Place decorative stone with your own hands. Laying decorative stone: technology and examples

IN modern construction artificial stone is widely used both in making interior decoration indoors and for external cladding of facades. This material looks very similar to natural stone and at the same time has many advantages:

durability;
strength;
resistance to temperature changes;
light weight;
ease of cutting and installation;
good thermal insulation properties;
variety of color variations and shapes;
non-passage of current;
absorption of odors.

Tools and materials for wall cladding with stone

Installation of artificial stone will be carried out using the following tools:

roulette;
construction mixer;
level;
buckets;
cutting machine or angle grinder (angle grinder);
wedges of the same thickness;
metal brushes;
rubber mallet;
grout syringe;
jointing tool;
brushes;
spray bottle.

From materials, in addition to the stone itself, you will need:

glue – ultra for installing stone weighing up to 30 kg per 1 sq. m. or extra for fixing heavier stone on the wall, or special mixture for working with stone at temperatures below 5º;
grout;
primer or concrete contact;
hydrofibizer.

Despite the fact that it is quite simple to work with such material, laying artificial stone still requires compliance with a number of rules regarding cladding technology, otherwise the desired aesthetic and durable result will not be achieved.

Technology of installation and laying of artificial stone

1. Surface preparation.

Do-it-yourself installation of artificial stone can be done on a surface made of various materials: wood, metal, drywall, brick, concrete, etc. Regardless of the type, the surface is treated with a primer to avoid collapse.

Primers are selected depending on the surface, e.g. concrete surfaces choose a special one adhesive primer– concrete contact providing reliable grip facing material with the surface.

On plasterboard walls mounted only lightweight material and such masonry is done only from inside the house. Plasterboard walls to be covered must be made of waterproof material. Its surface is also treated with a primer, only after it has completely dried can you get to work - start facing with stone.

2. Preparation of the material.

We mix stone from different packages in order to prevent the presence of textured and shading fragments in the masonry that stand out from the overall picture. The optimal result is achieved by first laying out part or the entire volume of the future masonry on the floor.

The back side of the stone must be clean - not contain a thin cement layer called “milk”. If there is one, then we clean the tiles with a stiff brush, otherwise the adhesion will be unreliable.

We dilute the dry adhesive mixture with water according to the instructions.

3. Direct laying of decorative artificial and natural stone.

If there are corners on the surface to be treated, we begin laying from them. Apply glue with a layer of 0.5-1 cm on small area walls so that it does not have time to dry.

We also apply glue thin layer and on the stone. The glue should completely fill the back side of the stone, then moisture will not get in and the material will last longer.

We press the tile into the glue, moving it lightly to ensure better adhesion. We remove the excess glue squeezed out as a result of these actions with a trowel, leaving a little at the ends for better sealing.

If laying is done with jointing, then to ensure same sizes We use wedges for seams. To ensure an impeccable level of masonry during work, we use a special construction thread.

4. Unstitching.

We perform the jointing with a construction syringe filled with cement grout of the selected color, squeezing the solution to a depth of 5 mm or more. You can fill the entire depth.

Decorative stone in the interior of an apartment gives coziness and provides original look. Due to the variety of colors, shapes, and textures, it is used to decorate bedrooms, hallways, kitchens and living rooms. They can completely cover a wall or highlight separate areas, use for framing niches, mirrors, headboards. Most convenient option for interior decoration is gypsum stone.

Due to its light weight, it does not create additional load on the walls and is easy to install. It is quite possible to glue it without the help of professionals. The main thing is to follow simple rules. Before covering the walls with decorative stone, be sure to prepare the surface. It must be cleaned of old coating, leveled and primed.

The benefits include:

variety of appearance options;
ease of installation;
the ability to improvise during the installation process;
availability of materials;
strength and durability of the finished coating.

Gypsum stones are suitable for cladding any surfaces: concrete, brick, wood, plastered. To work, you will need special glue, a container for diluting, a mixer for mixing, and tools for applying the solution. To glue gypsum stone, you will need to first prepare the walls and then proceed with installation.

Preparatory work

It is best when stone is installed on walls that have not previously been finished with other materials. In this case, preparation comes down to eliminating minor defects, priming the acrylic or polyurethane primer. If the walls were painted or covered with wallpaper, you will have to remove the finishing first. Otherwise, it is difficult to guarantee good contact of the adhesive with the base. The wall is first treated with a metal brush, and then the old cladding is removed with a spatula. After this, it is treated with a primer.

