The design of surfaces under natural stone has now become incredibly fashionable. Designers come up with various interiors with partial wall decoration in a brutal style. Such interest in the material is due to the modern trend, which reflects the unity of man and nature. In addition, synthetic surfaces are already rather fed up. And the natural theme always remains relevant, because it is very comfortable to be in a room with an interior in this style.

It should be noted that the use of natural stone fragments, in addition to the advantages, has some nuances. For example, the considerable weight of the totality of all elements gives a considerable load on the load-bearing walls and foundation. In addition, natural minerals are endowed with certain properties, which, when humidity or temperature conditions change, is reflected in the appearance of the finish. Therefore, many craftsmen and owners successfully replace natural material with artificial ones. This does not affect the finishing result in any way, but costs and labor costs are significantly reduced.

Watch a video on how to make an artificial stone with your own hands

When buying natural minerals, the deposit where the rock was mined and the proximity to other minerals play an important role. This information will help predict the purity of the stone for radiation.

Read also: Mirror tiles - functional originality (photo). Features, benefits, styling, expert advice

However, the merchant, who does not receive the goods first-hand, often does not know the full picture. Therefore, artificial material gives confidence in its safety for the health of households.

What is an artificial stone?

Artificial stone is made from different raw materials depending on the place of finishing (internal walls, facades, etc.). For interior decoration, a composition based on gypsum is used, and for facing external surfaces - on cement with various additives.

To achieve maximum resemblance to natural stone and to create texture, mineral chips, gravel, sand and other components are used. Pigments give the product a beautiful shade, similar to the color of some rock.

To make the fragments of the finish as similar as possible to natural stone, it is recommended to use high-quality forms, the so-called matrices.

The best option would be a product made of silicone. It is easier to work with it, and the service life significantly exceeds plastic counterparts.

Matrices (forms) for artificial stone

You can buy molds for the manufacture of artificial stones in specialized stores. They are single and complex.

For the production of a large number of trim fragments, it is easier to use a complex blank. So in a short period of time you will immediately get a batch of tiles.

Read also: Ceiling decoration in the kitchen

On the basis of the purchased form or by selecting a natural mineral of a suitable size with a beautiful texture, you can make a matrix with your own hands.

This will require a box or box with sealed wall joints. In size, it should be wider and higher than the stone sample by 10-25 mm. As a filler that fixes the texture, silicone sealant, compound or polyurethane is used.

Stages of manufacturing a matrix (form) based on a natural mineral and silicone sealant

How to make a mold for artificial stone:

Prepare formwork from cardboard packs from juices or other material;

Coat all internal surfaces of the formwork with plenty of grease or grease;

Lay the prepared stone sample on the bottom with the wrong side down;

The surface of the sample is also treated with grease;

Prepare a soap solution in a small container, a spatula and a brush;

Spread silicone over the sample with a spatula, and with a brush soaked in soapy water, distribute layer by layer;

Leave the formwork filled to the brim until completely solidified;

Polymerization takes from several days to 2 weeks;

After the specified period, remove the sample and rinse the resulting matrix from grease.

Do-it-yourself decorative stone has proven its practicality and durability. It is much lighter than natural stone, which eliminates the need for additional reinforcement of the surface on which it is laid.

Artificial stone is used both for finishing the house from the inside and from the outside (for example, basement, corners of the house, etc.)

This finishing material is very convenient for creating facade cladding: on the one hand, it has a flat edge, and on the other, a surface similar to natural stone.

• Strength - repeated tests have shown that, in terms of most of the mechanical qualities, the artificial gypsum stone is very strong.
• Integrity and structure - the material looks like an original piece of stone. The properties of artificial analogues remain unchanged anywhere in the material.
• Moisture resistance - products do not absorb water and do not change their properties when humidity changes. The formation of mold or fungus is excluded.
• Durability - artificial material, unlike the original stone, is not subject to erosion, so its service life is unlimited.
• Chemical resistance - this type of finish is used even for the basement floors and facades of urban buildings, which are most often in contact with aggressive heavy chemicals.
• Fire safety - has poor thermal conductivity and does not burn, which allows you to realize any creative ideas. In addition to walls, you can also clad stoves, fireplaces and other fire hazardous areas.
• Beauty - such products are insanely attractive and beautiful. The use of natural analogues will not allow to achieve such spectacularity, because artificial material can be combined in any way.
• Maintainability - even a split artificial gypsum stone can be returned to its original appearance with your own hands.
• Here I would also include the fact that making decorative stones with your own hands is not so difficult and everyone can do it.

