Options for finishing with decorative stone. Decorative stone for wall decoration in the apartment. Preparation for painting

Today, decorative stone decoration is considered almost the most successful and stylish decoration of the walls of an apartment or a private house. All sorts of tricks and subtleties of technology make it possible to decorate the surface of the basement of an architectural structure, walls in the kitchen, living room or hallway with this building material. Artificial stone in the interior is in no way inferior to its natural counterpart. But it has a lower cost, easy to maintain and install.

Artificial stone as an interior element

Modern industry produces many types of decorative stone

Why do builders so often use artificial stone in the interior? The thing is that the facing stone is perfectly combined with other decorative coatings: plaster, wallpaper in pastel shades, paint. It can also be used to highlight individual areas of the premises. Stone in the interior is widely used to decorate fireplaces, fountains.

Experts do not recommend mounting the described material on walls in small or narrow rooms. Very carefully, the laying of artificial material in the hallway should be carried out. This design method can further narrow the space. The best option would be to partially decorate some areas of the hallway.

Artificial stone is bad because it can significantly narrow the space of already small rooms.

Types of artificial stones

Finishing with artificial stone involves the use of high-quality raw materials and building materials. The stone in the interior for decoration, which is currently sold in building stores, differs in the way it is made.

An example of calculating the material for wall decoration with approximate prices

To design a hallway, basement or other inner surface of an apartment, it is advisable to use the following types of material that imitates natural rock:

Granite is ceramic. Such an artificial coating is obtained by pressing the concrete component at maximum pressures. This is followed by a high temperature firing procedure. This mode contributes to the creation of a material that is more like glass or ceramics. Ceramic granite can be matte, polished, semi-matte, glazed or embossed, but the main thing is not even a wide range of colors, but the lightness of the material. Wall cladding made with such material will look stylish and beautiful;
An artificial decorative stone made from a concrete component. Its production is very similar to the production of traditional concrete. A similar facing stone is created from the calculated proportions of cement, water and filler. The filler component is a crumb of natural stones and all kinds of coloring pigments. Wall cladding with this building material will help apartment owners create a unique and modern design;
An artificial facing stone imitating natural marble is created from natural chips, polyester resin and tint pigment. The material prepared from these components has a wide range of colors, and the hardness and reliability of wall protection does not differ from those of natural rock.

An example of a scheme for laying artificial stone on a wall using a mortar

Wall surface preparation

The types and volume of preparatory procedures depend on the quality of the walls on which you will subsequently lay or glue the facing stone. Always make sure that the vertical surfaces can support the heavy weight of the coating. Otherwise, reinforcement will have to be applied.

Edge finishes on decorative stone surfaces

If there are remnants of previous coatings (wallpaper, tiles) on the surface of the basement, walls of the hallway or living room, they should be removed. Further, experts recommend priming internal vertical surfaces. Priming mixtures will make the adhesion of the finishing material to the surface more durable.

It would be useful to additionally cover the wall with concrete contact. This tool will create a special film, which also increases the adhesion of materials. Subsequent installation will be durable and reliable.

Ceramic granite has one important advantage: it is several times lighter than natural, which allows you to reduce the load on the walls many times over.

The advantages of installing an artificial layer is that it fits equally well on all kinds of materials: brick, wood, cement, metal or foam blocks. But each individual type of surface requires a certain degree of preparation.

Simplified scheme for the production of decorative stone

The concrete or brick surface must be completely level. Irregularities and level differences are eliminated using the wall plastering procedure. If you will lay a facing stone on a wooden draft base, then it is necessary to create a moisture-proof substrate.

Then the wall design will consist of more sublayers. Metal walls before sheathing are recommended to be thoroughly cleaned of rust and plastered using a special plaster mesh.

The device of a special perforator for cutting stone

Preparation for laying: important points

Decorating with decorative stone the area of \u200b\u200bthe basement, the walls of the living room or the hallway involves the implementation of all preliminary operations. If the alignment of the working surfaces has already been completed, then you can proceed to the next stage - the development of a sketch and the order of placement of elements on the inner surface.

Even before buying building materials, you must clearly understand where and how the artificial stone will be located in the interior. To this end, it is better to create a preliminary sketch of the basement or hallway with the final design. The facing stone has certain overall dimensions, and it is quite difficult to cut it.

This operation may result in an unattractive chipping that degrades the aesthetic characteristics of the created coating. Therefore, laying should be reduced to the use of solid elements of the material.

The completed sketch must be transferred to the wall in the form of a clear picture. Laying will be carried out on it later. If, according to an individual idea, a smooth finishing line should be drawn up, then for this you need to stock up on special profiles or corners (as in the case of finishing the basement with ceramic tiles). They are fixed on the draft surface of the hallway or another room.

