricating both surfaces with glue, after which the panels are fixed with miniature carnations into the spike of the lock. An alternative when decorating walls can be staples of a construction stapler.
- The process of installing a sheet pile laminate is similar to working with a blade type of material.
Initially, the laminate acted as a strong, durable and beautiful floor covering. Since recently, it has been used for wall decoration. This is not surprising, because it has many characteristics that are necessary for original and high-quality repairs. For reliable and beautiful wall you need to know exactly how to fix the laminate on the wall. Then the result will please you.
Advantages of laminate for walls
Laminate wall decoration is gaining immense popularity due to a number of advantages of this material:
- The material is completely environmentally friendly and does not have a detrimental effect on the body. At the same time, bugs, midges and fleas do not start in it, as in ordinary wood;
- It serves for a long time - more than 10 years, and with proper fastening and care - all 20.
- Does not absorb odors, easy to clean, does not accumulate dust (such as textured decorative stone);
- Ease of installation allows you to lay the laminate on the wall yourself, without the help of builders (additional cost savings);
- A huge selection of colors and textures will allow you to create a unique design of a room or office space.
The disadvantages include intolerance to moisture and a sharp change temperature regime. That is, in rooms with high humidity, such as in the bathroom, mounting the laminate on the wall is not appropriate. Under the influence of frost, the material cracks, so it is also not recommended to decorate the loggia with this material.
Types of laminate for walls
There are several criteria by which the laminate for walls is divided into types, depending on the thickness, price or method of attachment. When choosing a finishing material, you need to be guided not only by its appearance and price, but Special attention pay attention to the mounting method so as not to create problems for yourself during installation:
- Adhesive laminate for walls . This is the most common type of fastening material. There are grooves on its elements, with the help of which the parts are connected, and they are glued to the wall with liquid nails or silicone. This method of fixing the material is very fast and simple. Its disadvantage lies in dismantling. If in a few years you want to redo the repair or change the design, it will not be easy.
- sheet piling- This is a universal way of fastening boards. So you can lay the floor, lay the laminate on the wall or ceiling. Each element has locks that provide the most tight joints. Laminate boards are fixed with clamps to the crate, which is installed first.
- clicky- This is an upgraded version of the tongue-and-groove fastening. Laminate for walls is fixed with locks. Some glue the panels with liquid nails for strength.
Laminate panels are divided into classes. The higher it is, the stronger and more expensive. For the floor, for example, it is worth choosing class 34 models, they are resistant to damage and wear. Laminate for walls can be taken in grades 21-31, since no one will walk on the walls. Thus, you can save some money.
Material laying features
Finishing the walls with laminate does not require special skills. It is enough just to follow the sequence of actions and be careful so that the material lays down evenly and beautifully. It is important that the walls are perfectly even. This can be achieved with a screed or drywall, which is attached to the crate.
For models that are mounted on glue, no additional tools are needed. But in order to fix the laminate on the kleimers, you need a boss. This is a tool for tapping the panels so that they fit evenly into the groove. If you use an ordinary hammer, there is a risk of damaging the surface of the panel. To install the extreme elements, you need a hook.
Laminate for walls is laid out from the bottom up and nothing else!
How to fix adhesive laminate on the wall
Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare all improvised tools:
- Pencil;
- Building level;
- Boss;
- a lead;
- Electric jigsaw or hacksaw;
- Square;
- Roulette;
- Kleimers;
- Glue gun.
The day before you start work, it is recommended to print the panels and lay them out in the room. This is necessary so that the material adapts to the temperature and does not deform in the future.
Then you can proceed to fixing the laminate on the wall. First try on the boards, and then start laying from the bottom corner. If you want to lay the material in a checkerboard pattern, then draw marks on the wall for yourself with a pencil. This makes it easier and more convenient to lay the panels. Use a spirit level to ensure that the material is laid evenly. If the corners are not very even, this is not a problem. The panels can then be filed a little. Thus, the first row is laid out, the second row is laid out on it, and so on.
The main thing is to work carefully and nail each board with a boss, use a hook in the corners so that all the elements are fastened together. Be careful when measuring and cutting boards. The more accurately and accurately you do this, the more beautiful it will look.
Use a lab saw to make cutouts for sockets or switches.