Types and composition of artificial stone

Agglomerates - stones of the first variety, are used to create interior items and various furniture. Bar counters, sinks, kitchen countertops and window sills are made from agglomerates.

Other groups are intended for interior and exterior cladding of architectural elements and various surfaces.

Varieties of artificial stone:

1. Decorative gypsum stone - an imitation of old or aged ceramic bricks.
2. Wild stone - has standard sizes and the correct shape of a parallelepiped. It has only one side imitating a natural chip.
3. Imitation of a naturally formed chip, boulder, pebble, cobblestone.

Different types of artificial bricks have a different composition. For production can be used:

• white cement;
• gray cement;
• stone chips;
• natural gravel;
• sand.

It is possible to increase the wear-resistant and strength characteristics of the material by adding special additives and hardening components.

The external resemblance to natural rock is ensured by the addition of mineral coloring pigments to the composition.

Synthetic gypsum stone

Due to its aesthetic appearance and interesting structure, it can be used for the interior of any facade. Ease of processing and light dispersion allow you to create a variety of shapes, consisting of unusual elements.

Artificial brick, its properties:

• fire resistance;
• excellent heat and sound insulation;
• ease of processing;
• environmental friendliness;
• high strength;
• small specific gravity.

Tools and materials

The most important thing is to decide on the choice of the shape of the decorative stone.

Only if you follow the technology using high-quality materials, you can make a really high-quality stone yourself without large investments.

• filler: granite, marble, any screenings, sea or river sand;
• model gypsum or gypsum general building material;
• water;
• lemon acid;
• iron oxide pigment red, brown or yellow;
• putty knife;
• construction mixer or a powerful drill with a nozzle;
• special polyurethane form;
• flower sprayer.

How to make an artificial stone

Without a prepared form, production will simply be impossible. The easiest way to make an artificial stone with your own hands is from polyurethane, as it has an unlimited service life. In addition to gypsum, they can be used for casting concrete products. Such forms do not react to alkali, which is part of the concrete. Silicone molds are not durable and are used only for gypsum.

If you mix only gypsum with water, then the material will turn out to be too fragile, which is why you cannot use it for styling. To avoid this, the following is done: gypsum is mixed with lime and gently kneaded with a construction mixer. The resulting mixture is poured into a mold and left to harden. Please note that the room should not be cold air with drafts. Beginners often face such a problem - they mix the solution for a long time, which makes the product fragile. Gypsum resembles a thick porridge, as it does not completely harden.

Another important point is the removal of bubbles, which give the product a weak base and an unpresentable appearance. Get rid of them by installing a vibrating table.

Model making

The manufacturing procedure always begins with the choice of the source material - a facing stone that is suitable in size and shape is selected. Silicone is used for the mold. Next, the most suitable box is made or selected, which should be larger than the source stone, it will be used as formwork.

It, along with the stone, is lubricated with a thick layer of any lubricant. The stone is placed at the bottom of the box. You will need a large number of these forms with formwork, this will increase productivity.

Now you can pour silicone into the prepared formwork. To seal it, an ordinary oil brush moistened with soapy water is used (even Fairy will do). After filling the form with silicone, its surface is leveled with a spatula lubricated with Fairy.

The poured form dries for about 3 weeks, after which the structure is disassembled and forms are obtained to create artificial stone products. Minor surface defects are sealed with silicone.

Pouring technology

Forms are laid out according to the level on a flat surface. This is necessary in order for the tiles to be uniform in thickness and even. Work should be carried out at an air temperature of at least 18 degrees, which will reduce the time of gypsum crystallization. The proportion of water and gypsum is determined independently. To increase the strength of the material, 10% sand is added.

