Finishing the inside of the house with gypsum stone. Decorating the walls in the living room with decorative stone

Wood, stone, brick, clay are traditional materials for the construction of residential buildings. Having migrated from the exterior to the interior, they are also used for interior decoration premises. Thanks to development technological processes, creating all kinds of shades, sizes and textures for decoration, artificial stone in the interior has become a favorite technique of decorators, and various masonry structures have become strong accents that make the living space individual. The use of an artificial analogue of natural stone allows you to maintain the interior of the house in a wide variety of styles, from Empire style, as an imitation of ancient Greek, to any variations of modern minimalism.

Artificial stone in the interior

The fireplace and chimney are finished with black artificial stone

Features that provide benefits

Unlike natural stone, its artificial version has significant advantages:

Weighs less, which means it can be attached to lighter structures;
Requires low glue consumption;
There is a wide range of sizes and color palettes, which makes it easier to choose options for your intended interior.

When finishing surfaces with artificial stone material important element The grout has an additional decorative function. According to color ratio it can:

maintain the basic tone;
be lighter than the main tone;
be darker than the main tone.

The width of the joint filled with grout is determined according to the dimensions of the stone fragments and varies from 3 to 15 mm.

The first option is used when it is necessary to make stonework the background of the interior. The second is if it is collected from fragments of artificial stone decorative panel, which is the center of the room.

The third option is depressed seams that limit the protruding fragments with their depth. It is used when using material imitating “wild” stone to highlight the masonry and emphasize the complex stone texture.

Stone decor in the interior

Types and color options of artificial stone are used inside different rooms Houses. Concrete decorative stone in the interior of the living room is used to decorate walls and large vertical surfaces. The larger the space for masonry, the larger the stone fragments, the more advantageous the final result looks.

Fireplace portals and chimneys of chalet cottages, decorated with imitation rubble, leading through the second light to ceiling beams, look like a finished work of a master. And the rare inclusions of strips of stone on the central wall of the living room are the work of an amateur.

The fashion for openings trimmed with small pieces of brick is a thing of the past. Today, following the style means using large amounts of artificial stone.

Decorative stone in an interior that has organically absorbed country style, found when finishing small vertical surfaces: columns, the base of a bar counter, a kitchen island. The classic masonry looks impressive, finishing the arches with wide radial masonry, reproducing the naturally chaotic arrangement of wild stone.

However, we should not forget that even chaos is subject to the laws of harmony. Therefore, before performing the work, it is necessary to make a sketch, lay out the stone on a horizontal surface and accurately transfer it to the object to be decorated.

If you design the interior of an apartment in the loft style, you should remember that a loft is the factory floors of old factories converted into housing. Unplastered brick walls are a legacy of manufacturers who saved on interior decoration, which became the “calling card” of this style. For a loft, dark red “aged” brick or its imitation from artificial stone is required on all walls of a large open space.

Hallway: “cave age” or modernity

Inside this room, it is worth using decorative stone in the interior when decorating walls, laying it on one or more surfaces, or decorating large space entrance area, place free-standing boulders and cobblestones that will ideally support the ethno or minimalist style.

Another interesting, but time-consuming technique for decorating a hallway is the installation of shallow channels with built-in lamps at the base of the floor. These channels are filled with artificial “pebbles” or laid out with decorative stones like cobblestones or pavement.

Flush with finishing floor channels are closed tempered glass, also used when arranging steps of glass staircases, decorate a transparent “window” with a metal frame. The light coming from the floor of the hallway makes it unusual and adds a touch of mystery.

White bedroom in stone: peace, comfort and healthy sleep

The ideal tone of stone in a bedroom interior is white, milky, echoing light textile design, forged parts painted with light colors, patina.

Decorating the bedroom with artificial brick in calm tones will provide psychological comfort. Dark, rich colors can create an intriguing atmosphere, especially if your stay in this space is short, but for good rest A bright, neutrally decorated room is needed.

On one of the walls of the bedroom there is a rustic or Scandinavian style You can arrange a false portal for a fireplace by mounting a suitable sized niche made of plasterboard and decorating it with decorative stone masonry.

It is easy to decorate the interior space of a niche with large candles, matched to match or contrast with the overall decoration, and install an electric analogue of the hearth or a bio-fireplace there. Having conceived similar element interior decor of the sleeping area, you will provide yourself with cozy evenings and safe warm light living fire.

