How and on what to glue a decorative stone, rules and step-by-step instructions
Decorative stone has recently begun to be used for wall decoration. This material is distinguished by its low cost and various texture, thanks to which such a coating can complement almost any interior. To determine the scope of decorative stone, how to glue tiles and solve other problems, you need to know the features of this gypsum product.
Hardware Features
Artificial stone is produced in the form of gypsum tiles, which are characterized by a large weight (compared to other decorative materials). Such a coating is used for interior wall decoration, including:
- stoves and fireplaces;
- bathrooms;
- lounges;
- window sills and sink brackets;
- bar counters and more.
Quality decorative stones include chips of natural marble or granite. Some of these products, due to the acrylic layer, are distinguished by a wide color palette.Externally, the decorative stone looks natural.But, unlike the latter, the former can be glued to various surfaces, including drywall, plaster walls, brick or wood.
And the quartz decorative stone tolerates temperature changes well and is not susceptible to mold.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of artificial stone are:
- a wide variety of finishes not available for natural stone;
- imitation of high quality natural stone;
- surface pleasant to the touch;
- in comparison with natural, low weight and cost;
- respect the environment;
- strength and durability;
- increased resistance to extreme temperatures.
The main disadvantage of such material is that the surface must be carefully prepared before laying the siding. Otherwise, the formation of defects is possible. Some gypsum products do not tolerate physical impacts and contact with water. And cheap brands of artificial stone lose their original color over time.
What materials and tools will be needed
To glue the plaster facing you will need:
- join crosses;
- normal and notched trowel;
- metal saw;
- miter box;
- brush;
- foam sponge;
- rubber hammer;
- container for the preparation of glue and construction mixer;
- cream injector.
If you plan to create an uneven edge effect, you will need another flat file. In addition to this list, you need to purchase glue, primer for walls and plaster, acrylic impregnation (colorless varnish) and paint for processing artificial stone and seams.
How to glue correctly
The choice of the method of laying artificial stone depends on your personal preferences. Most often, the material is glued with seams (rusticity technology). But, if necessary, you can create a decorative finish without a seam.
With join
The popularity of this option is due to the aesthetic appeal of the resulting finish.This method of installation involves applying an adhesive to the wall, on which the artificial stone is then fixed. The distance between the slabs varies from one millimeter to several centimeters. This parameter is mainly calculated based on the dimensions of the plasterboard tiles.
Laying is done as follows: an artificial stone is pressed into the adhesive composition. The rest of the material is then removed using a spatula. If the glue gets on the plaster tile, you need to wait until the composition is completely hardened. After that, the material can be removed from the surface of the artificial stone using a brush with increased stiffness. If there is not enough glue to form a seam, the composition is applied between the tiles using a pastry bag.
It's clear
This option is usually used when laying large plasterboards. In this case, the decorative stone is as close to each other as possible, so that the adhesive does not come out.
Preparation for work
Before buying the material, it is necessary to decide on the technology for laying the artificial stone. The calculation of the required amount of coating depends on this. After that, you need to prepare the working surface and the adhesive composition.
Preparation of the work plan
Before starting work, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the old facing material. To do this, you will need to clean the walls with sandpaper and other tools chosen according to the type of finish. Then you need to remove the remnants of the old glue and plaster. After that, you need to wipe the wall with a metal brush. In some cases, it will be necessary to dry the surface.
Calculation and preparation of material
To determine the amount of material needed for cladding, you will need to measure the area of the wall section on which the artificial stone will be fixed and divide the result by the size of a standard tile. It is recommended to add 10% to the final figure. This need is due to the fact that tiles often break during installation. And by buying a little more material, you can avoid having to buy decorative stone.
Then you need to prepare the coating by sawing the tiles with a handsaw or a hacksaw, according to the specified dimensions. The edges of the material should be filed or sanded to remove any sharp edges. After that, a primer is applied to the back of the tile. At the end of the preparation, the material can be colored according to your personal preferences.
How to choose the right glue for plaster products
There are 8 adhesives that can be used to attach decorative stone to interior walls. In this case, the reliability of fastening the facing plates directly depends on the choice of material.
AVP
Standard PVA glue, used for gluing paper, is not suitable for attaching a decorative stone to the walls. In this case, you will need a reinforced composition that provides reliable fixation.
acrylic solution
Acrylic solutions are classified into:
- Suspensions. They are rarely used for laying decorative stone, since exposure to ultraviolet rays is necessary to harden the adhesive composition.
- Latex-based solutions. The popular adhesive, which is characterized by increased adhesion, is non-toxic, odorless and well tolerates contact with moisture. This composition is able to fix decorative tiles on various surfaces.
- Solutions dispersed in water. This option is suitable for light gypsum stone.
For laying decorative tiles, it is recommended to purchase universal acrylic solutions.
Tile adhesive
Tile adhesive is used to decorate plasterboard with decorative tiles. This composition allows less reliable fixing of the coating to the concrete base.
Liquid Nails
Liquid nails are a versatile adhesive for a variety of materials. This tool provides a secure fit. Liquid nails are convenient to use, since a specialized gun is used to apply the composition.
