Laying decorative stone on the wall helps create original design solutions. The decoration of window and door openings, highlighting the fireplace area, aquarium, and green corner look stylish. The material has high performance characteristics and is suitable for use in rooms with high humidity.
Benefits of stone finishing
Made from gypsum and cement, it imitates the structure of natural material and serves as interior decoration. country houses and cottages.
Raw materials have advantages over other materials:
- release big choice colors and textures, the material is easy to match to any room design;
- environmentally friendly materials that are not susceptible to fungal infections are used for production;
- easy care;
- long service life, more than 10 years;
- light weight;
- relative ease of installation.
Gypsum-based products are suitable for use in dry, heated rooms, and the material is cement based Suitable for finishing walls in kitchens, bathrooms, baths, saunas.
Types of decorative stone for wall decoration
There are natural and decorative stones used for interior and exterior finishing works.
The types and characteristics of artificial stone for wall decoration are presented in the table:
| Type of material | Compound | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial concrete based | Includes cement-sand mortar, pigments that give the desired shade, plasticizers, reinforcing additives (expanded clay, ceramic chips, pumice). | The most common material, suitable for finishing all types of surfaces. Does not lose its properties when used in conditions of high humidity. |
| Plaster | Gypsum dough, binders, coloring pigments. | It is light in weight. In appearance it resembles sandstone. Not suitable for masonry in rooms with high humidity. |
| Acrylic | Acrylic based. | Resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. Environmentally safe and suitable for installation in bedrooms and children's rooms. Easy to install and process. |
| Porcelain tiles | Feldspar, clay, dyes, minerals. | More like glass tiles than on a stone. Not afraid of moisture and mechanical influences. It is poorly cleaned of grease, and scratches may appear when washed with abrasive agents. |
Slate is the only type of artificial stone that forms a single surface. Installs without jointing. It looks very impressive.
Types of natural stone
Types and characteristics of natural material:
| № | Type of material | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quartz | Durable, has a long service life. Does not fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Not subject to deformation. When processing, you need to spray the stone with water to reduce dust. The respiratory organs are protected with a respirator. |
| 2 | Sandstone | There are 3 shades: brown-chocolate, green, red. It can have a fine-, medium-, or coarse-grained structure. Hewn stones are placed on the wall in the form of a mosaic pattern, carefully selecting the details. |
| 3 | Marble | Used for the production of decorative tiles used to decorate large halls in restaurants, administrative and public buildings. It is distinguished by a rich range of colors. |
| 4 | Limestone | It is an alloy of stones of different sizes, laid in one row. It comes in pink, yellowish, white, and gray shades. |
Natural stone is more expensive than artificial stone and weighs more. Natural material looks beautiful when decorating large rooms.
Load calculation
Laying of natural stone is carried out after calculating the load on the surface. The weight and thickness of the material must be taken into account. To properly distribute loads, larger elements are placed on the lower rows. Seams should be offset according to type brickwork. The strongest elements are used for cladding corners.
Installation features
This is done after the house has completely settled, otherwise the material may become deformed and collapse.
Here is information on how to lay decorative stone on a wall in an apartment or private house.
The laying of wild stone is carried out without jointing according to an arbitrary pattern. The broken shape of the stone does not allow it to be laid in rows according to the jointing.
The technology for laying decorative stone on the wall is quite simple. The appearance and strength of the coating will depend on a properly prepared surface. All peeling off Construction Materials needs to be dismantled. Cracks are sealed with cement mortar. Grease stains and rust are cleaned down to the base.
After this you need to level the surface. All changes and distortions will eventually be noticeable. Plastering works take a lot of time, you can level the wall with plasterboard as quickly as possible. A frame made of aluminum profiles is mounted, and facing material is attached to it.
When laying stone on concrete surface you need to scratch the wall with a metal brush for better adhesion of the materials.
Laying decorative stone
The optimal temperature for performing work is considered to be from +5 to +25 degrees.