Beginning craftsmen often have a question: how to glue decorative stone to wood or drywall? This can be done using an adhesive composition containing cement. To do this, you will need to first attach a painting mesh to the base. Then apply plaster on top of it. It is recommended to process gypsum stones from the back side acrylic primer. Due to this, moisture absorption will be reduced, and contact with the wall will be reliable and durable.

A pre-drawn sketch will help you decide on the number of elements and avoid negligence in the masonry. The process of laying them depends on it. Stones are glued in rows rectangular shape. To do this, preliminarily plan horizontal line. Moreover, it is better to lay the rows offset, like a brick. If elements are used irregular shape, then first they are laid out on the floor, selected by size and shape.

Laying technology

To glue gypsum stone, almost any glue will do. Can be used ready-made mixtures, PVA, “liquid” nails. The lightness of the material allows it to be firmly held on the wall. When applying glue, it is necessary to ensure the uniformity of the layer.

The dry adhesive mixture is sifted through a sieve and diluted in a container. warm water, mix thoroughly. Its consistency should be quite thick, but elastic. Too much liquid solution will cause the cladding to slip. You shouldn’t mix a lot of glue at once. It sets quickly, and you may not have time to work it out. The adhesive is first applied to the wall with a regular spatula, and then passed along it with a serrated one, creating a ribbed surface. The glue should be applied to a small part of the wall, about 2-3 stones.

Masonry decorative covering can be carried out both from below and from above. Gypsum is very light, so there is no need to worry about the cladding slipping. Laying is often started from the top to avoid drops of solution getting on the finished coating. Glue is applied to the back side of the stone in small cakes. Then they make a border from the solution along the edge.

The prepared element is applied to the wall, pressing it into it and turning it slightly. There should be no voids left between the wall and the cladding. To improve adhesion, you can gently tap the surface with a rubber hammer. The front surface should be immediately cleaned of any leaked glue. To trim elements, use a grinder or a hacksaw.

Masonry can be done seamlessly or with seams. To obtain even seams, use separators. With seamless cladding, the individual elements are pressed closely against each other. At correct execution the solution should occupy no more than half of the joint space.

Features of arranging seams and corners

Laying decorative stone is no more difficult than laying tiles. The most difficult part is forming the corners and seams. A simple, but not very presentable way, is to overlap the corners. With relatively smooth side walls, this option turns out to be quite acceptable. A corner laid with elements trimmed at 45 degrees looks better. It turns out neater and with less gap. Don't be afraid to cut the plaster. Small flaws can be easily corrected with putty.

You can often hear the question: how to glue decorative stone with seams, but without crosses? This method is used quite often. It simplifies the gluing process, but requires more careful preparation. To get neat rows with even seams, you need to mark the wall in advance. Segments are measured on it, equal to length several plates along with the seams between them.

The laying of elements begins from the edge of the segment and moves towards its beginning. In this case, the glue is applied to the surface in a fairly thin layer (2-3 mm), using an even spatula. The space between the joints will be filled with glue squeezed out when laying the decorative plates. Therefore, it is important to be careful and remove excess immediately.

If grouting is provided special composition, then it can be performed a day after the completion of the masonry. To do this, use the same glue that was used to glue the stone, or a special grout mixture. Grouting is needed to give the cladding a finished look. To fill the seams, use a syringe or a special bag. Excess grout is immediately removed with a dry brush.

Treating with protective agents will help increase the service life of a decorative gypsum coating and protect it from abrasion. In addition, this tool allows you to change the shade of the cladding. Processing is mandatory in the following cases:

walls are susceptible to moisture;
there are small children and animals in the apartment;
for painted decorative surfaces.

The protective layer is applied with a roller or brush after the jointing has completely dried. Protective covering should stick well to plaster surface without leaving marks on it after drying.

Basic mistakes

When making from plaster, craftsmen allow typical mistakes, which lead to poor-quality results. These include:

a large amount of waste when cutting stone;
Not correct selection and applying primer;
sloppy, overly wide seam between elements;
lack of level control of the first and subsequent rows.