Options for the use of material - a huge number

Laying technology

When the stone wall is completely ready for installation, the following tools and materials should also be prepared:

adhesive or concrete mortar, on which decorative elements will be glued;
several spatulas of various widths;
instrument-level;
facing stone;
putty decorative composition (if required by the design of the basement, hallway or other room).

Facing the walls of the inner part of the apartment can be done in two ways: end-to-end or in compliance with the seams. Depending on the chosen method, the installation process on internal surfaces will be slightly different.

It is best to apply the prepared mortar on the surface of the basement or hallway walls with a construction trowel or a special spatula with a serrated edge. With special care, wall cladding should be carried out with the initial row of decorative material. All subsequent installation will depend on its quality.

Facing with decorative stone should not be started from the bottom, like ceramic tiles, but from the top of the wall.

If you prefer the butt design option, then you should glue each element of the interior decoration and slightly scroll it along the axis in different directions.

When implementing the technology in compliance with the seam, several design options are used:

Ceramic granite is much lighter than natural, although they cannot be distinguished externally.

The use and installation of plastic crosses, around which you need to put decorative elements;
Interior lining of the hallway walls with cardboard strips of the required thickness. Gluing tile elements in this way is simple and fast. You can also adjust the width of the resulting seam by varying the thickness of the cardboard strips;
Wall cladding or plinth using strips cut from drywall. If you decide to glue the tile elements in this way, you will get a fairly wide seam. This decorative coating looks great on any wall.

If during the work process trimming or adding a number of smaller elements is necessary, then it is advisable to use a grinder with a circle on concrete. Cutting is also performed on professional machines for cutting other types of tiles. It is necessary to glue such parts only in accordance with the outlined sketch. When the installation has come to an end, and the auxiliary elements have been removed from the seams, you can proceed to the final application of decorative putty. You should choose a shade of building composition that will match the color of the decorative coating. The putty will easily hide all the flaws and chips that arose during the work process.

Video

You can watch a video on how the walls of the hallway and corridors are finished using decorative stone.

To create a sense of sophistication, you can use decorative stone in the interior.

With a variety of textures, shapes and colors, it makes it possible to use it in the design of different rooms, for example, in the hallway, kitchen, bathroom or living room.

Even in ancient times, stone was used not only in construction, but also in interior decoration.

Now natural stone is an expensive, heavy material, which has been successfully replaced by artificial one. To decorate the walls with decorative stone, you should choose only high-quality material.

On the advantages of decorative stone

Rich appearance;
environmentally friendly material;
not afraid of corrosion, fungus and mold;
easy to care for; easy to install;
has different shades; durable, heat-resistant and frost-resistant;
is inexpensive.

Currently, decorative stone in the interior of an apartment can be used in almost all areas of modern housing.

To make sure that the stone looks good in a modern interior, you can see a photo of a decorative stone in the interior of completely different rooms.

hallway stone

No one will argue that the first impression of your home guests get when they enter the hallway. An artificial stone will tell about the sophistication of the owners right from the doorstep.

If you are going to use a decorative stone in the hallway, you should remember about its small size and inaccessibility to natural light.

Therefore, it is necessary to choose light colors here. If you settled on dark shades, add additional lighting to the hallway.

And, besides, the best option is a partial finish. The stone can be used to decorate mirrors, arches, walls behind a hanger. Remember that the room will become sophisticated if you avoid oversaturation.

Living room stone

Here they receive guests or arrange cozy home gatherings. Usually the living room is the largest room in terms of area. Therefore, the stone can be used to highlight zones.

The stone is used to decorate the wall near the table, the shelving area, and its heat resistance allows them to finish the fireplace and the area in front of it.

The bar counter and walls in the TV area can also be decorated with artificial stone. A variety of colors makes it possible to create smooth color transitions, or make contrasting accents, giving uniqueness to the room.

stone in the kitchen

Using a decorative stone, you can transform the room beyond recognition. This material is quite practical, it is easy to clean, it is not afraid of temperature changes and is quite moisture resistant.

With it, you can make a work area, or all the walls, giving the kitchen the look of a medieval room.

Stone trim doorways, niches, part of the wall, dining area. But it is worth remembering that the stone must be combined with the set, and match the size of the room, if the kitchen is small, take a small stone, spacious - large.

Stone in the bedroom

Warm colors are suitable for this room. The best option would be a white decorative stone in the interior. They can trim the headboard area. Stone panels will look good here.

And of course, the stone goes well with natural wood. If a stone of dark tones is chosen, then it is better to combine it with light furniture.

bathroom stone

This room requires high-quality finishing material. If you use artificially made marble or granite, which have water-repellent properties, then the bathroom can be turned into a spa.

Elements of such building material are made without visible seams, so it looks more aesthetically pleasing than ordinary tiles. Beating the marine theme in the bathroom, you can use artificially created pebbles. Rough large stone goes well with wood elements.

