Wall decoration with PVC panels

2024 Author: Arianna Cook | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:23

Recommendations for the selection of PVC panels, material characteristics, surface cladding methods, pros and cons of using plastic. Wall decoration with PVC panels is a surface cladding with decorative polyvinyl chloride sheets. Lightweight and practical elements look great in any room and last for a long time. To avoid troubles during installation and operation, study the background information on the material.

Advantages and disadvantages of plastic wall panels

Plastic products have many advantages and are rightly popular in construction work. Users highlight the following positive aspects of the material:

PVC panels for walls are not made from toxic and harmful components. The absence of harmful fumes allows you to decorate the walls of residential premises.
The surfaces finished with plastic are very beautiful. Manufacturers produce a wide range of panels with a variety of patterns.
Products can be painted, pasted over with material, high-quality images can be applied.
Plastic consists of cells, therefore, it has a fairly large indicator of thermal insulation.
Coating modules are manufactured with high precision, which allows you to quickly finish large areas.
The panels can be mounted at any angle to the ceiling - horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
All kinds of fittings look acceptable on plastic - electrical outlets and switches, ventilation grilles, etc.
Plastic tolerates frost well, it does not deteriorate for many years on open balconies.
The material is used for finishing walls and ceilings in wet rooms (showers, bathrooms, swimming pools).
Plastic can be used to finish walls from any coating without preliminary surface finishing.
Plastic is quickly washed, the seams between the panels are small, and dirt does not collect there, which is appreciated in kitchens and in household premises.

Despite its many advantages, PVC plastic wall panels are not considered an ideal coating. Users should be aware of the negative aspects of the material:

Before cladding on the wall, it is necessary to mount the crate, which takes a lot of time to align.
Working with the material requires patience and care; the material is processed with a special tool.
The material does not breathe, it does not have the correct ratio of moisture resistance to vapor permeability. Therefore, in some rooms (for example, in bedrooms) it is not recommended to trim the walls with this material.
The surface of the plastic reflects, because of this, it cannot be used in the children's room, the child will be irritated.
In some places, the use of PVC panels is prohibited by fire services, for example, in corridors, on escape routes. The material does not burn well, but under the influence of high temperature, the plastic releases toxic fumes.

Types of PVC panels for walls

Plastic panels are distinguished in many ways, but most often they are classified by the method of decorating the front sheet and by the size of the modules.

Depending on the size, plastic lining, panel and tile are distinguished:

Plastic lining … These are long, rectangular sheets. The panel is formed by two plates with partitions and hollow channels between them. Sample length - 3-12 m, width - 100-500 mm, thickness - 8-12 mm. Lining is used for finishing walls and ceilings. For fastening, it is recommended to complete the wall lathing.
Plastic panels … They differ from the lining in dimensions, the most common dimensions are 1220x2440x3.2 mm. The front side imitates tiles.
Plastic tiles … Available in square shape with sizes from 0, 30x0, 30 m to 1x1 m.

The classification of panels for decorating the front panel depends on the method of applying the image:

Thermal transfer drawing on the panel … Differs in bright colors and the ability to maintain its original appearance for a long time. With its help, you can decorate a room in a specific style. The coating technology consists in transferring a special thermal film with a pattern to the plastic and then coating the surface with varnish, which protects the material from mechanical stress and household chemicals.
Offset drawing … To create an offset print on the panel, a special roller is used that resembles a typographic print. The image on the panel is covered with two layers of varnish.
Panel lamination … Such products are distinguished by high image quality. A special film creates a three-dimensional effect and has a variety of textures. The film is glued to the plastic with a special glue. After lamination, the panel has increased steam and moisture resistance. These modules are the most durable of the entire range of plastic products.

The panels differ in the type of joint between adjacent products and can form three connection options:

Seamless panels … The most common type of material. After finishing the walls with PVC panels, the surface will be smooth, but the quality level of the stretch ceiling cannot be achieved - the junction will still be visible. To obtain a high-quality seamless surface, the panels are carefully selected and checked for joining in the store. You should also carefully make the sheathing of the covering. Seamless panels are available in widths of 20, 25, 30 and 33 cm.
Embossed lining … Differs in relief connection between individual modules. The material is used in case of possible deformation of the base surface, for example, when the house shrinks. The divergence of the seam between the panels is masked by the relief joint of the panels. The markets sell sheets of 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 33 cm wide.
Rustic panels … They have the properties of a seamless and embossed material. They differ from other types of panels in that instead of a groove or a protrusion, chamfers are made at the ends of the sheets.