Laying artificial stone is carried out in 2 ways:
- elements imitating brick are laid with jointing;
- slate and wild stone are laid without jointing.
If you have no experience working with this material, it is advised to first lay the stone on the floor so that you can see how it will look on the surface of the wall.
Inspect the material. If there are swellings or irregularities, the surface must be cleaned. grinder or sandpaper.
For installation work tools needed:
- spatula or trowel;
- rubber hammer;
- container for mixing the solution;
- grinder and disc for concrete.
When the material and tools are prepared, you can begin installation.
Step-by-step instruction:
- The wall surface is covered with 2 layers of primer.
- Under the bottom row, a rail is nailed horizontally, which will serve as a guide for the remaining rows.
- If the material has a foam base, remove it.
- Prepare glue, liquid nails or sealant. The volume of tile adhesive should be diluted so that it is consumed in 15-20 minutes. Otherwise, the mass will harden and become unsuitable for work.
- Glue the elements starting from the corner from the bottom row. Special ones are installed at the corners corner profiles allowing you to level the surface.
- Apply glue with a notched trowel to the wall and stones in a layer 1-2 cm thick. All excess glue that protrudes must be removed immediately. Otherwise, it will be difficult to wash it off later.
- To fit the fragments, use grinding machine, knife, pliers. Clean with sandpaper.
- Elements of different sizes are placed in a chaotic order.
- A day after the material has set, the joining seams are made. To do this, cut a corner in a tight bag and squeeze the solution out of it into the joints and rub it with a sponge. The surface is immediately cleaned of the solution.
When laying wild stone without jointing, all elements are laid out tightly to each other. When installing under jointing, it is necessary to leave an equal gap between the parts. As guides, you can place pieces of plasterboard or other material, no more than 10 mm thick, between the stones.
Finishing
To add shine and protect from external influences, the surface is coated. It is often purchased complete with a batch of stone.
The surface is cleaned of dirt, dust and residues of building materials.
Make a varnish test on an unused fragment. If the gloss level is lower than desired, then first cover the surface with an additional layer of acrylic varnish. If the shine is very pronounced, dilute the impregnation with a solvent suitable for this composition.
Laying wild stone allows you to obtain a monolithic stone surface.
Decorative stone will harmoniously fit into classic interior, suitable for finishing fireplaces, fountain areas, staircases. Suitable for decorating doorways in apartments and country houses.
The installation process can be seen in more detail in the video.
To create an aesthetic surface both outside and inside a building, the technique of laying decorative tiles under brick is widely used. This type of cladding can be made from different materials. The simplest and most affordable is gypsum. Let's take a closer look at how to lay such a coating with your own hands.
Brick-like gypsum tiles are often used for interior decoration.
Types of materials
In the modern construction market you can find a wide variety of decorative finishing materials. Elements that imitate brick or stone are in great demand. They can be made from different materials, the most popular products are:
- Clinker. Very durable and wear-resistant material, can be completely different color, used for any type of surface both outside and inside buildings.
- Gypsum. Quite fragile, but lightweight material, used primarily for interior work. Initially white, it can be painted both in a liquid state and after the element has been manufactured or installed.
- Polyurethane. Very light and widely used in internal works the material is primarily white in color, but may contain pigments.
- Styrofoam. Lightweight and brittle material, used for interior decoration. White.
For interior decoration work the best option There will be brick tiles made from gypsum. It costs less than clinker, but is much stronger than its polymer counterparts and looks more natural.
Varieties of finishing materials for interior and exterior work
You can make decorative gypsum tiles yourself. To do this, you need to mix water, gypsum powder and a plasticizer in the form of PVA glue. Pour the mixture into the prepared form and wait until it dries. You can add pigment to color the mass or apply paint to the bottom of the mold before pouring.
Glue used
To lay gypsum tiles with your own hands, you need to choose the right glue. So, let's look at what you can glue gypsum tiles to. There are several options here:
- Regular cement tile adhesive. It is used for laying tiles. This standard option for laying almost any facing covering.
