Decorating a house with decorative plaster is becoming increasingly popular. Decorative plaster of walls is done not only in private houses, but also in apartments. In this regard, many are interested in what kind of material this is and what it is intended for.
What is decorative plaster? This is a special, plastic mixture, often with the addition of various kinds of stones, mica, etc. It is intended for decorating and finishing walls, less often ceilings. How is it different from ordinary plaster? Let's read its composition.
Decorative plaster is made from:
- Lime, cement, gypsum, acrylic, silicate and others - as a binding component. They ensure that the plaster adheres to the surface. Gypsum is used very rarely due to the fact that such a mixture will harden quickly. And there will be difficulties with applying a drawing or pattern.
- Fillers – in most types decorative plaster there are fillers such as sand, mica, marble chips, pebbles, etc. They serve to give the plaster that same decorative effect.
- Additives - these can be agents that prevent the formation of foam, plasticizers, etc.
- Water is, finally, the solvent for this whole mixture.
Simply put, decorative plaster differs from ordinary plaster only in the filler. But it is these components that make it unique. What distinguishes decorative plaster from traditional types? finishing materials, such as wallpaper.
Wallpaper or decorative plaster
If you are faced with a difficult choice of material for wall decoration, choosing between decorative plaster and wallpaper that imitates it, we suggest you compare them to make the right decision.
Firstly, the price of the material. The most simple wallpaper for decorative plaster are cheaper than the plaster itself. However, not all so simple. If we add up the preparatory work for wallpapering, puttying, stripping, glue, etc., then the benefit will not be so striking. The only exception is Venetian decorative plaster. Here, “Venetian” wallpaper will cost much less than the original.
Secondly, the service life. Decorative plaster has a clear advantage here. It will serve you for at least 30 years. And some of its species are up to 50-60 years old. Wallpaper will have to be changed after a maximum of 15 years. And in most cases, within 5-10 years. By the way, do the math and include changing the wallpaper in the paragraph above about comparing prices for materials.
Thirdly, maintenance of the finish. Decorative plaster is easy to wash and clean. Not all types of wallpaper can boast of this.
Fourthly, this is the uniqueness of the resulting decorative plaster pattern. Wallpaper has a finite number of types of patterns.
We could go on and on about the advantages and disadvantages of both decorative plaster and wallpaper for decorative plaster, but the conclusions are already clear. If you want simplicity and cheapness, wallpaper is your choice. If you have the opportunity to spend money, if you want uniqueness in decor and durability, finish it with decorative plaster.
Types of decorative plaster
All decorative plaster is divided into two large groups.
Types of decorative plaster.
- decorative plaster for interior work
- decorative plaster for exterior use
These two types of plasters differ in that external decorative plaster is more resistant to ultraviolet radiation, i.e. fades less in the sun. And facade decorative plaster tolerates “wet” weather conditions much better. It is resistant to rain, snow, etc.
Due to its properties, decorative plaster for the facade of a house exists in fewer types. Therefore, we will consider options for decorative plaster for interior decoration. Because they also include options for the facade of the house.
Types of interior decorative plasters
1. Relief - so called because the pattern they create turns out to be in relief. Divided into subspecies:
- Structural decorative plaster - the pattern is obtained mainly due to the composition of the decorative plaster. Pebbles, quartz sand and the like in the mixture give the pattern a certain structure when applied. Typical representatives are decorative plasters “Bark beetle”, “Fur coat”, “Lamb”.
- Textured decorative plaster – this type of decorative plaster is distinguished by its fine grain and plasticity. Here the pattern is obtained through a special technique of applying plaster. To do this, use both improvised means - brushes, film, sponges, etc., and industrial ones. special products– rollers with a specific pattern stencil.
2. Smooth - accordingly, the pattern turns out smooth. A representative is “Venetian” decorative plaster imitating marble or onyx finishing.
Decorative plaster for interior wall decoration and facade decoration also differs in its composition. Depending on the main connecting element, decorative plasters are divided into the following types:
- Acrylic decorative plaster – contains acrylic resins. It has good protection against water and moisture, but has poor breathability. Weak abrasion resistance compared to other types of decorative plaster. Low fire safety.
- Mineral decorative plaster - consists mainly of cement, lime and gypsum. Good, natural plaster, suitable for finishing rooms with normal humidity. On the facade, in the bathroom and kitchen, it requires additional protection in the form of painting, varnishing, etc. Good air permeability makes the indoor microclimate healthy and pleasant.
- Silicone decorative plaster is a universal mixture for any premises and building facade. Good vapor permeability, moisture resistance and abrasion resistance make this type of decorative plaster suitable for any finishing work.
- Silicate decorative plaster is another universal mixture for decorating indoors and outdoors. Not afraid of water, sunlight, antistatic. But application requires skill, as the plaster hardens quickly.
We hope you understand the types and types of decorative plaster. Let's look at a photo of decorative plaster in the interior.
Decorative plaster in the interior
By using various types Decorative plaster and methods of its application can achieve very different design effects. Here everyone will find the pattern that they like. However, keep in mind: often the samples of decorative plaster in the store and what you end up with on the wall may not match. After all, each application of decorative material is different from the previous one. But despite this, the resulting effects can be generalized.
Effects of decorative plaster
- Venetian plaster. It looks like a polished stone or marble surface. Apply on any surface prepared for its application.
- Travertine effect. A complete imitation of stone called travertine. The porous surface and light pale color make it an excellent room decoration.
- Concrete effect. With the help of this type of plaster, an absolute imitation and creation of the effect of a concrete wall occurs.
- Skin effect. For lovers of discreet luxury, this look is ideal. Thanks to its texture, it conveys well and creates the effect of a wall covered in leather. At the same time, thanks to the variety of tools, with the help of decorative plaster in the interior of the room it is possible to create an imitation of different types of leather.
- Wood effect. Incredibly accurately imitates the appearance of wood covering, thanks to the accuracy of the reproduction of small details and patterns of the plant.
- Silk effect. To create it, a mother-of-pearl coating is used, which, smoothly shimmering, creates the feeling that the wall is covered with silk.
- Brickwork effect. It is popular due to its low cost compared to real brick and its accurate imitation of the presence of brick in the interior.
- The "bark beetle" effect. Using this technique, you can get a pattern that imitates the effect of a surface damaged by a bark beetle.
- Orange peel effect. Will ideal option for application under painting for rooms in oriental design.
- Wave effect. Imitates the look of a sea wave. With the right choice of paint, it looks very beautiful on the surface.
- "Flowers" effect. Decorative plaster “flowers” is used in frequent cases and stands out among the general variety of styles of decorative plaster. When creating a pattern, the shape and appearance of the flower depends solely on the spatula used and its movements. IN in this case there is no connection to color and shape. You can decorate and paint the finished wall either in one color or using different techniques.
Types of finishing with decorative plaster are very diverse. Some use ready-made, template forms, while others can create their own art and create patterns that are pleasing to their soul.
The use of decorative plaster in the interior of rooms
Decorative plaster in an apartment performs one of the main functions of room decoration. A correctly selected design of decorative plaster will make the interior even more beautiful and perfectly complement the style taken as a basis. Also, each room of the apartment requires an individual approach due to the peculiarities of its location and external characteristics.
The use of this type of finishing material in the kitchen will excellent choice, since it washes well and looks quite decent on the wall surface. Types of plaster used for decoration: Venetian, with imitation of marble or stone surface; imitation silk, plaster with small or large crumbs, etc.
The main thing that is worth emphasizing is that decorative plaster should be applied only to one wall of the room, so as not to make the kitchen too “heavy” and not spoil the design of the room.
Often, when finishing with decorative plaster, Venetian plaster or various textured types that are easy to clean are used for the bathroom.
Decorative plaster in the hallway, as well as in the corridor, forms the main impression of the apartment’s design. Speaking about the types of decorative plaster in rooms of this type, we can name the main ones that best meet the requirements (resistance to cold, moisture and good operation): velvet and silk effect, “bark beetle” effect and Venetian plaster.
Finishing the balcony with decorative plaster allows you to maintain the harmony of the design with all rooms of the apartment. Also, it performs an excellent heat-retaining function, is quite easy to operate and maintain, insulates sound and, at the same time, allows the walls to breathe. To decorate walls, various types of plasters are used, from textured plasters, with imitations of various plants and reliefs, to, for example, imitations of stone or brick.
DIY decorative plaster
If store-bought decorative plaster options are not suitable for you for some reason, you may be thinking about how to make decorative plaster with your own hands. Well, everyone can do this. In addition, you can save a lot on materials. Let’s make a reservation right away: decorative plaster made independently will not be as high quality and durable as factory-made material. But the service life of such decor of 10-15 years is quite suitable for most people. Especially considering the relative cheapness of such finishing.
So, how to make decorative plaster? It all depends on what kind of room you want to decorate with homemade decorative plaster. Or maybe you want to finish the facade? In these cases, the material used will be different.
Do-it-yourself decorative plaster for interior decoration is made either from gypsum or cement putty or plaster.
For finishing residential premises with normal humidity, do-it-yourself decorative plaster using ordinary putty is suitable. It is made like this:
- We take the same amount of starting and finishing gypsum putty. Instead of starting putty can be used gypsum plaster. Then you will get the so-called decorative plaster from ordinary plaster. They usually mean gypsum plaster.
- In a bucket of water room temperature add a mixture of putties or add them alternately.
