What is renovlies?
Renovlies, also called renovation fleece or fleece wallpaper, is a type of wall covering developed specifically for finishing new and existing walls. The material is made of a strong non-woven fibre fabric that is applied to the wall and then painted with latex or another wall paint.
The main difference from regular wallpaper is that renovlies is no longer visible after painting. The wall looks fully painted, while there is still a protective layer underneath. That makes renovlies especially popular in new-build homes, where walls can shrink during the first few years and show small hairline cracks.
Why do new-build homeowners choose renovlies so often?
New-build homes are vulnerable in the first one to two years after handover. Concrete and masonry walls dry out, timber in the structure moves, and small hairline cracks are almost unavoidable. This is not a defect, but a normal construction process.
Renovlies helps absorb that movement. The material is strong enough to take up small movements in the substrate without tearing. The wall keeps a clean look, even when the surface moves slightly. That is one of the main reasons why owners of new-build homes choose renovlies instead of going straight for plaster or paint.
What are the benefits of renovlies?
Renovlies offers several practical benefits:
Hairline cracks are absorbed. The fibre structure of the material absorbs small movements in the wall, so they do not become visible in the finish.
Fast installation. A professional team can wallpaper a complete home with renovlies in one or two days. That is much faster than plasterwork, which requires several days of drying time.
Ready for painting immediately. After renovlies is applied and dried, the surface can be painted right away. No extra primer or levelling layer is needed if the substrate has been prepared properly.
Long-lasting. Renovlies lasts for decades. If the home is renovated later, you can simply paint over it or remove and replace it.
Affordable. Compared with a full plastering process, renovlies wallpaper is considerably cheaper, especially when combined with latex painting.
Which type of renovlies is best for new-build homes?
Renovlies is available in different weights and qualities. For new-build homes, 150 gram renovlies is usually recommended. This weight offers enough strength to absorb cracks without being too thick or difficult to work with.
At Bouwcons we use 150 gr renovlies as the standard for all new-build projects. For existing homes with more cracking or irregularities, glass fibre wallpaper may be a better choice because it is even tougher and better suited to heavier substrates.
Should you install renovlies yourself or outsource it?
Applying renovlies looks simple, but it requires precision and the right equipment. A professional installer has:
- A glue machine for even wallpaper pasting
- Mechanical sanding equipment for wall preparation
- The knowledge to create seamless joins around doors, windows and corners
Mistakes during installation, such as visible seams, air bubbles or uneven overlaps, are difficult to fix after painting. In new-build homes, where the walls are bare and unfinished, we recommend having renovlies applied by a specialist.
Conclusion
Renovlies is the wall finish for new-build homes. It is fast, affordable and protects walls against the inevitable hairline cracks of a shrinking structure. Combined with professional painting, it delivers a clean, durable and move-in-ready result.