The use of natural stone in decoration has always been highly praised in terms of aesthetics. Such material is durable and reliable, as well as a variety of assortment. But this product is not used everywhere.
The main factor that inhibits the spread of natural stone is its high cost, which is sometimes not available to the average developer. In addition, the extraction of such material is carried out only in some regions. But even if you have funds for the acquisition, it should be borne in mind that natural stone has an impressive weight. That is why for laying it on the wall you will have to build a solid foundation or strengthen the old one.
Why is natural stone better replaced with artificial
In addition, it is necessary to carry out activities that are accompanied by material investments. Yes, and to process such samples, without special tools in the arsenal, it will not work. As an alternative solution are materials that can be cast from the appropriate mixture yourself. Different ingredients act as components, but one of the most popular is gypsum.
Why choose artificial marble
If you still have not decided whether to make artificial stone using gypsum, you should consider some features of the material, including:
- the ability to use in any room;
- accessibility of technology;
- low costs for self-manufacturing;
- the possibility of interior design in an unusual style.
Such a stone does not differ in environmental friendliness from a natural one; it is even able to regulate the indoor microclimate. The surfaces you trim with plaster stone will not lose your ability to breathe.
Manufacturing technology
If you decide to make artificial marble from gypsum, the first step is to prepare the mold. The cost of such templates starts from 2700 rubles. apiece, but self-production will cost 800 rubles. You can decide how much formwork you need if you determine the time allotted for production. The presence of one form will slow down the process, and the stones will turn out to be exactly the same in shape. Therefore, the amount will be determined by the texture and size of future products, as well as material capabilities.
Formwork preparation
When artificial gypsum marble is made, a sample is previously found from which copies can be made. This can be a natural material, including the one that is offered for sale. The dimensions of the form should be slightly larger in relation to the future product. Formwork can be prepared from a piece of PVC panel, moisture-proof plywood and similar materials. It is necessary to consider how many samples are to be made, as well as whether the form will support the weight of the material.
Preparing for pouring
Performing artificial gypsum marble, the next step is to start preparing the solution. The inside of the formwork is best treated with a solidol, including a sample. To do this, you can also use the “Chiatim” lubricant, but it will be expensive.
The frame should be placed on a plastic film. The base should be as even as possible. In order to prevent silicone from spreading, the edges of the formwork must be pressed firmly to the surface. For the manufacture of templates, you should buy silicone, you can also use sealant, but it costs much more.
In the process of pouring, it is necessary to control how evenly the mass is distributed over the area. You can correct it with a brush previously moistened with a detergent. The composition of the latter should not have alkali, so laundry soap is not suitable for this.
Features of the manufacture of the mold
The thickness of the template is selected taking into account the dimensions of the sample. Once the mass has dried, it can be removed from the formwork and inspected. The shells are sealed with silicone, and the protrusions are smoothed or cut off. If you decide to make artificial marble from gypsum, for starters you can prepare a form that usually spills out of silicone. It hardens rather slowly. For a centimeter layer, it will take a week.
Therefore, the template should be left in the formwork at this time. This period can be shortened by keeping the structure in a warm room. Its heater, in order to achieve forced solidification, should not be. The cost of this form will be equal to the limit of 220 to 280 rubles. Using it, you can cast up to 40 samples of stone, everything will depend on the accuracy of the master.
Mixture filling
When making artificial gypsum marble with your own hands, you need to decide whether you will use white or painted material. Surface painting will be cheaper, but it will not differ in durability. The tinting method is better, but it is expensive, for its implementation, the dye is introduced into the mixture.
To reduce the cost of the process, pouring is carried out in two stages, for each of which its own composition is prepared. In one, dye is added, and first the colored mixture is poured, which should be well compacted, it is most convenient to do this with wire, which mass pierces the entire area. These manipulations are necessary to remove air.
If you are thinking about how to make artificial marble with your own hands, then at the next stage you can fill the second layer of the mixture. It will form the back of the product and the side faces. If it is necessary to give the samples increased strength, a reinforcing material is laid on the first layer of the mass, which can be a mesh for plastering.
The mixture can be made not of pure gypsum, but with the addition of cement. When the brand does not matter, the ratio can be 2 to 1, where the first ingredient is gypsum, while the second is cement. To improve the adhesion of the decorative stone with the surface being trimmed on the solidifying base, it is necessary to make slits in the form of longitudinal strips. Such a mixture will set quite quickly. Before making artificial marble, you should familiarize yourself with the technology. From it you can understand that the product will reach full readiness within an hour.
Useful stone making tips
If there is no cement among the ingredients, then this stone is suitable for interior decoration. For building cladding, such material can be used only when certain measures are taken to protect against atmospheric influences. To do this, the stone is treated with a primer, and the surface is varnished.
As an alternative solution, plasticizers in the form of polymers can be introduced into the composition. In this case, the solution will consist of one part of cement and three parts of sand. The coloring ingredients are substances that are added to gypsum in a ratio of 1 to 20.
After the template can be removed from the mold, it must be washed with soapy water. Quite often, property owners are wondering how to make artificial gypsum marble quickly. To reduce the setting time, citric acid must be added to the composition, its volume relative to the total mass should be 0.4%. When a stone is made at home, only four patterns will suffice. This technology is suitable for the production of curly products with which you can decorate any room.
Making polished gypsum stone
Artificial polished gypsum marble is called oselka. It is a colored mass, which is prepared using an adhesive solution. Such a composition is applied to the base, and after drying is brought to a mirror shine by grinding and polishing. You can tint the material for different types of marble, including lapis lazuli and malachite.
The main raw material for such a product is gypsum, in which substances that slow down the setting are added. The advantages of this material are its low weight and rather high strength. With this finish, lightweight structures can be made. To improve the microclimate, marble is used for decoration of residential premises. It absorbs excess moisture and gives it away if the room is dry.
Alternative Marble Compositions
The technology for producing artificial marble from gypsum may involve the use of a different composition of raw materials. To do this, mix polyester or acrylic resin with marble chips. The ratio will look as follows: 4 to 1. As the connecting elements are used:
- gypsum plaster ;
- cement mortar;
- lime mortar with cement.
The most common resins that guarantee high strength. The filler is sometimes decorative materials such as colored quartz, colored sand and pebbles. At the same time, the finished products will not look like natural stone, they will become a completely new finishing material.
Artificial gypsum marble at home can be made using mineral pigments. When the tool is introduced into the main composition, it is stirred a little, which allows you to get veins. Pigments can not only color the material, but also make it resistant to external influences. Gelcoat top coat gives a gloss finish.
Conclusion
Information about the name of artificial gypsum marble was presented above. To carry out the work, the molds need to be polished, and then a material is applied that will prevent adhesion. A gelcoat is applied to the inner surface of the mold, for this a cup spray or a special installation is used.
Once the gelcoat has hardened, you can start making polyester blends from filler, hardener, polyester resin and pigments. Mixtures are poured into molds that vibrate to remove air. At the final stage, the material is cured, only after the product can be removed from the mold by treating the surface by grinding.