Natural stone has long and firmly occupied a leading position among materials for interior decoration Houses. With its help, the interior is given a refined, respectable look. The disadvantage of the material is its high price and heavy weight. Decorative gypsum stone allows you to easily solve these problems.
Thanks to the availability of materials and well-established production technology, the production of artificial stones has become popular and is actively used in repair work.
Surfaces artificial stone You can give it any texture, make it flat or embossed, paint it in the desired color. Externally see the difference between natural or artificial material very difficult. Even specialists are not always able to do this.
At the same time, gypsum decorative rock has the following advantages:
- easy to process;
- resistant to precipitation, wind, temperature;
- has low thermal conductivity;
- easy;
- the gypsum surface is easy to clean from dirt;
- By dyeing, it is given the desired color.
Gypsum has the unique ability to maintain optimal humidity in a room. When there is excess moisture, it absorbs the excess, and when it decreases, it releases it. In addition, the material is much cheaper than natural analogues. Its shape is convenient for laying, which significantly reduces the labor intensity of the work.
Artificial gypsum stone allows designers to realize any ideas. Its production can be carried out in industrial or home conditions, while outwardly it is practically indistinguishable from imitated materials.
There are several types of surface:
- chipped - an uneven coating that gives the impression that the edges have been beaten off with a hammer;
- sawn – the edges are smooth but uneven;
- rubble – shaped like natural stones (boulders, pebbles);
- arbitrary - embodies any designer’s imagination.
The disadvantage of gypsum is its fragility. The larger the element, the easier it is to damage during transportation or installation. Therefore, when using gypsum for interior decoration, they try to place it in places less susceptible to mechanical stress. Often, artificial stone is used to decorate a fireplace, an arched opening, or cladding part of the walls, highlighting a certain area or zone in a room or kitchen.
DIY gypsum molds and stones
Making stone can be done independently. To do this, you will need silicone or polyurethane molds, which can be purchased at a hardware store. The forms are highly durable and will withstand hundreds of pours. Therefore, the selection criterion is not the material, but the desired size, surface pattern, and coating geometry.
The mixture for preparation includes gypsum, modifiers, and color pigments. Adding sand (no more than 10%) will help give the solution strength. The mixture can be painted completely or the paint can be applied only to the surface of the mold. Often used different ways by combining them. In order for the finished element to be easily and quickly removed from the mold, it is lubricated with a thin layer of wax mixed in a water bath with turpentine.
Often, interior decoration requires artificial stone of an unusual shape or size. In this case, it is possible to make a silicone mold according to an individual sketch. To do this, select a sample and place it in a box, which will serve as formwork. The surface of the box and stone is pre-lubricated with grease.
Silicone is poured on top. It is compacted with a brush moistened with soapy water. Then the surface is leveled with a spatula. It will take several weeks for the mold to dry. The finished form is taken out of the formwork.
The gypsum mixture is diluted with water to the consistency of thick sour cream and poured into prepared molds. A slight vibration for 2 minutes will help to achieve uniform shrinkage. When the mixture thickens a little, use a notched trowel to remove excess mixture, leaving mounting notches on back side blanks.
If you plan to add dye directly to the mixture, it is recommended to dilute it in a large container. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve the same color saturation in different batches. Ready-made forms leave until completely dry for 40 minutes at room temperature.
Preparation for cladding
Using artificial stone for interior decoration, they create a unique interior. Laying the material is not difficult, but you must adhere to the technology. It can be applied to any surface: wood, drywall, brick, concrete. The wall must be level.
However, covering a perfectly flat surface can cause it to come off even with slight vibration. Therefore, first, use plaster to level the wall and let it set slightly. Then, using a notched trowel, furrows are created on the surface. They will help the elements stick more firmly to the wall. The prepared surface is degreased and primed.
When choosing an adhesive composition, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions. The glue must be suitable for working with plaster. This may be the simplest tile adhesive to which PVA should be added at the rate of 10% of the total amount. To dilute the glue, use a large container, stirring it with a mixer. When finished, it should be of uniform consistency and medium thickness in order to fill the installation grooves well.
Laying the first row
This is the most difficult and important stage. Vertical and horizontal lines are first marked on the wall, which will help orient the direction of the masonry. It is usually led from the bottom up. If a decorative gypsum stone has irregular shape or it is necessary to create an intricate contour on the wall, then first lay it out on the floor.
