Finishing balconies with liquid wallpaper: application technology and care

Modern life is so fast-paced that to save time we have to simplify many things and our attitude towards them. But not all the changes that have occurred have a tinge of slight sadness: some have clearly benefited us. For example, the need to put things “in reserve” has disappeared, cluttering balconies with things that would be a pity to throw away. And now you can use the freed up space as offices, recreation areas, or greenhouses.

And when you have already thought through the concept of the room, the question of finishing arises. After all, a balcony is a place with climatic characteristics and you need to choose a material taking this fact into account. We suggest considering the option of finishing the balcony with liquid wallpaper. This is a modern way to beautifully decorate any room.

Is it possible to use liquid wallpaper on the balcony?

This question is one of the first to arise. Liquid wallpaper for walls on the balcony is often confused with decorative plaster. There are significant differences between them.

The wallpaper contains: an adhesive component, natural fibers of cellulose, cotton or silk, and the color is given by water-based acrylic dye.

On sale you will find a packaged dry mixture, which can be supplemented with glitter, mica, algae or marble chips to improve its decorative properties.

The decoration looks great in the interior of the balcony.

• She is not afraid of the frost that is typical for this type of room.
• It is easy to combine in shades, which is important for creating geometric patterns.
• She's easy to work with. In this case, the balcony is an ideal place to gain experience and dexterity in working with the material.
• It is suitable for different types of bases: from plasterboard to concrete.
• Walls decorated with liquid wallpaper provide additional sound insulation from sounds from the street.

Conditions required for liquid wallpaper

In order to decorate a balcony with decorative material, it is necessary to dilute it in advance according to the manufacturer’s instructions. To do this, pour the required volume of water at a temperature of 30-35° into a clean container and gradually introduce the dry mixture. The mass is thoroughly kneaded with your hands and mixed, leaving the active components to swell. It is necessary to dilute all the dry mixture from the bag at one time.

In order to save material consumption, it is recommended to cover the walls with 1-2 layers of water-based acrylic paint to match before applying the main mass. Upon completion of the work, the decorative mass is left for 2-3 days for drying and better fixation on the surface.

The remains of the used material are not disposed of: it is stored in a tightly sealed bag and used, if necessary, for minor repairs.

Laying technology

Work on applying liquid wallpaper to walls and ceilings is carried out in the following sequence:

• surface preparation,
• primer and painting,
• making a mixture,
• applying the mixture,
• drying.

You will need:

• container in which the mixture will be diluted;
• a spatula or a special tool - a hopper gun: the wallpaper mass is loaded into its container and blown under pressure onto the surface (it is strictly forbidden to use a home vacuum cleaner);
• knurling roller for giving liquid wallpaper a special pattern.

Surface preparation

Surface to be finished:

• thoroughly cleaned of dirt and previous coatings,
• Antiseptic preparations are used to treat detected foci of fungal infections.

Priming and painting

Depending on the type of surface of the balcony wall, this operation differs.

• The concrete-lime surface, since it perfectly absorbs water-soluble primers, is first putty with a mixture of gypsum binder, treated with a layer of primer (deep impregnation), and two more layers of VDAK (white) are applied on top;
• Surfaces made of materials such as plywood, chipboard, MDF, etc. (i.e. wood) are primed with alkyd gray primer GF 021, and, as in the previous case, painted in two layers of VDAK.
• Drywall is completely puttied with gypsum mixtures, namely the entire surface of the sheets, and not just the joints between them. At the end - two layers of VDAK.
• If there are surfaces on the balcony that have already been painted with enamels or oil paints, they are thoroughly cleaned, gypsum putty is applied and, finally, VDAK is applied in two layers.

Making up the mixture

In a plastic container of a suitable volume, mix water at room temperature with bags of dry wallpaper material in strict accordance with the ratios indicated on the packaging. The mixture is mixed by hand, gently rubbing between your fingers so that no adhesive clumps form. After mixing is completed, the mixture is left to swell for 12 hours.