- Gypsum plaster. A more preferable option for interior decoration. The mixture has a white tint, so it is practically invisible under the tiles.
- Silicone sealant. Quite an unusual, but very effective solution. Provides strong adhesion to the surface.
Adhesive options for laying gypsum tiles
Describes what it is fake diamond what materials it is made from. How to glue gypsum-based cladding to surfaces. Typically, gypsum cladding is glued to the walls. tile adhesive.
What is decorative stone
Decorative stone is a type of tile used for wall cladding; it has a texture that imitates natural stone. This finish is installed both inside and outside the building.
An inexpensive alternative to natural stone for finishing walls inside an apartment
Artificial stones are much cheaper than natural ones. But, if they are made of cement or gypsum, then they do not contribute to a strong load on the walls. They are easy to install as they are glued like ceramic tiles. If part of the coating is damaged, it is simply replaced. This finish is durable and will last a long time.
Types of stone finishing materials
The finishing can be made of gypsum material, quartz, acrylic, concrete, porcelain stoneware. It can be of various textures and any colors.
Gypsum slabs
Gypsum tiles for finishing walls inside a building consist of gypsum, sand, water, and a modifier. Modifiers strengthen the material and increase its service life. They can sell smooth tiles, as well as imitating brick and cobblestones. This material does not cause allergies.
Gypsum stones
Since gypsum is a lightweight material, it can be glued even to walls that cannot withstand heavy loads. This is an environmentally friendly material. It is soft, making it easy to mold and process. It does not catch fire or melt. It does not change under the influence of direct sunlight.
Do-it-yourself interior laying with gypsum finishing stone: how to lay it out
Before starting work, it is necessary to calculate the amount of material required. Also calculate total area places that are finished with stone. Subtract the size of window and door openings from the total area. And then add 10% for excess material consumption.
Required tools and materials:
- plaster glue;
- putty knife;
- notched spatula;
- primer;
- miter box with saw;
- roulette;
- building level;
- roller;
- capacity.
When gluing, add 9% PVA glue to the tile adhesive.
What do they glue it to?
Artificial stone based on gypsum is glued to concrete, brick, plaster walls, plasterboard surfaces. It is necessary to carry out work at an air temperature in the room above +10 degrees.
If you want to glue it to wood, you first need to mount the reinforcing mesh.
If you glue the trim on non-standard walls, for example, on tiles, it is better to make a layer of material that is compatible with these types of surfaces. Connects well with tiles and with this type of cladding, tile adhesive.
How to prepare the surface: mandatory requirements
First, the walls need to be leveled, so they are plastered. Then the surface is primed, applying a composition that has deep penetration. This is done using a roller, spreading the primer into the container.
When priming, it is very important not to forget about safety precautions. Do not allow the primer to come into contact with your eyes or skin. To do this, you need to use safety glasses and rubber gloves, and carry out the work with the utmost care. But if the solution does get on the body, then it must be immediately washed with running water, and if allergic reaction- contact a specialist.
And then, when the wall is completely dry, it is puttied.
The choice of adhesive composition for cladding with artificial stone made of gypsum
Suitable tile adhesive, also Knauf Perflix, Volma Montazh. Special glue of the Monte Alba brand is also sold.
Glue consumption per 1 sq/meter
For 1 sq/m of surface with a 6 mm layer of adhesive applied, 3.1-4 kg of Yunis tile adhesive or 4-6 kg of Volma tile adhesive is consumed. You can also glue it with Knauf tile adhesive, and its consumption per 1 sq. m with a layer of 6 mm is 3.5-5 kg.
How to start putting
First, they begin to lay out the starting row. To ensure that it is laid evenly, use a tape measure, a building level, and a painting cord. 2 dots are marked. Then a dye cord is stretched between them and a line is drawn with a pencil.