Glue is coated on part of the wall and applied to the back of the stone. The first block is placed on the wall and pressed, squeezing out the glue. You need to immediately assess the correctness of the position and, if necessary, correct it. Then continue laying the row. Excess glue is removed with a regular spatula. Carefully remove the solution from the front of the bars.
To trim elements, use a grinder or saw. The smaller its teeth, the better. For curved cutting (for example, under a switch), you can use a chisel, and then sand the edge. It may also be required for precise fitting of elements if the stones were made independently. A grinder with an attachment will help speed up the work. However, when using it, care must be taken not to break the element.
To create angles of 90 and 45 degrees, use a miter box.
Basic stage
Subsequent rows of finishing are laid like a brick - offset. The masonry can be done closely or with seams. To ensure uniform seams, pieces of fiberboard are laid between the rows. They are removed after the work is completed and the solution has dried.
Unfilled seams between elements are sealed upon completion of the cladding. Fill the glue gun with the glue mass, then carefully apply it into the spaces between the rows. Soft cloth remove excess glue. After the mixture has hardened, it can be given a finishing touch. To do this, brush with paint along the seams and joints.
You can also use special grout. It will help to give the coating a refined shine and protect it from external influences. clear nail polish. It is applied in one layer using a wide brush.
People learned to use decorative stone made of gypsum for interior decoration several thousand years ago. Modern technology renovation allows the age-old method to sparkle with new design facets.
Decorative stone made of gypsum - pros and cons
As a replacement for natural stone, mosaic panels or brick-like tiles, gypsum imitation of these materials has a significant set of advantages:
- Ease. Compared to brick or natural granite, gypsum castings of the same size are several times lighter. In addition, they do not need to be solid at all - on the contrary, internal voids save material and further lighten each decorative element;
- Cheapness. Gypsum is traditionally inexpensive, being in the same price segment as chalk and alabaster. Finishing stone, marble or granite are valued tens of times more expensive than gypsum - therefore, repairs using these materials are very significant for the budget;
- Eco-friendly (not to be confused with naturalness!). Gypsum inserts are breathable - a wall finished with them “breathes”. A similar effect is observed when covering walls with thin paper wallpaper and whitewashing the ceiling with natural chalk. Alas, most other building materials are impermeable to air, which affects the microclimate in the rooms they decorate;
- Easy installation - cement mortar or reinforcement of load-bearing surfaces under gypsum decorative stone for interior decoration with your own hands is not required (see details below);
- The color and texture capabilities of gypsum imitations significantly exceed the corresponding properties of natural stones and artificial stone analogues made of concrete, expanded clay, etc.;
- According to thermal insulation and soundproofing qualities decorative plaster superior a natural stone, albeit insignificantly.
Any repair method has characteristic disadvantages, and gypsum imitations of “torn”, “wild” and other stones are no exception. Gypsum is fragile - and the larger the casting, the higher the likelihood of it being damaged even before installation. That is, our element is capable of breaking on the way to the wall being finished.
The strength of the installation cannot be called “stone” - with a strong impact or vibration, the gypsum planks can crumble entirely or selectively.
Of course, the immediate strength of gypsum stone is also worse than that of the real thing - if a blow to the façade surface does not damage the “torn” stone, then the gypsum will scatter in a fan of large and small cracks. Therefore decorative gypsum stone they try to install it in places where the danger of “force majeure shocks” is minimal - on eaves, along the upper perimeter of walls, as a frame for fireplaces, etc.
How to make decorative stone - instructions for beginners
Process self-made plaster planks begins with a trip to a specialized hardware store. At this retail outlet, special molds are purchased for pouring liquid gypsum into them - they are made from polyurethane or silicone, each mold can withstand several hundred pours. You need to focus not on the material of manufacture, but on the geometry of the form - what is the size of the castings, is the pattern on the outer surface attractive, its relief, etc.
In addition to blank molds, homemade gypsum stone needs a thickener, a form lubricant (if provided) and color pigments. By the way, plaster can be colored in different ways - by adding a coloring pigment to liquid plaster, by smearing the molding “underside” with dye, or by combining these methods.
The recipe for the gypsum solution should be attached to the instructions for the purchased form. We dilute the dry mixture with water, coat the silicone with a brush, add dye - and pour the construction broth inside the mold. Excess mortar is removed with a notched trowel so that mounting notches appear on the back side of the gypsum strips.