Advantages and disadvantages of liquid wallpaper for finishing balconies

The material is often used in balcony design because it has a number of significant advantages:

• antistatic – there are no synthetic components that accumulate electrical charge;
• vapor permeability - have a porous structure that can allow water vapor to pass through;
• seamless – does not form joints when applied;
• special additives prevent the appearance of fungus and mold, which is very important when using the material in an unheated room;
• plasticity – the ability to process curved structures;
• good sound and heat insulation;
• does not require careful leveling of the walls, is easy to apply and repair: just moisten the area and remove it with a spatula;
• fire safety.

The loggia belongs to non-residential premises, but if you are planning to convert it into an office, then such an advantage of liquid wallpaper as safety for health becomes one of the decisive factors when choosing a material.

Relative disadvantages include the low moisture resistance of the coating and the possibility of dry cleaning only. The issue is resolved by applying a final protective layer of acrylic varnish.

Creating a floor

The beginning is laying the flooring, but how to lay laminate? The process is performed in the following order:

• Preparation of the base - removal of dirt and debris, careful leveling and insulation. The main condition for increasing the service life is the absence of the slightest irregularities, pits and bumps. Differences of 2 mm are permissible over a 1 meter long section. To eliminate defects on the base, it is better to use concrete solutions or self-leveling mixtures used to make the screed.
• Before laying the laminate on the surface, a special underlay is laid out to improve heat and sound insulation properties. Instead of a substrate, polyethylene or cork material can be used.
• It is necessary to lay the slats in a checkerboard pattern. There must be technological gaps of 10-15 mm between the walls and the finishing material, so expansion wedges are used during installation.

The rules for installing lamellas provide for installation from the far corner. The minimum length of the board must be at least 300 mm.

Types of wallpaper and their characteristics

Liquid wallpaper on the balcony is selected according to the type of fiber: silk or cellulose. There is a third option - combined.

• Cellulose - manufacturers use cellulose, binder composition and decor as components. Forms a dense coating that can mask minor defects in the base. It is considered an inexpensive wallpaper due to its low wear resistance and fading under the influence of the sun.
• Silk – the silk thread in their composition makes the coating decorative, they are resistant to fading and retain their original color throughout their use. The silk look of liquid wallpaper is safe for allergy sufferers, and the wide selection of colors allows you to solve even original design problems.
• Combined - the basis for creating this type of wallpaper is silk and cellulose fibers with the addition of decorative elements. They are very popular because they are resistant to temperature changes and do not change color. Experts advise choosing wallpaper that is a shade lighter than intended. But, if you have doubts about choosing a shade, it is better to try the material in advance on a small area of ​​the wall.

Choice of colors

When choosing the color scheme for the balcony, keep in mind that white and any light shades visually increase the space, while dark ones reduce it.

If the balcony is combined with a living room, choose finishes in a similar shade to visually unify the space.

For balconies located on the sunny side, you can choose cool shades of blue, green, and purple. If, on the contrary, the balcony is often in the shade, you can add bright colors using warm beige, yellow and orange shades.

Beige

A practical and versatile color that is suitable for interior decoration in any style and for different areas. Beige walls will not hide the space, but, on the contrary, will visually add to it.

The color matches any shade of furniture and textiles; a duo of a white wrought-iron coffee table and chairs and a compact wenge-colored sofa will look equally harmonious on the balcony.

Brown

Warm, rich color will look good in spacious, well-lit balconies and loggias.

Brown color can be combined with other wallpaper or decorative elements, such as contrasting light moldings.

Greens

Green color will give the freshness that is missing in urban environments. Any shade of green has a beneficial effect on a person’s psychological state, will calm and give a positive mood.

The shade is rich and warm and will look good on balconies with windows facing north.

Gray

Light gray color brightens the room well, thereby visually making it more spacious. A cool shade is suitable for finishing the south side, where sunlight often falls; it will muffle it a little, refreshing the loggia or balcony.

Gray color is well suited for finishing with imitation of different materials, such as brick, bleached wood or stone.

Burgundy

Wallpaper can be plain, with a beautiful pattern or imitation brickwork. The color is bright, suitable for finishing the sunny side.

It can also be used for partial finishing of a room, for example one of the walls.

The photo shows a balcony in oriental style. The decoration is made in bright colors.