Selection criteria for plastic panels for walls

In hardware stores, the assortment of PVC panels is always large, so approach the purchase of goods responsibly. Pay attention to the following factors:

Before fixing the PVC panels to the wall, check that there are no scratches, cuts, stains or other defects on the front part.
Panels with a thick face sheet and a large number of stiffeners will be more durable. Quality panels are heavier due to the numerous stiffeners.
Choose sheets with straight edges, their condition affects the appearance of the panel. Please note that strength and PVC panels are incompatible concepts; this material should not be used in public places.
Stiffening rib marks and other defects should not be visible on the panel surface.
The panels must be tightly and securely connected to each other. With a seamless joint, after joining the sheets, the gaps are barely visible.
The surface of a well-made sheet is without unpainted areas, with clear patterns.
A quality panel is expensive. Cheap panels are made from low-grade material and low-quality glue. The sheets release toxic substances and can provoke an allergic reaction in the body.
If you have a choice, purchase products from well-known brands.
Bend the sheet so that it bends by 30-50%, and then examine the place of deformation. There are no deflections on a quality panel.
Do not confuse ceiling and wall panels. The first type has a lower strength; when pressed with a finger, the front sheet will easily bend. You can also distinguish panels by length: ceiling panels are produced in lengths of 6 or 12 m, wall panels - 2, 7, 3 or 6 m.
Wall panels are at least 10 mm thick, ceiling panels are thinner.
You can find PVC panels in a wide variety of shades on the market. If it is difficult to make a choice, buy white sheets, they look good with any color. On plastic panels, patterns are often applied that imitate a cut of natural material or are made as patterns.
Drawings that are too contrasting can irritate over time.
Panels with pictures must be purchased with a margin for stitching images. Expensive panels with patterns can be embossed; such samples are not recommended for use in the kitchen due to the complexity of cleaning the surface.
The surface of the plastic panels can be glossy, matte or semi-glossy. The option of finishing the outer layer is not reflected on the quality of the material.

Technology for mounting PVC panels on walls

The choice of fixing plastic panels depends on many factors - the quality of the surface finish, the weight of the panels, the purpose of the room, etc. Each fixing option has its own characteristics, but there are also general operations. These include the choice of tools and the acquisition of auxiliary elements.

Tools and materials for laying PVC panels on walls

Screwdriver for screwing in the fasteners of the lathing

Without the right tooling, you cannot get a high-quality surface. Stock up on such devices in advance:

A jigsaw or circular saw with a fine tooth. The saw is preferred due to the stiffness of the cutting tool. The jigsaw blade can deform during the cut, and the cutting line will turn out to be wavy.
Staple gun (construction stapler) for fixing the board to the wood sheathing.
Special rubber mallet for dismantling the panel, for pulling out the panel jammed in the grooves. Without it, the installation profile or battens can be damaged.
Plastering trowel 80-120, which is used to bend the finishing profile when installing the last board.
Screwdriver for screwing in the lathing fasteners.
Building level to control the position of the battens and panels in the vertical plane.
Drill for making fixing holes in the wall.

To simplify the installation of PVC panels on the wall, it is recommended to purchase additional profiles that will speed up the work and improve the surface quality:

Starting profile - attached first and is the base level to which the panels are aligned.
Finishing profile - installed last after attaching the outer sheet.
External corner profile - allows you to form beautiful protruding corners of the room.
Internal corner profile - installed in the inner corner of the room.
Docking profiles - used to lengthen a plastic sheet or to create a seating surface on a wall for installing a mirror.

Laying plastic panels on the wall on the frame

One of the options for wall cladding with panels is to attach the plastic to the frame. The lathing allows you to mount the coating without leveling the walls in any room.

The basis for the plastic coating is wooden beams or metal profiles. Wooden slats are chosen with a width of 40-60 mm and a thickness of 20-25 mm. For the lathing, buy well-dried lumber with a length slightly longer than the height of the wall, it is always easier to trim the excess than add the missing part. It is also advisable to impregnate all wooden blocks with a water-repellent compound.

Metal profiles are sold in standard lengths, so the choice in length is limited. It is recommended to use a rack C-profile for lathing. The material of the slats depends on the purpose of the room. For example, stainless steel profiles are installed in the bathroom, the wood will quickly rot.