Polymer putty
Polymer sealants are characterized by increased adhesion and dry quickly. Such a composition, like liquid nails, is slowly consumed compared to other glues.
Dry cement mixes
The least convenient option for laying decorative tiles. However, such mixtures are recommended for the formation of seams between facing stones. Before applying to the walls, the material must be mixed with water (the proportions are indicated on the package). Dry mixes, compared to the given compositions, harden longer.
CMC
CMC, or wallpaper paste, is used in combination with alabaster. The drying rate of the composition depends on the volume of the first component. The more wallpaper paste is added to the mixture, the slower the material hardens.
bustilat
Bustilat is a versatile adhesive used for fixing various materials to walls, including decorative stone.
Review of popular brands
The brands presented are very popular with professional installers.
Ceresit
Under the Ceresit brand, a group of universal cement mixtures designed for interior work is produced.The composition of the material includes polymer modifiers and fillers that increase the fixing strength. With this mixture you can create an even and flexible seam.
coral
Coral brand glue is used for laying siding on various surfaces. This extra cling mixture dries completely in 24 hours. In addition, it takes 10 minutes to correct tiles stuck with Coral.
Eunice More
Several types of sand and cement adhesives are produced under this brand.
Plitonic
Plitonit produces three types of adhesives designed for laying decorative stone. This composition is characterized by increased plasticity, which is convenient for the formation of seams.
Kreps
The composition of the products of this brand includes high-quality cement, river sand and modified components that provide strong adhesion to the surface.
corian
The Corian brand produces specialized glues for decorative stone. Such products are distinguished by a wide range of colors.
GetaCore
Like the previous glue, this composition is also among the specialized products intended for fixing decorative stone.
Acrylic
Acrylic solutions are produced under this brand.
Coating technology
Regardless of the type of support on which the tiles are applied (brick, concrete, etc.), the laying is carried out according to a unique scenario. First of all, it is necessary to knead the glue into a homogeneous structure if dry cement compositions are used. After that, the material is evenly applied to the wall, covering an area of no more than one square meter at a time. If a sealant or liquid nails are used, then in the first case the glue is distributed in waves, in the second - drop by drop.
After that, you need to glue the first tile by pressing the stone. It is not recommended to exert excessive effort at this stage.A small amount of glue should come out of the tile. There are several guidelines to follow when laying tile:
- with a seamless laying method, the procedure should be started from the bottom row (otherwise, from any angle);
- if a stone of the same size is used, it must be laid so that the final design is uniform;
- the cut edges are tied in such a way that they remain invisible to the eyes;
- if the laying is carried out from the middle of the wall, then a guide rail is attached to the surface beforehand;
- Use a rubber mallet to level the decorative tiles.
To form the joints, it is necessary to leave equal spaces between the tiles. Rows of stones should be parallel to each other.
If a no-sew method is used, tiles should be pressed firmly.
At the end of the procedure, excess glue is removed and the seams are rubbed with a specialized compound, the type of which is indicated on the package. It is recommended to apply such a product using a piping bag.
At the end of the procedure, a protective layer should be applied to the tiles. This procedure extends the life of the decorative material. A protective layer is necessary in cases where artificial stone is laid in rooms with high humidity and houses with children and animals.
When choosing a coating, it is recommended to give preference to products containing gypsum.
Characteristics of collage on wallpaper
It is not recommended to stick the decorative stone on the wallpaper. This is explained by the fact that if the base moves away from the wall, the decorative facing will collapse. But if it is impossible to peel off the wallpaper, you need to take the following steps to glue the material:
- Mark the area for the location of the decorative stone on the wall, step back 1-3 centimeters and outline the perimeter of the future masonry.
- Using a clerical knife along the marked mark, cut the wallpaper and remove excess fragments.
- Prepare an adhesive composition and fix a decorative stone according to the described algorithm.
- Treat the panels with a protective layer.
If necessary, the walls in the places where the coating is fixed are additionally leveled and primed.
Common Mistakes
When laying decorative tiles in an apartment, installers often cut more material than necessary. As a result, small bricks are either discarded or attached to the walls, spoiling the pattern created from the facing material.
Often installers (especially inexperienced ones) forget to remove any adhesive that has seeped onto the surface of the plaster. And after hardening, it is difficult to remove such a composition without damaging the coating. Inexperienced installers, when forming joints, forget about the need to align the tiles along a line. This creates a beautiful and clear pattern. There are also cases when a wide gap is left between the tiles, as a result of which the coating acquires an aesthetically unattractive appearance.
And the last common mistake is to ignore the primer of the walls and the interior of the tiles and refuse to treat the decorative material with a protective layer. In the first case, the likelihood of mold on the walls increases, in the second, the service life of the finishing material is reduced.
Tips and tricks from experienced craftsmen
You can glue a decorative stone in the house with your own hands. The main thing is to follow the rules described above and monitor the quality of styling.When finishing, it is important to ensure that tiles of the same size are installed evenly diagonally, horizontally and vertically.
It is recommended to use a syringe gun or a piping bag when grouting. In addition, the stones should be laid according to the shades and surface configuration of the tiles.