What are Non-Woven wallpapers?
- Good & Craft
- Oct 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 9
Adding wallpaper to your home is an exciting step. Whether it’s the culmination of a long renovation project or simply a redecorating effort, wallpaper has the power to instantly transform any room. But do you know what material is your wallpaper made of?
There are several different wallpaper substrates on the market and it might feel doubting and confusing to choose a material, especially if you just started to get familiar with wallpaper.
Knowing what your wallpaper is made of is important. It isn't just about understanding if the production of the wallpaper is environmental friendly or not. Different substrates come with different characteristics, require different wallpaper adhesives and different methods to hang the paper. Some substrates might not even be suitable for the space you intend to hang wallpaper in. Non-woven wallpapers are a game-changer for environmentally conscious home decor. But what does it mean when the wallpaper is described as non-woven wallpapers (also known as paste the wall wallpapers)?
All our Good & Craft wallcoverings are non-woven wallpapers. In this post talk about what they are made of, how to install them, and why they are environmentally friendly amongst other benefits, but also briefly talk about other available substrates.
What are non-woven wallpapers made of?
With the introduction of the non-woven substrate over a decade ago, the world of wallpaper has experienced a revolution. The principle of wet laying process for non-woven wallpapers is similar to paper manufacturing. Non-woven wallpapers are sheets crafted of directionally or randomly orientated fibers from a blend of responsible sourced natural and synthetic materials. Non-woven wallpapers, renowned for their sturdiness, are tear-resistant and durable, maintainig their look for years without peeling or warping.
Another advantage is that non-wovens are breathable, which means they allow air and moisture to pass through. Back in the 90ies wallpapers became less desired because people were scared that wallpapers could cause a problem of mould. The paper substrate the manufacturers used at this time was locking in vapours between the paper and the wall. Which meant that the wallpaper back then was unable to breathe. Nowadays, the breathable nature of non-woven wallpapers prevents the buildup of mold or mildew, and ensures a healthier indoor environment while maintaining the durability and beauty of your walls. This is making them an excellent choice and many of those wallpapers can even be used in humid spaces like bathrooms and kitchens (always check with the wallpaper company and your decorator!)
Although non-woven wallpapers are a lot more durable than other paper substrates and can even be installed in a bathroom (given that there is a good ventilation system in place),
hanging a non-woven wallpaper in a bathroom might still not be as durable as a vinyl wallpaper. However, it is important to highlight that non-woven wallpapers are much more environmentally friendly and unlike traditional vinyl wallpapers, which rely on PVC and emit harmful toxins, non-woven wallpapers align with a commitment to protecting the planet.
If you love nature as much as we do, you probably also don’t want a vinyl wallpaper in your home either. But let's have a close look at the eco-friendly construction of non-woven wallpapers.
Environmentally Friendly: Sustainable Style for Your Walls
When browsing for wallpapers you will come across vinyl wallpapers sooner or later as, unfortunately, vinyl wallpapers are (still) widely available in the world of decorating.
Our Good & Craft wallpapers, designed with an eco-friendly approach in mind, are all non-woven wallpapers as we are committed to steer clear of supporting the production of vinyl wallpapers.
Vinyl wallpapers are, as their name says, made of vinyl (PVC plastic). Polyvinyl chloride plastic is uniquely toxic among plastics because of its ingredients, extreme pollution from production, and last but not least its disposal. The essential raw materials for PVC are derived from salt and oil, and it is produced with chlorine. This results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals. PVC, therefore, is the most environmentally damaging of all plastics. Vinyl is widely used in the building industry (flooring, plumbing), transport, packaging, toys, etc. About 40 million tonnes are produced per year.
Non-woven wallpapers on the other hand have a significantly lower carbon footprint than vinyl wallpapers, and are often printed with non-toxic inks, ensuring minimal environmental impact during production. The absence of harmful chemicals not only reduces pollution but also makes them a safer choice for homes.
All our Good & Craft wallpapers do not contain vinyl. Our wallpaper are manufactured by a British mill, using high-quality non-woven substrates from controlled sources and are printed with water-based, environmentally friendly inks.
Paste the wall wallpapers
Non-woven wallpapers are also known as "paste the wall" wallcoverings.
Traditional wallpapers have their paste applied directly onto the back of the wallpaper, which requires more preparation time as you need to have your paper soaked.
For non-woven wallpaper, however, you will need to apply the paste to the wall and place the wallpaper dry (as it comes from the roll) against the wall. The paste-the-wall application of non-woven wallpapers offers a significant advantage over traditional wallpapers, as it eliminates the need for soaking the paper, which often makes other wallpapers more prone to tearing. The paste-the-wall application therefore makes the hanging of the wallpaper easier, quicker and mess-free, also giving the decorator time to align the pattern nicely as those sturdy papers can be repositioned during installation.
While non-woven wallpapers are durable and often an addition to the home that will last for many years to come, we will have a closer look at how to remove them as non-woven wallpapers do come with the benefit of easy removal.
Remove non-woven wallpapers easily
It is normal being a little hesitant to put wallpaper up in your home. Many of us are renting and no one fancies to painfully scrape paper off cm by cm when moving out again (given that the landlord or new owner is not that much in love with your wallpaper as you are), or you are redecorating your home every now and then. Thanks to the advancements in materials and adhesives, luckily a difficult removal is not the case with non-woven wallpapers. Non-woven wallcoverings are easy to be removed (strippable) in long flowing strips without tearing. This means they can be peeled off cleanly without damaging the wall underneath. Over are the days when paper-based wallpapers left damage to the wall and took hours to be removed, non-woven wallpapers can be removed within minutes.
How to clean your wallpaper:
The blend of natural and synthetic fibers makes non-woven wallpaper easy to be cleaned. In the past, any spill of coffee, tea or similar would have left a mark on your wallpaper that you couldn’t get off that easy. Non-woven wallcoverings, however, can be cleaned with mild soap and a bit of water.
By choosing non-woven wallpapers, you’re embracing a stylish, long-lasting product that aligns with your commitment to protecting the planet.
Summary advantages of non-woven wallpapers:
Compared to papers, non-woven wallpapers have:
Higher strength: They are more durable than paper bases
Better tear resistance: They are renowned for their sturdiness and have a thick feel.
Are easier to install: Paste the wall and not the paper.
Are easier to remove: They are strippable. No more scraping like back in the old days.
Can be cleaned: They are slightly washable with a sponge and mild soap.
No mould: Wallpapers used to be non-breathable which means that they were locking in vapours between itself and the wall. This could have caused mould. This won't happen with non-wovens as they are breathable.
Compared to vinyl: Significantly lower carbon footprint
Why not browse our full range of eco-frienly non-woven based wallcoverings here
and get inspired to add colour and unique patterns to your walls.
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