Inexpensive Materials for Tiling Walls or Ceilings
May 22, 2017 9:50 AM Subscribe
Inexpensive/free materials for cladding/tiling the interior walls/ceiling of a home? Ideas? Advice? Experience?
Some people live in castles or old factories. Their living room walls are made of beautiful materials like stone or brick. But most of us live in Normal Homes and our walls are made of plaster, the most boring material in the universe (except perhaps aluminum siding, which covers the exterior of most Normal Homes). The advantage of plaster though is that you can cover it in many things that don't look like plaster, and that is what I would like to do to all plaster surfaces in my home.
Home improvement stores provide all manner of pretty tiles or 3D pvc 'wallpapers' that mimic masonry, but it is expensive to use these materials on large areas. Also where is the fun/creativity/challenge in that!
So I would like to solicit your advice on Things To Cover My Walls With. Perhaps you have covered your walls with something interesting. Do tell. Pictures please. Perhaps there are books or websites with advice for dilettantes. Drop that right here. Or you can just use this space to brainstorm some interesting ideas for such a project. All good.
Some people live in castles or old factories. Their living room walls are made of beautiful materials like stone or brick. But most of us live in Normal Homes and our walls are made of plaster, the most boring material in the universe (except perhaps aluminum siding, which covers the exterior of most Normal Homes). The advantage of plaster though is that you can cover it in many things that don't look like plaster, and that is what I would like to do to all plaster surfaces in my home.
Home improvement stores provide all manner of pretty tiles or 3D pvc 'wallpapers' that mimic masonry, but it is expensive to use these materials on large areas. Also where is the fun/creativity/challenge in that!
So I would like to solicit your advice on Things To Cover My Walls With. Perhaps you have covered your walls with something interesting. Do tell. Pictures please. Perhaps there are books or websites with advice for dilettantes. Drop that right here. Or you can just use this space to brainstorm some interesting ideas for such a project. All good.
I made an accent wall using flooring that I liked. Depending on the size of the walls that might get pricey.
posted by pyro979 at 10:02 AM on May 22, 2017
posted by pyro979 at 10:02 AM on May 22, 2017
I papered the interior of some built-in bookcases with pages from a French dictionary.
posted by sarajane at 10:05 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by sarajane at 10:05 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do you actually have plaster, or is it drywall? If your house was built within the last 40 years it is probably the latter, in which case your possible range of materials is somewhat curtailed.
I do occasional work in music studios - there's often carpeting or interesting custom wooden baffling on the walls. Laminate flooring can be mounted on walls, ditto linoleum. I've seen walls covered with glued-on shells, little mirror rounds, and tile. I wouldn't put tile on a drywall wall though.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:19 AM on May 22, 2017
I do occasional work in music studios - there's often carpeting or interesting custom wooden baffling on the walls. Laminate flooring can be mounted on walls, ditto linoleum. I've seen walls covered with glued-on shells, little mirror rounds, and tile. I wouldn't put tile on a drywall wall though.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:19 AM on May 22, 2017
Response by poster: Honestly I thought 'plaster' and 'drywall' were the same thing.
/Bob Vila.
posted by dgaicun at 11:37 AM on May 22, 2017
/Bob Vila.
posted by dgaicun at 11:37 AM on May 22, 2017
Sometimes printshops have aluminum sheets that they are willing to sell for a little more than scrap price. Think advertising printers, form printers, or local newspapers. Might make an interesting wall or ceiling.
Plaster is applied to lath (used to be wooden slats nailed to studs, now would be expanded metal screen so the wet plaster adheres to the wall). Usually has a base or scratch coat and a finish coat. Requires a skilled plasterer. Standard in older houses and a premium product in newer houses.
Drywall comes in sheets. It is applied to walls and ceiling with nails or screws. The seams are taped and sealed with drywall compound (or "mud") to hide the joints. Requires much less skill and can be considered a diy project. Common in newer construction.
posted by H21 at 11:47 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
Plaster is applied to lath (used to be wooden slats nailed to studs, now would be expanded metal screen so the wet plaster adheres to the wall). Usually has a base or scratch coat and a finish coat. Requires a skilled plasterer. Standard in older houses and a premium product in newer houses.
