The interior in antique, classical, baroque styles requires exquisite details, such as, for example, plaster moldings. Performed by the hands of professional sculptors, it is incredibly beautiful, but making it very expensive. With the help of simple adaptations, materials and a small artistic experience, you can make this decorative element yourself.
Gypsum has many advantages - it's a natural, environmentally friendly material that does not emit harmful substances and is resistant to fungi, so that products from it can be used in children's and bedrooms. Of the disadvantages can be noted only the large weight of stucco and some fragility.
Materials and tools
Before the creation of stucco, you need to stock up some equipment and consumables.
- To work, you need a table with absolutely flat surface, because the decor will solidify on it, and even a small slope will cause the
- to be damaged. A thick film to protect the table and adjacent objects, as dry gypsum strongly dusts and silicone adheres to
- surfaces. A set of spatulasand tools for modeling( stacks, knives), narrow brush, clerical knife
- Ruler or measuring tape, measuring cup
- Clay, better building, or clay
- Building gypsum, PVA glue, cement for large elements
- Silicone and siliconenew oil, separating grease( found in construction and art shops, as well as places where everything is sold for handicrafts, jewelry and soap making), you can use a "gun" for silicone
- Cement
If you have no experience with molding, molds and gypsum,then first you need to practice, creating small elements of plaster moldings: rosettes of small diameter, monograms, flowers, etc.
Sketch of
Before you start creating stucco molding, you need to decide on its design and dimensions. In order to find the source of inspiration, you can turn to the Internet, books on design or history. The design and size of the stucco elements should harmoniously fit into the interior and conform to the general style. The size should be chosen so that the decor does not look cumbersome and does not overlap the sockets and other structures.
Those who are confident in their abilities or have an art education can make a sketch of the stucco completely by themselves. If experience is not enough, as a model you can use stucco from polyurethane, a wide choice of which is available in building stores. Using only one element, you can create any number of own gypsum parts, besides the polyurethane sample can easily be modified by cutting off excess or adding parts with clay.
Form
When the model is ready, you can start creating a mold for casting the future stucco molding. At home, it is optimal to make silicone molds, they will cost a little more, but it is easier to work with them. Preliminary process the model with a separating grease, so that the future shape easily moves away from it.
For the mold, silicone and silicone oil are mixed in order to increase elasticity( for simple forms, this can not be done).Then, the silicone is applied with a brush to the model, avoiding omissions, blurring all depressions and pores. Smears should be smooth and soft so that no air bubbles remain under the silicone. Bubbles will lead to the fact that on the form will remain grooves, which in the future will spoil the whole stucco. After the first layer of silicone is applied, it is necessary to strengthen the shape, for example, using gauze. It should be located tightly, but not in a hindrance, it should, as it were, be imprinted in a layer of silicone.
After drying, apply a few more layers, allowing each to dry for 2-3 hours. The total thickness of the silicone layers should be about 3 mm. Wherever a large mass of gypsum is assumed, silicone layers should be made thicker. In places where compaction is required, it is convenient to apply silicone by means of a "pistol".
Large, complex and voluminous elements need a gypsum base to keep the form conceived and not "walk".For this purpose, a frame is constructed from the boards or plywood to the size of the mold, or a suitable box is selected, in which a mold is attached to the silicone. Then mix PVA glue with water, add gypsum and a bit of cement for strength, the mixture is slowly poured into the formwork, leveling with a tool, leveling the surface and allowing it to solidify. After drying, the finished form with the base is easily removed from the model.
If you want to decorate a room with small decorative elements made of gypsum, you should pay attention to finished silicone molds in shops offering goods for needlework. Among the forms for soap making, candles and even culinary products, you can find many options for sockets, flowers, bows and curbs.
Stucco molding
The prepared form is thoroughly smeared with a separating grease, as in uncovered places gypsum can be bonded to silicone so that it damages the mold.
Then prepare the gypsum itself. It must be remembered that it freezes very quickly, literally in 2-3 minutes, losing fluidity, and for 7-8 - plasticity, so dissolve and pour into the form it needs quickly. If you build gypsum with hot water, it will freeze even faster. For the preparation of gypsum, 10 parts by volume of dry material are poured into 7 parts of water in small portions and mixed quickly, preferably with a drill with a mixer attachment. A small amount of PVA glue, previously dissolved in water, will make the mixture more plastic, and the finished stucco molding will not crack. The consistency of the mixture should be close to liquid sour cream.
The prepared solution is poured into the prepared mold, evenly distributing the gypsum on it by vibrating movements. This is done in order to release air bubbles that become the causes of the "shells" on the surface of the stucco. The surface of the filled form is carefully leveled with a wide spatula. The medium-sized product dries 15-20 minutes.
The dried gypsum element is easily removed from the mold if it has been well lubricated with the separation liquid. Gypsum stucco should be left for final drying at room temperature during the day.
Finishing of stucco moldings
When the plaster molding began to turn white, you can evaluate the quality of the work and start the debugging and correction. At this stage, you can correct small defects, sand small irregularities and roughness, fill small shells.
On the reverse side of the element, the mesh is applied for better adhesion to the wall, completely ground. To paint plaster molding it is possible water-emulsion paint in 2-4 layers after full drying of a first coat.
Mounting of stucco molding
It is better to install gypsum stucco molding 2-3 days after casting. Before installation, it is necessary to prepare the ceiling or walls. For this purpose, the places of installation of the decor are first marked, then the surface is moistened with water and PVA is smeared. The details of the stucco are also moistened and smeared with glue, and then by rubbing movements join with the wall or ceiling. Excess glue is removed with a cloth. Large elements of stucco molding are fixed with self-tapping screws. The joints between the various elements of the stucco and the surfaces are plastered with gypsum. In conclusion, the plaster molding is covered with another layer of paint, preferably of the same brand as the ceiling or walls.
Making gypsum stucco is not only a way to decorate a house, but also a great way of creative expression.