Thanks to the presence of a thickener, decorative elements will harden quickly, their stamping will become productive. Important Tip– dilute the original solution in a large container, because it will be difficult to accurately repeat the concentration of the dye a second time. In this case, the next batch of gypsum stone will differ in color saturation from the previous one, that is, the design perfection of the cladding will suffer.
Decorative stone for interior decoration - do-it-yourself plaster lace
It’s not enough to know how to make a decorative stone from gypsum - you still need to lay it correctly. This procedure is not as complicated as laying a fireplace with your own hands, but it also requires responsibility and precision.
Do-it-yourself plaster lace from decorative stone - step-by-step diagram
Step 1: Preparing the Walls and Glue
The wall (ceiling, border, facade) under the gypsum cladding should be smooth, but with deep grooves. It turns out to be a contradictory preparation: first we plaster the wall and level it so that the tiles fit tightly to it, and when the plaster “sets” a little, we use the same notched trowel to draw furrow lines along it. Without them, our plaster strips can fly off with the slightest vibration.
As an adhesive composition, it is logical to choose the one that glues plaster best. This can be an inexpensive tile adhesive to which it is worth adding up to 10% PVA as a waterproof adhesive additive. The glue is diluted in a large vessel (bucket) and mixed with a mixer until completely homogeneous. A medium-thick porridge-like consistency of glue is required to completely fill the installation grooves with it.
Step 2: The first row is the most difficult
The direction of installation depends on the decorative effect, but is usually done from top to bottom. Previously, horizontal and vertical lines are carefully measured on the wall, coinciding with the plumb line and perpendicular - they will serve as a visual guide for the first plaster “stones”. Apply whipped glue to the back surface of the plaster and coat the corresponding section of the wall with it. We press our first block onto the mounting location. After planting, you have a few seconds to adjust the position of the gypsum stone - good PVA “sets” quickly. We lay out the entire first row with solid tiles, removing excess squeezed out glue with a straight spatula.
Natural stone has always been famous as a very expensive building material. Modern technologies allowed us to find a cheaper replacement. For example, today for decorative finishing In buildings, gypsum-based stone is often used.
Main characteristics of gypsum stone:
Natural stone has a number of significant disadvantages: the heavy weight of the building material (not every structure can withstand its weight), the high cost of the material itself and its transportation. To eliminate these shortcomings, a technique for producing stone artificially was invented, for the production of which gypsum was used as a basis.
On appearance these two building materials are practically no different. But a stone made of gypsum has many advantages.
Advantages of gypsum stone over its natural counterpart:
- Artificial stone made from gypsum is much lighter than natural stone. This makes it possible to perform cladding work on thin partitions.
- Artificial stone is much easier to process. It is often produced in thin tiles, as a result of which the weight of the structure being built is significantly reduced, without loss of strength characteristics. Such building materials can be produced directly at the construction site, resulting in savings on its transportation. Such material can be immediately produced with a smooth surface, accordingly, reducing the cost of its additional processing - grinding, polishing the surface.
- Gypsum-based artificial stone, unlike its natural counterpart, is not afraid of precipitation and does not corrode.
- Wall surfaces made of this material are not susceptible to contamination and are easy to clean. But the resulting coating is hygroscopic.
- A significant advantage of decorative gypsum stone over its natural competitor is the ability to choose the material in a wide variety of color shades, thanks to which this building material can be selected to suit any design solution.
- Thanks to the huge range of artificial stone made on the basis of gypsum, you can choose a building material for the construction of any structures, as well as finishing the facades of buildings and their interiors.
Trading house "Gicema" is official distributor"Samara Gypsum Plant" in Moscow, so we have the lowest price for retail and favorable discounts for wholesale.
Which gypsum is best to use for decorative stone? Is it possible to make a stone from alabaster? What is better gypsum g-6 or g-16 and what is the difference? I will answer all these questions in this article.
Artificialdecorative stone can be made from absolutely any gypsum, construction alabaster, medical, gypsum g-6 and g-16 are suitable for it. The main difference between all these plaster is strength. For example, gypsum g-16 is much stronger than g-6 and the stone made from it will be stronger. You can safely use it by diluting it with water and get an excellent stone. But gypsum g-16 has one big disadvantage: its price. In our region, a 40 kg bag costs 850 rubles.