Any room has its own atmosphere, but all of them should eventually become part of the overall ensemble of the entire housing.

Photo of decorative stone in the interior

Society, which has already become tired of advanced technologies and everything artificial, is increasingly inclined to decorate its living space with natural materials.

Decorating with decorative stone is one of the most popular ways to equip a corner of naturalness in your home. Moreover, it is possible to use it for cladding not only indoors, but also facade surfaces.

decorative stone materials

Artificial stone is a concrete material for interior wall decoration, which can be based on various mineral binders in the form of cement, gypsum, etc.

This type of cladding has a number of advantages that distinguish it from others:

low cost compared to natural analogues;
strength, due to uniformity throughout the depth;
the lightness of the elements, which does not require additional reinforcement work on the foundation;
easily lends itself to any kind of processing, pruning;
suitable for facing surfaces made of different materials (wood, concrete, brick, etc.);
low rate of water absorption, resistance to mold and fungi;
a large selection of colors, textures and shapes;
due to its high antistatic properties, the surface does not absorb dust and grease, so its maintenance is the easiest.

The disadvantages of decorative elements may be different, depending on the base. Some need to be additionally covered with protective compounds, others do not tolerate exposure to chemicals and elevated temperatures.

Types of artificial material

It is quite difficult to distinguish an artificial facing stone from a natural one due to the unique compositions that vary for each type.

Porcelain stoneware elements - they contain clay, feldspar and various substances that affect the color of the material. This material has increased strength and resistance to low temperatures.

Porcelain stoneware is often used for finishing facade surfaces and rooms with high humidity. The shape of porcelain stoneware tiles can be completely different, the surfaces are glossy, matte smooth or textured.

Agglomerate images consist of a filler, which can be represented by sand, granite chips, etc., and polyester resins to bind the particles.

Finished elements imitate marble, slate and other surfaces. The most durable is the quartz agglomerate, which is used to line the outer surfaces.

Products based on gypsum and concrete are mainly used for interior cladding.

Natural stone elements for cladding

In addition to decorative stone tiles, natural materials are used to decorate wall surfaces. They are distinguished by their strength qualities, due to which the service life is increased.

Among the most popular are:

Sandstone - characterized by softness and porosity, most often they cover walls and fireplaces. Sandstone coatings require additional impregnation with silicone compounds so that dirt does not clog into the pores.

Pebble elements are resistant to temperature changes. So that the material does not absorb moisture and does not become stained, it is periodically impregnated with special agents. Often used for facing wall surfaces in the bathroom or kitchen.

Travertine elements are very durable and resistant to abrasion. Well suited for flooring, wall coverings and fireplaces, as well as in the bathroom, kitchen or living room.

Marble material is not afraid of high temperature fluctuations. It must be impregnated with compounds so that stains do not form.

Granite coatings are the most durable, they are not afraid of scratches, cracks, moisture and temperature fluctuations. Considered ideal for floor planes and countertops.

Tiled ceramic elements that are made from clay, stove, quartz. The material is durable and waterproof.

The use of stone in the interior

The design of the walls under the stone is very effective and attractive, however, when using such material in the interior composition, it is necessary to take into account some features.

Surfaces lined with stone elements reduce the natural light in the room. Therefore, in order to avoid a gloomy effect, additional light sources should be installed in the room and stonework should be alternated with light plastered areas.

Well-lit stone canvases will display the texture and color of the material. Designers do not recommend stone finishing narrow rooms.

To create a harmonious design, it is advisable to combine masonry with other types of surface finishes. So the combination of a stone wall with a cascade of climbing plants or flowerpots on the floor looks as natural as possible.

If there is no possibility of combination and additional lighting, then it is worth cladding only some fragments with stone elements, for example, corners, doorways, part of the wall surface.

To recreate the style of Provence in the bedroom, you can trim the head of the bed or the canvas under the TV with stone tiles, as in the photo of stone wall decoration.

In the kitchens, the dining area is trimmed with stone, before washing. In the bathroom, pebbles are lined with areas near the sink, mirror sheet or shower.

Working with stone material

Working with stone elements is quite simple, so it is possible to do the decoration of rooms with your own hands. At the first tapa, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface of the old finish coating, plaster cracks and primer. A simpler and faster option would be to cover the wall with plasterboard sheets.

Thanks to this pattern, it will become clear which pebbles need to be cut and how much material is needed. Further, according to this sketch, the whole composition is laid out on the floor, after which you can proceed to finishing.

The elements are fixed on a special adhesive composition by applying it to the wall. For even masonry of the first row, it is necessary to set the level at which the edges of the elements will be leveled.

The layout starts from the corner of the bottom row, gradually rising higher and higher. Each new layer must be given time to dry, and excess glue that has fallen on the elements should be removed quickly.

