Facing artificial stone: varieties of material, domestic manufacturers. Features of the design of the bathroom, fireplace, columns, corners.
Photo by D.Minkina
Decorative Stone can be facing racks
Stone surfaces that are close to water are recommended to be treated with hydrophobic compositions.
Inhomogeneous on the texture and color, the surface of a person perceives better. Eye resting by running from one piece to another
Photo K. Manko
Stone framing creates a spectacular background for paintings and photos
Photo Garshblovsky
Even a small area of the wall, decorated with decorative artificial stone, is able to make a variety of low-key color gamut or monochrome solution of modern interior.
Graceful columns with figure capitals, decorative platbands, stone borders are able to turn the usual living room in the hall of the front desks
Photo by D.Minkina
One of the main advantages of decorative artificial stone is the presence of angular elements. It is they who create the impression of genuine masonry when cladding columns and protruding corners
Artificial stone does not burn, steadyly withstands the temperature differences, and when heated does not highlight smoke
Original combination of natural wood and "stone" laying of the doorway
Another element of antiquity in the interior kitchen-facing tile under the old brick of manual molding, framing the doorway
Walls and arches, skillfully folded from the brotched stone, or a fireplace, decorated with a smooth cobblestone, inevitably attract a look. Stylish interior with stone decor - what is it: a dream or reality?
Photo Z.Razutdinova
The desire to use in the interior the stone finish usually appears in those whose aesthetic addictions were determined, but the character retained the flexibility and the ability to perceive other ideas of the tradition of using the stone in construction and finishing came to us from deep antiquity. Already then a person drew attention to the variety of colors and textures of this material, appreciated its practicality and durability. Stone in the inner and outer design at all times symbolized reliability and foundation, wealth and well-being of the house. But natural material requires such a painstaking work on the choice, processing and laying that the surface lined with them is literally "golden". Not because of its cost, but because of the large volume of complex manual operations.
Therefore, the appearance of artificial analogues is quite explained. The books include agglomerates, outwardly few distingurable from the real marble, Malachite, Onyx. The ozin of these high-quality imitation is marble, granite crumb or quartz sand, whose particles are fastened with resins. In addition, there are composite materials based on acrylic compounds and mineral filler. They produce them either in the form of sheets, or like finished products: tiles for floors and walls, countertops, sinks, window sills. Popular material, reproducing texture and color of natural stone - decorative facing tile or artificial stone. You will talk about it.
The heavily of the decorative stone includes cement, various fillers (ceramzite, perlite, pumice or mixture thereof) and dyes. Weighs this material on average 1.5 times less natural, and if compared with granite, then 3-4 times. It can be stacked almost on any foundation, and even, the rough reverse side makes the installation process easy and convenient. In more detail with the physicomechanical properties and functional advantages of artificial stone, the JV magazine has already acquainted readers in the article "The Stone of Your Dream"
Thanks to the decorativeness and environmental friendliness, architects and designers are increasingly using artificial stone in the design of the interiors of apartments and houses. After all, in their natural analogues, he borrowed the most interesting textures, and the palette of flowers of this material has no restrictions. It fits perfectly into modern interiors (with an abundance of glass and metal), and in classic.
Most artificial stone manufacturers produce universal material. But there are companies that are used when creating collections for external and for interior decorations are different formulations. The interior stone (most often finelyofact) can be more dense and heavy. Sometimes it has less frost resistance, because for the warm room this indicator is not so important.
Catch, sawing, cut off ...
Photo M.Stepanov
The location of the switches and sockets is better to determine to the cladding of the walls, experts conventionally combine the collection of artificial stone in groups, calling them at similar external signs: sawn, crushing, reservoir, butt, fantasy. We clarify. The reservoir stones resemble a cutting rock. Kolotya possess an uneven edge, as if separated by a jackhammer, and a knocked texture. Sawn, on the contrary, have a smooth edge. Boob stones are like natural boulders of different sizes with chaotic non-geometric shapes. Fantasy are distinguished by an original design, shape or color scheme. Inside each group there are collections oriented on the facade or interior decoration. Strict division, of course, does not exist, it all depends on the flight of designer thought and common sense. For decoration of living rooms, kitchens, cabinets, the billiards especially use fine-focus collections. Avota Registration of a small-sized apartment with huge boulders will probably be perceived by others negatively. The use of "key" textures with sharp edges in the premises of bathrooms or pools is hardly justified.