Another line can be drawn according to the building level. Apply the glue to an area of 1 square meter on the wall, then it will not dry out prematurely. Apply glue to the finishing material. It is spread over the surface with a notched spatula. Then they apply the stone to the wall and fix it for a short time.
If you need to cut decorative stone, this is done using a miter box and a hacksaw with a fine tooth. Then the cut surface is sanded with fine sandpaper. You can lay the stones close together or intentionally leave gaps and then fill them with grout or sealant. If glue comes out, it is immediately wiped off with a damp sponge before it dries.
How to properly install under wallpaper
Professionals do not recommend gluing decorative stone on top of the wallpaper.
Such work can be done in 2 ways:
1. First, decorative stone cladding is glued to the wall, and then you can glue paper wallpaper. Initially, the main part of the stones is glued, putting aside the facing for figured finishing. Then the wallpaper itself is glued.
And after a day you can glue the remaining stones onto the wallpaper to figured design. This is a fairly narrow strip, and the stones do not completely lie on it, meaning they will not peel off later.
2. The second method is to first glue the wallpaper up to the border where you plan to glue the artificial stone. The wallpaper is cut along the border and pasted. When they are completely dry, you can glue decorative stones so that the wallpaper extends under them at a distance of no more than 1 cm.
How to mount on a slab with separate elements
Plasterboards should also be puttied first. And apply primer on top.
How to lay on a bare concrete wall
The concrete wall must be coated with a high penetration primer. This will increase its adhesion. Then artificial stones are glued.
How long should the first row of gypsum tiles dry?
It all depends on the glue; the instructions should indicate how long it takes for the glue to stick the tiles to a stationary state. This can be done in 20-30 minutes.
Decoration of the lining with imitation artificial stone
To decorate the facades, frost-resistant slabs with minimal porosity are used.
You can cover ledges, columns, arches, and corners in your apartment with stone.
Preparation for painting
If you did not lay the stones closely, but there are seams, then fill them with grout material or the glue used.
Fill the seams using a syringe gun or a special bag for filling voids. Do this carefully, so that the solution does not get on the front side of the cladding.
When the glue begins to set, but has not yet completely hardened, use a spatula to rub all the seams.
Opening with varnish
Coat the entire front side of the artificial stone with acrylic or polyurethane varnish. This will create reliable waterproofing and extend the service life. The varnish will dry completely in 3-4 days.
Decorating with natural “wild stone”
If a gypsum stone has no color, then it is painted a certain color. Then, after the paint has dried, it is varnished.
“Stone wall” in the interior: photo examples
In dry rooms, decorative shell rock, sandstone, cobblestone, and slate look best. In rooms with high humidity - artificial granite, marble.
How to put it in the kitchen
The kitchen is a room where there can be increased air humidity, and grease can also get on the walls. Therefore, after laying the cladding, it is imperative to coat it with varnish.
Decor in the living room
If the living room is made in a country style, then sticking a stone that imitates sandstone or raw granite will be very suitable. And if in a loft style, then the walls are decorated with decorative bricks.
Covering in the hall
If the design style of the hall is classic, then an imitation of light marble will look good. If there is a fireplace in the room, then it can be lined with decorative bricks.
Bedroom design
Bedroom in ethnic, Mediterranean style Jewelry made from stones of natural colors is well suited. It is best to highlight the areas of the walls on which the decorative cladding is glued.
In the nursery
Gypsum-based stone is hypoallergenic. It consists of natural materials, Good for children's room.
Surface care
To care for the gypsum-based surface, you can use a vacuum cleaner and cloths moistened with water. Do not rub the surface with abrasive materials or detergents. If the cladding is varnished after gluing to the wall, its durability increases.
Artificial gypsum stone is an environmentally friendly material that is suitable even for people with allergies. If part of the finish gets damaged, it can be replaced very easily.
Useful video
Decorative stone can add maximum sophistication, chic and originality to both the interior and exterior. It combines aesthetic appearance and excellent performance characteristics.