- You can add a little diluted wallpaper glue. This will improve resistance to mold and mildew. And it will slightly increase the time you use the mixture.
- Mix everything thoroughly with a mixer or a drill with an attachment.
- The resulting mixture should have the consistency of regular sour cream.
- DIY decorative plaster using ordinary putty is ready!
Important! Decorative plaster prepared in this way dries quite quickly. Prepare the amount of solution that you can apply in 10-15 minutes. It will be even better if two people apply the plaster: one applies the base layer, the second immediately completes the drawing.
This decorative plaster can also be used in rooms with high humidity, such as the kitchen and bathroom. But it will definitely need to be protected with water-repellent varnish.
This type of plaster is not suitable for finishing the facade. But it can be replaced gypsum putty regular tile adhesive. Any cement-based adhesive mortar will be suitable for gluing ceramic tiles. For greater flexibility and increased adhesion, add a little primer to the water.
From such a mixture, for example, you can make decorative bark beetle plaster with your own hands if you add a small stone of a fraction of about 2 mm to it.
Important! Do not forget that the decorative plaster that you have made will need to be protected from moisture with façade paint.
How to apply decorative plaster
Regardless of whether you made the decorative plaster yourself or bought it ready-made in a store, applying decorative plaster is the same.
First, you need to learn how to properly apply decorative plaster. This knowledge will help you understand the process better and supervise the workers. And they will be even more useful if you do the finishing with decorative plaster yourself.
Let's prepare the necessary tools for decorative plaster:
- Construction bucket
- Trowel for decorative plaster
- Spatulas
- ironer
- Rollers for decorative plaster
- Masking tape (tape)
- Wax for decorative plaster
- Mixer or drill with attachment
- Varnish for decorative plaster
- Stencils for decorative plaster
It is possible that you do not need everything on the list. It depends on the type of plaster you have and what technique of applying decorative plaster will be used. For example, if decorative plaster is expected to be applied with a roller, then you need one. If decoration will be done using improvised means, then add them to the appropriate list.
So, how to apply decorative plaster on walls? Or maybe you need decorative plaster on the ceiling? Let's try to summarize the processes that need to be performed regardless of the type of plaster and the place where it is applied.
- Preparation for decorative plaster - includes preparing walls or ceilings, preparing tools, sealing contours for decorative tape with masking tape.
- preparing decorative plaster - be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions, if available. It contains such useful information as the consumption of decorative plaster per m2, required amount water and other proportions, working time with the mixture, drying time of decorative plaster and much more.
Let's take a closer look at some of the nuances. Do-it-yourself decoration of walls with decorative plaster begins with preparing the base. Whether it's walls or ceilings, they should be free of large potholes, cracks or sagging. Old finish must be cleaned and the surface primed. If you want to apply decorative plaster on drywall yourself, then putty the joints and screw caps. Walls for decorative plaster are not prepared as carefully as the ceiling. The thing is that a slightly larger layer of decorative plaster is usually applied to the walls than to the ceiling. And it perfectly hides minor imperfections: scratches, peeling putty, etc.
The exception is the application of Venetian plaster. In this case, the walls, like the ceiling, should be as smooth and clean as possible.
Methods of applying decorative plaster
Do-it-yourself decorative interior plaster is applied to the prepared surface with a spatula and trowel. You can use a smoothing iron. In some cases, a spray bottle is used if spray application is intended. In any case, the technology of applying decorative plaster to initial stage is the same. First, apply the base layer, the foundation. This layer is made continuous. Then it is decorated until it dries. The method of decoration depends on the type of your plaster and your imagination.
If you are doing decorative wall plaster with your own hands for the first time, practice on a piece of drywall or on that part of the wall that will be covered by furniture. As you gain experience, move on to other areas.
The technology for applying Venetian decorative plaster is somewhat different. It is applied thin layers using a rubber spatula using neat, multi-directional strokes. There can be 5-8 such layers. Before applying the next layer, allow the previous one to dry thoroughly.
Decorative plaster of the facade
Finishing the facade with decorative plaster yourself is not a difficult task. The main challenge is working at height if your home is more than one story high. The very decorative plaster of a house outside is practically no different from the technology of applying decor inside a room. Let's look at decorative plastering of the facade of a house using the example of the most popular type: applying decorative bark beetle plaster.
How to apply decorative bark beetle plaster
First, prepare the surface as described above: level out large differences in height and clean. Then apply primer. It is better if it is soil with quartz sand. Prepare a mixture of decorative plaster. Apply a small layer of plaster with a trowel. Let the “bark beetle” dry a little and start decorating.
Move the trowel along the plaster using a rotating motion. Or you can only make vertical or horizontal movements. It all depends on what kind of drawing you ultimately want to get. Movements should be without strong pressure.
Painting decorative plaster
There are no special secrets in painting decorative plaster. We think everyone can cope with this task. Just choose the right paint for facade or interior work, as well as the hairiness of the roller. A solid background is made with a long-haired roller. If you want to paint only the top protruding layer, use a foam roller and paint without pressing the roller too hard against the wall.
Repair of decorative plaster
Decorative plaster periodically requires repair or restoration. Cracks, swellings, peelings and chips appear on it. It is not difficult to repair the damaged area with your own hands.
If you notice swelling of the plaster, go over the entire surface of the wall with a wooden hammer and listen to how it sounds. A dull sound will tell you which area has peeled off. This area of damaged plaster should be removed using a hammer drill, chisel, hatchet, etc. Then scrub the wall with a wire brush and prime. Before applying a new composition of decorative plaster, wet it well warm water not only the cleaned area, but also the adjacent plaster for better adhesion of the materials to each other.
Try to apply decorative paint and repeat the pattern that was there earlier. To ensure that the difference in the pattern is not so noticeable, repair the plaster by knocking out a rectangular area.
After the plaster has completely dried, it must be repainted. This way you will mask the joints and heterogeneity of the layers.
Cracks in decorative plaster are repaired in a similar way. The crack should be widened and all the measures described above should be carried out.
How much does decorative plaster cost?
The price of decorative plaster varies greatly depending on the manufacturer, country of origin and the type of plaster itself. The cheapest decorative plaster costs about 2 US dollars per kg/l. The best decorative plaster from famous Italian manufacturers can cost up to a hundred dollars or more per kilogram or liter.
On average, you can voice the following prices: simple relief plaster will cost about 5 dollars, and Venetian plaster about 15 per kg/liter.
Prices for work with decorative plaster vary less and depend on the type of plaster and the qualifications of the craftsman. The average price for work with decorative plaster is $10-30 per square meter. “Venetian” costs more than working with textured plaster. However, take into account the surface preparation work and subsequent protection of decorative plaster with wax, varnish, paint, etc.
Decorative plaster reviews
Our description of decorative plaster should have helped you decide whether you need such a finish and whether it suits your home. And if you answered “Yes” to these questions, then you most likely asked yourself: decorative plaster, which is better?
Reviews from real buyers and users play an important role in choosing decorative plaster. Those who have lived with decorative plaster finishing for several years and can tell you what nuances should be taken into account. Or warn against purchasing this or that type of decorative plaster, or purchasing from a specific manufacturer or retail chain.
Here are some typical reviews about decorative plaster:
We made ourselves a Venetian in green tones in our bathroom. Looks great. It wouldn't be the same with tiles. And the decoration without seams changes color depending on the lighting, it’s a sight to behold. True, the cost was considerable. But they were willing to pay for beauty.
I decorated my toilet with textured plaster. I did it myself after reading articles on the Internet and watching master classes. It fit perfectly on plastered walls, but there was no way to finish the LSU box. The glass-magnesium sheets had to be plastered on the floor, because streaks from the decorative plaster remain.
I made the plaster itself and applied it myself. The whole family decorated it and are very pleased with the result. No one else has or will have such patterns. And it turned out to be very budget-friendly, I didn’t expect it.
The thing is certainly remarkable, but the price is exorbitant. I'll put up some decorative wallpaper for myself. Cheaper and more practical.
We did decorative plaster in the kitchen. The walls look very interesting. But it would be better if the apron was made of tiles. I'm tired of washing off grease near the stove. Don't repeat my mistakes.
It is quite understandable that many owners of private houses want to give their home a completely unique look. They come to the aid of relief plasters, which are made from solutions based on different bases and are applied to the surfaces of walls either with special tools, or with improvised, sometimes completely unexpected objects, depending on what effect is planned to be obtained.
Do-it-yourself decorative plaster of walls is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Before deciding on the choice of the desired pattern and the technique for its reproduction, it is necessary to consider various finishing options. After the desired relief has been determined, it is advisable to conduct a practical lesson and plaster it in accordance with the plan.
Some techniques for working with decorative plaster can be called art, since three-dimensional paintings with various subjects are molded from it, which can become an exclusive decoration for the wall of an apartment or a country mansion. Experienced craftsmen, using them, create real works from ordinary plaster mass, which set the style for the entire design of the room or facade.
Decorative plaster - what is it?
For a long time, decorative plaster has been used to decorate walls, and with changes in interior styles, its plot patterns and relief changed, becoming more complex or, conversely, simplifying for the sake of fashion. It has not lost its relevance to this day - in our time, with the help of a similar technology, finishing of both the facade parts of buildings and interior walls premises.
Most often, a plaster coating is used, which, in addition to being decorative, also performs a protective function, preventing moisture and dust from penetrating the main wall.