Wall cladding with PVC panels is performed as follows:

Clean old decorative coatings from the walls. Examine the surface for mold or mildew and remove the damaged surface if necessary.
Treat the wall with an antiseptic.
The placement of profiles on the wall depends on the orientation of the panels - horizontal or vertical. In vertical orientation, first of all, the slats are attached to the top and bottom of the walls.
The bottom rail is fixed near the floor for fixing the skirting board. Then, in the corners of the walls, vertical profiles are set and vertical profiles are attached, while their outer surfaces should lie in the same plane with the surfaces of the already fixed rails.
Acceptable ceiling gaps depend on the ceiling covering method. If the ceiling is finished with PVC panels, make the gap wide. Otherwise, fix the bars as high as possible.
When fixing the rails, it is necessary to control the level of their position in the horizontal plane and with the help of a plumb line, the vertical position. The gaps that appear between the profiles and the surface are sealed with wooden gaskets.
The inner battens must always be perpendicular to the long side of the boards. They are placed in increments of 40-60 cm. During installation, the bars should be parallel to the slats fixed along the perimeter of the wall and be located in the same plane with the upper and lower slats.
Apply vertical lines to the wall in the corners of the room using a plumb line to attach the starting and finishing or corner profiles. Fasten the starting (corner) profile with a stapler to the vertical rail of the batten, guided by the applied vertical mark.
Attach the horizontal starter profile to the top profile. Measure the distance between the upper starter profile and the floor.
Cut the panel sheet from the blank to size.
Insert the first sheet into the groove of the starter profile.
Check the vertical position of the sheets with a level.
If the results are satisfactory, fix the panel to the batten with a stapler. Insert the second panel into the groove of the first sheet, slide until the seam between them disappears and secure. Check its vertical position.
Repeat the operation to install all panels to the end of the wall.
The last sheet is attached in a special way. First, fasten the finishing profile to the crate. Then measure the gap between the penultimate sheet and the finishing profile and cut the excess piece along the sheet to size. For installation, slightly bend the panel and place it in the seats of the sheet and finishing profile. The last sheet is not attached and is held only by the profiles.
If you need to finish the walls of the room around the perimeter, an angular profile is installed in the corner, attached to the wall, and then the next wall is cladding.

Fastening PVC panels to walls with tape

The opinion that plastic modules are attached only to the crate is outdated for a long time. Under certain conditions, do-it-yourself wall decoration with PVC panels is carried out on a soft crate or using an adhesive method.

Installation on a soft crate involves the use of double-sided foamed tape with a width of 60 mm and a thickness of 2-4 mm. Scotch tape is very viscous and elastic, when a load is applied, it stretches, after removal it returns to its original form.

The panels are laid on a soft crate as follows:

Clean walls from paint, wallpaper, and peeling plaster.
Smooth the surface with a putty. Irregularities and protrusions with a depth of no more than half the thickness of the adhesive tape are allowed.
Cut the panel blanks to the height of the wall.
Draw vertical lines on the walls, along which the panels will be aligned.
Glue the tape to the wrong side of the sheet, around the perimeter.
Remove the protective tape from the adhesive tape and glue the panel to the wall as soon as possible, referring to the mark on the wall.
Check the verticality of the panel with a level.
Fix the adjacent panels in the same way, check their verticality and absence of drops with the adjacent sheet.
After finishing the work, fix the skirting boards to the top and bottom of the lining. Another option is to install starter profiles instead of skirting boards.

Fixing PVC panels to walls with glue

This method is used if the wall is perfectly leveled with putty or finished with plasterboard sheets. The advantage of the adhesive connection is the absence of a lathing, which allows you to keep the size of the room.

The panels are laid on liquid nails, it is recommended to use this adhesive for fixing panels with white, matte and glossy finishes. For application, you must use glue in tubes and a special gun.

The panels are glued as follows:

Remove old covering from the wall. If the surface is painted with oil paint, then the coating can not be removed, but only primed.
Carefully level the surface in one plane using a putty, layer thickness - 2-4 mm. With poor processing of the base wall, all irregularities will appear on the panels.
Prime the surface with an antiseptic primer.
Attach the starter profile to the top or bottom of the ceiling.
Clean any dust from the panel surface.
Apply glue to the wrong side of the sample in wavy lines. Wait 5 minutes, then install in the starter profile and glue to the wall.
To form the corners, use ordinary plastic corners 20x20 mm without lining grooves.

The process of wall decoration with the glue method is accelerated, but the glue does not hold too heavy modules. Also, you cannot use the glue joint in the kitchen, in the shower, in the gym.

During work, use the following guidelines:

Bring the material into the room a few hours before work, so that deformation of the coating after installation can be avoided.
It is advisable to finish the walls after finishing the ceiling and floor, this will facilitate the facing of the corners of the room.
Various units can be hidden behind the PVC panels, for access to them provide removable panels.
Determine in advance the locations of the sockets and switches and cut openings in the sheets.

How to fix PVC panels on the walls - watch the video:

The use of plastic panels for renovation of premises allows you to obtain excellent results at a minimum cost, within a short period of time. If you understand the nuances of finishing work, you can decorate the wall yourself, without the involvement of specialists.