Decorative plaster: types and methods of application

Initially plastering solutions were used exclusively for the final leveling of the walls for wallpapering or painting. At some point people realized that this material can be used as a finishing coat, if you give it decorative qualities, including color and texture. So there was decorative plaster, which belongs no longer entirely to the technical sphere, but mainly to the field of high art. After all, how ultimately the surface covered by it will depend on the imagination of the master who is applying it.

The main advantage of decorative plaster mixtures is that they are both equalizing and finishing coatings. Walls do not require thorough preparation before applying decorative plaster and can do without painting after. Its three-dimensional texture perfectly smooths out all the small irregularities, great simplifying the work. Color pigments eliminate the need for a laborious coloring operation.

In technical terms, any decorative plaster is a mixture of an astringent, a filler, a dye and water. The type of decorative plaster depends on the type of adhesive base, the size of the granules and filler. In order to understand what is the decorative plaster: the types and methods of applying it to the walls, you need to understand the classification of this material.

Classification of decorative plaster mixtures

Plaster compositions for decorative wall finishing are produced in the form of dry mixes or ready-made pastes. Mixtures must be kneaded before starting work and fully consumed until setting. Pasty mass, sold in ready-made form, is not mixed before use, and it can be stored for up to 2 years.

Depending on the composition of the binder, it is common to distinguish the following basic types of decorative plaster:

• Acrylic blends.
• Prepared on the basis of mineral substances.
• Silicate containing mixtures.
• Silicone plaster.

All of them are very different not only in terms of the type of the main substance, but also in physical properties such as vapor permeability, water absorption, susceptibility to contamination, elasticity, resistance to ultraviolet rays, abrasion, ozone and microbial effects. Also, they can use different pigment origin.

Composition and properties of acrylic decorative plaster

Its basis is acrylic resin, which belongs to the class of synthetic polymers. Such plaster is sold in ready form. It is packed in a plastic bucket. Buying an acrylic mixture, you must always remember to check the expiration date. If it is late, the material can not be purchased, since it completely loses its adhesive properties.

The advantage of acrylic plaster is its high elasticity, as well as the ability to firmly and securely adhere to mineral types of materials. Due to this, compositions based on acrylic resin, do not give cracks with small deformations of the substrate. Acrylic plaster is ideal for use in rooms with high humidity, because it has a low degree of water absorption.

The main disadvantage is the ease of ignition. In this regard, this type of decorative plaster can not be applied to wooden surfaces.

Acrylic plasters are usually used for interior decoration. They are very simple to apply and are easily amenable to any structuring. Before starting work with such a stucco mixture, it is necessary to perform a certain surface preparation by double priming. Apply the acrylic mixture with a stainless spatula, and the texture is created manually or using a special filler that is purchased separately.

Mineral decorative plaster and its features

Made plaster mixtures based on mineral substances, such as: cement, gypsum or lime. It is sold in a dry powder state and before commencing the finishing work is mixed with water in the required proportion, which is written on the package. This decorative stucco mixture is usually used when it is necessary to trim brick, plasterboard or concrete bases. Before applying the finished solution, the surface is treated with a primer that contains quartz sand.

Mineral plasters have high strength, moisture resistance and vapor permeability. All of them have one basic white color, so before they use they need a tinting process. To enhance the decorative qualities in mineral plasters add sparkles and marble chips. This type of decorative finishing is suitable for interior interiors and for building facades. The main disadvantage of mineral compounds is low plasticity, which leads eventually to the inevitable formation of microcracks.

Silicone Decorative Finish

Silicone resins are the adhesive base for this type of plaster. This is a fairly new type of decorative finishing plaster mixture, which has a high elasticity, as well as moisture resistance. It is noteworthy that the silicone decorative plaster "breathes" well, which contributes to maintaining the optimum humidity regime in the room.

A good plus for the consumer is the self-cleaning property of such plaster when applied outside the building. Under the influence of atmospheric precipitation from the surface of walls covered with this composition, any water-soluble impurities are removed. Surprisingly, the number of color options for silicone plasters is more than 6000, which can be rightfully considered a record.

The life of this decorative coating reaches 25 years. This is not surprising, because it does not crack and has a very high adhesion to any surface. The disadvantage is the high cost of silicone plaster and the need to apply an expensive primer.

Silicate decorative plaster

For this type of plaster mixtures, a "liquid" potash glass is an astringent base. Such decorative plaster is sold already in finished form. It is characterized by high coating strength, excellent adhesion to the finished surface, elasticity, and durability. There is one drawback - a very limited color scheme.

