What is Fabric?
Fabric has been around the field of decorating for a long time. It is also not a surprise that it has been used on wall finishes. The ability to keep a room warm, minimize the noise, beautify its surroundings, and its rich material does not compare to other material finishes. But just because this is so, choosing the material needs proper research and thorough decision-making as there are textiles that are not suitable for wall covering. And most importantly, it is highly advised not to use fabric wall coverings on areas where wear resistant is a concern. But nonetheless, having a fabric as wall covering is a luxury due to its cost.
Fabric walls could make a luxurious-like interior, although leathers may create an attractive surface, they are not highly preferred as wall cover due to its difficulty involved in cleaning, unlike natural fabrics. Natural fabrics are made of natural supplements and can be expensive to purchase. However, as its name suggests natural fabric is more durable, soft, luxurious and resilient. Some of the common used natural fibres used to make fabric are linen, cotton, silk, hemp, jute, wool, horsehair, cashmere, mohair and camelhair. Artificial fibers are obtained from different engineered processes or alterations of existing natural fibers. The market of artificial fibers has widened due to modern techniques. Some of the popular artificial fibers used to create fabrics are acetate, rayon, triacetate and modified rayon. Synthetic fiber is again man-made fiber that is used to improve the quality of natural and artificial fibers. Fabrics are highly susceptible to mold, mildew and other odor causing bacteria so it needs proper cleaning maintenance. Standard fabric wall coverings may be vacuumed to remove dust, water should not be used on fabrics because it may cause the fabric to shrink and split- spots. To remove the stains, only chemicals recommended by the manufacturer. Some cleaning solutions may adversely affect the fire-resistant characteristics of the fabric.
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Kinds of Fabric
1. Backed Fabric- Most textiles must be back coated to be installed as wall covering to provide a barrier to prevent adhesive from bleeding through and ruining the finish face of the fabric. Backings also provide the dimensional stability required for a textile to withstand the stretching and smoothing operations of installation.a. Paper-backed Fabrics- process involves laminating paper to the reverse side of the textile. This process stiffens the textile for easier installation and helps hide defects in the wall.
b. Latex-coated Fabrics- process involves stratching the textile in a frame and applying latex compound
2. Unbacked Fabric- these are pre-treated to make them suitable for sticking to the wall. It is one of the most difficult materials because you have to work carefully to smooth out the fabric as you apply it to the wall.
What is Vinyl?
Vinyl flooring is a new type of resilient flooring in the market. Resilient folooring is simple artificial composite floors such as rubber, plastic, PVC, linoleum and the latest addition, Vinyl. They are produced massively in many parts of the world especially North America. Such synthetic flooring, which has been around for more than a century, act as a cost efficient substitute to natural floors such as wood, concrete, ceramic and marble. Resilient floors also reduce impact of heavy objects by creating a cushion effect; hence therefore reduce “slipping” accidents. However, as we approach into today’s era, people are getting more and more self-conscious about living longer and living healthily. People begin thinking about their children’s well being. Hence, they want to choose the best and ‘healthy’ flooring for their homes.
Vinyl flooring comes in either tile or sheet form. One of the least expensive forms of flooring, vinyl is very popular among homeowners. It provides a slightly softer surface than options like tile or wood, because the product is backed with a thin layer of either felt or foam—depending on the manufacturer. Vinyl tiles are available in a huge assortment of colors and styles, with some designs even mimicking the look of stone tiles or wood planks. It is also extremely durable depending on the quality of installation. Vinyl flooring is very resistant to dirt and water, and it’s one of the few flooring types that can be installed directly over the subfloor—or over a previous vinyl or linoleum installation—without requiring demolition first. It requires no maintenance after installation and it only needs to be swept and mopped to keep it clean.
There are two types of vinyl flooring: Sheet Vinyl and Vinyl Tile.
Sheet Vinyl has few joints which makes it ideal to use for interiors that are prone to moisture and bacteria. It is also possible to form a continuous pattern on sheet vinyl. Sheet Vinyl can also be used on monolithic walls which makes it easier to maintain. Like other materials, the cost also varies depending on the quality of the vinyl. It also comes in a wide variety of patterns, colors, and even textures.
Vinyl Tile is easier to install compared to Sheet Vinyl and it also is simple to remove damaged vinyl tiles. Resilient flooring like Vinyl Composition Tile or VCT is common and it is mostly made up of fillers with little portions of binder and pigments. VCT is hard but it is prone to breakage due to its composition.
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When determining the right vinyl look for a room, there are two main choices: Inlaid and Printed.
- Inlaid vinyl refers to when color granules are imbedded into the vinyl sheet. This gives the vinyl a deeper look, and provides the option for many colors. When examined closely, specks of varying shades can be seen, which create the overall hue.
- Printed vinyl is exactly as it sounds; a pattern or color is printed directly onto the vinyl. This type of vinyl flooring is what makes it such a popular choice for homes. Because of the nature of printed vinyl, it can be made to look like other, more expensive, floorings. Homeowners can achieve the look of hardwood or marble flooring, even if it isn’t in their budget. As far as colors and patterns available, the options are practically endless
Like most floorings, vinyl can come in different sizes and shapes to better fit the look of the room. Flooring can be made into sheets, tiles, or planks.
- Sheet – Sheets are ideal for moisture prone areas, like bathrooms or mudrooms. Sheets are expansive, usually 6 or 12 feet, which makes it nearly seamless when installed.
- Tile – Tiles are great when vinyl is made to look like marble or other classically tiled flooring. It can be relatively easy to install and creates a cohesive look in a new room.
- Plank – Planks are ideal for vinyl flooring that is made to look like hardwood, as it imitates how wood flooring is cut.
MEMBER'S CONTRIBUTION:
Bulanon, A- Fabric Information
Casas, C.- Vinyl Information, Created the Article
Delos Reyes, M- Fabric Information
Kabahar, T- Vinyl Information, Edited the Article
Lucmayon, A- Vinyl Information
Silao, D- Fabric Information