For interior walls, finishing with a uniform pattern or a relief plot panel can be used. By choosing a relief in the form of a painting to decorate your home, you can be sure that it will be guaranteed to be original, since it is almost impossible to depict the same pattern twice in exactly the same way using this technique.
Reliefs applied to the wall are usually covered with one or more shades of color, which give them a deeper dimension. If desired, when you get tired of the original color of the decorative plaster, you can easily change it to another. Moreover, this process can be carried out both on a uniform coating and on a panel. Paint is applied to relief panels with a brush and sponge, and on a uniform surface using a spray gun or roller.
Decorative plaster can have a deep relief, which is called bas-relief - it protrudes above the wall surface by 8÷15 mm, or it can be almost smooth and stand out only in color. Today in construction stores you can find compositions that can form a relief surface even when applied with a regular spatula, and for some of them special attachments are used that are installed on rollers. They are able to imitate tree bark, tall grass, layered rocks and many other three-dimensional patterns.
The plaster mixtures used to create the relief are quite plastic. They are easy to apply to a previously prepared wall surface and transform into various designs.
Basics of technology for applying textured plaster
Work on finishing walls with decorative plaster is carried out in stages, in accordance with the requirements of the developed technology. It includes several stages.
- The first step is to determine the design that will decorate the walls, as well as the tools necessary to reproduce it. The relief sample should be in front of your eyes while working so that you can follow its contours. This is especially important if the plot option of the panel is chosen.
- Next, you need to prepare the tools that will be used to mix the plaster composition, apply it to the wall and create a relief pattern.
- When everything is ready, you can move on to preparing the walls. This process is carried out almost identically for both facade and interior walls - it includes cleaning the surfaces of old coatings, rough leveling, and then priming them. It is better to choose a primer composition with antiseptic additives, then the walls will be protected from damage by mold, mildew, moss, etc., as well as from the creation of nests by insects.
- Then a starting leveling layer of plaster is applied to the prepared, well-dried surface - it will become the basis for the textured finishing layer.
- After the starting layer has dried well, the wall surface is recommended, once again, to create higher adhesion between the layers of the plaster composition.
- The next step, again, after the soil has completely dried, is applied finishing textured plaster, from which the relief is formed. In some of the techniques used, the upper part of the applied plaster is leveled into one plane, and textured depressions remain inside, creating a uniform but chaotic relief.
- When reproducing some designs, it is necessary to apply several layers of decorative plaster, and in this case, each of them requires good drying.
- Next, if the color was not added to the plaster mixture, the paint is applied on top of the textured layer. If the surface is given a uniform pattern with indentations, then this process is best carried out using a spray gun. If you plan to paint unevenly, you can use a sponge or brush for tinting. The paint should be applied so that it emphasizes the beauty of the relief of the decorative coating. When tinting a panel, the paint is applied in several stages to create a visual perception of its depth.
When performing work, you must strictly adhere to step by step instructions. Making any changes to the relief manufacturing technology can have a bad effect on the design result. Therefore, there is no need to rush - you need to thoroughly dry each of the layers, observing their order. It is better to immediately prepare for the fact that it will take more than one day to create a high-quality relief wall covering.
Now that we know general principles decorating a wall by applying decorative relief plaster to it, it makes sense to consider the tools that can be used for these technological operations.
decorative plaster
Tools for working with relief plaster
When decorating a wall with decorative plaster and using it to form a relief pattern, use the following tools:
- For kneading plaster mortar You will need a drill and a mixer attachment. With their help you can easily and quickly, without special effort make the mixture plastic and homogeneous.
- Spatulas various sizes– these tools can be called the main ones when working with any plaster, since you cannot do without them when applying any of the finishing layers.
- or a trowel are also quite often used to cover surfaces with plaster solutions.
- A special glove that is used both for creating relief and for coloring it.
- A brush with hard or soft bristles, plastic film, rubber gloves, a sponge or a plastic mesh for washing dishes.
- Using a roller and rubber attachments can be called the most popular way to make a wall in relief. The variety of these devices allows you to choose one of the many textured patterns offered by the manufacturer.
In addition, using this technique, the work goes faster, and the print on the wall turns out neat and aesthetic, however, such reliefs cannot be called exclusive. Roller attachments can have patterns of plant patterns, waves, various curls, geometric shapes and others.
Reliefs that imitate the texture of leather or tree bark, as well as other natural materials, look especially impressive.
Nozzles can create a textured pattern located vertically or horizontally, chaotically or perfectly correctly - this factor will depend on the preference of the owner of the home being finished.
Textured plaster expands the possibilities of transforming walls, and the presence of a variety of tools opens up scope for creating numerous designs. It should be noted that craftsmen who professionally engage in this art, when making reliefs, often use completely unexpected tools and household items, for example, wood chisels, manicure spatulas, or even ordinary teaspoons.
Materials for decorative plaster
In addition to properly selected tools, it is necessary to choose the optimal plaster composition. The assortment is quite wide, since many well-known manufacturing companies offer special ones that allow you to easily transform the facades and premises of houses.
Starting plaster
In addition to the decorative mixture, you need to purchase starting plaster, with which you can level the surface of the wall, preparing it for relief decoration. For this purpose, it is better to purchase formulations made on the same basis as finishing, then we can say with confidence that good adhesion will be created between the base and the outer plaster layer. So, for the starting, leveling layer, the following are suitable:
- Starting plaster on a gypsum basis. Distinctive feature This mixture has a short time before setting, so you need to work with it very quickly. If you have no experience in leveling walls, then it is better to choose a mixture that will provide the opportunity for longer work.
- For example, a cement-based mortar is perfect for both experienced craftsmen and beginners. It can be purchased at finished form, or make it yourself from cement and well-sifted sand, taken in a ratio of 1:3. For the plasticity of a homemade mixture, PVA glue is often added to it or liquid soap. Thanks to these components, the solution will become softer and at the same time “sticky” to the walls, and will be easy to work with.
- Sometimes clay is used for the starting layer, which can also be purchased at a hardware store in already prepared form. Most often, clay mortar is used for plastering. wooden surface, but lately craftsmen still prefer to work more modern materials. Although clay has numerous positive qualities, such as elasticity, good adhesion to the surface, environmental friendliness, and in addition, it is a “breathable” material.
Decorative plaster compositions
For decorative finishing, special plaster compositions are used, which are also made on different bases. They are intended for a variety of relief patterns, so some of them are equipped various additives. On the packaging, the manufacturer indicates the name of the terrain for which this mixture is intended, since solid crumbs from different materials, having a large and fine fraction and giving different finishing effects.
The table below shows some types of decorative plaster, which are most often used to decorate the façade of a house and interior walls.
| Appearance of packaging | A relief pattern created on the wall | The basis of decorative plaster | Additive fraction size, mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral "Ceresit CT 35" | "Bark beetle" 2.5÷3.5 |
||
| Mineral "Ceresit CT 137" | "Pebble" 1.0÷2.5 |
||
| Polymer "Ceresit CT 77" | Mosaic 0.8÷2.0 |
||
| Acrylic "Ceresit CT 60, ST 63, ST 64" | "Pebble" 1.5÷2.5; "bark beetle" 2.0÷3.0 |
||
| Silicate-silicone "Ceresit CT 175" | "Pebble" 1.5÷2.0; "bark beetle" 2,0 |
||
| Silicate "Ceresit CT 73" | "Pebble" 1.5÷2.5; "bark beetle" 2,0 |
||
| Textured acrylic "Capital" | "Quartz coat" | ||
| White cement based "Master" | "Lamb" 2,0 |
||
| Acrylic "Optimist-Elite" | "Venetian plaster" white thick homogeneous paste |
As you can see from the table presented, plaster mixtures are produced in a dry and pasty state. Ready-made pastes, diluted to the desired consistency, will usually cost slightly more than dry mixtures, but they are much easier to use, since you do not have to calculate the proportions when mixing.
Ready-to-use plasters can be used immediately after the primer has dried on the prepared wall. Upon completion of the work, the remainder of the mixture is closed in a packaging bucket, and during the next stage, the paste can be reused, since it can be stored for quite a long time in a closed state.
If you want to create your own plaster, you can use the recipes given in the table below as a basis:
| Components of the solution | Appearance and color of plaster | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White marble effect | Yellow marble | Under red granite | Under gray granite | |
| Quantity in parts by volume | ||||
| Portland cement M400 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lime dough | 0.5 | 0.25 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Marble flour | 0.5 | 0.25 | - | - |
| Marble chips | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Mica (based on cement volume) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Pigment in % by weight of cement | - | Ocher 3÷5 | Iron minium 5÷10 | Manganese peroxide 1÷5 |
Primers
Wall priming products used at the preparatory stage are sold in paste and liquid consistency.
plaster
- To treat the wall before applying the starting layer, it is recommended to use deep penetration liquid formulations that include antiseptic additives.
- After the starting plaster has dried, it should also be primed, thereby creating good foundation for the finishing decorative layer. For this process, it is best to use a primer that has a thicker, closer to paste-like consistency.
Each layer applied to the wall must be completely dried, and only after that the next one can be applied. Otherwise, the plaster may begin to crack or peel off the surface.
Coloring compositions for decorative plaster
They can be tinted, or they can be painted before starting work. Sometimes the color is added by the manufacturer to the plaster kit; in other cases, color additives are purchased separately and are also added to the paste or dry mixture before mixing or applying it.