Preparing a balcony for finishing with liquid wallpaper

Different types of liquid wallpaper require the same surface preparation:

1. cleaning surfaces: wash off the plaster, remove paint, dismantle fasteners, especially carefully remove stains of rust and stains, get rid of traces of fungus and mold;
2. in case you have a reason:

• made of concrete, then the wall is leveled with gypsum putty. Such a base is considered water-absorbing, and therefore requires treatment with several layers of penetrating primer, and then painting with a couple of layers of water-based paint to match. The same rules apply when working with the ceiling;
• made of plasterboard, then it is necessary to putty not only the seams, but also the entire surface: white stripes from partial processing can appear through the wallpaper. Then the walls are primed and painted. To improve the adhesion of the material with gypsum board, add 1 part of PVA glue to three parts of paint.

At the priming stage, the decorative mixture is diluted.

The walls are carefully primed in 2-3 layers

Preparing the walls

Applying wallpaper to the walls is the final stage of repairing the loggia.

Surface treatment before gluing is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Plaster eliminates obvious defects in wall facades.
2. Small cracks are masked with putty and the wall surface is finally leveled.
3. The primer, applied twice, creates adhesive conditions for high-quality gluing of the decorative fabric.

Applying liquid wallpaper to balcony walls

Decorating walls with wallpaper is easier than working with decorative plaster, although they have much in common in application. Prepare:

• plastic grater;
• trowel;
• narrow spatula.

Work starts from the corner. Place a small amount of mass onto the trowel using a narrow spatula. The tool is pressed against the wall at an angle of 10-15° and a layer of material 2-3 mm thick is formed with a “bottom-up” movement. This method of application is called “smoothing”. By changing the angle of inclination of the working surface of the tool, you can adjust the thickness of the coating. When the work area reaches 1 m², the surface is leveled with a float moistened with water.

Advantages and disadvantages

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Buyers are attracted not only by the affordable price: liquid wallpaper has a number of significant advantages:

• ease of application and care;
• high fire resistance parameters;
• absence of joints and seams;
• application in any direction (horizontal or vertical);
• no need to carefully select a design;
• the ability to create a unique relief;
• choosing the perfect shade, mixing colors;
• quick elimination of emerging defects.

There are some nuances that can be considered disadvantages:

• The drying time of the material after finishing is at least 24 hours;
• the surface may become wet upon contact with water.

The second disadvantage can be easily mitigated by covering the wallpaper with transparent varnish. Of course, after this the material will not allow air to pass through, but for a balcony this cannot be considered a significant drawback.

Finish coating

Liquid wallpaper can be painted with acrylic protective varnish only after the material has completely dried.

Contrary to popular belief that applying varnish will have a negative impact on health, we can safely say that this is the only way to protect wallpaper from moisture.

Acrylic-based varnish forms a non-yellowing, crack-resistant and durable protective layer. It is used for finishing any walls, since it is environmentally friendly, resistant to damage, retains the color of the base material and makes the coating water-resistant.

Recommendations for selection

Several recommendations regarding the choice of dry wallpaper composition:

1. If the balcony structure is located on the sunny side, it is recommended to choose a silk-based wallpaper mixture for repairs - this type is the most resistant to fading.
2. The material can be purchased ready-made - with or without dyes and additional components. In the latter case, you will have to tint the dry mixture yourself, which can create some difficulties for non-professionals.
3. You should not choose too light, plain wallpaper: if the wall is treated poorly, there is a possibility of yellow spots appearing on its surface.
4. It is better to choose the color scheme and texture of liquid wallpaper based on the overall design of the apartment.

Before purchasing, you must carefully read the instructions for the dry wallpaper mixture: different types may differ in resistance to air temperature, moisture, and the presence of special components, for example, fungicides (substances that prevent the appearance of fungus and mold).

Interior of balconies with liquid wallpaper

Liquid wallpaper is increasingly being chosen for renovation of premises. This is an easy to apply and aesthetically pleasing type of wall design. Look at the photos with examples of room design

Tyutyunnikov Dmitry

Article verified by a decorative finishing specialist

Preparing the mass for use

Liquid wallpaper for balconies is initially a dry mixture packed in transparent plastic packaging, consisting of the following components:

• Natural cotton or silk fibers of relatively short length;
• Water-insoluble dyes;
• Acrylic water-soluble dispersion as a binder;
• Additional decorative components - powders with the effect of gold, silver, mother-of-pearl, etc.