Careful preliminary preparation, and compliance with basic installation rules.

wall of decorative stone looks great in a room with a fireplace, fits perfectly with an aquarium and a fountain, indoor plants on her.

If you want to add a touch of chic and aristocracy to the interior of your room by decorating a wall or part of it with decorative stone, you need to know its features. The article will tell you what decorative stones are used on the wall and how they are laid.

The most common decorative stones are made on the basis of:

Plaster (see). Such materials cannot withstand high humidity, which allows them to be used in areas such as:

bedroom;
corridor;
living room.

Cement mortar. These are moisture-resistant materials and can be used in the bathroom and kitchen.

Artificial stones are now widely used, appearance they imitate:

Brick. It fits perfectly when decorating the interior of a balcony, corridor and bedroom, and can give a strict and fashion design these premises.
Slate. This is the only type of coating for creating a continuous wall of decorative stones. Each element has a bright originality, and the composition of them looks quite impressive and charming.

Natural decorative stones are:

Sandstone. It can be fine-, medium- and coarse-grained, with a color palette consisting of three shades:

chocolate;
red;
green.

When laying, hewn sandstone stones are used, and in appearance they can have:

mosaic pattern;
uniform alternation of elements located vertically and horizontally.

Marble(cm. ). Has a very wide color palette, the most popular of them:

black;
brown;
red;
beige;
white.

Limestone. It is an alloy of stones different sizes in a horizontal row. Its color can be:

yellowish;
absolutely white;
gray;
with a pink tint.

Granite(cm. ).

The advantages of decorative stone are:

This is a wonderful highlight that all guests immediately pay attention to.
The material is easy to work with, the stone is light in weight and has regular shapes. It does not require special care, just use any detergent.
This is an environmentally friendly coating that is resistant to corrosion, fungi and other bacteria.
Long service life while maintaining all its qualities.
A large selection of colors, different structures and patterns on the walls made of decorative stones allow you to create an interior that suits any tastes and desires of a person.

What materials and tools are needed for laying stone?

To lay decorative stone with your own hands, you will need to purchase:

Liquid nails or tile adhesive.

Tip: For gypsum stone You shouldn’t buy very strong tile adhesive - gypsum is quite light. If the amount of work is small and the surface is flat, you can use liquid nails.

Putty for seams.
Notched spatulas are designed for applying tile adhesive to stone.
Grinder and diamond disc, when using cement-based stones.
A regular hacksaw with a fine tooth, for cutting gypsum stone.
Dye. It should be supplied complete with a decorative stone and have the same color.
Water based varnish. Used to cover joints between stones.
Construction mixer for preparing tile adhesive.
Construction level.
A simple pencil.

How to prepare a surface for laying material

Laying decorative artificial stone on a wall begins with careful preparation of the surface.

For this:

Remains of old coating and wall defects are removed:

wallpaper (see);
dye;
all kinds of stains;
fats.

Don't try to achieve a perfectly flat surface- the stone hides all flaws, but you need to check the adhesion of the surface. For this:

water splashes on the wall;
Pay attention to the areas where droplets form; water is not absorbed here.

These places are carefully processed mechanically, and then the surface is again checked for “sticking”.

Using a metal brush, the entire wall is scratched to improve the adhesion of the glue.
Surface and back side the stone is treated with a primer, manufactured at water based, paint brush.
Before you start laying the facing material with your own hands, lay out future decor natural stone walls, which will allow you to imagine how the entire composition will look on the wall and eliminate defects during the work process.

What are the general rules for laying decorative stone?

The installation instructions for the material suggest:

Carry out work at a temperature not lower (+5 ° C) and not higher (+ 30 ° C). With more high temperature It is necessary to moisten their surfaces on both sides with water approximately 25 minutes before laying the products.
Before installation, you need to carefully inspect the material and choose which side it will be laid out.
Markings are made on the wall to determine:

how to place the stone;
in what places should the decorative elements be joined?

It is better to glue the tiles from the bottom from the corner.
When adjusting stones to size, it is better to use a grinding machine, a hacksaw with a special blade or pliers, and then use sandpaper to bring the surface to an ideal look.
Tile adhesive is diluted in such an amount that the entire mass is used within 20 minutes - after which the glue will begin to harden. The consistency of the composition should be creamy, approximately like toothpaste.
The glue is applied with a notched trowel.
When laying, the stone is pressed with sufficient great strength so that excess glue comes out, but without allowing it to get on front part stone, it will be quite difficult to remove.
If the decorative stone has different sizes, they need to be placed on the wall in a chaotic order.