But, in order to decorative element interior has served as long as possible, while maintaining an excellent appearance, you need to know important rules and some nuances of stone laying. More on this later in the article.
Decorative stone - an exquisite interior element
Decorative stone looks great in the decoration of fireplaces, doors and window openings. It also combines flawlessly with a variety of ways to organize aquariums and fountains, as well as indoor plants. Of course, when you mention stone walls, a living room with a fireplace and classic-style furniture immediately comes to mind.
If you decide to add a touch of chic and aristocracy to your interior by decorating the entire wall or a separate part with decorative stone, then you should remember its important feature. To illuminate such a room you will need a lot more light, since with insufficient lighting the decoration will seem too gloomy. However, alternating finishing with decorative stone and light colors will solve this problem a little. plain wallpaper, paint or plaster.
Advantages of decorative stone
Firstly, decorative stone in your interior will be a wonderful highlight that guests will immediately notice.
Secondly, it is very easy to work with, thanks to its light weight and regular shapes. In addition, the stone does not require special care; any detergent will be enough.
Thirdly, decorative stone is an environmentally friendly material; it is resistant to corrosion, fungal and other bacteria.
Fourth, it is very reliable, so it will serve you long years, while maintaining all its qualities
Fifthly, a wide choice of colors, structure and style of execution allows you to create an interior that fully satisfies all your desires and needs.
Types of decorative stone
The most common are decorative stones based on:
- cement mortar;
- gypsum
Decorative stones made of plaster are not able to withstand high humidity, therefore, they are usually used in rooms with low humidity, for example, in the bedroom, corridor or living room. Decorative stones made from cement mortar, on the contrary, are moisture resistant, so they can be used in the bathroom, kitchen, etc.
Today, artificial decorative stones imitating brick and slate have found widespread use.
Brick fits perfectly into the interior of a balcony, bedroom and corridor, and can create both strict and fashion design premises.
Slate is the only type of decorative stone that creates a continuous stone surface. Each element of slate has a bright individuality and a composition made from such a stone looks very impressive and charming.
Sandstone, limestone, marble, and granite are very popular among natural decorative stones.
The color palette of marble is very wide; the most popular colors are brown, black, red, beige and, of course, white. Even the most picky person will not remain indifferent to such a decorative stone.
Sandstone can be coarse-, medium- and fine-grained, and its color palette consists of three shades: red, green and chocolate. The layout of it is simple - hewn sandstone stones are laid in a mosaic pattern, uniform alternation of horizontal and vertical elements.
Limestone is an alloy of stones of various sizes laid in a horizontal row. It can be yellowish, white, gray and pink.
Preparatory work
Before installing decorative stone, it is important to carefully prepare the surface. First, you should remove the remnants of old wallpaper, paint, stains, grease, etc. You don’t need to achieve a perfectly flat surface, since the stone will hide all the flaws. It is more important to check surface adhesion. Spray the wall with water and pay attention to those areas where the water does not absorb, but forms drops (if there are any, of course). These places should be thoroughly mechanically processed, then the surface should be checked again for “sticking”.
Before you start laying the facing stone, lay out the future design on a flat surface; this will help you see how the composition will look on the wall and eliminate confusion and awkward designs during the work process.
Decorative stone laying technology
General rules
In order to lay decorative stone with your own hands, it is not necessary to have a design education; it is enough to trust your intuition and imagination, the rest will be completed by the finishing material itself.
Installation finishing stone should be carried out at a temperature of +5 C to + 30 C. If the temperature is higher, then 25-30 minutes before starting work, the surface and back of the stone should be moistened with water.
Before starting installation, inspect the decorative stone; very often its shade depends on the side of the inspection. It’s better to ask the manufacturer which side is best to lay it out.
First, you need to make markings on the wall in increments of less than fifty centimeters in order to have an idea of how the stone will be placed and where to make adjustments to the joining decorative elements.
Tools required for laying decorative stone: construction mixer, level, spatula, block for leveling stones, iron brush, small brush, bucket of water, special brush for cleaning seams.