Another option for giving finished decorative plaster the desired color is to paint it using a spray gun, roller or brush. In this case, a composition of white or gray, and then, after it dries, it is given a uniform or voluminous coloring.
To paint textured plaster applied to the wall, water-based paints are used - these are emulsion and water-dispersion. Such paints are produced in various colors, but if you wish, you can give them a shade yourself by purchasing separately a white “base” and the color you like. They are mixed immediately before being applied to the wall, and in this case you can achieve a darker or, conversely, lighter shade, which will help give volume and depth to the pattern on the wall.
Varnish for decorative plaster
For textured plasters that have shallow relief or a relatively smooth surface structure, a varnish or wax protective decorative coating is usually used.
Varnishes can be matte or glossy, and can significantly enrich the color of the wall decoration. Thanks to even one layer of varnish, the plaster will retain its original appearance much longer.
In some cases, to achieve the desired effect, it is better to apply the varnish to the wall surface in several layers. For example, if an imitation of polished stone or crocodile skin is reproduced on the wall.
Wax is most often used as a protective agent for Venetian plaster, which can acquire a matte or even mirror-like shine after application. Wax is odorless and is an environmentally friendly material. It is able to protect the wall covering from dust and yellowing, and in addition, it creates a water-repellent layer, and at the same time has good vapor permeability, that is, the walls do not lose the ability to “breathe”. Thanks to these qualities, wax coating can be used in living rooms and in rooms with high humidity.
The wax is produced in a colorless version and preserves the color of decorative plaster in its original state. In addition, it can be tinted with metal pigments or pearlescent additives. For example, CERA wax, shown in the illustration, is produced in three color options - colorless, silver and gold, which allows you to enrich the decorative finish with a pleasant soft sheen.
Masking tape
In some finishing works Oh, you can’t do without using masking tape. It is used to protect adjacent surfaces when working on one of them, as well as in cases where it is necessary to separate different textured or color drawings between themselves. The tape easily sticks to any surface and is removed without leaving marks. It has a low price, so in any case, stocking up on all the materials necessary for finishing, it is worth purchasing as an auxiliary tool.
When purchasing any finishing materials, it is very important to pay attention to the manufacturer’s specifications, which are located on the packaging, about what kind of work they are intended for, internal or external. Many compositions for external use are well suited for finishing the walls of premises, but materials for internal use, when applied to the facade, unfortunately, will not last long.
Versailles plaster
Preparing wall surfaces
Now, having figured out how to choose a material and what tools you will need for the job, you can move on to considering the process of preparing walls for applying plaster solutions.
Preliminary preparation of wall surfaces
To get a high-quality result, it is very important to thoroughly clean the wall of old coatings, and similar actions are performed both on external and internal walls. It is necessary to remove old wallpaper, paint or whitewash from them, otherwise the starting layer of plaster will have insufficient adhesion to the surface.
The main activities for preparing wall surfaces are shown in the table below:
| Illustration | |
|---|---|
 | Removing the old layer of plaster from the walls. This process is especially important to carry out very carefully if the old decorative coating begins to peel off from the main surface. If you need to remove a thin layer of plaster, then for this purpose you can use a grinding machine or a construction float with coarse sandpaper installed on it. |
 | If the walls are covered with wallpaper, the old wallpaper must also be removed. Usually pasted old wallpaper is moistened with a spray bottle, and this process is carried out several times, since the canvases should get wet all the way to the wall. After this, the finishing material is removed using a spatula. |
 | Another option for cleaning walls from wallpaper is steaming. For this purpose, a special tool or a steam iron is used, and in addition, an air humidifier can be used, which is directed towards the wall that needs to be cleared of wallpaper. |
 | If the wall is painted, then the paint layer must also be cleaned off, otherwise the plaster layer simply will not lie on the wall. Paint is removed using a scraper, softening the old paint with a hot stream from a hair dryer. You can also use the abrasive method, using a grinder with an iron brush or an electric drill with an abrasive attachment. |
 | After the old decorative coating is removed from the wall surfaces, a leveling plaster layer or simply the solid concrete base itself will be exposed. Quite often there are depressions and irregularities in concrete that will have to be leveled by applying a putty layer. |
 | If plaster is found good quality, not separating from the main wall, then it does not need to be cleaned off. In this case, notches with a depth of 5–7 mm are made on the surface of the wall using an ax or chisel. They will be necessary to ensure better adhesion of the leveling starting layer to the wall. However, they often do without them, using modern “concrete contact” type primers, which provide excellent adhesion of the applied plaster compositions. |
 | However, quite often the situation is such that the old plaster has to be removed completely, since it crumbles and does not adhere securely to the surface. This flaw can be revealed when applying notches, since when tapping in some areas of the wall, the plaster layer can “bounce” or even simply fall off. If a layer separates over a large section of the wall, then it is best to remove the old coating completely - the process, as they say, has already begun, and no one can guarantee that the remaining areas will remain stable. |
 | Once the old plaster layer is removed, serious damage in the form of deep cracks may be found on the wall. They must be sealed, otherwise they will eventually appear on new plaster layers and the work will be ruined. |
 | Detected cracks are expanded, that is, they are made wider and deeper. They are then cleaned and treated with a deep penetration primer. They are filled with a plastic repair compound. Special repair solutions are available for sale, but for interior work you can also use regular starting putty. The repair solution must fill the entire volume of the cut crack, to the full depth or width. If a wide crack is found, it can be filled polyurethane foam with a slight expansion. Its excess, which protrudes outward after the material hardens, is trimmed flush with the wall. In some cases, to strengthen the crack and to avoid its manifestation through new finishing layers, a reinforcing sickle mesh is glued on top of it onto the putty solution. |
 | After the repair “patches” on the cracks have dried, they must be cleaned with a construction float with an abrasive mesh installed on it first, and then with sandpaper. |
 | The next step is to coat the wall with a deep penetration antiseptic primer. If the first layer of primer is absorbed into the wall surface without a trace, then one or even two more layers of primer are applied. The primer composition will penetrate the pores of the plaster or wall material, strengthen its surfaces and create good conditions for adhesion of materials. The solution can be applied with a roller or a wide brush. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried. |
Plaster work can be done on a primed and dried wall.
Applying a base leveling layer of plaster
The next important stage is plastering work, which finally prepares the surface for further application of decorative plaster. Alignment is carried out on a primed and well-dried wall.
Methods for plastering surfaces may vary slightly, depending on the wall material and surface quality. But general technology still general, and more details about it are in the table below:
| illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | If, when checking a wall using a building level, it is discovered that it requires major leveling, then the first step is to place beacons made of special metal profiles on the surface. They are fixed on the wall in increments of 1000÷1200 mm, controlled vertically and horizontally using a building level and a long rule. These profiles are fixed using cement mortar with the addition of gypsum or just a gypsum mixture, since this material sets quickly and will not delay subsequent work. Between the slides of the solution on which the beacon profiles are attached, a distance of about 400÷500 mm is maintained. |
 | Having set the beacons, you can proceed to mixing the plaster solution. It must be homogeneous, without hard inclusions, otherwise it will be problematic to level it to perfection, since voids may form near large hard fractions, which will weaken the coating. Before applying the solution, the wall can be slightly moistened by spraying it with a spray bottle or brush. The next step is to throw a thick layer of plastic mortar onto the surface, which should be 30–50 mm higher than the beacons. Excess mortar will be removed as a rule when leveling the plaster. |
 | Next, the wet solution applied to the wall is leveled by a rule moved along the beacon guides. Work begins from the bottom of the wall - usually, slowly, it rises up, while it is slightly moved from side to side for better distribution of the solution in the space between the beacons. At the same time, excess plaster mixture is usually collected, which can later be used for application to adjacent sections of the wall. |
 | After plastering the surface, it should be left for 2-3 days to set. In this case, it is recommended to periodically spray the wall with water to obtain greater strength of the applied layer. Next, the still wet plaster is rubbed down, pouring cement laitance onto it. This work is carried out using a plaster trowel or grout, which is lightly pressed against the wall and the surface is rubbed in a counterclockwise circular motion, making it even. The rubbed surface is left until completely dry, which depends on the thickness of the layer and can take from 5 to 15 days. |
 | The dried plastered wall should be well primed using a paste-like thick primer, which is applied with a roller. Hard-to-reach areas of the wall are treated with a narrow brush. A water-based primer dries quite quickly, so very often after 2-3 hours it becomes possible to move on to the next stage of work. |
 | If we are talking about interior work, then in order for the result of finishing the wall to be of high quality, it is recommended to apply a thin, 1.5÷2.0 mm, layer of gypsum-based plaster onto the leveling plaster layer. It will make the surface smooth, correcting all the shortcomings of the base layer. The plaster is applied with a metal trowel or a wide spatula, making semicircular movements. It must be remembered that the gypsum mixture quickly sets and hardens, so you cannot mix a large amount of the solution, since it will no longer be possible to “revive” it by adding water. It should be noted that as this starting layer for decorative plaster you can also use ready mixture cement-based, or one of the common putty compounds. After this layer has dried, it must be primed. |
Decorative plaster - application and coloring
When all the leveling layers have dried and the wall is completely prepared, you can proceed to final stage works - applying a decorative plaster layer.