In this case, you can post interior walls in a house made of decorative stone or use it outdoors, but installation should be done in the warm season and with special glue.

What installation methods are there?

There are two ways to lay stone:

With seams. This method of finishing is quite labor-intensive, it is done with jointing between the stones, but it looks more impressive, which makes the process more popular.

In this case, the stones are placed at a certain distance from each other.

Tip: To obtain perfect seams in the composition, you need to lay identical pieces made of plasterboard or fiberboard, up to one centimeter wide, between the rows of products, as in the photo.

After laying all the stones, when the glue has dried, the joints are puttied. To facilitate this process, you can fill, for example, a milk bag with a solution, make a hole in it, and then carefully squeeze the composition through it exactly into the seam, and with an ordinary sponge, remove excess putty and thoroughly wipe the stone.

No seams. It's more simple and quick option, in which finishing stones are laid out as densely as possible, which makes it possible to obtain an almost monolithic surface in appearance.

Tip: When performing the process, you must ensure that excess glue is removed in a timely manner - this will be difficult to do in the future.

How to finish stone

After installation, decorative stones on the walls of the apartment must be treated with impregnating varnish, which will preserve their performance properties.

Wherein:

The surface is thoroughly cleaned of all dirt and dust.
A test treatment is carried out on an unused stone.
If the gloss level is normal, you can treat all the stones on the wall.

Tip: If the gloss level is insufficient, the surface must be additionally coated with a transparent layer acrylic varnish. If the gloss level is very high, the impregnation varnish is diluted with ordinary water.

To make the interior more decorative, the surface of decorative stones can be painted with paint with expressive color shades.
When performing decoration, the price of laying stone depends on the area of its installation, the size of the elements, the surface topography, the type of glue used and subsequent grouting.

What errors occur when installing stone?

When laying decorative stone, the following errors may occur:

The seam between the stones is too wide, which spoils general form compositions.
The wall is not properly primed - some stones may fall off.
Scratches, chips and other cutting damage will ruin the appearance of the coating.
Improper work can lead to masonry defects.
Incorrect selection of the shade and texture of the material will negatively affect the entire interior of the room.

If you want to learn more about laying decorative stone, you can watch the video in this article.

People who are new to the rules for installing decorative stone are faced with the fact that the finishing material, after remaining on the wall for some time, gradually begins to crumble. Usually the blame is laid on poor quality glue, although most often it is an improperly prepared working surface that causes the cladding to collapse.

Methods for installing finishing stone - 2 options

Decorative stone is laid using auxiliary materials, which are selected taking into account the planned installation method. The tiles can be fixed to the wall using the jointing technique or seamless method:

If the material is installed with jointing, then simultaneously with the tiles, the mortar intended for its execution is purchased and special dye. The latter usually has a contrasting tone or color that matches the shade of the tile.
If you decide to lay the stone without using the jointing technique, then in the store, in addition to finishing, you need to buy only the adhesive recommended by the manufacturer and, if necessary, a hydrophobic composition.

Laying decorative stone in a seamless way easier and faster than unstitching. The finishing material should be laid tightly, which will allow you to obtain an almost monolithic surface. The main thing during the installation process is to promptly remove excess adhesive that comes out when compacting the finish, otherwise you will have to suffer later. Dried tile adhesive with decorative finishing help remove special acid-containing compounds. A greater effect can be achieved if the cleanser was produced by the same manufacturer as the glue.

Despite the complexity of laying decorative stone with jointing, this method used quite often - it looks more impressive.

Fix the decorative stone on the wall at a certain distance from each other. An ideal seam can be achieved by laying equal pieces of drywall or particle board. Upon completion of installation of everything finishing material We wait for the glue to dry, then we do the seams. A seam that is too wide can ruin general impression about decor, which is especially noticeable if the tiles are used to create a composition with the same pattern in the apartment.

