You must have heard about the new trend for wrapping interiors? It’s a hot topic right now, and rightly so, with sales on the up and more designers choosing to upcycle with surface finishes rather than rip out and replace fixtures, fittings and equipment.
With architectural films, every surface is a potential project for architects and designers to rehabilitate any space in a sustainable way. But what is the difference with 3M™ DI-NOC™ architectural finishes? What makes these surface finishes different? We’ll explore this further in our latest blog.
Tried and tested
3M DI-NOC is THE original architectural finish. But it’s not just any ordinary vinyl. Everyone has heard of the brand 3M and its association with quality. Unlike any other self-adhesive film, 3M DI-NOC has been around for over 50 years, with masses of proven high-quality industry applications. The 3M brand name is synonymous with trust and DI-NOC is no exception to this. As a premium cast surface finish, it is more than just another sign vinyl or wrapping film. The reason DI-NOC has been tried and tested within commercial buildings is that it can offer the superior performance that’s needed for demanding 3D applications within interiors. So, knowing the product is not a new fad definitely gives you peace of mind in using it within commercial projects.
The Leading Edge
As we said before, DI-NOC is no ordinary vinyl, with no ordinary finish. Not all films are created equal… and we will now try to explain the 3M difference.
With a choice of over 1000 cutting edge patterns you can create really cool designs with some really unusual finishes to be on the pulse with the latest trends. Every collection update has been thoroughly researched and developed to keep up with global interior trends to bring you cutting edge finishes.
With more unique patterns and specialist ranges than any other brand, 3M DI-NOC is the leading choice for architects when specifying film for interior design projects. The DI-NOC range offers the most realistic as well as high impact and sophisticated designs that have all been created using 3M innovative technologies. En vogue finishes like the exterior, ultra-matte or abrasion resistant patterns have an additional topcoat to provide a truly unique finish, that other films simply can’t replicate.
True Matte
Previously a designer’s nightmare, the Matte collection features a unique coating technology on multiple colours, woods, metallics and stone finishes to provide a superior texture and depth. The technology works by converting incident light into diffuse reflection to suppress specular reflection. Put simply, it looks ultra-matte and its fingerprint resistant too. Other products that claim to be matte are often uniform, with no deep embossing or intonation. Now matte designs are a dream to use thanks to 3M DI-NOC.
Durable and Tough
For areas that need to be more durable, there is a matching complement of finishes with an additional abrasion resistant topcoat for protection. This specialist hardwearing range reduces visible scratches in high traffic areas, or on tougher horizontal applications.
Not only that, but both physical and chemical properties have been tested and proven to outperform other films, even on standard ranges. 3M DI-NOC is designed to provide the most durable option for refurbishment and design projects, coupled with industry leading testing methods and warranties.
Max UV Resistance
One of the biggest benefits of 3M DI-NOC lies in its superior UV resistance too. You want to ensure the product looks just as good in future years as the day it was installed. With up to 6 times more UV resistance than other lesser architectural finishes, you can be assured the colours look as they should in coming years too.
For exterior applications, the range also has specialist finishes in the exterior range, again matching the standard finishes but with an additional UV resistant layer to offer up to 10 years durability in direct sunlight. Long term weather resistance, ease of cleaning for building exteriors means it’s perfect for panels, doors and louvres. That’s hard to beat!
But it’s not just exteriors that are affected, remember fading can occur from sun exposure on interior surfaces through windows. Even some of the interior finishes are warranted outside for 5 years. Fade can also affect furniture inside but in direct sunlight.
Make sure you choose a film you can trust!
Durability is critical
The majority of the 3M DI-NOC range are made up of a durable cast PVC, which provides a typical lifespan of 12 years. Higher quality product means less shrinking! Bearing in mind, other films on the market are often polymeric calendered films, which can mean that they can start to shrink in time.
3M DI-NOC offers up to 5 times more dimensional stability compared to some competitive architectural finishes. Why? Well cast films are made from a liquid, whereas calendered films begin as a solid. The manufacturing process is so critical to the long-term performance of the film, as these solid films want to return to their original form and tend to shrink more than cast films that are more stable. Who knew vinyl could be so technical???
Because of this reason, cast PVC films also conform more easily on 3D areas, which means you can achieve a higher level of finish around edges and corners which can look much more realistic within commercial design schemes. The idea of architectural finishes is to mimic the look and feel of real materials… using a quality product will allow you to achieve this.
Now think of larger applications – maybe on a wall or large table. These larger areas may require a join in the material, where using a premium finish has more aesthetic benefit. A calendered product may require overlaps or cut and fold methods rather than a butt or splice join where the film is applied side by side to create a smooth join. 3M DI-NOC films can be joined with a splice to allow a smooth and seamless finish on larger areas, which is a real win for designers. Using this method results in a better level of finish.