Several popular methods of applying relief
This is perhaps the most interesting creative process, upon completion of which the wall will take on a completely new look. For this stage, a decorative paste-like plaster mass or a dry mixture is used, which is mixed independently, in the same way as the base solution, that is, using a mixer mounted on an electric drill.
In any case, the mass must be plastic and homogeneous, unless, of course, a coating such as “bark beetle” or “lamb” is chosen, which contains additives from stone chips. But even with such a solution, the solid fractions should be distributed completely evenly in the plastic mass.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | Venetian plaster can have a different relief pattern, but it is always shallow and chaotic. However, sometimes it is the background for clear geometric or floral designs. Decorative plaster is applied using a metal or rubber spatula in thin layers, the number of which can be from 5 to 8. Despite such a considerable number of layers, the total thickness of the plaster made using this technique is only 3÷4 mm. |
 | To reproduce Venetian plaster, an already tinted composition is most often used, otherwise it will be necessary to paint it after its application and drying is complete, and in this case part of the intended effect will be lost. The desired effect of a “silk” surface is achieved by the presence of several layers of the same color, and each of them is applied and rubbed in different directions. Thanks to this technique, strokes that differ in direction give different reflections of the light falling on the wall. Thus, the surface has a silky sheen. In some cases, in order to create the effect of a deeper spatial volume, translucent from the inside, several color shades close to each other are taken. |
 | Each of the layers of plaster composition applied with strokes is smoothed, but this process is carried out by tangential movements with the application of certain forces. For each layer, professional craftsmen use spatulas and trowels of varying thickness and width, creating a multi-layered chaotic relief pattern from the solution. Using this plastering technique, you can imitate the pattern structure of various finishing stones on the wall. To enhance the imitation effect, after completing the plaster application, after waiting for it to dry, the surface is polished with wax or coated with matte varnish. |
 | A more accessible option for non-professionals is relief plaster. The composition is applied using a regular spatula in one or several layers, each of which must be dried. The relief of each layer can be smoothed, or its protruding fragments can be left in their original form. Smoothing of the solution is carried out using a metal trowel, with gentle touches. Using this technique, you can create various reliefs, and their shape and direction will depend on the creative mood of the master. |
 | If you intend to create a relief that has regular smooth shapes and lines, you can use a notched trowel (trowel), usually used for applying glue when finishing surfaces, to reproduce it ceramic tiles, or a special comb. |
 | This type of relief pattern will not be difficult to reproduce for a craftsman who has picked up a plastering tool for the first time. The first step is to apply a layer of plaster mortar to the wall using a regular wide spatula, and it is not necessary that it be perfectly even. Then a relief is displayed on it in the form of semicircles, checkerboard lines or other patterns that you can come up with yourself. |
 | Another version of the relief that can be reproduced by any creative person is a print from an ordinary plastic film on wet plaster applied to the wall. In this case, your imagination also doesn’t have to be limited, since the film can be used unfolded or rolled into a roller, or simply crumpled up randomly. In addition, you can come up with your own version of using this material, since, achieving the desired pattern, you can safely experiment with the solution and film. |
 | When removing the film after it has been pressed against the wet plaster, it will inevitably pull the solution along with it, and as a result, peculiar relief protrusions are formed, which can be smoothed out with a spatula or trowel. Using this method of creating decorative plaster, you can use a tinted solution, or paint it after the wall has dried after applying the relief. |
 | Quite popular for decorating both internal and external surfaces of walls is such a textured pattern as “bark beetle”. For this, a special plaster composition is used, which includes hard stone fractions measuring 1.5÷3 mm. This solution is applied using a metal trowel, and it can be distributed on the surface in different directions, depending on what kind of relief is intended to be obtained. When applying plaster, hard fractions leave behind furrows that imitate damage to the surface by insects. These recessed stripes can be located vertically, horizontally, diagonally, in the form of a semicircle or entire circles - the direction of the relief pattern will depend on the preference of the master and the intended design. |
 | A frequently used tool for applying relief is a roller, which leaves a textured pattern on the wall surface. This method of recreating volume can be used by any homeowner, even those who have never done plastering work before. It is enough to purchase a roller with the relief you like on its rubber nozzle and leave an imprint on the fresh solution applied to the wall. The choice of attachments is so large that they can be selected to suit any, even the most sophisticated taste. If desired, you can make a roller attachment yourself, using pieces of foam rubber, twisted coarse rope, plastic film, fur, fabric with deep relief or other materials that can leave the necessary impression on wet plaster. |
 | If you plan to create the correct floral pattern on the walls, in the form of grass and leaves of different shapes and sizes, then a roller with such a pattern will have to be purchased ready-made. Work on decorating walls using this technique goes quite quickly, since there will be no failures in the process - the plaster mixture is applied and distributed to the surface with a spatula, and while it remains wet, a roller is passed over it, which will leave the selected pattern on the surface. |
 | And this is a completely simple method that does not require special expenses for purchasing a tool for reproducing the relief. For the finishing process, a regular flat brush with soft or hard bristles is used, depending on how clear the pattern is planned to be obtained. The relief is recreated using the same principle as when using a spatula with a notched comb - using fresh plaster applied to the wall. |
 | Another technique of decorative plaster, not performed over the entire surface of the wall, but only in certain areas. The background for it can be one of the above-described types of shallow relief. The panels are usually made from gypsum plaster mortar. The composition is applied in slides to the marked area of the wall according to the pattern and left to dry. After drying they use cutting tools– this can be a knife, cutters of different shapes and a spatula – they are used to create the desired shapes. In addition to the cutters, you will need sandpaper with fine and medium grains, which will be used to smooth out the cut out elements of the three-dimensional pattern. In order not to spoil the wall, it is recommended to experiment by creating a small panel or its individual parts on a plywood sheet. Only after making sure that everything works out can you proceed to reproducing the intended relief design on the wall. |
In addition to those listed above, there are other objects that can be used to create relief designs on the surface of the wall. For this purpose, not only professional tools, but also improvised devices or even fragments of plants, for example, tree leaves or branches of various thicknesses.
Painting decorative plaster
As mentioned above, you can buy colored decorative plaster in construction stores, but working with it is much more difficult, since it is necessary to reproduce all the complex ones with one color. Therefore, most often a white plaster mixture is chosen, which, after final drying, is covered with the selected shades, which significantly expands creative possibilities home handyman.
In addition to applying color to a finished relief wall, there is another technique for creating a colored surface. In this option, before applying it, a certain color is added to the white plaster, and then a relief on the wall is made from material of different shades. This is a rather complex technique, and a professional artist or a person with the appropriate talent can handle it. Therefore, the best option remains to paint the finished relief.
Usually, for painting decorative plaster, water-based paints are used, to which the desired color is added. When choosing a color, it is recommended to make it one or two shades darker, since when the paint dries, it will lighten.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | The most used technique when giving relief plaster a color is to cover it with a light tone of the selected shade. This coloring will become unifying for the entire composition. The paint is applied to the entire surface using a roller, after squeezing it on the ribbed surface of the paint tray. If the relief has a depth of more than 5 mm, then a long-haired roller is used to tint it, or especially deep fragments are tinted with a soft brush. |
 | The first paint layer is applied in one go, otherwise the coloring will turn out uneven. Therefore, if the paint is tinted yourself, you need to mix it enough so that it is enough for the first layer for all the walls in the room, or at least for one wall, but always for its entire area. This is especially important if the surfaces will be painted with one color without additional shades or stains. Coloring is carried out in different ways, depending on the depth of the relief and the desired final result. |
 | One of the options for uneven coloring is done using a sponge. Then they walk over the still wet painted surface. soft cloth or with a dry sponge, barely touching the protruding elements of the relief. This execution technique is aimed at enhancing the “depth of space” of the relief not only with the help of volume, but also with the use of color play. |
 | This method of finishing decoration consists of two stages - painting and cleaning the protruding relief elements with sandpaper. The first step is to paint the entire area of the walls with a common color - this process can be carried out using a roller or spray. The second stage is carried out after the paint has completely dried. Fine-grained sandpaper is installed on a construction float, after which the tool is used to go over the protruding parts of the relief. In this way, the paint is removed or lightened from the surface, thereby revealing a three-dimensional pattern. If desired, the cleaned surfaces can be coated with paint that is close in tone to the main color, darker or lighter, depending on the effect you want to achieve. Usually a light shade is chosen, as it visually increases the volume of the relief. |
 | Only an experienced craftsman can make a relief panel, but you can try painting it yourself. However, you need to take into account that this process is quite complicated and time-consuming, since it will have to be done with thin brushes, so the work will take quite a lot of time. It is recommended to cover the finished relief plaster panel with a primer, dry it, and only then begin painting. Don't take clean ones bright colors, since the terrain behind them will not be visible. Therefore, they are diluted to shades of the chosen color or a certain amount is added to white paint. |
 | In this option for painting decorative plaster, two colors are used - one is the main one, and the second is an auxiliary one, which will highlight the relief pattern. The work is carried out in two stages. Firstly, the entire surface is covered with one, primary color. This process can be carried out with a roller, wide brush or spray. Then this layer should be well dried. The second stage consists of applying paint using tangential movements to the protruding parts of the relief using a soft brush, a foam sponge or a mitten worn on the hand. The applied paint should be thick enough and the brush or sponge should be dry. |
Video: an interesting example of painting a wall finished with relief plaster
The final stage of work on decorative plaster is coating the walls with varnish or wax. This process must be carried out carefully, since applying the final layer carelessly can ruin the entire job.