Types of decorative materials - sandstone, marble, limestone

For interior decoration of residential walls, stones made of either cement mortar or gypsum are used. The first ones are chosen for covering surfaces in rooms with high level humidity, for example, in the kitchen and bathroom. The second type of products is afraid of water, so they are used to decorate walls in the living room, bedrooms and other rooms of the house/apartment. Finished goods most often they imitate brick and slate in appearance.

And if brick looks ideal in the interior of corridors, bedrooms and balconies, then due to the variety of slate textures it is possible to create bright and original compositions on the walls of living rooms and hallways. Concerning natural materials, then, in view high cost, finishing using them is rare. Meanwhile, widespread the following types decorative stone:

sandstone – has three shades, has a granular structure;
marble – has a wide color palette and different textures;
limestone – differs in structure, size and color shades.

Laying natural decorative stone on walls has its own characteristics, but is not much different from installation artificial products. The main thing in both cases is to properly prepare the surface.

How to treat walls before finishing - different surfaces

Before you start laying decorative stone on the walls, we recommend that you thoroughly process them. The surface to be finished can have a different coating, so it is prepared in different ways:

If you need to lay tiles on plastered walls, then we plaster the areas with obvious defects again. Having thus gotten rid of bulges and voids, we treat the wall with a dry brush, moisten it with water and dry it. Similar method We prepare very rough surfaces. We complete the process with priming work. Liquid can be used as a primer glue mixture. Then, after 2-3 hours, we begin laying the tiles.
Wooden work surface We pre-insulate using glassine sheets, the laying of which begins from the bottom up (with an overlap horizontally - 15 cm, vertically - 5 cm). We install a wire mesh on top of the vapor barrier. We apply a layer of cement mortar onto it, and even before the surface dries, we brush it with a dry, stiff brush, which improves the adhesive properties of both materials.
Preparation metal wall under decorative tiles follows the same principle as for wooden surface. The difference is that in the first case, the mesh is fixed with nails with small heads or using a stapler, whereas here self-tapping screws are more appropriate.
Defects on stone, concrete and brick walls remove with putty. If there are any on the surface greasy spots, then we remove them with special degreasers. IN for preventive purposes we reinforce the wall and apply it on top cement mortar. If the stone surface has been painted, then sandblast it before laying the tiles grinder. Afterwards we mount plaster mesh and apply a cement layer.
If you plan to lay decorative stone on drywall, then first apply waterproofing composition. We carry out installation using a special adhesive; we recommend choosing light and thin types of products as finishing materials (heavy stone should be laid on a double layer of drywall).

Laying stone tiles on polystyrene foam and other insulation materials is allowed after covering the insulating surface reinforcement mesh using anchor nails and applying a cement layer.

Instructions for laying stone cladding - a simple algorithm

At the first stage, taking into account the length of the stone, we recommend making horizontal markings of the wall. For this purpose, we use a tape measure and building level. The markings will allow you to clarify where to cut and fit the facing products. As mentioned above, stone laying can be done using a seamless method or with jointing. If the second method was chosen, then during installation it is imperative to observe the thickness of the seam, which should be within 10 mm.

If there are corner finishing elements, installation begins with them. Elements can be stacked from top to bottom or in reverse order. If the tiles are installed from the bottom up, it will be possible to prevent the cladding from moving. Reverse the steps to avoid contamination. tile adhesive bottom row of products. It is these two factors that you take into account when choosing a technique for cladding walls with stone.

We prepare according to the instructions, the composition should acquire the thickness of toothpaste. It is necessary that the amount of adhesive is sufficient for 20 minutes of work; after the specified time, the composition will become unusable . You need to apply enough glue so that there is not too much or too little of it, in both cases the tile will slide (no more than 4-6 mm, best option– 2-3 mm).

1. Using a spatula, apply the adhesive, rubbing it onto the work surface, then spread the composition evenly over the back side of the stone. It is better to use a notched trowel; hold the tool at an angle of 60 0.
2. Press the tile to the base, moving it in both directions, making sure that the glue does not come out on outside finishing. To compact it, you can use a mallet.
3. To trim decorative stone, use a grinder with diamond blade. If the stone is made of gypsum, then it is best to adjust it using a fine-toothed hacksaw designed for processing wood products. If necessary artificial stone can be shaped using sandpaper or pliers.