Stone decor in extreme conditions: kitchen and bathroom

Using artificial stone to decorate the walls of rooms with high humidity or sudden fluctuations temperature regime(bathroom and kitchen) requires a special approach and some precautions.

Although artificial stone has higher strength and performance characteristics compared to natural types of granite or marble, it is still susceptible to the destructive effects of water, high temperatures, and hot steam.

Kitchen using stone

Therefore, if you want to have a wall made of artificial brick is large in the kitchen, it is better not to place it next to the stove, so as not to waste time removing grease stains, or treat it with special protective compounds(varnishes, water repellents).

If you use stone in the interior of a bathroom, then its use assumes the presence of volumetric space, since the room small sizes, lined with stone fragments, will seem even smaller and cramped.

If the dimensions of the bathroom allow it, then using stone masonry, large-format slabs for styles that embody the 20th and 21st centuries, or columns with capitals, relief inserts, sculptures that turn the room into antique baths is quite justified.

Small forms using decorative stone

Flowing water adds a special zest to the interior of a relaxation space: light murmuring sounds soothe, set one in a creative mood, harmonize a person’s inner state of mind, and the smallest water vapor moisturizes dry air. Therefore, installing a home fountain can not only decorate the room, but also improve the health of the inhabitants.

When decorating a wall with a fountain with artificial stone, it is necessary to complement the structure with a glass vertical surface along which streams of water will flow.

A transparent barrier is not visible visually, but it is easier to keep it clean, because from prolonged contact with water stone surface limescale streaks form. Glass will protect the masonry from moisture, prevent destruction of the structure, but the overall appearance will not be affected - the house will have a real, not an artificial, waterfall.

The use of decorative stone for interior decoration allows you to decorate a house or apartment in an original way. Such natural material successfully integrates into various interior solutions, and becomes the highlight that home owners are trying to reproduce. A stone of artificial origin gives decorative effect no worse than his wild brother.

Properties of decorative stone

For interior decoration, you can use both artificial stone and natural mineral; here it all comes down to price and the wishes of the customer. Each of these types is endowed with a number of properties that must be taken into account when choosing products. To better understand what decorative stone is for interior decoration, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with its characteristics and study the types of this material.

The undeniable advantage of a mineral of natural origin is its durability, especially since such wall cladding is not susceptible to external negative factors inside an apartment or house. It is not affected by precipitation and ultraviolet radiation, due to which the stone can give off its best properties– thermal insulation ability and unsurpassed appearance. It so happened that decorative elements walls made with such cladding have served and continue to serve as a sign of high financial wealth, so this also affects its popularity.

Oddly enough, but high strength The mineral is both its advantage and disadvantage, since its processing is significantly difficult. Again, the pattern on the surface of this decor may be different, and this is not to everyone’s liking. And the most important disadvantage that will probably always distinguish the wild mineral is its exorbitant price, which is not affordable for everyone.

Price of stone produced in artificial conditions, much lower than the previous option. The gypsum or cement component makes it much lighter, which can significantly reduce the load on the structure of the house and such material is easier to glue. Thanks to this property, delivery and unloading becomes easier, which means the cost of the material is lower. Fake diamond deservedly leads the market of decorative building products, as it is endowed with unsurpassed qualities:

ease of installation. It is laid with a special glue in the same way as ceramic tiles, but there is no need to carefully adjust each element, and a certain randomness only adds charm to the room;
a huge selection of colors and textures that imitate natural minerals. There is a wide field for design ideas here;
the coating can be repaired and restored;
strength and durability can compete with similar qualities of natural cladding;
Optimal hydrophobic properties make decor maintenance simple and convenient.

There are practically no negative qualities here, except that some types of artificial coating are subject to abrasion under mechanical influence, sometimes hydrophobic treatment is indispensable and the cost may be higher than for more traditional types of finishing materials for walls (wallpaper, ceramic tiles).

Using artificial stone for interior wall cladding

There are no strict restrictions on the use of stone in the interior, but you need to be able to stop in time so as not to overload with this bright and textured material living space of a house or apartment. It is quite justified to decorate corners, arched and doorways, since here we have not only an artistic effect, but also excellent protection of vulnerable areas from mechanical damage. This technique will help highlight some interior elements and create a favorable accent on them. You can lay gypsum or any other decor with glue either over the entire selected area or in the form of small inserts.