In conclusion, I would like to say that if you have little or no experience in performing decorative plastering, then it is not recommended to choose overly complex design techniques. In the same case, when a specific design is selected and the decision is made to reproduce it on the wall at all costs, you should carefully study the instructions and practice on a small section of the wall or a plywood panel.
Video: demonstration of various techniques for applying and decorating decorative plasters
“Versailles plaster”: a technology accessible to everyone - step by step
In the final section, the design of a wall with the so-called “Versailles plaster” will be considered as an example. In the proposed finishing technology, instead of plaster composition, two types of putty are used - starting and finishing, which allows you to save a decent amount on finishing. In addition, the advantage of this method of original decorative wall decoration is that even a novice master can do it. The main thing is to purchase quality material and use it correctly.
In addition to the two types of putty, to obtain the desired result, you will need “Quartz-primer” for application to the wall under the decorative cladding, which creates increased adhesion between the materials and also prevents the putty from drying too quickly. The presence of this material is prerequisite for decorating a wall using a similar technology.
In order for the plaster layer to turn out aesthetically pleasing, it is necessary to purchase two more components, without which the desired effect will not be achieved.
This is, firstly, a decorative paint coating of the “Adagio Silver” type - on an acrylic binder, containing small metal particles of various shapes. Gives a very interesting iridescent effect, giving the wall a silky look.
Secondly, so-called glitter is used, consisting of tiny particles of polyester film of various shapes. This component is also added to one of the layers of decorative wall trim.
| Illustration | Brief description of the operation performed |
|---|---|
 | The first step is to mix the model mass, consisting of starting and finishing putty in a 1:1 ratio. Mixing proceeds as follows: Part of the starting putty and part of the finishing putty are poured into a container with water in turn, then the sequence is repeated, and so on until the required amount of dry mixture is poured. If necessary, add a little water to the bucket, and then mix the mass using a mixer attachment. Next, the finished solution is left for 10-12 minutes - this time is necessary for it to “ripen”. After this time, the mass is mixed again until smooth. It should be mixed very well and have a medium-thick consistency, that is, not particularly liquid and not thick. |
 | The finished putty composition is applied to the prepared, leveled, treated with “Quartz-soil” and dried wall surface. If the mass will not be applied from the ceiling, but below, along a broken line on the wall, then it is recommended to first stick masking tape along it, which will help leave the upper part of the wall clean and keep the upper border of the decorative finish even. Work starts from the top line. First of all, the putty mixture is distributed along the masking tape. |
 | The applied layer should have a thickness of 2÷3 mm. Particular attention should be paid to filling the joints of the planes, for example, if the putty will be applied from the ceiling line. The mixture is applied to the wall with a trowel in a relatively even layer. This work can also be done with a spatula having a width of 300÷350 mm. It should be noted that in this finishing option you don’t have to try too hard, leveling the solution to perfect smoothness, the main thing is that the layer of material has the same thickness over the entire plane of the wall and is fairly even. The smoother the putty layer, the easier it will be to see flaws in the relief pattern. |
 | An even facing layer is applied to a height of 1000÷1500 mm from the top down the wall. Then a relief pattern is formed on the wet putty. For this, a plastic trowel with a pointed plate in front is used - it is shaped like an iron. Work starts from the corners or the top line of the wall. The master makes wave-like movements, stretching the mass, while simultaneously creating a chaotic pattern in the form of stripes running in different directions. With the help of a trowel, the mass is lifted above the surface, creating a larger volume of decorative coating and leaving behind grooves of different widths, most often located diagonally on the surface. The convenience of creating a relief in this way is that the design applied to the solution can always be corrected if the master does not like it in some way. |
 | Having worked out the first batch of putty, and having reached approximately the middle of the wall in height, the next portion of the solution is prepared. During this time, the mass applied to the wall will have time to set. Therefore, many craftsmen have the problem of combining the plastered area of the wall with the already set mortar and the fresh, just mixed mass, which will be applied below. The joint between the two areas of the wall should be completely invisible. |
 | In order for the combination to take place neatly and become completely unnoticeable, a fresh solution is applied overlapping the already applied layer by 150÷200 mm, and then the overall layer is smoothed out. This process must be carried out along the entire line of combining two zones - upper and lower. |
 | The overlap line needs to be smoothed out well, and then a general relief pattern must be applied to it. |
 | Applying the relief begins from the area where the design has already been applied. It turns out that it is, as it were, “picked up” with a trowel and extended onto an evenly applied unifying putty layer along its entire length. |
 | When combining two zones of the wall, it is important to ensure that there are no deep dents or clearly even stripes from the trowel left on it. Such defects must be smoothed out and these areas given a general relief, since they will be especially noticeable in these areas. When working on a connecting line, it is recommended to step aside and inspect the work area from a distance. This way you can more clearly identify shortcomings and correct them immediately. |
 | Then, the model mass is applied to the entire lower part of the wall in an even layer, and a relief is formed on it in exactly the same way. When the wall is completely covered with this primary layer of putty with the applied relief, it is left to dry completely for two days. |
 | When the wall dries, they go over its surface with a spatula, with which it is necessary to clean the protruding sharp edges of the relief strips, since they should be rounded. |
 | Then, the entire surface is treated with a construction trowel, with sandpaper No. 60 installed on it. Grouting is carried out with slight pressure, in a counterclockwise circular motion. |
 | After processing, you should get a relief surface with smoothed protruding edges of the pattern. An additional check of the surface, that is, its smoothness, can be done by running your palm over it. If untreated areas are found that scratch the palm, then this flaw must be corrected immediately. The treated surface must be thoroughly cleaned of putty dust - this process is carried out using a soft, wide brush or broom. |
 | The next step is to treat the surface with a deep penetration primer. The primer is applied with a roller with a nap attachment. The composition must be well distributed over the wall, collecting all the formed smudges. This layer dries in 1.5÷2 hours. |
 | Next, take a white water-based paint, add a color of the selected shade (in this case, the master used a beige dye), and the mixture is well mixed until smooth. The paint should be applied easily and not be too thick, therefore, if necessary, the solution should be diluted to the desired consistency with water. Relatively liquid composition When applied to the wall, the paint will become translucent, which, in combination with other layers of different shades, will create the illusion of space. |
 | The paint is first applied to the edge of the wall using a brush, and then the main part of the surface is tinted using a nap roller. It distributes the mass well over the relief surface, filling all the recesses of the design with paint, and when rolling out the composition, it collects its excess. As a result, the surface should be neat and evenly painted, free of smudges. After the entire surface is covered with the tinting composition, it is left until completely dry. Water-based paint applied in a thin layer will take about two hours to dry. |
 | Next, a composition made from a regular primer and “silver” - the “Adagio Silver” dye – is applied to the surface using a foam roller. The mixture is prepared in a 1:1 ratio, that is, in this case the master took 250 × 250 grams of these materials. The resulting mixture should have a fairly thick consistency and should not leak at all. The mass is applied to the wall without pressure, so that only the upper protruding elements of the relief are covered. The recesses should not be painted with this composition. |
 | The mixture is carefully rolled out over the entire surface of the wall, highlighting the relief with color. |
 | Next, you will need to prepare a finishing composition that will transform the wall surface beyond recognition. It consists of a water-based varnish and a small amount of glitter. The varnish is diluted with water, in proportions of approximately 1:3, and mixed well. The addition of water is necessary to ensure that a hard, uneven, glossy crust does not form on the surface of the wall after coating it. |
 | A small amount of glitter is added to the varnish, about a tablespoon per 0.5 liter of composition. Then the solution is thoroughly mixed by vigorous shaking. Before you start shaking, the lid of the container with the composition must be tightly closed. |
 | Next, the finished varnish composition is applied to the relief plaster using a foam roller and is well distributed by rolling it over the wall surface. Having completed this stage of work, the finishing can be considered complete. All that remains is to wait for the wall surface to dry, and then remove the masking tape enclosing the wall. |
 | The last illustration shows the result of this rather lengthy work on the design of the wall. But, you must admit, the technology is not so complicated, and the resulting finish looks very original. |
One of the leading positions among finishing materials has long been occupied by decorative plaster - an option for wall decoration that combines simple execution technology and excellent results. Initially, it vaguely resembles a paste that is applied to the walls and ceiling. This material can be used completely independently or as a basis for subsequent finishing stages.
Decorative plaster - a unique wall decoration
Types of decorative plaster
Decorative plaster is divided into types depending on the components of the composition and the expected effect:
- structural plaster - a mixed composition with various inclusions such as small stone chips, colored pieces of quartz or wood fibers. It is produced on a cement-lime base. In this case, special synthetic latexes or potassium silicate are also used. The solvents in the mixtures are aqueous or organic, so plaster can be considered an environmentally friendly material and can be used for interior decoration without fear of unpleasant odors either during repair work or during freshly plastered premises upon their completion.
Types of decorative plaster - craquelure
An additional plus: structural plaster is a very plastic finishing material, and it is sold ready for use in packaging of various sizes.
- textured plaster makes it possible to create a smooth but textured surface;
- Venetian As a result, the plaster turns into a coating reminiscent of marble.
Application of structural plaster
When preparing the walls, there is no need to align them perfectly. Thanks to its heterogeneous, interspersed structure, the material will perfectly hide minor flaws in the rough finishing of walls. The main requirement is that the walls must be dry, clean, pre-primed and dried. The primer serves as a kind of obstacle to the penetration of moisture into the decorated layer.