Let's calculate how much gypsum will be needed for any stone 1 cm thick. I have for sale an antique brick 1 cm thick, 15 kg of gypsum is needed per square meter. The bag yields 2.6 square meters. The cost of one square is approximately 330 rubles - expensive.
Alabaster costs 250 rubles per 40 kg. The cost of 1 square meter will be around 100 rubles, but the stone will be fragile. You can, of course, reduce the amount of water and increase the amount of gypsum, then the stone will be stronger, but the result will be such a mixture that you simply will not have time to even it out in shape. In this case, various plasticizers come to the rescue, such as or. By the way, I suggest you look at my experiment on increasing the strength of gypsum.
The essence of these additives is that the stone becomes stronger, because... the amount of water decreases, the mixture becomes fluid for a longer period of time and is comfortable to work with. But there is also a minus: by reducing the amount of water, the consumption of gypsum increases + the cost of the additive itself and, according to my calculations, the cost of the stone increases by about 2 times. Those. now it will cost you not 100 rubles, but 200. For example, there is a mold with a volume of 1.8 liters, the usual proportions are approximately the following: 1 kg of gypsum and 800 grams of water. With the addition of plasticizers, the proportions will be approximately the following: 1.4 kg of gypsum and 400 grams of water.
On sale you can find special mixtures for, which already include all the additives. Such products are manufactured by the Samara Gypsum Plant. But again, the price is steep: 700 rubles for 25 kg. Although if you buy such a bag at the factory itself it costs 360 rubles.
But not everything is so bad, there is one way to make yourself a stone inexpensively. I use MAGMA g-6 b-3 molding gypsum in production. I add 800 grams of water to 1 kg of gypsum and, in principle, the stone turns out normal. I've been doing this for about a year, over 500 square meters in all that time and there hasn't been a single complaint. The stone is easily transported and, of course, if the installer has straight hands. There was an order from a city 1000 km away from us, the stone ordered was relief slate, its length was 40 cm, height 9 cm. It was sent by a transport company. I thought the stone would not arrive alive. But then I called the customer and he said that everything was fine.
If you want to thank me for sharing my experience with you, then write a comment on this article with any question or suggestion. Perhaps from your comment I will get a topic for one of the future articles.
Magma costs 330 rubles for 30 kg and gypsum costs 130 rubles per square centimeter stone. Another advantage of this gypsum is White color. When pouring, the color of the mixture has a pink tint, but after the stone dries it will be white. The remaining gypsums mainly have grey colour, even Samara G-16.
What to do if you don’t have normal plaster, but want to make a more or less strong stone?
As I said above, absolutely any plaster will do. You need to make a proportion so that there is a minimum amount of water and more gypsum, but again, I wrote above that the mixture can harden quickly. Therefore, before mixing, dissolve a pinch of regular water in water. citric acid, it will slightly increase the life of the solution. If all else fails, reduce the plaster and add water. The speed of hardening is also affected by how long you mix the plaster. Sometimes you stir it for 20 seconds more and the mixture already hardens. Many people add PVA glue directly to the solution, I heard that the stone will be stronger, but I personally have not tried it. Therefore, I won’t tell you how much to add.
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Discussion: 5 comments
Say, you worked with g5 b3, we had a g6 b2 in our city, but today I wanted to buy it, it didn’t turn out, they recommended g5 b3.
Answer
The construction market offers a variety of products made using latest technologies. It contains interesting combinations of materials that produce striking visual results.
In this article we will talk about such a finishing material as decorative gypsum stone and its use for interior and exterior decoration.
Gypsum facing stone and its properties
Even in ancient times, craftsmen from India, China, and Egypt used gypsum for exterior and interior decoration. Plaster was used to cover walls, floors and ceilings in various rooms.
Such widespread use is explained by its uniqueness: the mineral stone had the ability to regulate the microclimate of rooms due to good air conductivity.
Currently, facing decorative artificial stone is a composite material, which includes high-strength gypsum. Due to its qualities, it received the name “gypsum polymer stone”. Properties of decorative gypsum stone:
- small specific gravity;
- material strength;
- environmental friendliness;
- ease of processing;
- high level sound and heat insulation;
- maintains the required level of humidity;
- fire resistance.
Thanks to its interesting texture and aesthetic appearance, decorative stone is suitable for the interior of any room.
The stone is used to cover the internal and external surfaces of walls, both in children's rooms. It looks great when finished with design elements and is absolutely safe.