Artificial flexible stone or gypsum products are usually glued in niches or on shelves. When decorating fireplaces, along with these types of cladding, ceramic can be used. decorative tiles under the stone for interior decoration.

Thanks to environmental friendliness artificial decor, it can be glued to the headboard of bedrooms, which looks very original. In living rooms, TVs are hung on tiled wall surfaces, and the stone does not have to have a linear layout - it can be positioned randomly.

With the advent of a new product on the construction market, such as flexible stone, radial cladding of niches and ceilings is now much easier to carry out due to the pliability of the material. In general, a flexible artificial mineral deserves special attention, and we will definitely tell you more about it.

Facing stone: types and individual characteristics

The construction market has all possible types of decorative facing stone, which in most cases is mounted with glue. Most often, our compatriots prefer products made from gypsum., so we will begin our review with them, besides, gypsum material, just like flexible stone, has a number of advantages over similar cladding for interior walls, which means it deserves special attention.

Gypsum cladding

Gypsum tiles very naturally imitate real stone

The gypsum base of the material allows it to be widely used. It has long been a reliable leader among similar decor intended for indoor use. The increased demand for gypsum is due to its low weight and aesthetic properties; moreover, the price for such material is quite affordable. Products made from gypsum have a porous structure, so they absorb moisture. To prevent the destruction of the material due to humidity, it should be treated with special varnishes and impregnations. Non-flammability, ease of installation with glue, resistance to sudden temperature fluctuations - all this has a positive effect on the choice of buyers. By appearance gypsum stone, like its flexible counterpart, is similar to sandstone.

Concrete products

Concrete tiles characterized by monotonous coloring, available in a variety of colors

This material includes sand, reinforcing components, plasticizers, and coloring pigments. Pumice, ceramic dust, expanded clay granules may be included here as additives. Concrete-based stone is versatile, so it can be glued onto any wall surface.

Porcelain tiles

Porcelain tiles have an endless variety of textures and textures

The main ingredients of porcelain stoneware allow it to withstand increased loads. Ceramic cladding with granite strength, it consists of several types of clay, mineral fillers, feldspar and pigment dyes. During the process of pressing and further firing, porcelain stoneware acquires the ability to withstand high temperatures and moisture, as well as significant mechanical stress. In appearance, porcelain stoneware resembles colored glass or a well-polished mineral. To avoid scratching the glossy surface of this cladding, it is better to refrain from using abrasive cleaning agents.

Agglomerates

The agglomerate has a fine spotted structure, great for a strict style

This class of facing materials is characterized by excellent strength properties, since they are based on marble and granite chips. Manufacturers also include limestone in agglomerates, quartz sand and various pigments. They are mounted with glue on a pre-prepared surface, in which they are similar to more common gypsum products.

Acrylic material

Acrylic stone can be cast in absolutely any shape

Acrylic stone can be laid on the surface of internal walls, which has a number of advantageous properties:

resistance to mechanical damage;
does not absorb moisture;
does not attract dirt and dust;
easy to care for;
easy to glue to the surface;
light weight;
environmental cleanliness.

Quartzite

Quartzite window sill

Just like similar products made of gypsum, it can be installed in rooms for any purpose. The structure of such a stone is ultra-strong, and the material itself lasts for a very long time without losing its original appearance. It can often be found in the form of window sills and table tops. Quartz stone is easily processed with diamond discs.

Flexible decorative stone

“Flexible stone” can be laid even on round surfaces

It is difficult to imagine that stone can be flexible in its structure, but modern technologies never cease to amaze us. Such flexible material produced at the site of sandstone mining, for which the natural mineral is cut off the thinnest layer so that its unique pattern remains. The thin section is then sanded to a smooth, glossy surface. The basis on which it is customary to glue the cut material is durable textiles with acrylic plasticizers applied to its surface.

Over time, the textiles are removed, and the sandstone cut and acrylic glue on his back side dried in the sun under the open sky. During the manufacturing process, as you understand, small particles of natural mineral harden and leave an unchanged pattern and texture. Flexible stone can be glued to any surface due to its flexibility. It is indispensable where you need to process round shapes and make a smooth transition from one element to another. This is an excellent solution for those who plan to glue material in the corners without cutting it. The new flexible facing material is not cheap, but its capabilities are not limited in any way.