To apply plaster, a trowel or spatula is most often used. After a few hours, this coating will already be quite durable, but it will take at least a week for it to dry completely.
In addition, similar compositions are produced for both internal and external work. Such compositions are not afraid of frost, do not support combustion and are resistant to humidity.
Textured plaster
The compositions of textured plaster may vary, but in the end they all make it possible to create an original relief pattern on the walls, the complexity of which largely depends on the components of the plaster mixture and on how decorative plaster is applied to the walls in each specific case.
Walls with this finish are found quite often. This coating resembles wood, crumpled paper, stone or something like that. In the interior, the coating looks original, giving the room a special, unique style.
Painting on the wall using decorative plaster
It is also remarkable that the composition of textured plaster can be chosen to suit any room design, and using different application techniques can give it a complete, harmonious look.
The main component of textured plaster is lime flour, and the characteristics of each specific solution depend on the fillers used. Polymer materials as a base, they make it possible to obtain a durable surface without cracks or chips.
The walls for applying the plaster composition must be smooth, clean, primed and dried. After the primer has dried, a so-called substrate is applied to the walls - a layer of paint with sand. This helps strengthen adhesion (the bond between the plaster and the base).
If you carry out work without the involvement of specialists, then special compositions that combine the properties of all the materials listed above will help to significantly save time.
Plaster is applied in one or two or more layers. To work, you can use trowels, a spatula, a brush and other tools that will make it possible to obtain the desired expressive pattern on the surface. A more complex pattern is created by applying several thin layers of plaster composition.
Glazing compounds—special translucent paints—can serve as additional protection for the finished surface. They will add a noble pearlescent shine to the walls. In addition, special wax, paint or impregnation can be applied as a finishing coating.
Venetian plaster
Venetian plaster is a mixture of marble flour, slaked lime and water emulsion. Upon completion of the work, it seems that marble stone was used for finishing. Initially, Venetian plaster is a ready-to-use viscous composition, which is sold in large jars or buckets with a volume of 7 to 25 kg.
The only disadvantage of this coating is that it must be applied only to perfectly smooth walls. You can choose any color. The composition is easily tinted, so if desired, you can create entire “marble” paintings on the walls. In addition, Venetian plaster is environmentally friendly, waterproof, wear-resistant, does not support combustion and dries very quickly.
Before applying Venetian plaster, the walls or ceiling must be restored to ideal condition, otherwise any flaws will be visible. Then, as when preparing surfaces for applying other types of plaster, the base must be primed and allowed to dry. The plaster mixture is tinted and applied with a spatula in very thin layers. After the plaster has completely dried, the surface is carefully cleaned with very fine sandpaper, while leveling it. In total, from 5 to 12 such layers can be applied and cleaned. At the end, a layer of wax is applied, which gives the surface a marble shine.
Despite the apparent complexity, even with wall decoration Venetian plaster It is quite possible to cope on your own.
Antique compositions
Recently, many have been paying attention to “antique” plaster. The coating received this name because it looks a little shabby on the walls, as if slightly faded with time. In addition, such a finish will not be smooth, but rough to the touch, as if the texture itself has changed during natural aging.
"Aged" plaster
The application technique and artificial latexes in the mixture give the coating a special property - it begins to lighten a little in places of greater friction.
In addition to finishing interior walls, such compositions can be successfully used for finishing facades.
You can also buy it in packaging buckets with a volume of 4-5 liters. When the coating is completely dry, a microporous film forms on its surface, which provides a roughness effect, and at the same time protects the surface from mechanical damage and high temperatures.
Decorative plaster for external work
In addition to plaster compositions for interior work, the modern building materials market also offers facade decorative plaster, which is characterized by increased resistance to humidity, precipitation and temperature changes.
Ceiling application
Another pleasant point is that not only walls, but also ceilings are suitable for finishing with decorative plaster. Of course, it must be leveled and cleaned of the remnants of the old coating. Ideally, it should be leveled with plasterboard, but you can do without it.
The main difference from wall decoration is that a thick layer of plaster cannot be applied to the ceiling, a maximum of 5 mm. If it is more, there is too much chance that over time, part of the coating will simply fall off. Otherwise, the technique and all application conditions are identical to those for walls.
Tools and materials
In order for the plaster composition to lay evenly on the base, you must stock up on the necessary tools and materials in advance. We have already talked about materials. In addition to the plaster mixture, you will need:
- acrylic putty;
- polymer primer;
- semi-matte wax;
- dense polyethylene;
- dye;
- masking tape.
The following tools will be needed: a metal spatula (size 80), a one-handed trowel (trowel), a cuvette (paint tray), a brush (40x140), a two-inch brush, a thread roller (size 150). In addition, you will need a regular bath sponge and cotton rags.
Plastering technology
Preparing the base
Preparing walls or ceilings for plastering
The start of plastering should be preceded by careful preparation of the walls or ceiling for the application of decorative plaster. The surface must be prepared in the same way as for painting. There should be no unevenness or cracks on it, because decorative plaster is not applied in a thick layer and will simply repeat all the surface irregularities. The base must be primed with a deep penetration latex primer and allowed to dry. After the primer has dried, all areas adjacent to the surface where the plaster will be applied (ceiling plinth, wallpaper) are sealed with masking tape.
Then the walls are puttied. The putty is applied to a trowel and carefully applied to the wall, trying to evenly distribute a thin layer over the surface.
How to apply decorative plaster
At the next stage, using polyethylene, the desired texture is created on the surface of the putty that has not yet dried. To do this, crumpled polyethylene is placed on fresh putty. Moreover, the more “crumpled” it is, the better, the richer the texture will be. The area of polyethylene must be larger than the surface area to be treated. It is better if one piece is enough for the entire area.
This crumpled polyethylene must be glued to fresh putty so that all the folds are clearly imprinted in the still damp layer. In one day, in this way, you can seal several surfaces that are not adjacent to each other with polyethylene. In turn, adjacent surfaces must be treated after the previously treated ones have dried. Otherwise, chips may appear in the corners, or the surface may be accidentally damaged by a spatula.
The plastic film should be kept on the surface for about 15 hours, and then carefully removed along with the masking tape. You should not wait for the putty to dry completely, otherwise you will get unsightly chips on the surface instead of texture. However, after removing the film, the textured layer must be allowed to dry completely. This will take about another day. You should not use fan heaters or air heaters to speed up the process - this can cause cracks to appear on the surface of the putty and ruin the overall appearance.
After the putty has completely dried, use a spatula or trowel to carefully, but without undue caution, remove all excess chips. Then the entire surface of the wall is carefully swept with a dry duster - this will remove all the dust that has formed.
Now you again need to cover with masking tape all the places where it was glued before applying the putty.
Painting
Painting a plastered surface
For painting after decorating the walls you will need pigmented wax Add 20% warm water to it, then stir the mass, bringing it to a homogeneous consistency. Wax is most often applied to walls in one of two ways: with a sponge or with a thread roller. If preference is initially given to a roller (this is really faster), then a bath sponge will still come in handy - it is more convenient for it to evenly distribute the wax over the entire decorated surface. Soak the sponge in clean water and then lightly walk it over the entire decorated surface.
Painting a wall with decorated plaster
A coral sponge will be an excellent replacement for a regular bath sponge, but its price is much higher. After treatment with a sponge, the texture of the finish should clearly appear on the surface of the wall. The wax is rubbed until the pattern becomes uniform. There should be no visible wax stains. The putty should not show through the wax layer either. 15-20 minutes after rubbing the wax, the surface of the walls should be easily treated with a damp and soft cotton with a rag. After this procedure, the volumetric pattern on the walls will become more pronounced. Please note that the rags you use should be white or old, faded ones. Bright colors may fade and leave colorful spots on the surface.
In internal corners indoors, wax can accumulate, causing darkish stains to form there. To get rid of them, experts advise using a spatula with a rag wrapped around it. It easily removes dark spots in corners.
Article about methods of applying decorative plasters and nuances
Application
decorative
plaster
Conditions for applying cement decorative plasters
Correct Applying decorative plaster with your own hands carried out at ambient temperature +10-+25ºС. A similar temperature range applies to the application of decorative plaster on the outside of the building façade. The base temperature should be in the range +5 - +30ºС.
If decorative plaster is applied indoors during the cold season, then the work should be carried out with a constantly operating heating and ventilation system. If the room is not heated, then it is necessary to preheat it and ensure a temperature of +5-+30ºС for 2 days before the start of work, as well as 12 days after finishing the finishing work.
Requirements for the base and its preparation for applying decorative plasters
Decorative plasters are applied only to pre-leveled walls. Applying decorative plaster to an uneven base will lead to its premature destruction, as well as to the appearance of heterogeneous “defective” areas on the surface of the decorative layer. The base on which decorative plaster is applied must be rigid and not deform during use.
Decorative plaster should be applied exclusively to a leveled base.
As a rule, decorative plasters are applied to walls previously lined with cement plaster. Cementitious materials are poorly compatible with gypsum-based substrates.
Cement-based decorative plaster is not recommended to be applied to substrates containing gypsum.
If the client still wants apply cement decorative plaster to the gypsum base, then you should consider several important points:
- Firstly, the gypsum surface must first be carefully and correctly primed with soil in several layers.