After pouring, the molds are covered with corrugated glass and compacted by vibration. The procedure takes about 2 minutes. Gypsum will harden after 15 minutes, after which it is taken out of the molds and dried in the open air.

Painting artificial stone tiles

You can add solution dyes to the gypsum mixture - this is the easiest way. However, you can move away from this technology, since there is also external painting. For this method, you will need special paint and the most ordinary brush.

The picture shows the processing of artificial stone with a water repellent.

You can start painting after the stone has completely dried. The surface is well wiped and cleaned of dusty deposits, after which paint is applied to the front of the stone. You may need several coats of paint to get the best effect.

Do-it-yourself facade decoration

Before you start decorating your house facade, you need to learn about some methods, features and rules for laying artificial bricks. Concrete and brick facades do not need pre-treatment. Decorative elements are simply attached with glue. Glass, plastic, metal and wood need additional coating before laying decorative elements. Thus, the surface becomes resistant to moisture. For a stronger connection, a plaster mesh with a plaster solution can be applied to the facade.

For gluing synthetic bricks, a special glue is used, which is based on cement. Glue must be applied to the surface to be trimmed. It can also be applied to the front surface of the stone, but the glue must not be allowed to get on the front surface as the lining will be damaged.

Natural stone has long and firmly occupied a leading position among the materials for interior decoration of the house. With its help, the interior is given a refined, respectable look. The disadvantage of the material is its high price and heavy weight. A decorative stone made of gypsum makes it easy to solve these problems.

Due to the availability of materials, well-established production technology, the manufacture of artificial stones has become popular and is actively used in the production of repair work.

The surface of an artificial stone can be given any texture, made it flat or embossed, painted in the desired color. Outwardly, it is very difficult to see the difference between finishing with natural or artificial material. Even experts are not always able to do it.

At the same time, gypsum decorative stone has the following advantages:

• well amenable to processing;
• resistant to rain, wind, temperature;
• has a low thermal conductivity;
• light;
• the surface of gypsum is easily cleaned of contaminants;
• coloring, it is given the desired color.

Gypsum has a unique ability to maintain optimal humidity in the room. With an excess of moisture, it absorbs the excess, and when it decreases, it gives it away. In addition, the material is much cheaper than natural analogues. Its shape is convenient for masonry, which significantly reduces the complexity of the work.

Gypsum artificial stone allows designers to realize any ideas. Its manufacture can be carried out in production or at home, while outwardly it is practically indistinguishable from imitated materials.

There are several types of surfaces:

• chipped - uneven coating, giving the impression that the edges are beaten off with a hammer;
• sawn - the edges are smooth, but uneven;
• rubble - in shape they resemble natural stones (boulders, pebbles);
• arbitrary - embodies any fantasy of the designer.

The disadvantage of gypsum is its brittleness. The larger the element, the easier it is to damage it during transportation or installation. Therefore, when using gypsum for interior decoration, they try to place it in places that are less subject to mechanical stress. Often, artificial stone is used to decorate a fireplace, arched opening, cladding part of the walls, highlighting a specific area or zone in a room or kitchen.

Do-it-yourself gypsum molds and stone

Making a stone may well be done on your own. This will require silicone or polyurethane molds, which can be purchased at a hardware store. The molds are highly durable and will withstand hundreds of pours. Therefore, the selection criterion is not the material, but the desired size, surface pattern, coating geometry.

The mixture for preparation includes gypsum, modifiers, color pigments. The addition of sand (no more than 10%) will help to give strength to the solution. The mixture can be dyed completely or the paint is applied only to the surface of the mold. Often different methods are used, combining them. In order for the finished element to be easily and quickly removed from the mold, it is smeared with a thin layer of wax mixed in a water bath with turpentine.

Often, interior decoration requires an artificial stone of an unusual shape or size. In this case, it is possible to manufacture a silicone mold according to an individual sketch. To do this, select a sample, put it in a box, which will serve as a formwork. The surface of the box and stone is pre-lubricated with grease.

The top is filled with silicone. It is rammed with a brush moistened with soapy water. Then the surface is leveled with a spatula. It will take several weeks for the mold to dry. The finished form is taken out of the formwork.