For laying decorative stone, glue, sealant or liquid nails are suitable.
It is best to start gluing tile elements from the bottom of the corner.
The most important part of the work is giving the composition bizarre shapes. This requires imagination, a knife, pliers and sandpaper.
If you need to adjust the stones to size, use a grinding machine, a special hacksaw or pliers, then use sandpaper Bring the surface to perfection. If there is a foamed cement base, it is important to remove it.
You should add tile adhesive so that you can use the entire mass within 15-20 minutes, since after this the glue will begin to harden. The consistency of the glue should be creamy, for example, like toothpaste. Apply the adhesive mixture to a thickness of 3-4 cm using a notched trowel.
During installation, the stone should be pressed with relatively high force so that excess adhesive comes out, but it is important to ensure that the adhesive does not get on the face of the stone, as it will be quite difficult to remove.
Some decorative stones are not the same size. In this case, for a more impressive look, place them in a chaotic order. Remember, decorative stone does not like to rush, as the rows can simply “float”. This material can also be used outdoors. However, it is best to install it in warm weather and using special glue.
Methods for laying decorative stone
Stone can be laid with or without seams, it depends on personal wishes.
A seamless option for laying decorative stone is simpler and faster.
Finishing stones should be laid out as densely as possible, resulting in an almost monolithic surface. During work, it is important to ensure that excess glue is removed in a timely manner, otherwise it will be difficult to do this in the future.
The process of laying decorative stone with jointing is more labor-intensive. However, this option is the most popular, as it looks more impressive.
The stones are attached next to each other at a certain distance. To make perfect seams in the composition between the rows of stones, lay identical pieces of plasterboard or fiberboard no more than 1 cm wide.
After all the stones have been attached and the glue has completely dried (about 1 day), they begin to putty the seams. In order to facilitate this process, you can fill, for example, a milk carton with putty and, making a small hole, carefully squeeze the mixture exactly into the seam. Then we take an ordinary sponge, remove excess putty and thoroughly wipe the stone.
Finishing
To save operational properties Decorative stones should be treated with a protective impregnation varnish, which is usually supplied along with the stone. But, before applying this protective layer, you need to thoroughly clean the surface of various contaminants and dust. Before applying varnish to the entire decorative composition Perform a test treatment on an unused stone. If you are completely satisfied with the level of shine, then you can proceed to processing all the stones on the wall. If the gloss level is insufficient, then cover the surface with an additional layer of acrylic clear varnish. If, on the contrary, the gloss level is too high, then dilute the impregnation varnish with ordinary water.
If you want to make your interior more decorative, you can paint the surface of the decorative stones with paint of more expressive color shades.
If you are decorating yourself, then the cost of laying decorative stone, of course, depends on the height of the stone, the thickness, width and height of the elements, surface topography, type of glue and grout. If you decide to use the help of a professional, then the price of the work, in addition to the nuances listed above, also depends on the qualifications of the specialist and the complexity of the installation.
Laying decorative stone - photo ready-made compositions:
Mistakes when laying decorative stone
The most common errors when laying decorative stone:
- the seam between the stones is too wide, which spoils the overall impression of the decorative composition;
- poorly primed wall, which can lead to some stones falling off;
- scratches, chips and other damage to the decorative stone during cutting will spoil the appearance of the cladding;
- an irresponsible attitude to the finishing rows will greatly spoil the appearance of the installation;
- Not right choice the shade and texture of decorative stone can negatively affect the entire interior of the room.
Although laying decorative stone with your own hands does not require any special knowledge, treat this process responsibly, and you will be very pleased with the result.
Laying decorative stone - video:
The interior of the hallway should not be given less attention than other rooms, because this is the first thing guests see. A very stylish look is given by artificial stone, which is used as the main material or as an additional accent. Create original design you can do it yourself, since finishing the hallway with decorative stone has a fairly simple technology.