- Secondly, applying and using decorative plaster is only possible in a dry, non-freezing room.
The wall must be cleaned of dust, paint and other contaminants that interfere with the adhesion of the material to the wall. If the wall “crumbles”, i.e., when you touch it, traces of the coating remain on your hand or the weakened layer crumbles, then such bases require additional treatment with strengthening primer. An important feature of preparing walls before applying decorative plaster is the need to treat the surface with a special “tinting” primer.
Before applying decorative plaster, the wall must be treated with a special “tinting” primer.
Applying a thin layer of decorative plaster on a gray cement base without a “tinting” primer can lead to the fact that remnants of the gray cement base will be visible through the structurally heterogeneous layer of decorative plaster. The use of a special “tinting” primer eliminates this problem. A number of craftsmen use highly diluted white cement putty as a “tinting” primer.
Technology of working with decorative plaster
Working with decorative plaster is divided into several successive stages: preparing the finished mortar, applying and distributing the mortar on the finished base, giving the necessary texture with your own hands and finishing the wall.
Before you begin the process of preparing the solution, you should carefully study the manufacturer's instructions for working with the material. Initially, you need to measure the required amount of clean water and pour it into a mixing container. It should be remembered that when preparing a solution of decorative plaster, you must use only clean water with a temperature of 15-20ºС.
Next, you need to pour in the required amount of dry mixture in portions with your own hands. While adding the mixture, the solution must be stirred. As a rule, mixing is carried out by a master with a professional mixer at medium speed. After obtaining a homogeneous solution, stirring must be stopped and time (3-5 minutes) is allowed for the solution to stand.
The process of preparing the plaster solution is carried out with a holding time of 3-5 minutes
Aging is necessary so that the modifying additives contained in the mixture have time to dissolve.
After curing, the solution is mixed a second time, after which it is possible to begin applying the decorative plaster solution to the wall.
Applying the solution yourself. To apply the solution to the surface, you need to prepare a clean working tool - a narrow and wide metal spatula, a plastic trowel. Using a small spatula, apply a small portion of the prepared solution to the edge of a wide metal spatula or to the bottom of a metal trowel. Next, the tool with the mortar is brought perpendicular to the base and they begin to distribute and level the finished mortar along the wall, gradually changing the angle of the trowel or spatula with their hands to a sharp one. It should be remembered that the thickness of the decorative plaster layer should not exceed the size of the largest diameter of the coarse filler (crumbs).
The thickness of decorative plaster application should not exceed the largest aggregate size
Depending on the work conditions, 10-25 minutes after applying the solution to the base, the process of thickening (setting) begins. At this moment it is necessary to begin forming the necessary texture of the wall (grinding). For this, as a rule, a plastic or metal grater is used. The treated base is given the desired texture by holding the grater with your hands parallel to the base, with light movements the solution is finally rubbed and distributed over the surface to the thickness of the grain.
Methods for forming surface texture
There are two main types of texture of decorative cement plaster - Fur coat and Bark beetle.
Texture of Shuba plaster resembles a grainy texture. When applying decorative plaster such as Shuba, “grinding” exposes part of the coarse filler, and a grainy surface texture is formed.
The nature of the movement of the tool during “grinding” does not play a significant role in the formation of texture, since “Shuba” type plasters contain a large amount of coarse filler fraction (crumbs), which is evenly distributed over the entire wall. As a rule, grind in a circular motion from top to bottom.
The texture of “Shuba” type plaster has a greater influence on the ratio of large and small filler particles in the composition of the material. Based on this, I highlight several additional varieties of decorative plaster of the “Fur Fur” type. The texture of “Lamb Fur Coat” is balanced in terms of granulometric composition.
In the plaster, along with the fine fraction, there is an increased content of large filler particles, and the texture of such decorative plaster is distinguished by relief, while the spaces between the particles of the large fraction are filled with fine filler. Plaster of this texture is dense and when finishing the facade, a smaller amount of dirt accumulates on the surface, most of which are washed off by precipitation during operation. Another type of Shuba plaster is the “Crocodile” texture or this texture is called “rubbed” Shuba. The main grains in the composition of such plaster are grains less than 1 mm. With additional grinding of such plaster, not a continuous surface is formed, but an “island” one.
Plaster Bark beetle has a grooved texture reminiscent of the surface of a tree trunk by a pest beetle. When “grinding” decorative plaster of the bark beetle type, the coarse filler in the plaster composition forms furrows to the entire depth of application of the layer. When “grinding” decorative plaster, it is important to pay attention to the bark beetle. Special attention uniform formation of a textured pattern over the entire surface, without any accumulations of coarse filler.
Depending on the direction and method of grinding, different surface textures can be formed. The simplest is to “grind” with your own hands in one direction horizontally, vertically or diagonally; such simple textures are called “rain”. There are also combined and complex textures. These textures are obtained by combining several simple movements when “grinding”, for example, moving along diagonals in different directions in a herringbone pattern.
In addition, “grinding” of decorative plaster can be done in a circular motion. With such movements, special attention should be paid to the uniform distribution of the filler over the entire surface of the “grind”, otherwise the texture of the base will not be uniform and will lose its aesthetic properties. The accumulation of large “crumbs” on any section of the wall should be avoided. When carrying out work, avoid applying strong pressure to the laid mortar mixture.
Features of hardening of decorative coatings.
Like most finishing materials, cement decorative plasters must be protected during hardening from excessive dehydration of the wall, which can provoke the formation of cracks on the surface. When carrying out finishing work on the outside of the building (on the façade or plinth) after applying the decorative coating, care should be taken to ensure that the surface of the hardening decorative plaster is not exposed to excessive sunlight and wind. To do this, a special “facade” mesh is installed on the facade of the building, which dissipates Sun rays and protects the surface from excessive drying under the influence of wind. When applying a decorative coating indoors, it is enough to prevent the appearance of drafts during the hardening of the plaster coating.
Surface finishing of decorative plaster
When using white cement-based decorative plaster as a decorative coating, it can then be painted in any color. When choosing paint, you need to remember a number of recommendations.
It is possible to paint the surface of decorative plaster only after it has completely dried, after approximately 2-4 days.
The most common mistakes when applying decorative plasters with your own hands
One of the main mistakes when working with decorative plasters is the formation of a non-uniform texture along the wall. In some cases, when working with “bark beetle” type plaster, there is an “accumulation” of coarse filler at the “grinding” boundary of two sections.
In this case, without allowing the decorative layer to completely set, remove the accumulated particles of coarse filler with your own hands and achieve a uniform “transition” between both sections. It is not uncommon for large filler to be missing from any area. Then you need to add coarse filler to this area and “grind” until the texture is uniform.
Decorative plastering has been and remains a popular type of finishing both indoors and on facade walls due to its practicality and the variety of surfaces created. In this article we will look at all the popular methods and techniques for applying decorative plaster, the features of which will be clearly shown in video lessons.
Materials and tools
The trowel application technology includes the following work methods:
- A portion of the solution is applied to the tool and distributed over the wall in short strokes. The layers of plaster are laid overlapping each other. Their direction can be either in one direction or in different directions. If the trowel moves not in a straight line, but in an arc, the relief will be completely different, more bizarre.
- Another popular option to put decorative trim is trowel trimming. The plaster solution is also taken onto the trowel, then the entire surface is easily pressed against the wall and removed. The movements are made quickly “touch-free”, turning the tool in different sides. The result is an effect small "fur coat". You can also first apply the plaster in an even layer of 2-3 mm, and then trim it over the entire area. It turns out as in the photo.
Roller
To decorate walls during repairs, ordinary fur (paint rollers) and special rubber ones with a certain pattern are used. You can also make a structural roller for decorative plaster with your own hands by wrapping its rotating part, for example, with a rag, bag or rope.
The technique of applying a pattern with a structural roller is very simple:
- the wall is plastered in one layer 2-4 mm thick;
- roller is passed over the plaster in one direction, leaving a pattern.
To give the walls a “fur coat” effect, use a fur roller. There are two ways to do it:
- the roller is dipped into the plaster solution and rolled along the wall;
- a section of the wall is completely plastered with a trowel or spatula, then the texture is formed with a roller.
After the mortar has set, you can walk along the wall with a wet trowel and smooth out the protrusions and rub it in.
Important: if the mixture lies unevenly, remove the excess with a spatula. It is not recommended to take long breaks when working with a roller, as the material will dry out and joints will be visible on it.
Brush
Using a brush, a finishing coating is created, usually using ready-made plasters for decoration. This method has several advantages:
- Economical. The brush distributes the material in a thin layer.
- Rapidity. When applying the mixture to the wall, a texture is immediately created.
- Simplicity. No special skills or techniques are required; decorative plaster is simply applied and distributed with strokes in different directions.
Often such mixtures contain mineral fillers, for example, sand, marble chips. They give roughness to the plaster and complement the texture created by the brush. More details about the application technique will be discussed in the video tutorial below.
Sponge
To create a textured coating, improvised means are also used, for example, foam rubber or sea sponges, plastic bags, rags.
First, lay down an even base layer and use a trowel. Then scoop up a small amount of plaster mortar with a sponge and apply it to the wall in strokes. You can’t cover the entire surface, but only make islands of plaster. After it begins to set (after 15-20 minutes), the tops are smoothed with a trowel or spatula.
In this way, they imitate the texture of stone and create arbitrary patterns.
