Sooner or later it's time to make repairs. Regardless of what it will be, capital or cosmetic, you will have to change or refresh existing decorative wall and ceiling coverings. For many, this process seems difficult. However, in fact, even without special knowledge and skills, it is quite possible to carry out a decorative wall covering with your own hands. Next, we will analyze this work in more detail. The article will also list the most popular decorative wall coverings. Photos of the surfaces can also be seen below. It all depends on your imagination and taste.
General information
As you know, the decorative wall covering, whatever it may be, is laid on a prepared base. The surface must be free of grease, dry and clean. You can finish the walls and ceiling using various materials. It can be plastic or wood panels, drywall or tiles. Today, the most popular is the coating of walls with decorative plaster. It should be noted that this material is applied to flat surfaces. Therefore, beforethe beginning of work, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base, eliminate all defects.
Tools and materials
To work you will need:
- rule;
- trowel;
- grater;
- set of spatulas;
- plumb and level.
To facilitate the work, experts recommend purchasing ready-made mixtures. In hardware stores today a wide range of products for wall and ceiling decoration is presented. Ready mixes are very easy to work with. It is enough to dilute dry formulations with water in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer, and mix thoroughly. The material is poured into a container filled with water. It is best to mix the solution with a drill with a special mixer nozzle. This greatly speeds up and facilitates the process.
Surface preparation
Before you make a decorative wall covering, you need to level the base. This is done using "starter" mixtures. The wall is pre-wetted with water. A small amount of the solution is placed on a grater, and then thrown onto the surface with a spatula or trowel. After that, the area that needs to be leveled is overwritten. If there is not enough solution in any areas, it must be added in small portions. Further, after the mixture seizes, it is overwritten completely. Correct application must be checked with a level.
Features of wooden surfaces
Plastering of such walls is carried out using a special technology. Prethe surface is cleaned of dirt and dried. Small notches are made on the wall. They will provide better adhesion of the material to the base. Next, you need to fill the shingles - some kind of crate. The optimal cell size is 4 x 4 cm. Thin slats are used for shingles. Stuff them crosswise at an angle of 45 degrees relative to each other. The edges of the rails are fixed on the wall. Before fasteners, the elements are wetted with water so that they do not crack.
Alternative
The traditional technology of plastering a wooden surface has been described above. This method of roughing out the base has been used for many years. Today, instead of shingles, a special mesh is more often used. It can be metal (twisted, solid, wicker) or polymer (synthetic). The mesh must be firmly attached to the surface. After that, plastering is carried out according to standard technology. Experts recommend using lime mortar with the addition of cement or gypsum. It is desirable to add PVA glue to the finished mixture (it will slow down the setting) in the amount of 200 g per 10 liters. The solution is applied in a layer no more than 2 cm thick.
Finish (decorative) wall covering
Before applying the material, it is necessary to determine the type of solution. This is due to the fact that different decorative wall coverings require a certain preparation of the base. For example, a "Venetian" requires a perfectly flat surface. Before making such a decorative coatingwalls with your own hands, the base will need to be puttied. As a result, the surface should be prepared in the same way as for painting. If the walls are finished with fine-grained decorative coatings, then fewer requirements are imposed on the base. For relief, structural mixtures, the surface can be prepared less carefully. However, in any case, the base should be without strong drops, holes and bumps.
Material selection
Many consumers are having a hard time with the wide variety on the market. In addition, in some cases, wall covering with decorative plaster is carried out according to a certain technology, and skills and knowledge are required. However, there are quite affordable ways to get a spectacular surface finish at a lower cost. Let's take a look at some of them below.
Roller application
This is perhaps the cheapest and easiest way to finish. For applying decorative plaster, a roller with a relief pattern is used. Experts recommend using mixtures that are sold in buckets. Before covering the walls with plaster, the surfaces should be treated with a primer. You have to wait until it dries. Then the plaster is applied. This is easy to do right away with a relief roller. The pattern can be very different. At the same time, you can emphasize the depth of the relief and its features if you additionally use surface coloring.
Stamping
This method involves the use of a stencil. The technology for applying decorative plaster in this case practically does not differ from that described above. Only here, not a roller is used, but a special stamp.
Other accessories
In this case, there is practically no relief pattern. When applying plaster, a special trowel, a spatula with teeth or a comb is used. It should be noted that the options for laying materials on the surface are not limited to those described above. The drawing can also be obtained using improvised means, for example, a plastic bag, a sponge.
Special formulations
Getting an original surface is possible not only with the use of different tools and fixtures. Manufacturers produce various grades of plaster. With the help of certain compositions, you can create a unique pattern on the surface.
Bark beetle
The plaster got its name due to the pattern that is obtained when it is applied. The pattern resembles the traces of a beetle that remain on the surface of the tree. Plaster "bark beetle" is used for decorating both external and internal surfaces. Among the advantages of the material it should be noted:
- resistance to changes in temperature and humidity;
- moisture resistance;
- strength;
- resistance to mechanical stress.
The mixture is based on mineral fillers and a binder. As the first appliedparticles of quartz, granite, marble. It is they who create the necessary pattern on the surface.
Decorative stone wall covering
A very attractive option is the design of the surface under the marble. Applying such a coating yourself is quite realistic. However, in the process of work, it is necessary to follow the sequence of actions, carefully follow all the steps. This cover has a sophisticated look. Other advantages of the material include:
- flammability;
- durability and strength;
- resistance to external factors.
This coating can be applied both indoors and outdoors. The material is in perfect harmony with the interior in a classic style. In addition, decorative marbled plaster is distinguished by a variety of shades. An important advantage of the material is ease of care. During operation, the surface does not lose its attractive appearance, does not fade or fade.
In conclusion
Of course, there are a lot of varieties of decorative plaster, as, in fact, the methods of its application. If there is a desire to create a beautiful surface without significant costs, then you need to choose simpler mixtures, the laying of which does not require special knowledge and can be done with available tools and fixtures. To create exclusive surfaces, it is better to invite a specialist. However, in general, the process of applying decorative plaster is quite simple. The main thing -carefully prepare the base.