Ceramic tile released in large assortment

It is probably difficult to find a more familiar wall cladding than stone-look tiles for interior decoration. Anyone who has even a little experience with repair work, they know that the products are mounted with a special tile adhesive, have an attractive appearance and are distinguished by a huge selection. You can find any product on sale price category, which will give the wall surface both protection from moisture and a decorative effect. Such wall finishing cladding will serve its owners for a long time. for long years provided that the glue is chosen correctly and the installation work is carried out correctly.

Decorating walls with decorative stone helps create an ambiance of naturalness and complete individuality. This material can be used for indoor and outdoor work. The most commonly used artificial type of product, which has many subtypes. This option is more economical from a financial point of view. Modern technologies make it possible to produce products that almost completely imitate the properties of natural materials.

Various options for decorative stone for finishing

Decorative stone is usually divided into two main categories: natural and artificial. Naturally, many consider the first option to be the most preferable, but this is not always the right decision.

Natural material

This material has been used for centuries, so its durability is beyond doubt. It is completely resistant to mechanical stress and withstands direct hits. sun rays. In more detail, this type has virtually no disadvantages. Although exactly natural origin stone causes some negative aspects of working with it:

Expensive. The price of such products can reach fantastic levels, which significantly limits its use.
Difficulty in processing. The process of creating elements that will be suitable for covering a surface is incredibly difficult and expensive.
Heterogeneity of textures and shades. Creating a uniform coating is not an easy task.

The process of laying natural stone is quite labor-intensive and requires drawing up a diagram

To lay out this product, it is necessary to draw up a preliminary diagram that will help combine the fragments with each other.

Fake diamond

This option perfectly imitates a natural stone. Due to this, it has become so widespread. There are many varieties that differ in the components included in the product.

On a note! Wall decoration with artificial stone, regardless of the production material, is carried out using the same technology.

Variety of artificial decorative stone

Cement based products

The basis is Portland cement, to which various additives are mixed. This option is great for covering the facade of a house with artificial stone, but can also be used indoors. This type has the following characteristics:

Excellent durability.
Moisture resistance.
Durability.
Maintainability.

The main disadvantage is the large weight, which creates a significant load on the surface. Therefore, you need to be careful when choosing glue.

Cement-based decorative stone

Plaster version

It is one of the most popular materials. Great for decorating surfaces in the living room and bedroom. This is confirmed by the main advantages:

Environmental friendliness.
Additional sound and heat insulation of the room.
Affordable price.
A light weight.
Wide selection of textures and shades.

Such artificial stone has one big drawback - instability to mechanical damage.

Gypsum decorative material

Acrylic material

When using this option, you get an excellent stone finish, which is distinguished by its richness of color. The material has all the advantages that are present in related types, but has a higher price. Although its protective characteristics are much superior to gypsum.

Acrylic version of decorative stone

This is a modern decorative stone that is flexible. Literally speaking, the material consists of sheets on the surface of which sandstone is applied. There are options with a thin cut of natural material.

On a note! In fact, there are many more varieties, such as: agglomerates, quartzite and porcelain stoneware.

Photo gallery: the use of decorative stone in the interior

Indoor surface finishing

Sten is a process that requires maximum concentration. Facing with decorative stone is the final stage, which is preceded by various preparatory activities. Compliance with all the rules and nuances is the key to reliable and beautiful coverage.

Stage one: preparatory work

All work begins with a preliminary calculation required quantity basic and auxiliary materials, preparation of tools. Some rules need to be taken into account:

The required quantity is calculated taking into account the surface area. Door and window openings and locations of other finishing materials are subtracted from this indicator.
To get a more detailed picture, a plan and diagram of the premises are drawn up. It must be taken into account that artificial stone often has incorrect dimensions, so it is recorded in linear meters.
Working with stone with your own hands, even with the proper experience, sometimes leads to damage to fragments. Therefore, another 10% is added to the required amount.

Special attention is paid to the instrument:

Bulgarian. The circle is purchased separately, depending on which decorative stone is selected.
Set of spatulas, including serrated ones.
Level - up to half a meter.
Primer kit.
Capacity.

On a note! Various types of glue are used for artificial stone cladding. The most preferred are: “liquid nails” or mixtures based on cement and gypsum.

Tools required for laying decorative stone

Stage two: a sequence of three steps

It doesn’t matter at all where the walls will be decorated with stone, in the hallway or living room. The main thing is to thoroughly approach the preparation of the surface. This process involves three main steps:

Step one: dismantling the old coating

This process must be carried out very carefully. It is necessary to follow the main rule, which is that it is better to do everything again than to redo everything completely later.