If you do not know how to fix the laminate on the wall, then here are some tips from professionals for you:
- Laminate is a floor covering and crate or nail it will not be quite right. It should lay down smoothly. Now in hardware stores you can find a special frame that is mounted on the wall, and panels are fixed into it;
- Laminate for walls requires a flat base. If the walls are too curved, it would be more appropriate to equip the grate and attach the material to it;
- For aesthetics appearance choose the right drawing on the boards;
- When choosing, take the material thinner and lighter. This will ensure that it is securely attached to the wall.
- You can fasten the panels to the wall with a ladder or in a checkerboard pattern - this is already at your discretion;
- If you want to pre-insulate the walls, then it is better to make a crate, attach drywall to it. lay between him and the wall mineral wool, and then proceed to finish the walls with laminate;
- If you need to cover a small quadrature, then you can assemble a shield from boards on the floor and then attach it to the wall;
- Laminate is quite a heavy material, so for strength it is important to use screws, nails or kleimers. The latter are best, since nails with their hats will spoil the appearance;
- Be sure to treat all joints with a special gel for laminate.
In conclusion, I would like to note that laying a laminate on a wall is original solution, which will help brighten up any interior of a house, office, restaurant or other type of premises. This finish looks aesthetically pleasing, does not require special care and installation skills.
It would be wise to treat one, maximum two walls with a laminate or highlight zones with it. For example, if your apartment is a studio, then it would be advisable to allocate a dining area or a relaxation area. Laminate for walls looks great in the living room near the TV and in working area. The main thing to remember is that such material will not work in the bathroom, as it does not tolerate moisture (it will simply swell). Also, you should not decorate an unheated loggia or balcony with it, since under the influence of a temperature difference the laminate is deformed and cracks will appear in it.
Wall decoration with laminate can be done in several ways, as with horizontal arrangement panels, and vertical. Before proceeding to a description of the intricacies of technology, let's get acquainted with the varieties of laminate suitable for wall decoration.
Which laminate is suitable for walls: adhesive, tongue and groove or click?
- On adhesive laminate the edges are even, without a lock. The adhesive laminate is laid on a flat surface on liquid nails or building silicone: glue is applied in a zigzag pattern on the underside of the panel, the strip is laid, glue is applied to the end, the next one is laid, etc. The streaks of glue that have come out at the joints are immediately removed with a cloth slightly moistened with table vinegar. The adhesive laminate is not suitable for laying on the crate due to the small area of contact with the underlying surface. The floors are covered with adhesive laminate.
- sheet piling panels equipped with a tongue-and-groove lock. It can be laid with glue without gluing the tongue, so that the joints come out dry and always neat. When laying dry, the strips are fixed into the groove of the tongue like a lining: with small nails (only to a wooden crate) or staples-stamps (to a wooden and metal crate). Sheet piling is suitable for all surfaces of the room: floors, walls, ceilings.
- click laminate- Improvement of sheet piling. The comb in the section has a pear-shaped shape; the groove profile matches it. When laying it, the adjacent panel is tilted at about 20 degrees, the lock comb is inserted into the groove, and, turning to the base, they are pressed - the lock snaps into place. Cladding made of click laminate has increased strength and resistance to buckling. In addition to glue, click-laminate is fixed with nails into the grooves of the lock. Claymers cannot be used - the lock will not snap into place. Click laminate on the walls can be glued to a wooden crate.
Laminate is also called MDF panels of the same size as laminate panels. This is very good stuff, but expensive, so it is not considered in this article. But all the working techniques and subtleties for a laminate based on fiberboard and chipboard are also suitable for MDF.
Work tool
For wall cladding with laminate, you will need some tools used when laying floors. It makes no sense to use them on the ceiling, because. everything is done by weight. Click-laminate strips can be precisely adjusted when laying with just a tool. It will not be possible to move them with your hands - the comb sits very tightly in the groove.
Technological subtleties
Where Laminate Doesn't Work
The kitchen is not suitable for finishing with laminate. Fiberboard and chipboard - inexpensive materials; raw materials for them do not undergo complex processing. Therefore, the laminate from excessive moisture and temperature changes swells and warps. In the kitchen, fluctuations in temperature and humidity are not only great, but frequent and sharp.
