Finishing is an integral part of construction and repair work. Usually putty is used as a finish. They may be different. There are silicate, silicone, acrylic, gypsum, cement-lime, cement-sand options. But recently, decorative mineral plaster has become very often used. Its composition includes minerals of various origins (granite or crushed marble). Also in the composition there is a light grade of Portland cement and lime. What are the features of this plaster and what is the technology of its application? We will consider all this further.
What are the advantages of the material?
Among the pluses in the reviews there is a quick setting of the material. Compared to analogues, decorative mineral plaster quickly connects to the base. During the day, it solidifies completely (and the initial drying occurs already on the 20thminute). But since all reactions occur quickly, it is also necessary to work with this material without delay. Otherwise, a quality result will not work. If decorative mineral plaster is applied according to the instructions, then you can get a durable and aesthetic wall surface. This is possible due to the porous structure of the material. Under the influence of moisture, strength increases. In addition, the material allows air to pass through and performs a thermal insulation function.
Interior use
Very often, mineral decorative plaster (including bark beetle) is used for interior work with drywall. It does not require additional processing, and plaster can change its texture. Often it is used to highlight some objects. These are niches, cornices, and sometimes separate walls. Thanks to mineral plaster, you can give the coating a rougher look. If this is interior work, the surface can be additionally varnished. This makes the color of the wall more saturated and gives the coating more gloss. In addition, durability stats are increased.
Outdoor work
Since this plaster perfectly withstands moisture and other atmospheric influences, it is often used for facade work. As practice shows, such coatings serve for a long time. The composition withstands both severe frosts and frequent temperature changes. You can take care of such a coating with any detergent composition. Decorative mineral plaster applied for finishing:
- Outdoor stairs.
- Inputs.
- Socles.
It can cover both a separate element of the house and the entire facade. The material is not combustible, so it can be used as a protection for wood, chipboard or MDF panels.
Use for decorative work
This plaster is also used for decorative purposes. It does not need additional coating with tiles or wallpaper. At the same time, it looks quite stylish and modern. The composition for decorative work can be either tinted or unpainted. Sometimes it is applied already on the painted surface. If you apply a thin layer of the composition, the color of the base will remain. And you can achieve the desired depth of shade with a colorless varnish. It makes the wall look more attractive. The texture of the plaster may be different, depending on the type used. So, the composition can be silky, with grooves or pebbles.
Primary rough work
Is this composition used for rough work? Experts give a negative answer. Mineral plaster is an exclusively decorative and finishing material. Therefore, it cannot be used as a starting plaster. The composition is applied only on the prepared surface, without large drops and with masked cracks. Otherwise, all defects on the wall will be visible.
Varieties
There are two types of this plaster:
- Structural.
- Textured.
Structuralcharacterized by the presence of fractions of different sections. At the same time, it acquires texture after being applied to the surface.
Structural plasterers include pebble (it is also mosaic). It consists of fine granite or marble with the addition of other components. Very often, bark beetle plaster is used for finishing. It belongs to the texture type. After application, you can get a voluminous and beautiful pattern. A slightly different effect is obtained after using Venetian mineral plaster. Small fractions of various shades and colors are visible on the surface (as a rule, this is marble dust). The composition does not contain additives from rocks. Venetian plaster includes marble chips and natural ingredients (cellulose).
What do you need to apply?
Many people are interested in how decorative mineral plaster is applied. To perform this work, you need to prepare personal protective equipment. It is unacceptable for the composition to get on the skin, as it has an alkaline pH. From the tools you will need:
- Grid plaster. Its price is about 120 rubles per meter.
- Container for mixing the mixture (if not used ready-made, but dry).
- Plaster grater (steel).
- Trowel.
- Spatulas (several of different sizes).
- Construction mixer and plastic grater.
We will also need:
- Angle profiles.
- Lighthouses.
- Paint tape.
Getting Started
So, first the walls need to be leveled with the starting putty. This is used to seal holes, recesses, crooked bends and crevices. All defects must be disposed of in advance.
After preparation, particles of cement mortar may remain on the surface. You need to get rid of them too. You can do this with sandpaper. Additionally, the wall is degreased in the presence of stains. If you are finishing on a soft base (for example, on a mineral wool insulation), you need to lay a special plaster grid (its price is about 150 rubles per linear meter). It is laid on the base, and the starting plaster mixture is placed on top.
Before applying the finishing composition, this wall is primed. This is necessary for better adhesion. To prevent the composition from sticking to the tool, the latter is pre-wetted in water. Then you can get to work. It is important to calculate in advance the amount of the desired composition, since it must be applied in one go. If there is an excess of the mixture, in the future it will be unusable, as it will dry out quickly.
If the finished composition bought in the store turned out to be too dry, it can be diluted with plain water. By mixing the composition, you can get the mixture that is ideal in consistency. But putty should not be too liquid. Ideally, the composition should have the consistency of sour cream.
If it is necessary to apply any geometric pattern on the wall, or to produce a combination of colors, masking tape is applied to the surface along the marked lines. The solution is laid from top to bottomand from bottom to top. There should be an angle of 15 degrees between the tool and the wall. It is important that the layer is thin and does not exceed the thickness of the largest fraction of the putty composition.
First, a rough layer is applied, and then leveled with a spatula. Further, the profile is laid on the corners and pressed. After that, the corner is also covered with a putty mixture and leveled.
If the bark beetle putty is used, the next step is to create an invoice. This is done with a plastic trowel for plaster. It is necessary to make linear or circular movements. Then they stop work for 20 minutes. This is necessary in order for the initial setting to occur. Then the masking tape with raw residues is removed. After that, you need to wait another two days and boldly varnish the surface. It is advisable to apply the composition using electrical equipment. At the same time, the wall dries without additional influences - it is enough to open the windows. If you are working outside, it is important that debris does not accumulate on the surface.
Expense
Consumption depends on the grain diameter of the largest fraction. The larger the size, the thicker the layer (respectively, the greater the consumption of the composition). For example, the consumption of Lamb plaster, where the cross section of the granule is about 2.5 millimeters, is 3.5 kilograms per square meter. And if the granule size is 3.5 millimeters, this consumption increases by 1.4 kilograms.
Price
It should be borne in mind that decorative mineral plaster will always be more expensive than ordinary cement plaster. The cost will depend on:
- Composition of the mixture.
- Varieties.
- Mix type.
- Points of sale.
- Region of production.
It is worth considering that mineral decorative pebble plaster is much more expensive than conventional cement-based plaster. The price for a package of 25 kg varies even within one particular brand and depends on a number of factors, including:
- Points of sale.
- Mix type.
- Categories/Varieties.
- Region of production.
- Composition of the mixture.
Mineral decorative plaster Ceresit will cost from 600 to 840 rubles on average. This is the price for a 25 kg bag. The price of the "Krysel" composition is slightly lower than the "Ceresit" plasters - about 450 rubles. But the composition of "Vetonit" can cost up to 2.5 thousand rubles. It is believed that Ceresit plaster is the golden mean.
Conclusion
So, we found out what mineral decorative plaster is. With this mixture, you can significantly change the design of the interior or facade of the building. However, in order not to upset the result, you need to know the application technology.