Therefore, the layer of paper wallpaper, paint or tiles is completely removed. Next, you need to evaluate the reliability of the plaster. To do this, tap the wall. Any empty sound indicates that there are voids. This layer is dismantled.

Cladding with decorative stone requires complete dismantling of the old coating

On a note! It is important to consider that if the artificial stone occupies more than 50% of the surface, then the coating must be removed to the base.

Step two: alignment

Even in an apartment located in a new building, this procedure is carried out. You need to achieve a flat surface. This will significantly facilitate the work on finishing the walls indoors. Although many manufacturers indicate that their decorative stone is laid on surfaces that may have defects. It is better to ignore such recommendations.

Leveling walls with plaster

The process is that all cracks are covered with putty. And if there is a difference of more than 4-5 mm, then a layer of plaster is applied.

Step Three: Primer

This is a mandatory process that is necessary for better adhesion of materials. An acrylic primer with a high penetrating effect is used for work. It is applied in two layers.

Final stage preparatory work - surface priming

Stage three: surface cladding

When all the previous stages are completely completed, the decoration of the kitchen or other room with artificial stone begins. If a material is used that has different sizes and uneven edges, then it is first laid out on a flat area to form the desired option.

It all starts with preparing the solution (if dry glue is used). This is done simply: pour the required amount of water into the container and add the dry mixture. Using a drill with a mixer attachment, everything is mixed well. The main thing is to avoid the appearance of lumps and the presence of dry residue at the bottom. Next, a clear procedure is followed.

By mixing dry glue with water, you need to achieve uniformity of the solution

Work begins from any corner of the room. Laying can be started from the top or bottom. The first option is preferable. The fact is that if you start finishing from below, the coating, which is already lined with the material, will get very dirty. Therefore, we have to work more carefully.

The process looks like this:

The wall is being marked. To do this, lines are drawn. Their step is 10-15 cm.
The first element is taken, onto which a layer of adhesive mixture is applied. Its thickness should not exceed five millimeters.
If required, a small layer is applied to the treated area.
The fragment is applied to the surface and moves slightly. After such manipulation, the product should clearly take its place.
By slightly pressing on the facing material, excess glue can be released. They are immediately removed with a spatula.
When finishing with decorative stone is done using fragments different sizes, then the second element is placed, which differs in size from the previous one.
If necessary, seams are formed. If the material is laid closely, the joints should not coincide.

Laying of decorative stone begins from the corner of the room

On a note! The seams look great in the interior of the living room or kitchen if they are made in the same size.

Creating corners

To form a beautiful corner, special corner elements are purchased.

Corner element for creating beautiful corners

This can be avoided if desired. There are several options that depend on the specific material:

If products with clear dimensions are used, then they are laid from the outer corner. Then internal corner formed by straight cutting.
The facing of uneven fragments is performed in the reverse order. External corner performed by overlap. The protruding parts are cut off or filed with a file. The opened cut is tinted.
An excellent solution is cutting at 45 degrees. This joint turns out to be very neat.

The edges of the coating are also designed using a similar principle. The main thing is to make a neat cut, which can be sanded well with sandpaper.

Final finishing

Finishing involves several steps:

The seams are finally formed with a grout mixture. They are left until the solution dries completely. It must be taken into account that the joints are not completely filled so that the decorative stone protrudes above the surface.
The seams are being tinted. Paint is chosen in similar or contrasting shades.
If necessary, the coating is covered with a layer of varnish or protective impregnation.
To give more ambience, they are exhibited lighting, which favorably emphasize the volume of textures. An excellent effect can be achieved in the living room by installing lamps in the floor or ceiling.

Formation beautiful seams allows you to give the surface a finished look

In principle, decorating walls with natural or artificial stone indoors is a simple procedure that anyone can do.

A little about decorative stone finishing on the outside of buildings

This procedure almost completely repeats the work inside the house. But it differs in more thorough preparation of the base. Especially if you are decorating a wooden wall with stone. In this case, reinforcement and puttying must be carried out.