Recommendations for the volume of liquid added can be found in the instructions included with each package.

It is better to pour the mixture into a spacious container. In this case, the amount of composition prepared at one time should be sufficient to cover all the walls. If you prepare the mixture for the balcony walls in separate portions, the color of the coating may vary in different places.

It is recommended to add water preheated to a temperature above room temperature. The mixture is stirred with your hands, rubbing thoroughly to avoid the formation of lumps or dry, unmoistened flakes as in the attached photo.

The finished composition is left to swell on the balcony or in the room for a couple of hours. After this time, the liquid wallpaper will significantly increase in volume and will be ready for application.

Bamboo wallpaper

Bamboo wallpaper is made from bamboo sections; the lamellas are glued to rice paper or fabric. The result is a rather interesting-looking coating that has a lot of advantages :

• environmental friendliness;
• wear resistance;
• pleasant appearance;
• moisture resistance;
• durability up to 35 years.

You will have to glue bamboo wallpaper with a special glue for heavy canvases. Certain difficulties may arise when adjusting the pattern and when cutting the canvas across the slats; only a grinder can save you here.

Ideas and use cases

There can be a lot of ideas for using this wallpaper, it all depends on your imagination. You can apply them to anything. When thinking about the appearance of a balcony or loggia, it is worth considering that the material can be applied not only to walls, but also to any other surface (cabinet doors, shelves, pipes).

This finishing option is suitable for balconies of all types and shapes, and the unevenness of the walls and other features of the room have virtually no effect on the process of applying the material.

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How to choose a freezer for a balcony

Small-sized small kitchens are a fairly common occurrence in our city apartments, be it a five-story or nine-story building, but large kitchens are rare. That is why the owners of such “apartments” are constantly trying to find free space in the interior in order to place large items there. This place can also be a balcony (glazed loggia). But in order to finally find out whether it is possible to install a freezer on a balcony, you need to understand the principle of operation of the refrigeration unit.

First, let's look at what the refrigerant is, which is used in all refrigerators and other installations and how it freezes food:

• This is a special liquid that is charged into the system;
• Has a boiling point in the range below 0 C;
• When the refrigerant boils in the evaporator, it takes heat from the internal volume of the freezer, due to which the food is frozen;
• The refrigerant then passes through the compressor and turns back into a liquid;
• The accumulated heat is distributed throughout the room due to the heat exchanger, which is located on the back wall of the freezer.

And since the temperature in the apartment is almost always above zero, the refrigerant parameters are selected for normal operation of the unit precisely in such conditions. Thus, household models of freezers are charged with refrigerant, which is designed for use inside heated premises (apartments, houses and warm balconies). Therefore, a freezer can be installed on the balcony, provided that it will be heated in winter. It is best to install a freezing unit on a loggia that has heated floors and radiators so that the temperature does not drop to minus 0 degrees. This is very important if the freezer will be on the balcony all the time in winter and you are not going to turn it off.

In practice, all manufacturers consider the operating range of the refrigerant in freezers to be a climate class. Therefore, for southern latitudes and subtropics, respectively, the refrigerant is selected taking into account these temperatures so that it can be activated during positive fluctuations. And for northern latitudes, completely different refrigerant parameters are provided.

When installing a freezer on a balcony, you must remember that at sub-zero temperatures, the process of converting the refrigerant from a gaseous state to a liquid begins a little earlier, and therefore makes it impossible for the compressor to operate. Thus, operating the freezer on a balcony or loggia with sub-zero temperatures will accordingly lead to its breakdown.

Also very important is the electronic unit of the refrigerator or thermostat, which is responsible for turning on the compressor. Modern freezing units have a thermostat that responds to:

• Duration of cold retention during a power outage.
• The temperature rise is more than +4.5 C (this is the lower temperature limit);
• Reaching the programmed temperature inside the freezer.

Therefore, if the temperature on the loggia is sub-zero, the thermostat will not turn the compressor on or off, and accordingly the freezer will never turn on. Thus, we can conclude that you can install a freezer on a balcony or loggia, but subject to the above conditions.