The material you choose for your paneling can have a great impact on the atmosphere created in your rooms. Let's look at the types of material available in wall paneling and which material could be best for you.
Vinyl paneling is extremely common and can be designed in an incredible number of ways. It is lightweight, which makes it easy to work with and install and is normally found as a peel and stick panel. Vinyl is easy to maintain and only requires moderate cleaning with a damp cloth and light cleaning solution from time to time.
Vinyl is naturally resistant to water, so you won't have to worry about humidity or surprise leaks damaging your panels too much.
In addition to the variety of styles available on vinyl panels, vinyl is easy to repaint, if you have access to a high-quality acrylic paint. So, you'll never truly be stuck with one design and you always have the option to customize your patterns to suit your needs.
Wood panels have a lot in common with vinyl ones. They can be easy to paint or refinish as you see fit and are commonly available as peel and stick panels. Solid wood wall panels can be a bit heavy, so you should think ahead on how you transport your order to your place of installation.
Unlike vinyl panels, wooden ones are vulnerable to water damage and thus, large humidity and temperature fluctuations in your home can cause panels to peel, warp, or rot. Luckily, wood panels are easy to repair since you can simply sand away rot and warping and refinish them to match the original installation.
If you're thinking that regular maintenance might be an issue for you but still want wooden panels, consider making an investment into hardwood paneling. Hardwoods naturally resist rotting and water damage more than other woods, so you will find yourself having less work to do to maintain your panel health.
MDF and other types of engineered wood, can save you a lot on your initial buy, but require additional maintenance. MDF is a particulate wood, meaning it has been created by using adhesive and pressure to join wood particles together into a single sheet. This method of construction leaves gaps in wood that leave it especially vulnerable to water and rot.
EPS stands for expanded polystyrene, which is a type of foam that you might know as Styrofoam.
Technically, Styrofoam is a term that is used to describe EPS commercially, while EPS is a term that technically describes a few varieties of this foam. EPS makes for phenomenal wall paneling material since it provides thermal insulation, sound insulation and can be molded freely to create 3D designs on your paneling.