For the same reason, basements, cellars, closets cannot be finished with laminate. But the hallway - you can. Here, deviations of air parameters from sanitary standards do not last long and occur infrequently.
But for a balcony, even very carefully arranged, a laminate is even less suitable than for a kitchen. The balcony has large seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Therefore, the balcony must be sheathed with plastic clapboard, eurolining or MDF.
gaps
Due to the tendency of the laminate to swell at high humidity, for any installation method, it must be laid with a gap (indent) from the corners of 15-20 mm around the entire perimeter. It is difficult to withstand it when mounting it on the wall with spacer wedges, especially from below, so it is better to do this: we lay a flat board or rail of the required thickness along the bottom. If the laying goes on glue, we wrap this board or rail with one layer of thin plastic film. And from the sides it is already possible to use wedges - here they are not loaded with the weight of the skin and will not slip off. The gaps at the end of the sheathing are closed with a plinth on glue.
Glue or crate?
Most often it is recommended to lay the laminate on the crate. At the same time, the strength of the finish is guaranteed on any wall and additional sound and heat insulation can be made. But the artistic possibilities of finishing when laying on the crate are very limited. To get a cladding original design the laminate is laid on glue (liquid nails, silicone) on a flat, dry wall without plaster.
Read about the nuances of forming a wooden or metal crate at the link.
Advice: Many flooring manufacturers, knowing about the desires of customers, are already producing special systems for attaching parquet and laminate to the wall. An example of such a solution in the video below:
How to check if the wall is even?
To do this, you need a flat rail the height of the wall without a plinth. Before checking, plaster, skirting boards, door and window trims are removed. The rail is led vertically along the wall; protrusions and depressions are marked with a pencil. The protrusions are scraped off or knocked down with a chisel to a shallow depression. Then all the cavities are filled with starting putty and overwritten.
And how to check the "evenness" of the rail itself? Right on the wall. Having attached the rail flat to the wall, we draw a line along it with a pencil. Then we turn the rail 180 degrees, and attach the ends to the ends of the line. If the line along the entire length already coincides with the edge of the rail, it is even. If a deflection / inflection is noticeable, another one is needed. This method of checking the ruler is described in the school geometry textbook.
Where to start?
Most often, it is recommended to start laying the laminate from the far left corner and work it clockwise. There is nothing to argue here, but you can add: if you are left-handed, then it will be more convenient to start from the far right corner, and go counterclockwise.
Horizontally or vertically?
Laying laminate on the wall is possible both in vertical stripes and horizontal. We will talk about the possibilities of vertical laying later, but for now we will describe the methods of laying horizontal.
Laying with solid strips at first glance is easier and cheaper, but it only seems so. The joints, which are thus obtained in one line, must be closed with skirting boards, and the skirting boards themselves must be attached to the wall with mounting nails (dowel-nails). Fixing holes for nails are drilled directly through the joints of the panels. Even if the cladding goes in solid strips along the length of the wall, all the same, skirting boards must be installed at least every 1.7 m.
Why such complexity and additional costs? The fact is that solid panels will only lock each other in one direction. Without additional reinforcement, such a lining will tend to fold like an accordion. Mechanical stresses on fasteners (glue, nails, adhesives) in some places will be concentrated, and in general the lining will turn out to be unreliable.
For good strength, the lining is laid with a “comb”: the number of strips equal to half the horizontal rows is cut exactly in half. If, for example, 10 rows are laid along the height of the wall, we cut 5 strips. We carry out laying, starting the rows alternately from a whole strip, then from a half. The joints spaced half the length of the strip will evenly distribute the load on the fasteners.
In some cases, it is interesting to lay the laminate diagonally. To do this, it is better to use a coating of two colors. Naturally, for such work you will need certain skills and experience.
Variations of vertical laying
Opportunities to show your creative abilities in wall cladding immeasurably increase if you put the laminate on the wall vertically, glued on a flat, dry surface. The dreary and dusty work of cleaning and leveling the walls is compensated by the cost of the crate.