The fine dispersion of gypsum and the ease of its processing make it possible to create a variety of architectural forms consisting of interesting elements. The low specific gravity facilitates the use of decorative stone even in the cladding of thin partitions between rooms.
Walls lined with artificial gypsum stone are easy to clean and practically do not become dirty. The only drawback of this material is its hygroscopicity.
Making artificial stone from gypsum with your own hands
As a rule, professional production of artificial stone from gypsum occurs in a factory. However, it is quite possible to make it yourself.
Some craftsmen have turned the interesting and exciting activity of making decorative stone into a quite profitable business. Moreover, without large investments and with minimal effort, its production pays off in a short time.
If certain rules are followed and high-quality raw materials are used, such activities are promising and quite profitable.
The use of natural gypsum in pure form not advisable, since the products have low strength and are short-lived. Modern technologies suggest making compositions from modified gypsum that have high strength and retain the qualities of the natural material.
Technology for manufacturing decorative artificial stone from gypsum
Not everyone can afford natural stone cladding, as it has a high cost. Therefore, it is more rational to use artificial stone made of gypsum or cement, which contains various color pigments, as well as polymer materials.
Required material and tools
- Plaster is white;
- A container, preferably made of plastic, for mixing components;
- Pallet;
- Table and polyethylene roll;
- Forms (matrices);
- Electric drill;
- Fluted glass;
- Any water-based dyes.
Preparation of the workplace
To produce stone, large working areas are not required. Two square meters is enough.
We will provide in advance workplace table There should be racks with shelves at hand where all the necessary elements and equipment will be placed.
Preparing forms
Attention should be paid to the forms themselves (matrices). The most optimal are silicone molds. They are quite flexible and plastic. But forms made of metal, wood, and plastic are also allowed, although they do not so thoroughly convey the texture of plaster, which reflects the smallest details of the relief and its bends.
Preparation of materials
After preparing the workplace and equipment, we prepare the material. For the gypsum test we need mineral gypsum, anhydride, and clean water. This will form the basis of the plaster test. Sand or similar filler is also prepared.
The process of making stone from gypsum
Preparing gypsum dough
In order to save money, the volume of the solution should correspond to the number of forms.
Since gypsum dough hardens very quickly, you cannot leave the mixed solution for the next time.
We independently determine the proportion of gypsum and water. After pouring water into the container, gradually add gypsum and stir continuously until the gypsum dough reaches normal thickness.
The consistency of the solution should be thick, since segments made from a liquid solution are less durable and take a long time to dry. To make the material stronger, add about 10% sand.
Processing forms (matrices)
We lubricate the working surface of the molds with a surfactant (a mixture of wax and turpentine 3:7), this is done so that the finished (frozen) stone can then be easily removed.
This mixture can be made using a water bath, which promotes uniform and complete dissolution of the wax. The mixture is applied in a thin layer to the inner surface of the mold.
Next, to protect the stone from the formation of shells, we apply liquid gypsum to the working surface of the molds.
Place the prepared forms in a tray.
Creating Color
Mix the desired dyes with gypsum. We use separate containers for this.
We pour the resulting shades into molds. As a result, we get a rather heterogeneous color.
Pouring plaster
After this, we pour the bulk of the gypsum.
Using a spatula, carefully level the plaster. We cover the molds with pre-prepared corrugated glass, and then subject it to vibration for even laying. This procedure will take approximately 2 minutes. 
The hardening time of the gypsum is approximately 15-20 minutes. When the glass freely separates from the molds, remove the products and dry them in the open air. How to lay decorative gypsum stone
When fixing such gypsum tiles to the base (for example, a wall), the contacting surfaces are primed.
After this, glue the gypsum stone. Suitable glues include mastic, assembly glue, water-acrylic glue, a mixture of gypsum and PVA, sealant, and cement-adhesive mortar.
You can change the geometric parameters of such a workpiece using an ordinary hacksaw. One of the articles has already discussed the process of how it is performed, which, in fact, you can familiarize yourself with.
In fact, making decorative stone from gypsum is not difficult. Of course, “the first pancake is lumpy” cannot be ruled out, but nevertheless, the result is worth it.
A rich imagination and flight of fancy will help you find original color solutions and textures (you can even make artificial marble from plaster). Thanks to this decoration, your home will be filled with a unique flavor, and elements decorated with its help will add extraordinary comfort and beauty to the interior.
Making artificial stone from gypsum - video
Decorative stone made of gypsum - photo in the interior