Peace of mind
Any product within a building must conform to all legal guidelines. Building owners demand products that meet high standards and rightly so. Knowing all 3M DI-NOC films meet CE and EN 13501 fire certification standards, gives both installers and end users this peace of mind.
With the 3M brand, you can be assured of rigorous and extensive testing and classification standards to meet performance regulations required for wall coverings, in order to protect your business. With over 1000 patterns, standards vary between finishes but most meet class B or class C as minimum.
The range is also IMO approved for use within marine sector. The International Maritime Organisation Certificate of Approval is available to use DI-NOC Decorative Film for Fine Coverings on boats. These tests are often the difference between standard vinyl and architectural finishes, that are fit for purpose.
Cleanability
Keeping surfaces clean and sanitized is more important than ever! 3M DI-NOC Architectural Finishes can be easily cleaned and disinfected for added peace of mind without deterioration of the surface finish. Just like stainless steel and other hard, non-porous surfaces, 3M DI-NOC films are durable and compatible with many traditional commercial disinfectant cleaners. They’ve also been tested with EPA registered disinfectants that can destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
The PS Series of solid colours even have antibacterial preservatives which are added to protect the products from degradation from microbes such as mould and fungus.
Stain and chemical resistance is also high. 3M DI-NOC has undergone rigorous testing to show effects of contact with various substances including coffee, wine, tea, detergents or hydrochloric acid with no change detected after 24 hours.
It’s Strong
3M DI-NOC is streets ahead of the competition, and its proven. After undergoing vigorous testing, you can have peace of mind in the long term. The wear and tear resistance of 3M DI-NOC is just as tough as HPL with 4 times more resistance to scratching over painted surfaces, which is critical for areas on walls, tables, counters etc. It’s also twice as strong in terms of its resistance to wear and impact. Think of items like suitcases – 3M’s strength over the competition means less visible damage.
Impact tests also demonstrate higher performance than paint and competitive substrates. 3M DI-NOC resists impact in commercial buildings to maintain its structural integrity even when knocked with everyday items. At 30% stronger, its impact resistance is important for protecting appearance over time against marks and damage in high traffic areas.
3M DI-NOC is also superior in terms of abrasion resistance, which is far superior to other solutions, such as paint and wallpaper. Perfect for a long-term refurb solution, it is a highly resistant option against everyday wear and tear. Stronger and looks good for longer… it’s the perfect combination.
Sustainable
A key consideration for many designers nowadays is using ethically sourced and environmentally friendly solutions. Thinking about reusing or repurposing items is a great way to be more resourceful and do your bit to help the planet.
Using 3M DI-NOC within a building refurbishment contributes to LEED credits on interior or furniture reuse. By reusing existing fixtures, it will not only reduce costs, but it will also contribute to a sustainable use of resources. Upcycling interiors also stops unnecessary waste going to landfill – a win-win for both the customer and the planet.
Value engineering
When design budgets are tight, architectural finishes have proven to be a cost-effective method to achieve the same look and feel of natural materials at a fraction of the cost, even using existing surfaces.
Offering a cost-effective solution, with superior results, the reuse of current fixtures by renovating with 3M DI-NOC is generally 1/6th to 1/8th of the cost compared to investing in new interiors. Cost over time is also considerably less using 3M DI-NOC, when factoring yearly maintenance, not just the initial outlay. Not to mention there are also fewer planning regulations and architect fees when using this method.
Versatile
Not only can you apply 3M DI-NOC virtually anywhere, but these architectural finishes are also incredibly easy to apply by approved installers. As they are applied in situ, businesses can continue to operate without any disruption, noise, mess or waste, unlike rip out methods. The only waste generated is the backing liner from the film, which can be easily disposed of. You won’t need a skip for liner!
With a Comply ‘bubble free’ adhesive, the flexible films enable installers to perform a bubble-free application directly onto existing substrates, with less likelihood of errors. Providing a seamless finish on complex shapes, 3M DI-NOC offers a sharp, almost invisible edge line and can form around corners in a one-step wrapping process with a single piece of material. There’s no need for edge banding and you achieve a better finish!
In a nutshell
- These are conformable cast films that can be used to create seamless designs
- They’re strong and durable for use in a multitude of applications
- These superior surface finishes are available with specialist abrasion resistant or ultra-matte topcoat
- You can broaden your design possibilities to transform application surfaces and shapes
- You can eliminate the practical constraints of using natural materials
- They can be easily cleaned with little maintenance
So there you have it. Our lowdown on 3M DI-NOC is designed to explain the premium features and benefits of the original architectural film, but also to help to understand why it may be justifiably more expensive than the imitators. You can’t really compare apples and pears, they’re just not the same thing. There’s still a place for all brands in the market and for all tastes and budgets… but sometimes paying a little bit more can give you even more back in the long run.
For further information, request a brochure or get in touch to book a CPD.