For examples, we will use panels of only two types: long (or solid, if the height of the room exceeds 3 m) - the main ones, and pieces in the size of the rest of the wall height - complementary. Let's take the main and complementary panels of contrasting tones, say, dark and light. Let's see what can happen:
- We will lay out a strip along the bottom from complementary panels 60-80 cm long; to the ceiling we sew the main ones. Place a plinth on the horizontal joint. Vertical joints at certain intervals (for example, after 3-4 joints) can be additionally fixed with pieces of the same plinth, and it can also be put on the ceiling, also sheathed with laminate. What happened? Romantic, medieval (medieval look) room with imitation of ribs and ceiling beams. Instead of torches, linear fluorescent or freon lamps can be installed on the ribs.
- We sew only the bottom with the main panels, and leave a clean bleached strip along the top. What for? And at least as a screen for lighting design LED strips. Who said that lighting design is possible only on the ceiling? There is no such law, and that's it.
- Let's put a strip of dark complementary panels in the middle of a light wall and decorate it with skirting boards. We will place paintings, photographs, decorative plates, souvenirs, straw appliqués, macrame, a collection of decorative weapons, etc., on it. Aesthetic and original.
As an option, sheathe the wall at the head of the bed with a laminate that matches the tone of the floor.
- We will cut the complementary strips along the length in a ratio of 1: 3 (cut off in thirds). On the top and bottom we lay them out with a comb, and between them there will be the main ones. It will turn out a light (or dark) surface between two combs - minimal in terms of labor intensity and economical in material, but quite a decent design solution.
- We will buy the main and complementary strips equally and cut them into squares. The idea is clear: walls in the form of a chessboard. It is not so trivial if flat symbols of chess pieces made of dense sheet plastic are pasted onto some squares. You can depict a collection of chess studies.
- We will cut both the main and complementary stripes in a ratio of 1: 2, and lay out a pattern from them, or simply scatter them in an artistic mess. It turned out - complete freedom of expression.
In the latter version, there is a stumbling block: if you lay it down as your soul wanders, then there will not be enough space for some fragment at the top, or a failure will remain. Therefore, the pattern (or artistic mess) must be laid out in advance on the floor just like that, without fixing, and transferred to the wall in pieces.
What if the room is narrow? In this case, you need to simulate the pattern on a computer in any computer design program, at least in the well-known CorelDraw, number the real fragments accordingly and stack them in horizontal order of numbers.
If you have only basic computer skills, then it may be easier to cut pieces of thick multi-colored paper on a scale, lay out an application from them on the table, and transfer the numbering from it to “live” pieces. Of course, you need to apply numbers on their back side.
Conclusion
As you can see, laminate wall cladding is not only possible for almost anyone. Laminate also provides ample opportunities for the manifestation of creative abilities to people who do not have artistic education and skills. Even the cheapest laminate of only two tones allows you to express the individuality of its owner in the design of the apartment.
Video: an example of a complex sheathing of a loggia with a laminate
Despite the fact that in the video the balcony is completely sheathed with laminate, we remind you once again that such a solution should be resorted to only with deep confidence in the good microclimate of the room, or use more serious MDF-based laminated panels.
Hello dear blog readers! If you are here today, then you are thinking about finishing the walls with laminate. But you have no idea what they might look like. Just for you, we have collected 150 photos of interiors with laminate on the walls. Looking at them, you will definitely and finally decide.
We will definitely consider mounting methods, allowable gaps, color combinations and much more. Let's start in order.
Summary of this article:
Laminate on the wall in the interior of various rooms
The walls are finished with laminate in a completely various rooms and premises. In this section, we will visually consider the options for such a finish.
In the interior of the living room
Wall decoration with laminate in the interior of the living room is very common. The design of any living room will definitely not suffer from the presence of this "traditional" flooring.
In the room
The laminate wall in the hall further ennobles this already significant space. You can see this clearly below.
In the interior of the kitchen
Laminate wall decoration in the kitchen is not only design, but also practical. A good waterproof laminate will perfectly visually fit into the interior of the kitchen and functionally complement it. For example, an apron made of this material is easy to clean and clean, and at the same time looks great.
In the bathroom
Finishing the toilet and bathroom with waterproof laminate is very relevant in last years. This applies not only to the floor, but also to the walls. Options for such finishes are presented below.
In the interior of the hallway
Finishing the walls of the hallway with a laminate is carried out horizontally, vertically, or herringbone. The design of the corridor in all cases remains in the black.
