It is worth noting that decorative plaster "fur coat" is familiar to almost everyone. It is only the name of this finishing material that is so intricate, and it has been used in construction for a long time - you can even see it on buildings erected more than a dozen years ago. True, at that time it was a classic "self-propelled gun": the craftsmen mixed cement and sand in certain proportions and threw it on the walls of the facades of houses. As a result, the walls, although they acquired a textured look, still represented a rather dull sight, depressing with a disgusting gray color. By the way, even today, some craftsmen still, in their eternal desire to save money, try to make such a solution for finishing houses or outbuildings on their own. And absolutely in vain. The dry decorative “fur coat” plaster currently on sale in every store is an absolutely inexpensive finishing material, which at the same time, unlike home-made, has quite acceptable performance characteristics. True, on the shelves you cansee not only dry mixes. There are also ready-to-use solutions packaged in buckets. Such textured decorative plaster will cost much more. However, it has a slightly different composition and improved characteristics. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves, but rather take a closer look at the types of "fur coats" offered by the construction market.
Types of plaster
Actually, why is it called a fur coat? Because after application, a textured coating remains on the wall, not smooth, but somewhat reminiscent of fur. And all thanks to the fact that a filler is added to the composition of the usual plaster mixture - fine ground natural stone. The appearance of the finish depends on its size, which is called fractions. That is, the larger the fraction, the more embossed the finish coating. As we have already mentioned, decorative plaster "fur coat" is available in the form of dry mixes that need to be diluted with water. Such a composition has a white or gray color and has one significant drawback - it very much attracts dust and all kinds of dirt. But it is inexpensive, so it is most often used for outdoor decoration, when you need to process large areas. In addition, a "fur coat" made with such a mixture can be dyed in any color.
Ready-made solution, sold in buckets, contains additional synthetic polymers. Due to this, such a mixture is more elastic and has good strength characteristics. It can be either white or gray, or colored. The ingredients are quite expensive.therefore, it is most often used in interior decoration. With the aim of all the same savings.
Application
Textured decorative plaster is used to create a top coat. Moreover, it is equally well suited for building facades, that is, outdoor work, and for interior decoration. With its help, you can get a very beautiful relief coating that will decorate the walls of any room. In addition, quite often it is used for finishing individual interior elements, for example, arches, borders. In general, once in skillful hands, this relatively inexpensive material can work wonders. In addition to a very attractive appearance, such a coating also has a number of other positive characteristics, which should be discussed in more detail.
Dignity of "fur coat"
Nevertheless, it is not for nothing that it bears such a name. This finishing material protects the surface, just like a fur coat our body, from the cold. That is, it has excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, it protects the walls from the effects of destructive atmospheric phenomena. It is characterized by excellent soundproofing qualities. Damaged parts of it can be easily restored. Easy to use, thanks to which the finishing can be done by hand. It perfectly hides surface defects, which is why preparatory work does not take much time. As we already mentioned, it is a fairly cheap material. And, of course, one cannot discount the excellent aestheticcharacteristics that this textured plaster possesses. The photos presented in the article, by the way, eloquently indicate that in this regard she is really on top.
Well, after all the praises that we sang to this excellent finishing material in all respects, many home craftsmen will probably want to use it in practice. How to do this - we will tell further. And we will try to do it as detailed as possible.
Preparation
As we have already mentioned, preparatory work before plastering with a "fur coat" does not take much time and is not particularly tiring. If it is planned to finish the facade of a new building, then it is enough just to prime the surface and let it dry. If the house is not new, then the walls must be carefully inspected and all cracks and defects should be repaired with an ordinary mortar. After that, also prime the surface. In cases where it is planned to carry out finishing work indoors, the walls must be thoroughly cleaned of old materials - wallpaper, paint, whitewash. Cracks and defects are also recommended to be repaired. No sanding work is required. The grainy texture will hide all minor bumps and scratches underneath. But it is necessary to prime the surface. After the composition has dried, you can proceed to the finishing work.