As a rule, installation of stone tiles using the seamless technique is faster, the main thing is to lay the stone as tightly as possible. Wall cladding with seams is more complex, but the result is more interesting. To fill the seams, use a special syringe or a tight bag with a hole. As soon as the putty begins to harden, compact it and level it according to the seam rubber spatula, we clean it with a stiff brush. We complete the work by painting the seams with the paint that comes with the tiles.

Decorative stone is good in all respects, but this factor is not a reason to use it in every room. Violation of the design rules will lead to the fact that the living space will begin to resemble a stone cave. Although, perhaps, such an association will just appeal to extreme owners.

Decorative stone has become one of the most favorite materials used for decoration by designers today. different rooms both inside and outside.

Working with decorative stone is not very difficult, however, it has its own characteristics compared, for example, with surface finishing ceramic tiles. Therefore, the question of how to lay decorative stone looks very relevant, especially considering the fact that many home craftsmen prefer to do Finishing work on one's own.

Preparatory work.

Before laying decorative stone, you need to carefully prepare for the work - prepare necessary tool, materials and prepare the surface intended for this type of finish.

1. List tools , which will be required for this case, is not too extensive and not very specific. To work with stone you will need:

spatulas - regular and serrated (for applying glue);
a hacksaw (this may be needed if you have to cut stone);
construction level (helps to monitor how smooth the masonry lines are);
a simple pencil (for marking);
construction syringe (for filling seams).

Also, to work with stone you will need special glue and putty to process the seams.

2. Surface preparation (in most cases this is a wall) consists of cleaning, degreasing and leveling it. In some cases, you have to use a primer to help smooth out all the imperfections in the wall. If you had to do this, then remember that you can start laying the stone only after the wall has dried completely.

By the way, the choice of the type of decorative stone - natural or artificial - also depends on the surface that this stone will have to be laid. A natural stone- this is a rather heavy material, which means a high degree of “endurance” is required from the surface.

And one more requirement that is placed on the surface being prepared for cladding is that it must absorb the glue quite well. To make sure of this, you can spray the surface with water from a spray bottle and see if there are any places on it where the water is not absorbed, but rolls off. If such places are found, they need to be processed. mechanically- for example, cutting off the top of the surface. In some cases, it is enough to rub the surface with sandpaper.

Preparation of decorative stone.

This is the most interesting stage works - because here you can show your Creative skills and make the cladding completely unique.

Preparation consists of laying decorative stones on a flat surface (preferably on the floor) in the order in which they will be located on the surface to be tiled. This will help you appreciate the beauty of the stone finish pattern, and also make sure that all parts of the cladding match each other in color. If the size of the surface to be finished is very large, and you do not have the opportunity to lay out all the previously prepared material, then divide the surface into sections of approximately 3 sq.m. and lay them out one by one.

Laying decorative stone.

After everything is prepared, you can proceed directly to finishing the surface with stone.

First, glue is applied to the wall with a spatula. For ease of use adhesive composition taken with a regular spatula, transferred to a notched spatula, which is then distributed over the wall. It's a good idea to save glue by first spraying the surface and the side of the stone that will come into contact with water. But if in the room where you work, high humidity air or low temperature, this is not recommended. The total thickness of the adhesive on the surface should be approximately 6 mm.
It is most convenient to start laying stone from the corner of the surface. Here is the direction of work of great importance does not have - lay the stone in the way that is convenient for you. The same applies to whether you start laying from the top or bottom. Both of these options are quite acceptable, and each of them has its advantages. For example, when laying stone from the top row, glue does not accumulate on the bottom rows. And laying from the bottom row eliminates the possibility that already laid rows will “slip.”

When laying each separate element It is applied to the place allocated for it according to the drawing and pressed lightly with your hand. If you see that glue gets on the outer surface of neighboring stones, then you should remove it immediately before it hardens.
After the entire surface has been laid out, it must be left for a while so that the glue completely hardens. The time here depends on the characteristics of the glue and the temperature in the room; on average, it may take from 3 to 5 days.

Now you can start processing the seams. The seams are filled with special grout or putty using a construction syringe. In this case, you can fill the seam completely or only half - it all depends on what kind of relief you want to give to the surface. Wait about half an hour and smooth out the seams using a spatula. And after the grout has completely hardened, remove any excess. It is advisable to treat the top of the masonry with a special protective agent, protecting the stone from the appearance of dirt or condensation accumulation.