Technology for applying bark beetle plaster: video

Gusevsky Andrey Anatolyevich

Bark beetle plaster technology

Stucco bark beetle, the application technology of which is not as complicated as many assume. Here, of course, there are some peculiarities, but you can completely do everything yourself. Then the final price will be much lower. Today we will talk about the intricacies of working with this material. You can also see the species in this article and photos of the most difficult moments of work, how to apply decorative bark beetle plaster with your own hands.

All about stucco bark beetle

The list of modern finishing materials is quite large. But the decorative bark beetle plaster deserves special compliments among them. This material is of interest to everyone who has taken up such a global business as home decoration.

The name “bark beetle”, so unusual for a building material, is due to the visual similarity of its texture with the trace that leaves a wood-beetle bug on wood.

Possible manufacturing options

The technology for applying bark beetle plaster depends on its composition. They are different in composition and this determines the characteristics.

There are two types of bark beetle plaster on sale:

• gypsum dry mixpackaged in bags (sometimes cement-lime);
• acrylic plastic mass of resins and fillers from marble flour, lime and many other components.

Attention: Relief and material consumption per 1 m2 depends on the size of marble chips (0.1-4 mm). The larger the granules, the more plaster will be needed.

Advantages and disadvantages

Each package has instructions for use, but it does not indicate the advantages and disadvantages of the material.

So let's get to know them better:

• weather resistance (rain, hail, snow; temperature differences; direct sunlight does not cause significant damage);
• fire resistance;
• ease, due to the presence of mineral components in the composition, reduces the load on the main frame of the structure;
• environmental friendliness;
• easy care (3 weeks after application, it can be washed, treated with detergents or vacuum cleaned);
• affordable cost (one of the most inexpensive facade coatings);
• long service life (almost unlimited);
• the possibility of finishing on their own;
• color variety.

The main disadvantage of this type of plaster is the difficulty of restoring the original appearance with mechanical damage. To do this, you will need to select the desired color. “Bark beetle” is almost not subject to restoration, getting into an already existing tone and drawing is very difficult.

Work technology

The technology for applying bark beetle plaster is not very complicated, and requires minimal skills in finishing work. The cost is lower than that of the analog - a pasty mixture. "Bark beetle" is sold in buckets, ready to be applied to the walls.

Texture plaster bark beetle

Attention: The peculiarity of finishing with decorative plaster is that using the same composition you can get different coatings. Depending on the application technique: in circles, crosswise, in waves or randomly.

When choosing a material, it is important to consider the correspondence of price and quality.

Surface preparation

The basis for this decorative plaster may be gypsum plasterboard, brick, concrete and wood chipboards, as well as sandwich panels.

Making surface preparation

• The initial stage is the cleaning of the working surface of dirt, oil stains, dust, residues of the previous finishing material, if any.
• If there are any irregularities on the plane, it is preferable to align the walls with a solution of cement and sand.
• If you work in a room with high humidity, do not do without pre-treating the walls with an antifungal mixture.
• As for the joints and cracks, they should be embroidered using a grinder, and then filled with a putty, which includes a gypsum binder.
• After that, you need to create a coating of primer (seeWhy do we need a primer: technological nuances of finishing work), preferably thick, acrylic. It will prevent moisture absorption while working with the bark beetle.
• The so-called base layer of plaster (thickness - 2 mm) is applied to the primer, it must be rubbed and compacted at the same time. He plays the role of foundation.

The process of plastering external walls is simpler.

• Cement-lime and concrete walls do not need a primer coating. To ensure the effect of maximum adhesion, one hour before the start of the work process, they should be thoroughly moistened with water.
• Now you can start applying decorative material, without fear of the possible manifestation of any defects in the base.

The basics of preparing a mixture of "bark beetle"

It is very important to correctly calculate the initial amount of solution.

The video will show the technology of applying the bark beetle in more detail, in brief everything consists in the following:

1. pour the amount of warm water (from 15-20о С) into the bucket, provided for by the instructions;
2. pour the dry mixture into a bucket and move it diligently with a construction mixer until a creamy state forms;
3. leave to swell, with repeated stirring after 10-15 minutes until complete homogeneity is achieved;
4. It is not recommended to bring the mixture to the required consistency by adding water, in order to avoid delamination of the plaster, which will subsequently lie incorrectly or form cracks.

Attention: For kneading, it is worth using a construction mixer or a drill with a nozzle. This will make the mass homogeneous and ductile.

Application of the composition

How to apply bark beetle plaster? To correctly apply the bark beetle to the surface of the walls, use a spatula (preferably stainless steel) and a grater.

Application of bark beetle plaster

• The tool should be in a 60 ° position relative to the wall being machined. Try to form a layer that matches the thickness with the parameters of the largest grain.
• If there is a need for a break, then the place of final application of the plaster must be carefully sealed with masking tape. Resuming the plastering procedure, the layer is cut, and the tape, respectively, is removed.
• Before you start forming decorative strokes, make sure that the work plane is sufficiently dried up, it should not stick to your hands.
• When creating strokes, use a plastic grater, hold it flat, slightly overlapping with the plane of the wall being processed.
• If you use this material to decorate the facade, then for two days, it must be protected from sun exposure and rainfall.
• The optimum temperature for drying this plaster varies from 10-30 ° C, and the permissible humidity is not higher than 80%.
• After the "bark beetle" has completely dried, you can begin the next stage - painting. It is carried out using paints on acrylic or silicate bases.
• Please note that acrylic paint can be applied no earlier than two weeks after plastering. Silicate paint can be used after three days from the day of finishing.

How to apply bark beetle on the wall: video

Staining technology

Since the starting material is white, it is possible to easily tint the plaster in different colors.

There are two painting methods:

• By mixing paint with the material before applying to the wall
• Coating of already plastered and hardened surfaces

In the first case, add the paint to the dry mixture until the batch.

For the second variant of staining, water-based, silicone or acrylic paints are used. They are applied with a wide brush, roller (seePaint rollers: consider in detail), it is possible with a pile, or a special mittens.

If the grooves are not painted, the result is an illusion of the depth of coverage. On the topic of applying bark beetle with your own hands, the video will tell about some of the subtleties of this material. If you do not rush, then all the work will be done efficiently and quickly.