The gypsum mixture is diluted with water to the consistency of thick sour cream, poured into prepared forms. A slight vibration for 2 minutes will help to achieve uniform shrinkage. When the mixture thickens a little, use a notched trowel to remove the excess mixture, leaving mounting notches on the back of the workpiece.

If it is intended to add a dye directly to the mixture, it is recommended to dilute it in a large container. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve the same color saturation of different batches. The finished forms are left to dry completely for 40 minutes at room temperature.

Preparation for cladding

Using artificial stone for interior decoration, they create a unique interior. Laying the material is simple, but you must adhere to the technology. It can be performed on any surface: wood, drywall, brick, concrete. The wall must be level.

However, facing a perfectly flat surface can cause it to come off even with a slight vibration. Therefore, first, with the help of plaster, the wall is leveled, they are allowed to grab slightly. Then, with a notched trowel, furrows are created on the surface. They will help the elements stay on the wall more firmly. The prepared surface is degreased and primed.

When choosing an adhesive composition, pay attention to the manufacturer's instructions. The adhesive must be suitable for working with plaster. This may be the simplest tile adhesive to which PVA should be added at the rate of 10% of the total. To dilute the glue, use a large container, mixing it with a mixer. When finished, it should be of a uniform consistency and medium density in order to fill the mounting grooves well.

First row masonry

This is the most difficult and important step. Previously, vertical and horizontal lines are marked on the wall, which will help orient the direction of the masonry. It is usually led from the bottom up. If a decorative gypsum stone has an irregular shape or an intricate contour needs to be created on the wall, then it is first laid out on the floor.

Glue is smeared with a part of the wall and applied to the back of the stone. The first bar is placed on the wall and pressed, squeezing out the glue. Immediately you need to assess the correctness of the position and, if necessary, correct it. Then continue laying a row. Excess glue is removed with a conventional spatula. Carefully remove the solution from the front of the bars.

To trim the elements, use a grinder or a saw. The smaller its teeth, the better. For curved cutting (for example, under a switch), you can use a chisel, and then process the edge with sandpaper. It may also be required to accurately fit the elements if the stones were made independently. A grinder with a nozzle will help speed up the work. However, when using it, care must be taken not to break the element.

To create angles of 90 and 45 degrees, a miter box is used.

Foundation stage

The subsequent rows of finishing are laid like a brick - with an offset. Laying can be carried out close or with seams. To make the seams the same, pieces of fiberboard are laid between the rows. They are removed after completion of work and drying of the solution.

Unfilled seams between the elements are sealed at the end of the cladding. The glue mass is filled with a mounting gun, then it is carefully applied between the rows. Remove excess glue with a soft cloth. After the mixture has hardened, it can be given a shade of finish. To do this, brush with paint along the seams and joints.

You can also use a special grout. A clear varnish will help to give the coating an exquisite shine and protect it from external influences. It is applied in one layer with a wide brush.

There are several ways to produce artificial stone

Finishing and repair work in the country, the arrangement of garden paths and landscaping require certain costs for materials such as natural and artificial stone, tiles, and others. Today we cut costs and tell you how to do it artificial stone for giving with their own hands.

This process is quite interesting, and on the Internet we found several informative master classes. We have collected the most interesting facts that will help with the independent production of the material, and now we present them to your attention.

What is artificial stone made of?

There are several ways to produce material of fairly good quality. The first way is sand, cement and water, the second is making from alabaster or gypsum, the third and generally creative is glue, grout, pigment and sea salt. There are many other options, and therefore we suggest that everyone personally choose a manufacturing recipe, naturally, based on the requirements for characteristics, the materials available and the budget for the process.

The procedure is quite simple, all you need is your desire and compliance with the technology.

Manufacturing process

If we take the simplest algorithm as a basis, then the process of manufacturing material for decoration and decoration can be invested in just a few points:

• Choice of materials for mixing;
• Dosing and mixing;
• Forming and drying;
• Receipt of material, partial finishing.