When lining a large plane is very important indicator of the repeatability of individual elements. It is considered small if the same stones are not found on an area of 5-10m2 (depending on the texture). The less repeats occurs on the surface, the natural it looks like.
It is worth paying attention to another type of artificial stone. This is a decorative facing brick, the thinnest (0.7-2cm), lightweight and inexpensive material. Judge for yourself: its price is $ 15-20 per 1m2, while the artificial stone costs $ 20-50. Facing brick allows you to "build" brick walls where the use of ordinary brick is impossible due to weight and thickness. The proposed collections reproduce not only a new, but also "ancient" laying. It is in it that the familiar variety is reflected for nature, for which psychologists are so talked, warning us that even lines and repetitive colors tire the psyche.
Along with the artificial stone, the manufacturers offer original decorative elements made by the same technology: panels, tiles, columns, capitals, eaves, borders, platbands, lamps, caspo. They give the interior a special flavor, originality and at the same time are well combined with the main background.
Life in fairy tale
For a round column cladding, narrow and long stones were decided to arrange vertically. In love, the design of curvilinear surfaces should be trusted only by qualified stacking psychological comfort, a sense of security, the desire to return again and again we feel far from every home. Only old walls that lived a long life, who witnessed human joys and adversity, possess a special aura. However, artificial stone can help in creating personal history, a unique visual image of the housing.
However, on the path of realization of the fabulous plan, the owner of the apartment is waiting for a lot of difficulties. The first is that to imagine how this or that texture will look, focusing only on the exhibition samples, is quite difficult. Even more difficult to develop an interesting composite solution, without having the necessary knowledge and skills.
For example, to turn the room for storing wine into a real wine cellar, the lower part of the walls are laying out with small pebbles, and the largest copies are placed at the top and on the ceiling. The result is a very tangible effect of "pressure" of ceiling arches. The agarmonic surface of stones imitating natural limestone is obtained only when alternating stones of different sizes and textures.
Not accidentally large domestic manufacturers of decorative facing stone Chelsea Stone, Deco Stone, EUROKAM, Foreland, Kamrock, Rosser, White Hills, "Perfect Stone", "Camelot", "Stroymaster", "Ecolt Trade" offer designers services, as well as computer Modeling an object. The specialist goes to the place, talking with the customer, produces the necessary measurements, after which it selects materials and develops several interior options. The cost of the design project depends on the scope of work and their complexity. Modern companies price design projects begins with $ 60, with others with $ 600. For the first consultation from the Customer, photos or sketches of premises are required.
In the middle of the house facing artificial stone begins to lay after the window and doorways are formed and the ceiling finish is finished. But you can make changes or arrange unexpected accents with the already established interior. The decorative stone is well combined with plastered and painted surfaces, wood, glass, metal. The same installation of this material does not require high time and strength, not accompanied by dirty work.
Consumables
The beauty and durability of the surface, lined with artificial stone, depends on the quality of consumables. These include:Cement glue, including heat-resistant, for laying on plasterboard (packaging price 25kg- 190-330rub.);
grouts for seams (package price of 5, 15, 25 kg - 190-960rub.);
hydropobicators - protective water repellent impregnations (price 1l- 125-790 rubles);
Cement glue residue cleaners from the surface of an artificial stone (price 1kg- 350 rub.).
Large manufacturers of artificial stone necessarily recommend the brand and the name of high-quality glue and grout. Abolyshit from them offer branded consumables. It frees the buyer from the need for a marketing research, identifying manufacturers with a good reputation and separation of products for decent attention and the one that is made in the "Neighboring base of the basement". Now, many companies do not guarantee the artificial stone and its laying when using other consumables. This position is justified. The use of low-quality products, as well as mixtures not intended for installation of artificial stone, can lead to the fact that after a while, decorative cladding will begin to fall off. At the same time, a person will experience negative emotions precisely towards the stone, and not to the glue.
At first glance, consumables play a supporting role. Meanwhile, they can perform a decorative function. The use of color rapping or changing the color of the grouts with dark on the light dramatically will change the perception of the wall, lined with a stone. Special varnishes will make a stone brighter and alive, and glossy- create a wet surface effect.
