With the help of finishing materials, which are presented on the market in a huge assortment, any design solutions can be realized. Natural materials are safe for health, but sometimes they are too heavy and “eat up” space, and their cost is not available to everyone. Fortunately, with the help of modern technologies, materials are produced that not only look natural, but also simplify repairs. One of the interesting and relevant options in modern design is decorative brick-like panels for interior decoration.
Types of brick panels and their features
For the manufacture of panels, various materials are used, but most often you can find two types.
PVC panels
Made of modern artificial material - polyvinyl chloride - with the addition of softeners. Raw material is white. After giving the product a textured pattern corresponding to the brickwork, a special technology is used to color it in the desired shades. Polyvinyl chloride has excellent soundproofing and heat-insulating properties.
The design of the walls with PVC brick panels allows you not to think about extraneous sounds and noises.
The material is absolutely safe for the health of others, so brick-like wall slabs for interior decoration are gaining popularity. The surface of PVC panels is easy to clean, which allows them to be used during finishing work in the kitchen.
MDF panels
Such products are made from wood chips, which are pressed under high pressure. Processing under the influence of high temperature makes the material more durable and reliable. Thanks to this, MDF panels have high quality characteristics. Such a finishing material is not afraid of temperature changes and even moisture accumulation, therefore it is considered an ideal option for lining the kitchen area, hallway and bathroom.
Gypsum products
Brick-like gypsum panels look especially good in the interior, which most accurately convey the texture of this material, so this imitation is practically indistinguishable from a real brick wall. Another advantage of gypsum products is absolute fire safety.
However, it should be remembered that gypsum is afraid of moisture, so this finish is only suitable for dry rooms.
Another feature of gypsum boards is quite a lot of weight. So, for example, a plate 50 × 50 × 3 cm weighs 4 kg.
Variety of forms
Brick wall panels can be of different shapes:
- The type-setting form of products imitating brick is a rectangular tile. Ideal for partial wall cladding where a precise selection of patterns is required.
- The rack panel is available in the form of boards of various widths.
- Sheet products are produced in the form of a plate with an area of 3 to 8 m2. This option is more technologically advanced during installation, as it allows you to simultaneously close a large area.
Advantages and disadvantages of wall panels
The popularity of brick panels for interior wall decoration is due to high quality characteristics, including:
- Resistant to high humidity.
- Ability to withstand sudden changes in temperature.
- Resistance to solar radiation, the color of the facing material does not change even with direct exposure to the sun's rays.
These parameters provide many advantages to finished products:
- Acceptable price.
- High-quality imitation of a real brick.
- Versatility of application, which makes it possible to organically combine panels with different facing materials.
- Easy and simple installation.
- Maintainability.
- High sound and heat insulation.
- Long operation.
But, like all building and finishing materials, brick wall slabs have their drawbacks:
- At high temperatures, the material can be deformed, so you should not use such a lining near open flames.
- Despite the declared strength, brick-like slabs are not able to withstand strong mechanical stress, which can lead to dents or scratches.
Price
The price of brick panels depends on several factors, which include:
- Material - MDF is usually more expensive than PVC.
- Manufacturer - Chinese and Malaysian products are the cheapest, Russian products are somewhat more expensive, products from Europe and the USA can be 2 or more times more expensive.
- Brand fame.
- The complexity of the drawing.
- The quality of the paints used.
Features of the choice of brick panels
When using the described products imitating brick, it is important to take into account the advice of experts:
- Brick-like wall panels are more often used when decorating rest rooms. However, the brickwork of an old castle can exert emotional pressure due to the lack of comfort.
- In one-room apartments, materials imitating brick are lined with one wall, while choosing soft, non-aggressive tones. This option does not overload the interior.
- With partial wall cladding, brick slabs of bright colors can be used. This will help highlight any area and create an interesting accent in the room. At the same time, it is worth remembering that you should not use MDF and PVC products when decorating fireplaces in order to avoid material deformation.
- It is not recommended to use red brick facing material for finishing living rooms. This can disrupt the calm emotional atmosphere in the apartment.
- Brick wall panels in white and light gray shades fit perfectly into the interior, which is dominated by pastel colors. However, in bedroom, whose walls are lined with such panels, a "chill" will be felt.
- When choosing a finish color, you should take into account the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, its lighting and the chosen style solution.
Wall decoration with brick panels
Panels can be mounted in two ways:
- In the first case, the plate is glued directly to the wall surface. At the same time, due to the flexibility of the product, minor irregularities are hidden. The adhesive composition is selected depending on the material from which the plates are made. Pasting starts from the corner, checking the evenness of the location using the building level. If necessary, the wall panel can be easily trimmed with a fine-tooth saw.
- The second way is to install the plate on the frame. This option is especially relevant when decorating walls with significant curvature. For mounting the frame, you can use wooden slats or a metal profile. Frame assembly begins with fastening to the floor and ceiling of the guide profile. Then, maintaining a certain step, vertical wall profiles are attached to the wall. Fastening wall panels under a brick for interior decoration is carried out using self-tapping screws.
Important! To prevent premature damage to the finishing boards during operation, it is recommended to place the profiles at a distance of 40 cm. You can pre-fix a plywood sheet on the frame, and place a wall panel on top of it.
A brick wall in the interior is a great design solution. A decorative panel imitating brick allows you to create the desired interior at low material and time costs. Comfortable and practical panels transform the room, reproducing the structure of natural material and simplifying repairs.