Tools
Decorative plaster "fur coat" is applied to the walls in several ways. Therefore, the tools for them will need the appropriate one. Depending on the chosen methodthe master needs to have: a textured roller, a spatula and a trowel, a manual sprinkler, a stationary compressor and … a broom and a stick. The last type of “toolkit” was used at one time by our grandfathers, however, even today, despite the availability of advanced technologies, some masters still sometimes use it. Of course, it is unlikely that anyone would think of splashing the entire facade of the cottage with a broom and a stick, but for the sake of finishing a small area, no one will run for a stationary compressor either. So in small areas this method can be used. More about him and everyone else.
Important
If you decide to use a dry composition that should be diluted with water, then you should remember a few important rules. Firstly, as we said, the mixture contains fine fractions of natural stone. And, as a rule, during the storage and transportation of plaster, all these heavy pieces move down to the bottom of the package. Therefore, before kneading, it is very important to remember to thoroughly mix the entire contents of the bag.
Secondly, the technology of work also requires compliance with certain rules. "Fur coat" on the walls should be applied without interruption. That is, roughly speaking, in one sitting you need to finish the entire surface from one corner to another. Therefore, it is best to work with an assistant in order to always have a ready-made solution for the “fur coat”. Because if you are distracted by mixing it, then the transition between the previous and the next layer will remain visible on the surface.
Following - more about each method of finishing.
Spatula + trowel
With this method of finishing, a layer of plaster is first applied with a spatula, after which it is leveled with a trowel. Its movements can be both circular and back and forth. The final appearance of the finish depends on the chosen method. Usually, an area of \u200b\u200bno more than one square is processed at a time, in addition, it is necessary to ensure that the applied layer corresponds in thickness to the size of the fractions of the mixture used. During the alignment process, you should not hesitate. You need to start it immediately, as soon as a layer of decorative plaster is applied. This is especially true when using ready-made mixtures that set quickly enough.
Roller
There are two possible uses here. With a simpler one, textured decorative plaster is applied using the same technology as paint. The mixture is diluted with water to the state of liquid sour cream, then a long-haired roller is dipped into it and literally painted with the composition of the wall.
In the second method, the plaster is applied to the wall with a spatula, and then leveled with a textured roller. Here you need to follow the same requirements as when using a trowel.
The old way
We make a broom out of rods, dip it into a pre-prepared solution, then spray it on the surface, hitting the base of the broom on the stick. I must say that the method is simply amazing in its economy, nevertheless it is good only for finishing small areas, since, firstly, it is quite laborious, and secondly,The cover doesn't look very neat. Nevertheless, the basement of the foundation in the country can be finished with it. Moreover, if you apply ingenuity, then the decorative coating can be ennobled. For example, smooth with the same roller.
Sprinkler
This is such a kind of machine for a “fur coat”, which experts affectionately call a hurdy-gurdy. A plaster solution is poured into a container resembling a small suitcase and equipped with rotating plates, after which the master puts it with a hole to the surface to be trimmed and starts turning the handle. The plates come into action and spray the solution on the wall. I must say that this method is already considered semi-professional. The barrel organ can also be purchased at a hardware store.
Compressor
When a facade “fur coat” is applied, no barrel-organs will save, and even more so brooms. Large outdoor areas of houses, especially those with several floors, can be finished with high quality only using special tools. In this case it is the compressor. Such a unit is quite expensive, but the finish produced with its help is of high quality and has an excellent appearance. So, if you need to plaster the entire facade of the house, it is best to turn to professionals. Well, or take, at worst, a compressor for rent.
A few words about coloring
As we have already mentioned, most often masters use white or gray finishing material such as textured plaster. A photo,presented in the review, allow you to see how much more advantageous the facade of a building painted in bright shades looks. Yes, of course, you can buy an already tinted ready-made mixture, but it will cost much more than gray-white. Most often, in order to ennoble the surface of the facade, the craftsmen simply paint it after finishing in any color they like. The option is not bad, but it has several drawbacks. Firstly, under the influence of the sun and moisture, the painted surface will certainly lose its original attractiveness. Secondly, if defects appear on the facade (which is inevitable), the true color of the finish will be visible on the chips under the paint. All the same white or gray. Therefore, professionals strongly recommend adding pigment directly to the plaster itself, while mixing the mortar. And then the “fur coat” applied to the facade will delight you for many years with its attractive appearance.
