Advantages and disadvantages of decorative plaster
The positive qualities of plaster include:
- wide possibilities of this material for experiments with shapes and color;
- the ability to remove contamination from the finished surface with water;
- high strength of the processed surface;
- long service life (up to 30 years).
Negative qualities:
- high cost of material and work;
- restoration of damaged areas is impossible to do on their own, you have to hire specialists;
- the dismantling process is quite complicated;
- for the device of a covering it is necessary to invite an experienced finisher.
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid wallpaper
Positive traits:
- Before applying the material, thorough preparation of the base is not required, the structure of the solution allows masking surface defects;
- the material is environmentally friendly;
- installation does not require special skills;
- affordable price;
- vapor permeability allows you to "breathe" the finished walls.
Negative qualities:
- this coating fades when exposed to direct sunlight;
- the structure of the material under high humidity is destroyed;
- the surface weakly resists mechanical stress.
Feature Comparison
To understand how liquid wallpaper differs from decorative plaster, you should compare their technical characteristics for certain parameters.
The main difference between plaster and wallpaper is the presence of quartz sand in the plaster mixture, while the basis of the wallpaper is cellulose. Both materials have the following similar characteristics:
- They have good adhesion to all types of surfaces (concrete, drywall, brick, wood).
- Both materials mask defects on the base in the form of small cracks, shells, and chips.
- They are effective soundproofers.
- With their help, you can create colored, textured patterns.
- They have vapor permeability.
- They are a heater.
- They have a long service life.
- The finish coating is formed without joints.
- Environmentally friendly.
For many indicators, there is a similarity of the finishing options considered in the article. The difference between these coatings is as follows:
- The surface of decorative plaster is much stronger and better resists mechanical stress than the surface of a cellulose analogue.
- Plaster care can be done with a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth, while wallpaper can only be vacuumed or dusted off with a dry cloth.
- Plastered surfaces can cope with high humidity, so this finish is recommended for bathrooms and kitchens. The cellulose base under the influence of vapors and moisture lose their properties, therefore, this coating is recommended to be applied in the rooms and hallway.
- Plaster can be applied to exterior walls, unlike wallpaper.
- The plastered surface does not fade in the sun and retains its original shade for the entire period of use, the material on the basis of cellulose changes with time the tone of the coating.
- The cost of the work and the plaster itself, in comparison with the installation of wallpaper, is much higher.
- Wallpaper has the ability to easily restore a damaged surface; for plastering, such work will be more complex and expensive.
- When using plaster in new wooden houses, it should be borne in mind that shrinkage of crowns can lead to cracking of the finished surface, liquid wallpaper is not afraid of shrinkage.
- If necessary, perform the dismantling of the coating, liquid wallpaper can be easily removed, while the plaster will have to tinker with.
- A novice can handle the surface treatment with wallpaper, you will have to hire a specialist to apply the plaster.
- The surface treated with wallpaper resembles silk, the texture of the plaster is much rougher.
What is easier to apply
To obtain a high-quality surface with the use of decorative plaster, you will have to invite a specialist, since this work is not for beginners. The process of plastering consists of several points:
- dismantling of the old coating and primer base;
- solution preparation;
- uniform distribution of the mixture over the surface;
- the formation of the structure using embossed rollers;
- smoothing the surface with a grater;
- grinding;
- dye application.
Liquid wallpaper, from the point of view of the work, is simpler and more profitable, the process can be overpowered by a novice finisher. The following actions must be performed:
- dismantle the old coating and eliminate major defects;
- primer the surface;
- prepare the mixture;
- apply the finished solution to the base with a spatula;
- after drying, staining is performed.
Which is cheaper
When choosing which is better - liquid wallpaper or decorative plaster, an important factor is the cost of material and work. In order to realize the difference in these amounts for each type of coating, you should calculate the final cost based on the average values of the cost of materials and work per square meter of the treated area.
The cost of dry components for wallpaper (with the exception of silk or silk plaster, as they are called incorrectly) ranges from 150 for the cheapest materials, up to 550 rubles per kilogram. In this case, the average value can be taken as a price of 350 rubles.
Manufacturers claim that one kilogram of dry mix can prepare a solution for processing 4 sq.m. surface. So, 1 sq.m. will cost 87.5 rubles. Billing of workers is about 300 rubles per square meter. As a result, we get the total cost of 1 sq.m. finished surface covered with liquid wallpaper: 87.5 + 300 = 387.5 rubles.
According to the same scheme, the calculation for plaster is performed. The plaster mix is delivered in paper packages with a capacity of 25 kg. The cost of one bag can vary from 450 to 4000 rubles. Thus, the average cost of one bag will be in the range of 2,200 rubles. The declared consumption will average 2.7 kg per sq.m.
Based on the data obtained, you can find the cost of the material that is required to process one sq.m .: 2200/25 * 2.7 = 237.6 rubles. The cost of applying decorative plaster starts at 300 rubles per sq.m. and comes to 1200 rubles. Accordingly, the average cost can be taken for 750 rubles. As a result, the sum of costs per square meter of finished coating of decorative plaster will be: 237.6 + 750 = 987.6 rubles.
If we compare the two final figures, it becomes clear that it is cheaper from the coatings in question, decorative plaster or liquid wallpaper. What to choose depends on the financial capabilities of the customer and the operating conditions of the premises in which the repair is supposed to be made.