Types of coating
Before you start work, you need to choose the right finishing material. It is made on the basis of concrete and gypsum with the addition of dyes. Both types have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is better to study their characteristics first.
The advantages of concrete products include:
Walls decorated with such stone can be easily cleaned of any dirt, and the worn surface can be quickly restored with paint. If you accidentally touch the finish with something hard, there will be no marks left on it and no cracks will appear.
Flaws:
- heavy weight;
- high price;
- processing complexity.
To cut individual fragments when laying, you will need a grinder and a diamond wheel, as well as some effort.
Advantages of gypsum coating:
This stone is chosen for finishing plasterboard walls, which cannot be subjected to heavy loads. If you can’t find the right color, there are unpainted products on sale that you can paint at your discretion.
Flaws:
When dirty, this finish should not be wetted or rubbed vigorously so as not to damage the surface. Treating the stone with a special impregnation or varnish will help to avoid such damage. acrylic base. Also on sale is gypsum stone with polymer coating– it’s a little more expensive than usual, but it’s not at all afraid of moisture.
If you wish, you can do it yourself: for this you will need a plastic or Silicone molds, dry gypsum mixture, coloring pigments. Buying all this is not a problem; every hardware store has a large selection of mixtures and forms. Self-production finishing material takes more time, but saves money on repairs.
Prices for facing stone
Facing stone
Preparation for finishing
First you need to calculate the amount of material. If the stone will cover the entire area of the walls in the hallway, you should subtract the area of the openings and add 10%. If the decor will be located around openings, niches, in separate fragments on open walls, draw a rough sketch of the decoration and take measurements of each area. Then add up the area and add 10-15% for trimming. When purchasing material, you should remember that the amount of angular stone is calculated in linear meters, and correct form– in square.
Additionally you will need:
Artificial stone can be attached using liquid nails, cement-based or gypsum-based glue. The glue consumption must be indicated on the packaging, so when purchasing, you should know exactly the finishing area and take it with a small margin.
If you use gypsum stone, you will need a special miter box with high sides for cutting.
When everything you need has been purchased, you should start preparing the surface.
Step 1. Dismantling the coating
If the stone covers the hallway walls completely, the old coating is removed completely to the base. If separate areas are intended for decoration, the coating must be dismantled very carefully. On the wallpaper, mark the boundaries of the finish with a pencil and carefully trim it with a utility knife, leaving a margin of 1-2 cm wide for stones. The wallpaper glue is soaked in water and removed with a spatula, and the walls are thoroughly washed. They also remove the paint if it is peeling or cracked, and clean off any loose plaster.
Step 2. Leveling the walls
The stone should be laid on a flat, smooth surface - this will facilitate the work process and increase the strength of the decorative coating. Therefore, all small cracks, gaps, and depressions are rubbed down, and if there are differences of more than 5 mm, the entire area is better. Particular attention should be paid doorways: deep cracks may form around the perimeter of the box, to seal which it is recommended to use a cement solution.
Prices for mixtures for leveling walls and ceilings
Mixtures for leveling walls and ceilings
Step 3: Priming
Dry walls must be lightly sanded to smooth out the unevenness of the puttied areas, and then wiped with a rag to remove dust. After this, the surface is treated 1-2 times with an acrylic primer. If there is wallpaper around the perimeter of the areas to be treated, the primer should be applied so as to cover an edge 1 cm wide - what will be hidden under the cladding.
Laying stone
Decorative stone has uneven edges and consists of different sizes. Laying must be done in such a way that tiles of the same size are necessarily interspersed with larger or smaller fragments, and the seams do not coincide either horizontally or vertically. This way the coating will look most natural and attractive. To understand how best to join the stone, you need to lay out the tiles on the floor, selecting the fragments in a certain order.
Step 1. Preparing the glue
Pour dry glue into a container of water and stir well. The ratio of water and glue is indicated on the package, so there is no need to mix “by eye”. Failure to comply with the proportions reduces the strength of the connection or increases the consumption of glue. Kneading is best construction mixer, then there are no lumps left in the mixture. The finished glue should be homogeneous and resemble a thick paste in consistency.
