Wall Paint vs. Wallpaper
Are you done with your construction or renovation work and are in the process of deciding what will be the best choice for your walls? Well, in most cases, the selection space is slim, and you will have to choose between wallpapering and painting when it comes to doing finishes on your walls.
Remember, the walls of your home have the unique advantage of changing your interiors into elegant spaces that will remain the talk of your neighborhood as long as the finishes are professionally installed.
In essence, you may transform a dramatic room into a soft and airy space by applying a light pale paint color. Similarly, wallpaper can transform your room from its ‘massive’ size to a cozier place with striking patterns if done professionally.
You have to dig deeper and look into the pros and cons of paint and wallpaper before committing your hard-earned money.
Here are the factors to consider when choosing between wallpaper and paint when making your home finishes.
#1 The Preparation Process
It would be best to consider the length of time you will prepare your walls before installing the wallpaper or making it ready for painting. However, you may skip this point if your walls are bare. Nonetheless, preparation is part of the process you must think about if you have to deal with a finish of any sort mounted on your walls.
Wallpaper vs. Paint
It may be an uphill task to remove existing wallpaper from your walls when installing a new finish. In particular, you need to be prepared to deal with a very tedious process that will need the right tools, your physical presence, patience, and time investment to be effective. In addition, even though you may choose to use a chemical to strip the wallpaper, you need to be extra careful to minimize the damages.
Paint when compared to wallpaper
As opposed to wallpapers, paint presents you with significant advantages when you deal with a wall that requires prior preparations. For example, you only need 24 hours to let your walls dry if you deal with an imperfect surface. Similarly, you may apply a coat of primer paint well in advance over the original color to make the process much easier. In essence, you will need little preparation time when dealing with paint compared to wallpaper.
#2 Durability and selection
Remember, both wallpapers and paints come in many colors and kinds. While coloring will come in different sheens and glosses, most wallpaper will come in different colors, finishes, and vinyl surfaces. Here, you must consider your family’s lifestyle as the critical judgment point when selecting between wallpaper and paint, as highlighted below:
Wallpaper
In most cases, wallpapers will grant you durability as one of the most significant advantages. They are sturdy and can withstand physical wear and tear pressures caused by children, pets, and high traffic.
Though durable, wallpapers also come with a disadvantage. Remember, the wallpaper you purchase from the local store will come with an adhesive. Unfortunately, this makes them ineffective when applied in high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms, as they will start peeling from the wall.
Paint
Paint has been proven to be the best option for areas in your home that need easy and inexpensive application. Similarly, some types of color, like high gloss and semi-gloss, are highly durable when used in exteriors and trim surfaces. Likewise, your interior walls will present an excellent finish when using eggshell, satin, or flat sheen.
However, you may need to install repairs and repaints any moment your walls get damaged, scratched, or hit. Such maintenance won’t be necessary with wallpaper.
#3 The location
The room’s location will act as a significant determinant of whether you should adopt paint or wallpaper. Remember, some areas of your house, like the bathrooms and washrooms, need a lot of creativity.
Wallpaper
Most of the modern wallpaper manufacturers will present you with something relatively durable. However, it would help if you remembered that wallpapers are most likely to peel off when installed in moist conditions and locations like your bathrooms. So remember, you want something that will grant you a flawless finish with a lot of ease.
Paint
Paint is the best option for application in almost every part of your house. In particular, you must consider adopting paint for the rooms of your home that are humid and moldy.
#4 The Cost
Cost must be a major factor to consider when installing wallpaper or applying paint on your walls. Often, you will find yourself grappling with the question, “is paint more expensive than wallpaper?” Well, this greatly depends. Remember, there are factors to consider when vetting the cost-effectiveness of wallpapering over wall painting. So, please read on to know whether you should go for wallpaper or paint the next time you operate on a strict budget.
Wallpaper
Wallpapers are readily available in retail stores and hardware stores in your hood. However, you might have to spend more when dealing with wallpapering as a one-time investment as they will come at a higher cost than painting. However, the longevity of wallpapers makes them a cost-effective choice in the long run.
Paint
In comparison, paint is readily available at any hardware store in your area. Similarly, you will need minimal time, resources, and skill investments anytime you deal with paint. This aspect only shows that the overall costs when conducting the painting will be relatively lower compared to a wallpaper job.
Paint or Wallpaper? You Decide!
Paint and wallpaper have remained as the key options any time you want to decorate your home. As discussed, both painting and wallpapering have their advantages and disadvantages. Wallpapering comes with beauty and sturdiness as the major advantages.
However, painting is cost-effective and suitable for all locations in your home, and easy to prepare. As such, paint becomes the option of choice when dealing with your wall repairs and restoration.
In the end you will notice that you want to go with less time-consuming activities and would prefer to go with professional painters who will add value to the rooms in your house. The right painters, like Painter Pro, will make sure to leave your rooms looking fantastic.
If you are looking for interior additions that last longer, reach out to the professionals at Painter Pro today to start your painting project.
Contact the Team at Painter Pro Today When Thinking about Wallpaper Vs. Paint
We Provide High-End Painting, Tailored To Your Specific Needs, All Backed By Our Industry-Leading Guarantees & FREE Touch-Up Program in the Martinsville, Monrovia, Morgantown, Trafalgar, Nashville, Mooresville, Bloomington, Ellettsville, Greenwood, Franklin, Whiteland, Bargersville Danville, Clayton, Plainfield, & Avon areas.
Whether you want to update your business to reflect a modern style or refresh the walls of your home, we can do it. With professional house painters and quality products, we have what it takes to transform your property so that it looks beautiful for years to come.
If you are tired of the unsightly look of your cabinets, consider hiring us for cabinet painting, as we can use a variety of paints and techniques to help you get the desired effect.
Call now to schedule your free initial consultation. We’ll discuss your needs and let you know about your paint color options.
Remember that whether you are dealing with paint or wallpaper, we are here for you.
Sam Reuter founded Painter Pro in November 2015. Coming from a well-rounded construction and home improvement background, Sam has always been fascinated by the trades. He first started knocking on doors with his cousin for their lawn care business, then added painting to his repertoire. Soon, painting became the primary source of business for a couple of summers.
Sam is dedicated to helping homeowners and businesses achieve beautiful results with professional painting services. With Painter Pro, he can share his wealth of experience and knowledge with others and make their homes look fantastic too!
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Paint comprises a pigment and solvent. Different types of paints use different kinds of solvents, and each solvent behaves differently. Water-based paints, commonly used for interior painting, contain water as the main solvent. Oil-based paints, often used for exterior painting, contain organic solvents. While water-based paints are relatively safe, some of the pigments used to make the color could contain toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that make them behave like oil-based paints when inhaled. Lead paints were common before 1980 but were banned due to their harmful effects on people’s health.
Toxicity levels of paint increase with prolonged exposure. Take frequent breaks from the job site to catch some fresh air and reduce exposure to toxic compounds. In addition, ensure the room is properly ventilated. If there is no window, bring in a box fan to expel the paint fumes. After painting, leave the windows for a couple of days to ensure circulation of fresh air. However, it will definitely take you more time to complete your painting project. A local painting crew will help you finish the job in a timely manner.
