Methods for applying decorative plaster: do it yourself
Of course, they do not argue about tastes, but there are practically no people who would not like decoratively plastered walls or ceilings. Not only its aesthetics and durability speaks in favor of this type of coating: it is the only possible option for decorating architectural elements with small details that cannot be faced in any other way.
In addition, various methods of applying decorative plaster are perfectly combined with other types of finishes, which gives practically inexhaustible opportunities for interior design. We think that the video in this article: “Devices for applying decorative plaster” will help novice plasters create an original wall covering in their home.
The content of the article
Decorative plastering: process features
The fact that even if not all, but many textures can be done with your own hands, first of all, fuels the interest of the owners of square meters in this method of decoration and decoration. But first, let us clarify how simple plaster differs from decorative plaster? The main task of the plaster is to level the surface and prepare it for subsequent finishing.
- This is the main difference between simple and decorative plasters: the former serve for leveling, and the latter only for decor. That is, even the simplest version of such a decor requires that the surface be pre-aligned. It is impossible to smoothly align the walls with a decorative composition, since it is applied in very thin layers.
Note! To seal defects such as joints, cracks, and differences in surface marks on a base base, you need a starting composition that differs from the finishing putty by the size of the filler. Therefore, uneven walls and ceilings, before decorative plastering, are leveled either by the traditional wet method, or sheathed with drywall.
- To structure the raw plaster, you need a composition of high ductility and slow hardening - these are the properties that all texture mixtures have. And here’s what’s still very important: under the decorative coating on the basis of cement, there should not be gypsum screeds - that is, leveling in this case also needs to be done with cement putty!
- You can not worry about gypsum plasterboard, as due to its thickness it is strong enough to withstand a cement screed. You can do without preliminary alignment only if there are no significant defects on the basis. Minor defects can also be hidden under the coating layers of decorative plaster - especially if it has a coarse-grained filler.
Such a structure is distinguished by the so-called warm plasters, in which manufacturers add foamglass balls or perlite granules. In most decorative compositions, along with fine sand and astringent, there is carbonate lime.
In Venetian plasters, marble powder replaces it. Microcement mixtures contain white and colored finely ground cement.
Coarse filler invoices
Coarse-grained fillers can be present not only in warm plasters, which are both finishing and heat-insulating material. They are also in pebble mixtures, designed to create the effect of "bark beetle".
Their main advantage is that the only device for applying decorative plaster that requires plastering in this case is an ordinary grater with a stainless steel blade.
- When working with pebble plasters, the tinted solution is distributed over the surface to a thickness corresponding to the filler fraction, and then, making simple movements with the tool vertically or horizontally, get about the picture that we see in the photo. Before applying plasters with light porous fillers, the surface of the walls is simply primed with impregnation of deep penetration.
- If marble chips are used as filler, having a more significant weight, in addition to impregnation, another layer of viscous adhesive soil is applied to the base, and after applying the pebble composition, the screed is coated with a special varnish. The price of such a mixture depends on the breed of stone included in its composition.
- It is easy to work with pebble plasters, and manufacturers set out in sufficient detail their recommendations on the implementation of the work. If you need visual information, then by request: “methods of applying decorative plaster of video”, you can find a video in which it will be shown how to work with a particular type of structural mixture and how to achieve this or that desired effect.
Decorative coating "bark beetle" (seeStucco bark beetle: application technology), can be considered universal, as it is great for facade decoration and interior design. Options with marble chips are traditionally considered facade.
They are rarely used inside the house - unless on the balcony. But in the corridors and vestibules of public and administrative buildings, this wall decoration looks quite harmonious.
The effect of antiquity: little secrets
As already mentioned, most texture plasters contain a substance such as lime. Along with white cement or gypsum, which are the astringent basis of decorative mixtures, this component provides them with high ductility.
They also maintain the white color of the solution, which greatly facilitates the tinting process. Compositions are often pigmented in production, and are delivered to the consumer in a workable consistency.
This is convenient for lovers, and masters prefer to use dry mixes - they are available in white and can be tinted at your discretion. So there are much more opportunities for design, and frankly, they can be simply unlimited. After all, it all depends on the artistic taste, color sensation, and professional skills of the person performing this work.
Craquelure in the design of the walls
Some versions of plasters are focused on obtaining a single texture, which is obtained thanks to special additives maintained by the manufacturer in their composition, or in special processing of the topcoat. But even so, there are plenty of opportunities to make the coverage exclusive.
- Take the effect of antiquity, which is called the beautiful French word "craquelure" (craquelure). Its essence is to obtain cracks on the surface of the cobweb, which can then be highlighted picturesquely. At first glance, the implementation of such a decor seems complicated, but oddly enough, to achieve such a result is quite simple.
- Firstly, you need to buy plaster material, focused specifically on obtaining the effect of antiquity. As a rule, these are Venetian plasters, which are not even tinted. The whole secret of creating the effect lies in the heat treatment of raw plaster, which after application is forcibly dried with a household or construction hairdryer.