Step 2. Laying the first row
You need to lay out the tiles from the corner of the wall, and this can be done both from above and from below. When laid from top to bottom, the stone is less dirty with glue, and the coating is more accurate. If only the area around the opening is covered, start from the corner of the door. For convenience, the wall can be marked by level with horizontal lines every 10-15 cm.
Now you can start installation:
Between the fragments you can leave seams of 5 to 8 mm, especially if the stone is large.
After facing, the joints are filled with putty and jointed, which makes the masonry more attractive. Small tiles can be attached closely, the main thing is that the joints do not coincide.
Step 3: Finishing the corners
To cover internal and external corners, you can purchase special corner tiles, which are more expensive than usual, but significantly simplify the work process. If your budget is limited, you will have to adjust the stone yourself using a grinder or a hacksaw. There are 2 options here - laying the stone overlapping or grinding the edges at an angle of 45 degrees. When using the first option for external corners, the open ends must be filed and tinted, otherwise they will stand out too much. In internal corners Both ends are closed, so no processing is needed. The second option is more suitable for gypsum products, which are convenient to cut using a miter box.
So, first, the required number of fragments is determined, they are cut from a certain side, and the sections are processed with a file. Next, the stones are smeared with glue and alternately attached to the walls on both sides of the corner, carefully aligning the joints. When the vertical corner is laid out, you can expand the masonry onto the walls.
Step 4. Decorating the edges of the masonry
The edges of the masonry will look more attractive if the tiles are cut beautifully. The surface of the decorative stone has a clear texture, which makes it easier to trim the outer fragments. You should cut with a hacksaw directly along the contour lines to ensure the most natural cuts. All cuts must be sanded with sandpaper.
Step 5. Sealing joints
Bred gypsum putty and carefully apply it to the joints, corners, and around the perimeter of openings and switches. For convenience, you can use a thick bag, for example, a milk bag. One edge of the bag is cut completely, and a small incision is made on the other side. Fill the bag with putty mixture and squeeze out an even thin strip onto the seams. If the solution is applied with a spatula, you should immediately wipe off the excess from the surface of the stone to avoid drying out. After filling the joints, the putty is rubbed with a damp foam sponge and left to dry.
Step 6: Finishing
The dried putty has White color, and therefore the treated areas will stand out against the background of the stone. Paint will help get rid of light spots: in a small container, dilute the pigment to match the color of the main coating and use a small brush to paint the putty areas. When the paint dries, the stone is coated with acrylic varnish. In places where the walls are constantly touched, it is better to apply varnish in 2-3 layers.
To make the coating more voluminous, you can highlight the edges of the masonry with golden or bronze dye. There is another option: a coating of the same color, but more saturated in tone, is applied to the artificial stone at an oblique angle. In addition, you can use lighting: light directed from above or from the side makes the masonry much more textured and clearer.
| Calculation of decorative stone | Formulas | Explanations |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate the surface area intended for cladding with artificial stone | S (wall) = AxB | A – wall length, B – wall height |
| Calculate the surface area that the corner elements of the decorative stone will occupy | S (angles) = Lx0.2 | L – angle length ( linear meters), 0.2 – coefficient |
| Find the total area occupied by all corner elements | S (angles total) = S (angle 1) + S (angle 2) | - |
| Calculate the area of window and door openings | S=AxB | A – window/door width, B – window/door height |
| Calculate the surface area intended for facing decorative stone, taking into account the area occupied by corner elements, window and door openings | S (stone) = S (walls) – S (corners) – S (windows/doors) | Increase the resulting area by 10% |
| How to calculate required amount corner elements stone | Measure and add the height of the corners to be faced with decorative stone. L (total angles) = L (angle 1) + L (angle 2), etc. Increase the resulting length by 10% | L – length of corners (linear meters) |
Video - Decorating the hallway with decorative stone