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 9 minutes

Decorative stone is a facing material for exterior and interior decoration, which is rapidly gaining popularity. Stone finishing gives the room an original and presentable look and complements the interior well different styles. Decorative stone is wear-resistant, practical and easy to care for. The only thing that may confuse you is the high cost of the material. But if you consider that it is not necessary to cover all the walls in the room with stone, then the costs will not be so high. In addition, today they are actively used artificial species decorative stone, which are much cheaper than natural rocks.

Decorative stone in the interior

Most often this decorative facing material can be found in living rooms, spacious kitchens, dining rooms and hallways. Decorating doorways, niches and entire walls with stone allows you to achieve a monumental effect, and in combination with living plants brings naturalness to the room.

Decorating the hallway with decorative stone is practical and convenient. Accumulates in the hallway and corridor a large number of dirt that is brought into the apartment from the street. Artificial material that imitates masonry perfectly tolerates wet cleaning with detergents and has dirt-repellent properties. In addition, this design will be very durable and will not lose its attractive appearance from frequent touches.

Full decoration of the hallway with decorative stone can have a “pressing” effect, so the best solution There will be a fragmented finish highlighting certain areas:

doorways and arches;
viewed angles;
areas around furniture and separately located decorative elements (lamps, paintings, mirrors);
contact areas (hangers, racks, shelves, sections of walls above the baseboard);
ledges and niches.

Advice: Decorative masonry can show its full potential only with good conditions. If there is insufficient lighting, decorating walls with dark-colored decorative stone will look gloomy. If it is impossible to provide suitable lighting in the corridor, you need to give preference to the material light colors and reduce the size of the cladding area, limiting it to, for example, the door opening.

IN decorative finishing apply the following types this natural material:

sandstone;
limestone;
slate;
marble;
granite;
cobblestone.

Depending on the appearance there are following types decorative stone:

rubble – imitates natural pebbles or boulders;

crushed - has the appearance of unprocessed rock;

sawn – combines an unpolished front surface with clear geometry;

mosaic - elements form a certain geometric or color composition;

tiled - has a polished front surface, an imitation of natural polished marble or granite.

Working with decorative stone

When choosing a decorative stone in the form facing material First of all, you will have the following questions:

Is it possible to carry out finishing without the participation of a specialist?
What tools will you need during work?
How to lay decorative stone?
What composition can be used to glue the facing material to the wall?
How to decorate an arch with decorative stone?

Let's find out the answers to these questions and consider each in detail.

Do-it-yourself decorative stone finishing

Decorative stone finishing on our own- a very real task. Working with different types of this facing material has different levels of complexity, but in general, any novice master can cope with laying stone.

Required Tools

For working with decorative finishing material you will need the following set of tools:

trowel or spatula for applying glue;
rubber hammer;
grinder with disc for concrete;
container for mixing the solution;
triangle ruler;
cords for horizontal beacons;
plumb lines;
metal brush;
roulette;
level.

Bonding composition

The facing material can be glued to the wall using tile or silicone glue, liquid nails, or stone glue. In some cases, it is permissible to use cement-sand mortar with plasticizers or polyvinyl chloride construction adhesive.

The best choice is tile adhesive or a specialized composition for decorative stone.

Important points

When working with stone, you need to take into account several nuances, the observance of which will ensure a high-quality result.

Decorative cladding material can only be glued onto the wall carefully. It is acceptable to use for alignment or .
When choosing a natural cladding material that has a lot of weight, you need to fix it on the wall.
When covering walls with plasterboard, the sheets must have a thickness of at least 12.5 mm and be fixed along the length along at least three transverse lines.
Maintaining relatively even rows improves the appearance of the finished surface.

Sketch development and marking

Before you start gluing masonry elements, you must determine the size of the area to be covered, select the type of seams, make a sketch and markings on the walls. The sketch is necessary for the reason that it is desirable to lay a solid stone on the wall, and you should try to place it so that you do not have to cut and chop it, since these actions can lead to damage.

To form seams, you can use wedges, lay pieces of drywall between the rows for wide seams or scraps of cardboard for narrow ones. After the glue has dried, the auxiliary materials must be removed.

When decorating a house or apartment, you want to use natural materials, but this is not always justified. For example, the use of natural stone for interior decoration. It is expensive, difficult, and requires high qualifications. There is an artificial stone that is very similar to natural. It is also made from natural ingredients, but it weighs several times less and costs much less. Moreover, finishing the hallway with decorative stone can be done with your own hands - its installation does not require special qualifications.