- In ordinary plastering, such actions are unacceptable, and are considered a violation of technology, since accelerated loss of moisture screed leads to cracking. To create the effect of "craquelure", it is this property of plaster that is taken as a basis.
- We emphasize that the surface for applying such a plaster should be smoothed not only by the starting, but also by the finishing putty (seeHow is finishing putty walls) When the screed, which has not lost plasticity, is treated with a hairdryer, it must be left alone for hardening. The time to gain strength of a layer depends on its thickness - it is determined by the manufacturer's instructions.
- After drying, the surface is treated with a translucent, tinted glaze in the desired shade. They do this with the help of a sponge, paying special attention to cracks, and on the surface the glaze is well shaded. To shade the picture, make it more visible, you can draw cracks with a thin brush.
Sometimes masters use such a technique: they tint the finishing putty in a contrasting color, which smoothed the surface. When the cracks open, the lower color layer will be visible in them, which looks very nice.
Imitation of textures of natural materials
The stylization of antique walls can be performed not only as an imitation of old cracked plaster. It can be the nowadays art-concrete decor, which is performed not only on concrete, but also on any other - even wooden, foundation.
Manufacturers venetian plasters they also offer their own options for styling the surface of walls under the skin, silk, velor, natural stone. To obtain these effects, adhesive primers, glaze paints or waxes, and finish varnishes are purchased as a set for the texture mixture. And only decorative additives that determine the color of the future coating, the customer selects at his discretion.
Well, the technology of applying plaster is not a secret behind seven seals. Refer to the instructions supplied with the material. Better yet, type “decorative plaster: ways to apply video” in the search box, and you will find a ton of training videos that will help you do something similar at home.
Creating reliefs mechanically
Many types of decorative plastersare applied on a leveled surface with a maximum of three layers. There are two layers, or even one - but it already depends on the technique used to process them. There are techniques for treating hardened screeds, which are often used in the decoration of facades.
- When decorating the internal walls, the relief is applied to the screed, which is in a plastic state. The setting of mortars intended for decorative plastering is slowed down by the addition of modifying additives to their composition, which gives time for drawing a picture. Application and processing of layers is not carried out immediately over the entire area of the wall, but in small fragments.
- Such a relief, which is presented in the photo as an example, is carried out manually, by some kind of gear device, in the role of which even an ordinary comb can act. And the noble copper shade and luster given to this coating with the help of decorative additives.
- In general, for applying an abstract relief to a plastic screed, any improvised objects can be used: a mesh washcloth, a large-pore sponge, a paint brush or a metal brush. If you want the surface to be not an abstract relief, but a clear ornament, you will have to purchase a special tool: a figured roller or a silicone stamp.
- Not all plasters are applied manually.There are also options that are focused on mechanical application - for example: two-color decorative coating "Wave", from the Optimist-Elite series. The mixture has a consistency that is already ready for application. Since two colors are combined in the coating, mixtures are prepared in two containers, adding concentrated tinting paste to the solutions and thoroughly mixing with a mixer.
- The application of tinted material on the walls is carried out by the hopper in turn. First, a single solution of the same color is applied pointwise. The resulting pattern will depend on the diameter of the nozzle mounted on the hopper, as well as the pressure set on it. A solution of a different color goes to the second layer, which can be applied immediately, without waiting for the first to dry. After a day, the decor dries and is covered with a finish varnish.
By and large, this is the easiest way to apply decorative plaster - it does not even need to be leveled on the surface. The main thing here is that the foundation be well prepared: properly aligned with start and finish plaster, and treated with a deep penetration primer.
Sophisticated processing of topcoats
Everything that was discussed in the previous chapter looks pretty simple, and by and large, it is designed for independent work. The creation of a simple relief sometimes does not require a special skill from the performer. But, as you know, drawing is different, there are such techniques for creating it that you can’t call simple.
- First of all, this is a decor made using the sgraffito technique. It is used to obtain complex multi-color ornaments, which can be either recessed or voluminous (printed). The first option is simpler, and you can try to make a small fragment yourself.
- If you know how to draw - well, do not know how - use a stencil. On the surface, which is plastered in two multi-colored layers, the outline of the pattern from the stencil can be transferred with a needle. The upper layer along the contour of the image is removed with a special tool similar to a surgical scalpel, while a color image appears under it. The simplest version of this design is an imitation of brickwork.
- To perform a printed pattern (see Drawings of decorative plaster: how to make) up to five layers can be applied, each of which has its own fragment of the drawing. This requires a lot of skill, and trying to learn how to do something like this without professional workshops is impossible.
No less difficult is the application of the artistic image on the plaster. Here, the stencil will not help. The master performing the work must not only be able to come up with a composition and put it on the wall, but also accurately convey all the tones and midtones - as in a real picture.
It was from such wall panels, called in ancient times frescoes, that modern Venetian plasters originated.