In the nursery
Laminate in the children's room can highlight one of the walls, for example, behind the door. There are options for complete lining of all walls.
In the interior of the bedroom
The design of the bedroom, with a laminate wall, stands out for its novelty and modernity against the background of other outdated finishes. See for yourself.
Wall and ceiling decoration of a balcony or loggia
The walls on the balcony or loggia can be completely or partially covered with laminate. It is better to limit yourself to one surface - it looks more interesting.
Got the rooms sorted out. It's time to consider mounting methods. More on this later.
Mounting methods
There are several ways to attach laminate to walls. How to lay - in the end, it's up to you, we will only talk about possible cladding and installation technologies.
With the help of clamps
Kleimers are special metal staples designed to securely fix the laminate. This fastener is perfect for mounting and laying laminate panels on walls.
Kleimers can be screwed into a wooden or metal crate, or into the very base of the wall. They tightly cling to the grooves of the laminate board and firmly fix it.
with crate
A crate or frame made of wood or metal profiles is assembled, observing a step of half the length of the laminate lamella. This will be quite enough for a secure fixation.
Without crate
Many people will think - is it possible, and how to fix the laminate on the wall without crates. We answer - it is possible and very simple - with the help of glue. If the surface of the walls is not even, you first need to align, and only then proceed with gluing.
How to put yourself?
All work on laying laminate on the walls can be done independently. You don't need to be a super master to do this. Any wall can be sheathed with high quality with your own hands, whether it is smooth or curved.
Very often people ask us - how to nail the laminate on the wall? So - you don’t need to nail it anywhere, even if you imagine that the nail heads are driven into the grooves of the lamellas, then the next board will not lie tightly.
Remember the main thing: before you start fixing the laminate on the walls yourself, let it rest after purchase, it must be saturated with the atmosphere of the room and take on the ambient temperature.
Do-it-yourself fastening can be divided into two main options - horizontally and vertically.
How to mount vertically?
How the laminate is attached to the wall vertically - you can easily guess. And there are no special difficulties. A horizontal crate is simply assembled and mounted on it with glue or kleimers.
How to mount horizontally?
How to lay a laminate horizontally on the surface of the walls is also easy to guess, but there is a nuance here. The laminate is heavy in itself, because of this, the masonry must be reinforced from below with a bar so that the whole structure does not move down.
Or, you can use kleimers, then no one should roll away anywhere. We recommend this option to everyone.
How to glue?
You can glue laminate on the walls horizontally and vertically. You can without bothering to sculpt lamellas directly on concrete wall if it is very flat.
If the wall is uneven, you must first level it with putty, plaster, etc. Or you can assemble the frame and glue the laminate on it.
Sticking with sticking, and what it will hold on to - we'll figure it out further.
What glue to use?
Pasting walls with laminate requires a powerful adhesive composition, because. the weight of the lamellas is not small.
Do not save on glue - this stinginess can lead to disastrous consequences in the future. The laminate may fall off after a while.
Take quality options for liquid nails from reputable manufacturers.
Clear with liquid nails. It's time to discuss allowable clearances.
How much to retreat from the walls when laying?
When laying laminate on walls, leave a distance of up to 20 mm from the floor, walls and ceiling, because laminate can expand over time.
The gap can be increased if you plan to close the ends with special corners.
The distance between the wall and the laminate is not important. If you mount the panels directly on the wall, then no gaps are needed, if on the crate, then it all depends on the section of the bars.
Many people choose thicker bars in order to have more space behind the laminate wall in the future, to hide wiring and various communications.
We figured out the indents and gaps. It's time to think about how and what you can ennoble jagged edges after laying.
How to close the edges (ends)?
After laying the laminate on the wall, the question arises - how to decorate the edges or ends? To help you are sold plastic corners different colors and shades.
Additionally, profiles in the shape of the letter P are on sale. They are metal and plastic.
You can use a rubber plug, which is often used to seal gaps during installation stretch ceilings. The main thing is that the colors match.
All of these options are attached to liquid nails or ordinary silicone sealant.
How to cut at the walls without disassembling?
If it so happened that the laminate, laid tightly against the adjacent walls, began to stand up, this is a sign that it is time to cut it.
It is best, of course, to disassemble the entire structure, but if there is no such possibility or desire, you can trim it without disassembling it.