Drywall comes in sheets. It is applied to walls and ceiling with nails or screws. The seams are taped and sealed with drywall compound (or "mud") to hide the joints. Requires much less skill and can be considered a diy project. Common in newer construction.
posted by H21 at 11:47 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]
I scavenged galvanized steel ductwork and have sheet metal wainscoting in the not-yet-finished bathroom. Not sure what to put on the wall above it. I have been saving paper from security envelopes because I like the patterns and may use that, along with kraft paper. Also considering cartoons from the New Yorker.
Cork is environmentally ok and not expensive. Pallets are readily available at no cost and can be disassembled for wood strips that would work well for your walls.
posted by theora55 at 12:33 PM on May 22, 2017
Cork is environmentally ok and not expensive. Pallets are readily available at no cost and can be disassembled for wood strips that would work well for your walls.
posted by theora55 at 12:33 PM on May 22, 2017
Be aware that some wood pallets are treated with methyl bromide, which is reasonably nasty.
posted by aramaic at 12:49 PM on May 22, 2017
posted by aramaic at 12:49 PM on May 22, 2017
I have a big 3' wide roll of stainless steel foil I've been considering covering one wall of the kitchen with because it's magnetic, and would allow me to hang a profusion of various cooking-related stuff in about the most convenient possible way.
But that very magnetism would let a person mount magnet-backed tile or any other object in whatever arrangement suited a current mood, if the foil were to be anchored to the wall firmly enough.
The main reason I haven't is that the cut edges of the foil are like razors, ordinary scissors aren't really up to the job, and it's hard to cut in a straight enough with tin snips. I've been thinking of trying carpet scissors.
posted by jamjam at 1:06 PM on May 22, 2017
But that very magnetism would let a person mount magnet-backed tile or any other object in whatever arrangement suited a current mood, if the foil were to be anchored to the wall firmly enough.
The main reason I haven't is that the cut edges of the foil are like razors, ordinary scissors aren't really up to the job, and it's hard to cut in a straight enough with tin snips. I've been thinking of trying carpet scissors.
posted by jamjam at 1:06 PM on May 22, 2017
I admired a room that was walled with salvaged oak flooring. As I understand it, the person knew the owner of an old house that was going to be torn down and replaced with something grand. The flooring had generations of wear, and the effort of removing it was great, but the material was solid and good looking in a certain way.
The key here is to have contacts and to be lucky. Let people know what you are looking for, and be willing to jump when the opportunity presents.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 2:17 PM on May 22, 2017
The key here is to have contacts and to be lucky. Let people know what you are looking for, and be willing to jump when the opportunity presents.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 2:17 PM on May 22, 2017
We tore down an old barn and used the good planks as an accent wall in a basement. The planks were laid diagonally across the wall. It made a neat rumpus room. Sorry, house sold long ago.
I've always liked the Mexican restaurant look of murals done with painted brick work of half demolished walls or arches with plants hanging in front of them. Some of them are cheesy, but I've seen neat ones.
A google for images: Unusual wall treatment
Sometimes just one wall as a focal point is enough to add pizazz.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:56 PM on May 22, 2017
I've always liked the Mexican restaurant look of murals done with painted brick work of half demolished walls or arches with plants hanging in front of them. Some of them are cheesy, but I've seen neat ones.
A google for images: Unusual wall treatment
Sometimes just one wall as a focal point is enough to add pizazz.
posted by BlueHorse at 6:56 PM on May 22, 2017
I used the craft paper method mentioned above on the floor of my basement workshop/studio, and it came out great, despite having to put it over concrete covered in old mastic. Very inexpensive and easy. It just takes some time. Here's a photo album of the project.
posted by The Deej at 7:00 PM on May 22, 2017
posted by The Deej at 7:00 PM on May 22, 2017
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http://anoregoncottage.com/paper-floor-video-diy-alternative-to-wood-floors/
in one of our kids' rooms, and it turned out pretty well. There's no reason you couldn't do it on the walls, either.
posted by Mr. Big Business at 9:57 AM on May 22, 2017 [1 favorite]