The facade, lined with stone, looks very presentable. However, this material can not be purchased everywhere, and if we are talking about a natural version, then the cost can be very impressive. If you make a facade stone on your own, and then clad it without the help of specialists, then the work can be very affordable.
Making stone using cement
Facade stone can be made to decorate a private or country house. In this case, you should be guided by the instructions, which involve mixing cement with fine sand. It is necessary to adhere to the ratio of one to three. Dye should be added to the ingredients, and then mix the whole mass well. The amount and color of the pigment can be selected empirically. After that, water is added to the composition, the solution can be mixed with a concrete mixer or a conventional shovel.
In order for the facade stone to be as strong as possible, it should be well tampedmixture after pouring it into the mold. This will prevent the formation of bubbles. If high strength requirements are imposed on the material, then a synthetic or steel reinforcing mesh can be laid in the form. On the hardened mortar, using a pointed object, it is recommended to form shallow grooves that can improve the adhesion of the stone to the surface of the facade. After a day, the solution can be removed from the mold and laid for two weeks for complete solidification and strength gain. After use, the mold should be well cleaned with soap or any other liquid detergent.
Self-made stone using gypsum
Facade stone can be made on the basis of gypsum. The technology is the same as that used to make stone from cement, however, the technique in this case will have some differences. For example, gypsum is not so resistant to mechanical stress material. In order for the artificial stone not to crumble, before pouring the mixture, the mold must be lubricated with lithol, grease or a spindle. Any other oil can be used.
It is worth remembering that the hardening of gypsum does not occur in a day, but only in a few tens of minutes. After 24 hours, it can be considered that the stone is completely ready for use.
If you decide to make a facade stone based on gypsum, then you probably want the mixture to set more slowly. To do this, when making a solution, you need to add a little citric acid to the ingredients. Worth rememberingthat gypsum artificial stone is afraid of moisture, which distinguishes it from cement material. That is why gypsum is most common when performing interior tasks.
If you want to use gypsum stone for the facade, it is best to use it under a canopy. An alternative is to protect the surface of the walls from water with a durable varnish that is not able to pass water.
For reference
If necessary, the artificial facade stone can be coated with a composition of any color. The surface is pre-primed, which will help reduce paint consumption. If you want to know what costs await you, then you should familiarize yourself with the cost of artificial stone. The price per square meter of this material, which you make yourself, can vary from 50 to 100 rubles, which will depend on the thickness and choice of pigment.
Laying stone on the facade
On brick and concrete, natural or artificial stone should be laid using the same technology that is used when working with facade porcelain tiles. There are not so many nuances in carrying out these works, to a greater extent they are associated with the irregular shape of the material for cladding.
It is necessary to start work from door and window openings or from corners. When selecting the elements that will be used in laying, you need to choose a position so that the width of the seams is not more than 2.5 centimeters.
After the completion of the facing work, the seams must be rubbed. In advance, the stone is laid out on a flat surface, which allows you to choose the most advantageous arrangement of elements. If you will be finishing with facade stone, then you must remember that when working with wooden walls or laying stone, a reinforcing mesh must be laid first on top of the thermal insulation. Its fixation is carried out with the help of dowel umbrellas. After the mesh is plastered. It will be possible to lay facing stone on its surface.
Preparatory work
Before you start laying the facade facing stone, preparation should be made. It is important to remember: no matter what material the wall is based on, it must have low humidity, no drops, high strength and not be subject to shrinkage or deformation. If you intend to ennoble a gypsum-containing or wooden base, it is important to check the surface moisture content before starting work. In these cases, it should not be more than 0.5%. The humidity level can be higher and be 4.5%, this is only relevant for cement bases.
Before starting manipulations, the walls must be carefully examined for whether they have drops, protrusions and chips, as well as other irregularities. The allowable level of difference is 2 centimeters per square meter. It is important to rid the surface of traces of the old finish, oil stains, remnants of the oldpaint, as well as insulation or outer skin.
What to look out for
Facade decorative stone is easiest to lay on a concrete base. This material almost does not imply the need for preparation, as an exception are excessively porous surfaces that must first be treated with a primer. There is no problem that layers of plaster or putty could remain on the wall. However, it is important to check how firmly the composition adheres to the wall. Preparation will be minimal, for this you will only need to clean up the bumps and apply a primer to the surface.
Improve the quality of adhesion
Facade stone, which you can make yourself, must be laid on a surface with excellent adhesive qualities. If the wall is smooth, notches must be applied to it before facing. After completing this operation, the brick wall should be treated with concrete contact, which copes with the increase in adhesion. If you have to work on old brickwork, then it must first be well cleaned of s alt stains, and then treated with a primer. If the condition of the masonry leaves much to be desired, then the surface can be covered with plaster.
Subtleties of work
Laying facade stone may involve the need for trimming elements, for this it is most convenient to use an angle grinder. Drive followschoose a special one designed to work with a stone, a diamond one is also perfect. After that, you can prepare the adhesive composition. Depending on the material to be used, a special adhesive or cement-based mortar can be applied.
The application of the mixture must be carried out on the reverse surface of the part intended for cladding. It is important to distribute the solution over the surface, and then press it against the wall, pressing down on the element so that the solution comes out from all sides. It is worth getting rid of its excess before the mixture thickens, since after it hardens it will be extremely difficult to do this, and the masonry will turn out to be unattractive.