One of the hallway design options

Types of decorative finishing stone

Today there are three types of decorative artificial stone used for interior decoration:

cement-based;
gypsum based;
agglomerate.

These products are very similar in appearance to natural stone, only they weigh much less (from 14 kg/m2 to 50 kg/m2). The cost is also much lower (compared to natural), especially if the manufacturer is Russian or Belarusian. The advantages include more easy styling— only the front part is textured, the other three are more reminiscent of tiles or bricks.

Actually, there is another type of artificial finishing stone - clinker tiles that imitate brickwork different types. It is made from clay using almost brick technology - fired in a kiln and glazed. The difference in thickness is 1-3 cm. This type of finish is good for many - from high-tech to.

Gypsum based

Plaster finishing stone the most inexpensive of this type of materials. Its second advantage is that it is the lightest. This is what is used when installing on drywall, since it simply cannot withstand heavy loads. Disadvantages - it is quite fragile, hygroscopic, and can collapse if wet. Finishing the hallway with decorative stone based on gypsum is possible only if, after laying it, it is treated with a special protective impregnation or acrylic-based varnish.

Format gypsum tiles can be anything - a very plastic solution allows you to get any surface and shape Light shades in the hallways they do not “press” and do not add heaviness. The heterogeneous color gives additional volume and charm. Gypsum decorative stone in combination with a gypsum panel in the corridor - oriental style

Cement based

A strong and durable finishing stone is obtained from a gypsum-sand mixture. It can be washed, even with a brush using liquid detergents. Its disadvantages:

Hard to cut. You will need a grinder with diamond blade To reduce dust, you can wet the tiles.
Heavy weight. This is when compared with a gypsum analogue, and compared to natural, the weight is more than half as low.
Higher price. In the production of cement decorative stone, high-quality cement is used, and it costs a decent amount. In addition, the production technology affects the price - cement takes longer to gain the required strength (28 days), and until this moment the molded tiles must be stored somewhere, and under certain conditions (at a temperature of about 20°C and sufficient humidity of 40-50%). This means that significant areas for storage space are required, and this means additional costs.

All these shortcomings are compensated by durability and ease of maintenance, so this is one of the most common decorative stones for interior and exterior decoration.

You can completely line the walls in the hallway with decorative cobblestones. Light gray - just right for a small hallway

Artificial agglomerate stone

This type of decorative finishing stone has appeared recently. It consists of natural rocks crushed to crumbs - marble, granite, quartzite - to which polymer resins or cement are added. To obtain bright colors, a coloring pigment is added. This decorative stone looks great - interspersed with natural fragments, reflections on the edges of the crumbs... It looks really good, suitable for finishing work indoors.

Painting methods

When choosing a collection made from gypsum or cement, pay attention to the method of painting. Pigment can be added to the solution, and then the entire tile will be the same color. Tints are then applied to its front surface, which give the surface a more natural look. With this technology, even when chipped, the difference will be unnoticeable, since the shades are close.

In another embodiment, the pigment is applied only to the surface. Then, if it is chipped or needs to be cut, the color will be very different.

Laying artificial stone with your own hands

Before starting work, you need to decide on the quantity. It's not as simple as it seems. If you look at the collections, you will see that they mainly consist of fragments of several sizes and shapes. Exception - ceramic stone and collections imitating brickwork. Once you know the sizes of the fragments, you can estimate how approximately you want to arrange them.

Outline the proposed finishing boundaries on the walls. Now you can more or less accurately calculate how many “squares” of decorative stone you need. Add about 10-15% to the resulting figure for trimming and possible changes in the process. This will be the required quantity for finishing.

Pre-layout

Craftsmen who have experience working with decorative stone first “figure out” where to place which fragments and how to rotate them. You can make the layout on the floor, you can do it in design programs (if you know how to work with them), you can try to draw a plan on graph paper or a piece of checkered paper. The main condition: it is necessary to maintain proportions and not forget about the seam. It can be very small - this type of installation is called seamless or continuous, or it can have a thickness of up to 1 cm or even a little more.

This stage is self-finishing Many people skip decorative stone on walls, hoping that everything will become clearer during the work. Of course, this is possible, but keep in mind that the glue sets very quickly and there is very, very little time for rework. It will be easier to work according to the plan.