To do this, you can use a hand-held circular saw, setting a step in the thickness of the laminate with a gap.
There is another option - an ordinary grinder, but here you need to be very careful, because. this tool is very dangerous. On sale there are special saw blades for laminate.
You can also use a laminate file, varieties of which can be found in hardware stores.
The easiest way to trim is with a sharp chisel, marking the cut line with a construction knife. The cut will not turn out quite even, but this can be easily corrected by closing the ends after the work is completed. We have discussed above how this can be done.
A color scheme
It's time to think about how to combine laminate different colors on the wall to match furniture, doors, wallpaper, etc. There are options for combinations by bands, i.e. one stripe of one color, the second of another.
In one of the articles, we already once considered in detail what it could be, if you are interested, follow the link and read it carefully!
You can combine in a checkerboard pattern, or you can do it randomly. This looks good too. Next, let's take a closer look at how the laminate of some colors looks on the walls.
Light coloured
Light laminate, laid on the wall, goes well with furniture of all shades and varieties.
Grey
Laminate gray color, laid on the wall, emphasizes the individuality of the room and gives it seriousness and charm.
White
The white laminate on the wall looks great. A wall finished in this way brings light into the room, making it more spacious and bright.
Leather
In the last few years, it has become very fashionable to mount leather laminate on the walls. This pleasure is very expensive, but despite this, he has many fans.
We figured out the colors and their combinations. It's time to consider interesting ideas decorating the walls with laminate.
Decorating and decorating walls
You can do the design and decoration of the walls with a laminate yourself, or you can entrust these actions to professionals. How to proceed - choose for yourself, we will only offer some interesting ideas for implementation.
Decorative vinyl laminate
Vinyl (PVC) laminate is an excellent decorative material that can be laid on walls in absolutely any room. It is moisture resistant and has a self-adhesive layer.
panel
For a variety of your design, you can make a wall panel from a laminate. You can play with flowers to your heart's content. Laminate panels can be laid both lengthwise and across.
Behind the sofa
The wall behind the sofa can be highlighted with a laminate. This wall will become an accent and will be the object of everyone's attention.
That's all. It's time to turn around. We sincerely hope that the 150 photos of interiors with laminate on the walls collected in the article helped you finally decide on the future design of your walls. It remains only to implement the plan. Great luck!
Many people are used to seeing laminate flooring. But in fact, it is also used for finishing walls and ceilings. Such a solution is considered cost-effective, since, for example, the same MDF panels are more expensive. There is also no doubt about the aesthetics and strength: probably everyone has seen how the laminate looks like as a floor covering, and what loads it carries. Therefore, it makes sense to decorate the walls with them, of course. Another question is how to do it yourself, and whether it is possible to do all the work yourself. All these questions will be considered further.
Advantages and disadvantages
Before choosing finishing material, you need to weigh all the pros and cons, otherwise you can at least remain dissatisfied, or even overpay. Let's start with the pros:
- easy installation. Even those who have not previously encountered laying laminate can cope with the task;
- affordable cost. So, parquet board and especially - natural wood are more expensive. In addition, you can save on choosing an option with a lower wear resistance class;
- wear resistance. Laminate was created as a floor material, so it was assumed that it would experience constant mechanical stress;
- durability. Floor finish should last more than one year. On the walls, it will last much longer;
- a wide range of choices. So, on the market there are various collections with a wide range of colors.
Now let's talk about the disadvantages:
- requirement for surface evenness. If it is not observed, you need to mount the crate;
- fear of water. If the room is observed high level humidity, or there is a risk of water entering the surface, the finish may be seriously damaged. In such cases, you need to choose among moisture-resistant models, but they will cost more.
Types of laminate
Laminate flooring can be divided into types based on many criteria such as strength, material, water resistance, etc. But the main thing is still the type of attachment. This point is very important, because in each case the lamellas require different skills and surface preparation.
- Glue. Panels of this type are attached only with glue. The composition must be applied not only to the wrong side, but also to the ends to ensure reliable fastening. At the same time, excess flows appear on the panel, which must be cleaned with a damp cloth. Such panels are the most difficult to lay on the walls: firstly, they are mounted only on the wall, without the use of a crate; secondly, the surface should be as flat as possible. In addition, such a mount is considered the most unreliable. Therefore, adhesive laminate is almost always bought for laying on the floor.
