How to make liquid wallpaper with your own hands

Recommendation points

• What to choose for raw materials
• Calculation of proportions
• Calculation of the proportion of water and paper for soaking
• Adding binder and tinting
• Worker properties

The article describes how to make liquid wallpaper at home. You will learn how to calculate the proportional composition of the finishing wall covering from improvised material, how to select raw materials and color the mixture. The article also provides a calculation of the cost of “home” liquid wallpaper, gives advice on applying.

The basis of the decorative putty composition, known as liquid wallpaper, is made up of cellulose and viscose. Both of these materials are recycled raw materials, which means that their cost is minimal. The composition of liquid wallpaper is prepared at the factory, but an inexpensive analogue can be made at home.

What to choose for raw materials

As you know, cellulose is a raw material for the production of paper, cardboard, fiberboard and even laminate. In the manufacture of these materials, it is molded and cut into the desired form. At the same time, the original composition of raw materials remains practically unchanged. This allows such products to be recycled many times. It should be noted that with each next time a product is obtained of a different, lower grade (looser).

Consider how to make a finishing material from paper and cardboard (and of excellent quality).

Calculation of proportions

First you need to soak the sheets in water. At first, it is necessary to strictly observe the proportion of components: water and paper, but after several cycles you will be able to follow the recipe using your own experience.

Calculation of the proportion of water and paper for soaking

For 40 A4 sheets, 1.25 liters of water will be optimal. Accordingly, 1 sheet accounts for: 1250/40 = 31.25 ml (we take 30 ml of water).

Any cellulose-containing material can be used as raw material. Its amount can be found out based on the proportion of A4 sheet. Suppose you have a heap of written or printed sheets, cardboard or fiberboard of unknown weight. To determine the proportion, you need weights and simple calculations:

1. The density of ordinary office paper is 80 g / sq. m.
2. The size of A4 sheet is 210×297 mm, we take 200×300 mm = 0.2×0.3 m.The area of ​​one sheet is S = 0.06 sq. m.
3. The weight of one sheet M = S x 80 = 0.06 x 80 = 4.8 g, we take 5 g.
4. 1 g of dry raw materials accounts for 30/5 = 6 ml of water.

With this proportion (rate), you can soak any amount of raw materials. The paper should be completely soaked, soak up the water – this usually takes about 60 minutes. Then the contents should be thoroughly mixed with a construction mixer (nozzle).

Adding binder and tinting

The uniqueness of this composition is that it uses a combined binder consisting of two components. Their optimal proportions have been established empirically..

PVA glue.It is necessary for gluing cellulose particles (fibers) together. Stationery is suitable, but better (and cheaper) – construction PVA. The larger the volume of the solution, the more profitable it is to use construction adhesive. For 40 sheets of paper (200 g), 200 ml of glue is enough, that is, 1 ml of glue is needed for 1 g of dry raw materials.

Gypsum.Provides adhesion to the substrate. For 5 g of dry raw materials (1 sheet) – 5 g of gypsum or 1: 1. You can use plaster putty or compounds for joints, cracks, etc..

Attention! The setting speed of the composition directly depends on the grade of gypsum – the higher it is, the faster the solution will harden. Do not use stale plaster.

Advice.For measuring bulk material, it is convenient to use a measuring spoon for baby food – it contains exactly 5 grams of gypsum.

Tinting.This is a strictly individual stage – the shade is established empirically. You can use any type of color scheme – paste, powder, liquid. The last two are convenient because they are easy to dose. The amount of toner is also determined based on 1 g of dry raw materials.

Advice.When tinting (tinting) the mixture, take into account the color of the raw material. If it is supposed to use brown containerboard, the shades should be from yellow to dark brown. For other colors, use white paper (used).

Any decorative additive can be used – even cosmetic glitters, ground glass, beads will do.

The order of addition:

1. Dry raw materials (cut, shredded).
2. Water.
3. PVA glue.
4. Color.
5. Gypsum.

Proportions based on 1 kg of dry raw materials (cardboard, paper):

Substance	Unit measurements	Qty	Price, cu e.
Dry raw materials	Kg	1	–
Water	l	6	–
PVA glue	l	1	1
Gypsum (putty)	Kg	1	0.15
Kohler (powder)	Kg	0.1	0.5
Total		9 kg	1.65
	1 kg	0.18

Consumption of similar material (liquid wallpaper) per 1 sq. m 1 mm thick is about 250 g (1/4 kg). That is, its cost will be 0.18 / 4 = 0.046 cu. e. / sq. m.

Worker properties

The resulting composition has excellent adhesion to concrete, brick and gypsum board due to the combination of PVA glue and gypsum. This allows it to be applied in a relatively thin layer of 1–1.5 mm. The maximum layer can be up to 10-15 mm. To strengthen the layer, you can add viscose – its fibers will make it more tear-resistant and give the elasticity necessary for finishing complex junctions and corners.

Benefits:

1. Exceptionally low price.
2. Continuous seamless coating.
3. High adhesion to the substrate.
4. High adhesion to the finishing layer – paint, varnish.
5. No pre-filling and leveling of the surface required.
6. Heat insulating properties.

Disadvantages:

1. Requires protection from moisture (coating with a finishing coat of paint or varnish).
2. Limited design options.

The applied and dried composition has a uniform structure, the relief of which can be adjusted during the application process – to make it smoother or more voluminous, to imprint a drawing or pattern.

The recipe is based on the principle of creating papier-mâché crafts. The advantages of this “novelty” clearly outweigh the drawbacks, but it should be noted that this “hand-made” is positioned as an ultra-budget, almost free option. From a price point of view, the roster has no competitors and it is unlikely that they will appear in the near future.