Working with a silicate plaster mixture requires great care and skill, as the water glass very quickly hardens.

Classification of decorative plaster mixtures by the method of drawing

All decorative plasters can be applied to the surface in various ways. Let's enumerate them:

• Drawing on the surfaced surface is applied "by the way of mapping".It assumes the use of a broom, special brushes or brushes, a relief roller with ornamentation.
• Plasters, in which large granules of mineral filler are added. Here, after applying the first covering layer, the mass applied to the wall is leveled with a smoothing pad or spatula. As a result of mixing the grains on the wall, a deep pattern is formed. The most famous and popular example of such plaster is the finish composition "bark beetle".
• Textured plasters are applied by air spraying, roller or spatula. They are leveled with a trowel, after which the coating does not require additional processing.

Popular and well-known Venetian plaster refers to the number of textured. Its main advantage is the effect of internal glow, which is achieved through the use of natural marble dust, as well as a protective layer of transparent wax. This plaster is the most difficult to process the application process. To achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to apply 3 - 4 decorative layers, waiting for the drying of the previous one.

Manufacturers of decorative plaster mixtures and approximate prices of the product

There are not many manufacturers of decorative plasters in the world that guarantee high quality of their finishing compounds. Most often on the shelves of building stores can be found products of the following brands: Knauf, Ceresit, Vetonit, Baumit, Caparol and Weber.

The cost of mineral decorative plaster mixtures depending on the region of sale and the manufacturer can be in the range from 8 to 12 cu.for a 25 kg bag of powder. The average consumption of such plaster is in the range 2.5 - 4 kg per 1m2.

The price of silicate composition for decorative wall finishing starts from 14, and ends at 40 cu.for a standard 25 kilogram bag. The consumption of such mixtures is from 1.5 to 4 kg per 1 m 2.In this case, it strongly depends on the size of the filler granules. The price of acrylic plaster lies in the range of 15 - 38 cu / 25 kg at a flow rate of 1.5 - 3.5 kg / m2.Silicate mixtures cost 30 to 70 cu, per 1 m2, and their consumption is 2.5 to 3.9 kg per 1 m2 of surface to be trimmed.

What are the existing methods of applying decorative plaster to the walls of

? The main charm for the user in decorative plaster is that, if desired, you can create your own unique surface with an absolutely exclusive design. This is not surprising, because there are a lot of technologies and techniques that help to draw a drawing. We now consider several options, how to apply decorative plaster with our own hands using the simplest techniques and technologies.

Any finishing work begins with surface preparation. To this stage it is necessary to treat with due attention and diligence, in order not to be disappointed with the quality of your work. After all, on a poorly prepared wall, even the most expensive material can not resist and fall off. Ideal surface leveling for decorative plaster, except for Venetian, is not required. It is necessary only to remove the old finish, dust and carefully repair the cracks. Then the wall is twice primed with the composition, which is recommended by the instruction to your plaster.

The following simple tools are required for finishing operations:

• Different spatula sizes.
• Grater made of plastic.
• Steel plain trowel.
• Containers for mortar and water.
• Roller for applying textured plaster.

If you have purchased a ready-made paste-like plaster, first carefully read the instructions attached to the material in order to obtain the desired consistency. Mix the working solution without any reserve, with the expectation of a quick full production. Otherwise, you just have to throw away the grasped mixture.

Beginners can practice on a piece of plasterboard before moving on to real walls. Apply the prepared plaster solution with a spatula, so that the new smear must overlap the old approximately 5-6 mm. After a slight hardening of the composition and the loss of a moist shine, which is approximately 15-20 minutes of time, it is followed by a water-smoothed iron. It is necessary to do this without strong pressure, very carefully giving the surface to be trimmed with the necessary pattern and texture. The iron should be cleaned periodically, placing it in a container of water.

Beginners do not need to start decorating using sophisticated decorating techniques. It's enough just to apply the plaster mixture neatly in the form of differently directed wide strokes, waves, intersecting lines or circles. Definitely will facilitate the work of a rubber figured roller, with which it is easy to create a beautiful and clear pattern.

Working with decorative plaster requires the maximum speed, as the cover layer quickly dries. Particular attention should be paid to the docking of adjacent areas, so as not to make irregularities and differences. Having mastered simple methods of application, it is recommended to gradually move on to more sophisticated decor technologies.

A master who has mastered the technology of applying decorative plaster can transform the interior of not only his home, but also work for hire, receiving not a bad income.