Opinion of a specialist
The idea of the design of the walls of this interior is based on a combination of materials close colors and different textures. This refers to decorative artificial stone and textured plaster. The overall tone of the interior is light, with a golden chip. Therefore, the choice fell on the Collection of "Ancient Plast" of Kamrock, consisting of gray-beige stones, sometimes with a slightly pinkish tint. Their coarse creases, as if weathered by time, attract attention to their uniqueness. On this wall it is planned to place lamps that will discard the light in two directions and down, creating a spectacular game of light and shadow on the "stone" surface.
Architect Boris Kolomayichenko
Typical errors
Photo by D.Minkina
Thanks to the small thickness of the stone, which is faced with the wall, the useful volume of the corridor has practically not diminished despite the abundance of information about artificial stone and the provision of services for its transportation and laying, buyers stubbornly commit the same mistakes. The material is packed in cardboard boxes, the mass of which depends on the specific texture and is 6-20kg. When buying, it is advisable to open each box and immediately make sure that there are no broken elements or replace damaged by simultaneously checking whether the color products are purchased. Another nuance: The material is usually chosen in a room lit by cold light luminescent lamps. Chelsea Stone managers offer customers, not confident in the color scheme, take a few tiles to look at their shade in the home atmosphere.
Moving a large cargo to long distances is fraught with the appearance of a certain number of broken stone. For its transportation, EUROKAM recommends the use of automars with a pneumatic suspension.
Very often, during the repair associated with redevelopment, the walls of the brick are demolished, and they are taken from drywall. The question arises: is it possible to bind new designs with an artificial stone, despite that the minimum mass of the material occupying area 1m2 is 10 kg, and the largest textures reaching 60 kg? Decorative stone producers argue that regardless of the weight of the stone of the stone, its laying on the plasterboard partition installed in accordance with the construction norms and the rules is possible. EUROKAM AUROKAM AUROKAM ADDITIONS INCREASE RECORDING THE STRENGTH OF GIPS CARTER.
When buying a calculated amount of material, the Seller is often neglected to take a stone with a reserve of 5-10% of the total. Vitog material a little bit lacks. But after time, the warehouse is already the other party, the shade of which is most often different from the previous one. So, a fairly noticeable color stain will appear on the wall. The simple advice is given by Kamrock's specialists: before laying the stone should be decomposed on the horizontal plane, alternating large and small elements, and after that, start assembling. In this way, it is easier to achieve a harmonious pattern of masonry.
Keep in mind: Artificial stone put down from top to bottom. If you come around the contrary, the lower layer will be equipped with cement glue. The attachment "Stroymaster" recommends removing the excess of a rapid solution with a brush with a rigid metal bristle, giving him a bit a little, but so that he does not have time to stick to the surface of the stone. Manufacturers advise to use the services of only qualified masters who do not commit such errors. The average cost of styling artificial stone (preparation of the surface is separate) is $ 18-20 per 1M2.
Fire, water and ... columns
The color of artificial stone on the walls of the loggia will not change over the years. Drops of temperature and humidity, the effect of sunlight only add it naturalness and beauty to the design of internal spaces with decorative artificial stone has its own characteristics. For example, Fireplace portals and fireplace zones are often faced with artificial stone. It is not a flamm and racks to temperature drops. With the correct fireplace device, its external walls should not be heated above 60-70c. These temperatures are withstanding the usual cement glue, but many manufacturers offer to use heat-resistant.
Artificial stone easily tolerates increased humidity. Additional strength and moisture resistance lined with this material of the walls of bathrooms, winter gardens, pool premises will be purchased after treatment with hydrophobic compositions. Keep in mind: the compositions must be allowed to use in residential premises! As for the decoration of the kitchen, oen bold dirt on the walls, then the main punch takes on the so-called kitchen "Apron". The question of the replacement of the traditional ceramic tile for him with artificial stone each decides on their own. Note that both surfaces can be brushed with a soap composition without prejudice to the appearance.
Special skills requires the facing of the archer, columns, corners. When they finish, natural stones are usually noticeable joints. The angular elements that are part of the collections of artificial stone create the impression of genuine masonry. Afragments with a certain radius for lining round columns are not all manufacturers. The problem is solved small stones laid down with the extender (at a distance of 1-1,5 cm from each other).
In a word, with a professional approach, a decorative artificial stone finish can be viewed as a long-term investment in a beautiful stylish interior. After all, this material is practically not aging, and the stone decor will always be relevant.