Surface preparation

You can decorate walls made of any material with artificial stone, but they all require preliminary preparation. If the walls were previously decorated with something, all the finishing is removed, leaving a bare wall with plaster. Gluing decorative stone to old wallpaper is a waste of time and money: the finish will simply fall off. Some very light collections can be glued to wallpaper, but these can only be fragments - a few tiles. And then, no one will give a guarantee that the wallpaper will not tear and everything will not collapse.

The easiest process for preparing walls is if they are plastered. Just cover them with primer. Its type is selected depending on the material (gypsum or cement). Then you can begin the actual finishing.

If the walls are made of bricks, building blocks, or any other similar material, they are first primed and then plastered with a suitable plaster. Plasterboard is also allowed. But at the same time, you greatly limit yourself in choosing a finishing stone - you will need to choose from the lightest collections, and this is mainly a decorative stone made of gypsum.

If the walls are wooden, they are first coated with waterproofing impregnation, and after drying they are treated with a primer. Then a painting mesh is nailed to the surface and only then plastered. When choosing plaster, it is advisable to choose those that “breathe” and will not interfere with the wood’s ability to regulate humidity. With glued tiles this will be problematic, but finishing a hallway with decorative stone is usually fragmentary - the tiles are glued only in some places, and the rest of the surface will remain vapor-permeable.

What to glue on

Most manufacturers of decorative stone advise using special adhesive compositions, designed specifically for working with this material. They come in three types:

for lightweight finishing stone weighing up to 30 kg/m2;
for heavy from 30 30 kg/m 2 and above;
For low temperatures(even +5°C).

You need to dilute the glue in small portions, strictly following the manufacturers' recommendations. It is better to stir with a drill with an appropriate attachment - this makes it easier to achieve homogeneity.

You can also glue it with tile adhesive good quality, but it must be really good - you will have to hold a decent amount. The third option is for liquid nails. This method works great on drywall; on plastered surfaces it is better to use an adhesive solution.

Gluing technology

Walls plastered or lined with gypsum board are coated with a primer. While it dries, dilute a portion of glue. When laying, it is important that the rows of finishing stone are laid horizontally. To achieve this, you can apply markings on the wall. This can be done using a paint cord, or you can draw with a pencil using a bubble or.

Laying decorative stone in the hallway begins from one of the corners. Some collections have special corner tiles - they are easier to work with. If there are no such fragments, you will have to decorate the edges with “end” fragments. They are in some collections - their edges are also painted. These same elements are used last in a row, where it is necessary for the ends to have a decorative appearance.

Before laying, the back of the decorative stone tile must be inspected. There may be remains of cement laitance - this is a thin, light-colored foam-like coating. It needs to be removed. This can be done using a stiff brush.

If the air temperature is high or the humidity is low, the back of the stone is moistened with water. Then a layer of glue is applied with a regular spatula, leveled, and the residue is removed using a notched one (with a tooth of 4-5 mm).

The fragment is pressed against the primed surface, moving it slightly from side to side, close contact with the wall is achieved, and the fragment is placed in the desired position. You can tap the surface with a rubber mallet for better adhesion.

This option of laying finishing stone on the walls requires a significant amount of time. It is used when you need to lay only a few tiles or along the edges of a large fragment. If you need to lay a significant volume, it is easier to apply glue to the wall, and also remove the excess with a notched trowel. And press the tile moistened with water to the glue on the wall.

Otherwise, the entire sequence of actions does not change.

If the masonry is seamless, the next element is installed closely. If a seam is necessary, the distance between the tiles is fixed using plastic or wooden wedges of the same size; pieces of drywall are also suitable. If the seam is small, you can use plastic crosses.

When working, glue may be squeezed out from under the tiles. If it gets on the front surface, it must be removed immediately. Concrete finishing stone can be cleaned with a damp cloth, gypsum finishing stone can only be cleaned with a dry cloth. The glue sets very quickly, and then removing it without damaging the surface is almost impossible.

Based on this principle, the planned volume of finishing is laid out. When the glue has set (indicated on the package), you can begin filling the seams.

Grouting joints

A special compound is used to fill the seams. In color it can imitate masonry mortar or be contrasting with the color of the finish.

The composition is diluted with water to a paste-like state (the proportions are indicated on the packaging), placed in a special syringe or a tight bag with a corner cut off. The paste is squeezed out between the seams. Depending on the type of finish, the seam is filled almost completely or only halfway (up to 5 mm can remain to the edge of the tile). The result is either a relief masonry or a more even one.