If you decide on the recipe in advance, there will be only one difficulty - to find a quality form. It can be bought at a building supermarket (you may need several forms, depending on the quantity). And you can make a shape with your own hands, it's not as difficult as it might seem.

Do-it-yourself cement stone

With a quality form at hand, you can start the process. Mix cement, sand and water in a special trough (the same can be done using a special concrete mixer), add a little dye to the solution (about 2-3% of the total amount, necessarily diluted with water). Once you have the mixture, bring it to a creamy consistency. If necessary, add a plasticizer to the mixture.

Now you need to lay the mold for manufacturing on a flat surface and pour the solution into it (only half of the mold). The solution should be well compacted by shaking the mold or using a tool. Next, it is required to lay a reinforcing mesh to make the stone more durable and uniform, and pour the rest of the mortar into the mold, also compacting it.

After some time, when the solution in the form begins to dry out (already in the next few minutes), you need to take a nail, screwdriver or piece of wood and paint a little on the surface of each individual stone in order to provide a more suitable surface shape for high-quality adhesion to the base when finishing.

After 14-16 hours, the stone can be gently shaken out of the mold and stored in a well-ventilated and dark place to dry and gain strength. Drying time is about 12-14 days. After this operation, wash the mold well with detergent and proceed to the manufacture of the next portion.

Do-it-yourself gypsum stone

In fact, this is the same process that we considered earlier, there is only one clarification - gypsum hardens much faster than cement mortar, and therefore it should be prepared in small portions, say, for each individual stone separately, having previously calculated the material.

Prepare a clean mold for pouring, grease it with oil to make it easier to remove the product, mix the gypsum mortar with the dye, pour half the mold, lay the mesh and fill the mold to the end. Sealing is a must!

How to paint a product

For the first and second recipes, we used ordinary solution dyes, but you can move away from this technology a little, because there is another way - painting. To do this, you will need to buy a special paint and the most ordinary brush.

When the stone is dry, you can start painting. The surface of the material must be well wiped, cleaned of possible dusty deposits. Next, apply paint to the front side. You may need several layers to achieve the desired color, but remember that you can paint again only after the previous layer has dried.

DIY artificial stone (video)

Making wild stone: master class

We deliberately left this item for the last, as it seems to us the most interesting and unusual. The production method is slightly different from the standard, but it is closest to home conditions.

So, to prepare the solution, we need to take LITOKOL tile adhesive, ordinary black grout for joints, as well as pigment for coloring.

Now we knead the glue so that there are no lumps left, but we make the mixture thick, divide it into three equal parts. We add pigment to one part, dark tile grout to the other, and leave the third part of the “native” color.

We lay out the mixtures randomly on a flat surface, scatter them in pieces to get an unusual torn pattern.

We slightly press the entire mixture on the surface of the sheet on which it is laid, we obtain the required thickness.

We sprinkle the surface with sea salt or any other similar material to make the surface of our stone as unique as possible, to make it truly exclusive.

We cover the entire mixture with plastic wrap, take the most ordinary rolling pin and roll the mixture, leveling the surface and pressing the top powder into the layer.

We turn to molding, which can be done with anything - a wooden plank, a ruler, and so on. We choose standard or chaotic sizes, we work according to our own convenience.

After molding, we remove the film and leave our beauty until the next day - 12 hours is enough for drying.

The next day, we divide the stones and wash off the salt from the surface with running water, if there is a desire to get original gouges on the surface. If not, there is a solution to cover the product with an artificial varnish in order to obtain surface protection.

As you can see, as a result, we got a rather interesting material that is suitable for facing a wide variety of surfaces. It is really cheaper than on the market or in a store, and you can verify this very simply - calculate the required amount of materials to produce the required amount of stone. It seems to us that this is a fairly high-quality and affordable technology for summer cottage construction. For those who are interested in natural material, it will be useful.

Home production of stone (video)

Making artificial stone yourself, for your own needs or even for sale - a great idea for every summer resident. We will be happy to hear your comments, suggestions or even recipes that you can leave under the article.

The use of unnatural stone at their summer cottage (20 photos)

Reviews and comments

(4 ratings, average: 2,38 out of 5)

Irina 04/30/2014

Class! I will definitely try all the options.