- sheet piling. This type is much easier to use for wall decoration. And all because there are special connections at the ends of the panels. Therefore, if the tongue and groove laminate is mounted with glue, it is not necessary to coat the joints, which makes them look more aesthetically pleasing. If the walls are not even, you can build a crate. In this case, staples are used instead of glue.
- clicky. In fact, this is the same sheet pile laminate, only improved. Its main difference is the locks that snap into place when connected. Thus, brackets are not required here. Moreover, they are not used at all, since it will not work properly with them to latch the lock.
Wall decoration in the apartment
If you finish the entire apartment with laminate, it is unlikely that it will look aesthetically pleasing. But reasonable use in certain areas will create quite original interior. So, let's take a closer look at the places in every corner of the apartment, which are most often finished with laminate.
Finishing the balcony (loggia)
The balcony is the coldest room in the apartment. To avoid heat loss, some decide to insulate it. In such cases, laminate flooring can be chosen as a topcoat. This is where full decorating makes sense. True, the material dictates many conditions: for example, the room must be glazed, the gaps must be sealed, and the insulation must be waterproofed. If all conditions are met, the balcony turns into a warm and rather cozy room, in which it is already a pity to store any rubbish. But here you can arrange an additional recreation area.
Laminate installation
As already mentioned, there are two ways to finish the wall with laminate: on glue and on the frame. Each of these methods is good in its own way; so let's look at both.
On glue
Since the laying is carried out directly on the wall, you first need to carry out with it preparatory work. Namely:
- clean and degrease;
- putty;
- primed.
After a day or two, you can proceed to the installation itself. To do this, the panel is smeared with glue (or liquid nails) and applied to the wall. Some brands provide for the subsequent removal of the panel from the wall so that the glue is weathered. If this is not done, then after laying three rows, you need to break to rest, otherwise the upper rows will shift the lower ones.
The first row should be laid at a small distance from the floor. The next one is better to start with a cut lamella to create a “checkerboard pattern”: this way the laminate will look prettier.
A trickier approach is to glue the shields on the floor. If this method is not suitable, you can benefit from it: the assembly on the floor is good because it allows you to see the pattern in advance. Often they resort to it when finishing the sleeping area (at the head of the bed).
On the crate
This method is more time consuming and requires some skills. But with its help, you can hide the irregularities of the wall, and the surface itself does not need to be prepared.
For correct installation remove all doors and window frames. It is not worth assembling the frame “by eye”: it is better to apply markings on the wall. Then the crate is assembled. For this you can use like wooden bars and metal profile. As in the case of glue, installation must begin from the lower left corner (for left-handers - from the right). Some people nail the panels to the frame, but it is better, of course, to use clamps. If they interfere with the connection of the lamellas, you can cut the attachment point a little. In this case, you can also mount the laminate in a checkerboard pattern.
Finally
This is how information about laying laminate on the wall looks like in a nutshell. Let's boil it down to a few points:
- floor material is often used for wall and ceiling decoration;
- Laminate has many benefits. It is wear-resistant, durable, inexpensive, easy to fit; they can simulate a variety of surfaces. In addition, do-it-yourself laminate wall decoration is quite real. The disadvantages are easy to level: for example, for rooms with high humidity you need to purchase a special moisture-resistant material, for uneven walls crate is going;
- According to the laying method, there are three types of laminate. One of them has smooth ends, the other two are connected by locks. It is the latter that are used for wall decoration;
- laminate looks good in the kitchen (work apron), in the hallway (area near the doors), in the bedroom (at the headboard), in the living room (near the TV or sofa), on the balcony or loggia;
- for laying with glue, you need to prepare the wall: for example, it needs to be cleaned and leveled;
- adhesive residue is removed with a damp cloth;
- good for uneven walls wireframe method. True, it requires the appropriate skills to assemble it.
As you can see, laminate flooring is a great solution. It is especially good if you have enough skills to carry out all the work yourself, because you do not need to allocate additional funds to specialists. If this is not possible, it is still better to pay extra so that you do not have to redo it. In addition, the laminate lasts for a long time, so if the work is done correctly, it will not have to be changed soon.