Publications: 62

28.04.2017

We make a decorative stone from gypsum

Gypsum has been known to mankind for a very long time, since the time of Ancient Egypt, whose masters skillfully lined walls, ceilings and floors with it in rooms of various purposes. In Russia, for many years plaster has been associated with gaudy stucco on ceilings, plaster "oar girls" in recreation parks, or medical dressings to fix fractures.

In fact, gypsum is a unique material, it has excellent air conductivity, due to which it creates a favorable microclimate in the room.

Today's construction market offers consumers a facing stone made of gypsum with the addition of polymers. This stone has excellent performance properties.

Here is a brief description of its characteristics:

• Small specific weight. Thanks to this property, even thin interior partitions can be faced with gypsum stone.
• Fire resistance - gypsum stone does not burn.
• Ease in processing. If necessary, a variety of architectural elements can be created from stone.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Strength.
• High level of heat and sound insulation.
• The ability to maintain a comfortable level of humidity in the room.

Gypsum stone has an aesthetic appearance and an interesting texture, the rooms lined with it look original, while it is absolutely safe, as it does not emit any harmful substances. The walls are practically not contaminated, and if necessary, they can be easily washed. The main thing is not to overdo it with water, because gypsum absorbs it very well.

It is quite possible to make a gypsum facing stone yourself, subject to certain rules and the use of high-quality raw materials. Pure gypsum is usually not used in production, since products from it are too fragile. Therefore, we will make a stone from modified gypsum, which has high strength and all the qualities of natural.

Making your own gypsum stone

What we need:

1. Gypsum.
2. Plastic container for mixing.
3. Pallet.
4. Forms (matrices).
5. Roll polyethylene.
6. Electric drill.
7. Corrugated glass.
8. Water based dyes.
9. Table or workbench.

After all the necessary components for work are found, we will prepare the workplace. We do not need large areas, just two square meters are enough, so it is quite possible to engage in the production of stone literally in the kitchen. Unless, of course, relatives do not mind. It is very good if there is a specially equipped room where all the necessary tools and materials are at hand.

The next step is preparing the forms. They can be bought at a specialized store. The most optimal are flexible and plastic silicone, but metal, wooden or handkerchief are also suitable for work, although they will not be able to convey the texture of the stone so accurately.

Stone making process

Stage 1. Gypsum dough. For him, we need mineral gypsum, water, sand and anhydride. The volume of the solution should correspond to the number of forms. Gypsum dough hardens very quickly and it is simply not possible to leave the mixed solution “until the next time”. We determine the amount of gypsum and water by eye - the dough should turn out to be quite thick, since the stones from the liquid dry for a very long time and are not strong enough. For strength, add sand, at the rate of 10% of the volume of the solution.

Stage 2. Form processing. Be sure to lubricate the working surface with a surfactant, for example, a mixture of wax and turpentine (3: 7), so that the finished stone can be easily removed. You can make such a mixture in a water bath so that the wax is completely and evenly dissolved. To prevent the formation of shells on the work surface, we also apply a layer of liquid gypsum.

Stage 3. Color creation. We mix the prepared dyes with gypsum in separate containers and pour the finished mixture into molds. Color solutions and textures can be the most original. With certain skills, you can even create artificial marble or granite from gypsum.

Stage 4. Plaster casting. We fill in the main mass of gypsum. Level the surface with a spatula and cover the molds with corrugated glass. After that, we subject the mixture to vibration so that the solution lies more evenly. Our stone hardens for about 15-20 minutes. When the glass begins to separate freely from the workpieces, the products can be removed and dried in the open air. They will not need heat treatment, since high temperature can change the characteristics of the gypsum stone.

• As an adhesive, mounting water-acrylic adhesive, mastic, a mixture of gypsum and PVA, cement-adhesive mortar or sealant are suitable.
• Before gluing the stone, both contact surfaces must be carefully primed.
• If there is a need to change the size of the stone, then this can easily be done using a conventional hacksaw.

Finishing with decorative gypsum stone is a good solution that almost anyone can do.