It will take about two days to dry the entire composition, after which you can start grouting the seams and joints with mastic or putty.

Decorative stone can not only decorate the interior of the room, but also highlight functional areas in it. At the same time, the design will be exquisite and unique.

Photo of wall decoration with stone

In the design of a house and apartment, I want to use natural materials, but this is not always justified. For example, the use of natural stone for interior decoration. It is expensive, difficult, and requires high qualifications. There is a very similar to natural artificial stone. It is also made from natural ingredients, but it weighs several times less and costs much less. Moreover, decorating the hallway with decorative stone can be done by hand - its installation does not require special qualifications.

One of the options for decorating the hallway

Types of decorative finishing stone

Today, there are three types of decorative artificial stone used for interior decoration:

based on cement;
based on gypsum;
agglomerate.

In appearance, these products are very similar to natural stone, only they weigh much less (from 14 kg / m 2 to 50 kg / m 2). The cost is also much lower (compared to natural), especially if the manufacturer is Russian or Belarusian. The pluses include easier installation - only the front part is textured, the other three are more like tiles or bricks.

Actually, there is another type of decorative artificial stone - clinker tiles that imitate various types of brickwork. It is made from clay almost according to brick technology - it is fired in a kiln and glazed. The difference in thickness is 1-3 cm. This type of finish is good in many - from high-tech to.

Gypsum based

Gypsum finishing stone is the most inexpensive of this type of material. Its second plus is that it is the lightest. It is he who is used when mounting on drywall, since he simply cannot withstand heavy loads. Cons - it is rather fragile, hygroscopic, and can collapse when wet. Finishing the hallway with a decorative stone based on gypsum is possible only if, after laying, it is treated with a special protective impregnation or acrylic-based varnish.

The format of gypsum tiles can be any - a very plastic solution allows you to get any surface and shape Light shades in the hallways do not "press" and do not add heaviness Heterogeneous color gives additional volume and charm Gypsum decorative stone in combination with a gypsum panel in the corridor - oriental style

Based on cement

A strong and durable finishing stone is obtained from a gypsum-sand mixture. It can be washed, even with a brush using liquid detergents. Its disadvantages:

Hard to cut. You will need a grinder with a diamond disc so that there is less dust, you can moisten the tile.
Big weight. This is when compared with a gypsum counterpart, and compared to natural weight is more than two times lower.
higher price. In the manufacture of cement decorative stone, high-quality cement is used, but it costs decently. In addition, the production technology affects the price - cement takes longer to gain the required strength (28 days), and the molded tiles must be stored somewhere until this moment, and under certain conditions (at a temperature of about 20 ° C and sufficient humidity of 40-50%). This means that significant areas are needed for storage facilities, and these are additional costs.

All these shortcomings are compensated by durability and ease of care, so this is one of the most common decorative stones for interior and exterior decoration.

You can completely lay out the walls in the hallway with decorative cobblestones. Light gray - the most for a small hallway

Artificial stone from agglomerate

This type of finishing decorative stone has appeared recently. It consists of natural rocks crushed to crumbs - marble, granite, quartzite - to which polymer resins or cement are added. To obtain bright colors, a coloring pigment is added. Such a decorative stone looks great - interspersed with natural fragments, reflections on the edges of the crumbs ... It really looks good, suitable for finishing work in rooms.

Coloring methods

When choosing a collection of gypsum or cement, pay attention to the method of staining. The pigment can be added to the solution, and then the whole tile will be of the same color. Shading tones are then applied to its front surface, which give the surface a more natural look. With this technology, even with a chip, the difference will be imperceptible, since the shades are close.

In another embodiment, the pigment is applied only to the surface. Then, if it is chipped or cut, the color will be very different.

Do-it-yourself artificial stone laying

Before starting work, you need to determine the quantity. It's not as easy as it seems. If you look at the collections, you will see that they mostly consist of fragments of several sizes and shapes. The exception is ceramic stone and collections imitating brickwork. Knowing the size of the fragments, you can figure out how you want to arrange them.

Outline the proposed borders of the finish on the walls. Now you can more or less accurately calculate how many "squares" of decorative stone you need. Add about 10-15% to the resulting figure - for trimming and possible changes in the process. This will be the required amount for finishing.

Pre-layout

Masters who have experience working with decorative stone first “figure out” where to place which fragments, how to turn them. You can make a layout on the floor, you can - in design programs (if you know how to work with them), you can try to draw a plan on graph paper or a piece of paper in a box. The main condition: it is necessary to observe the proportions and do not forget about the seam. It can be quite small - this type of installation is called seamless or continuous, or it can have a thickness of up to 1 cm or even a little more.

Many people skip this stage when decorating walls with decorative stone on their own, hoping that everything will become clear in the process of work. It is possible, of course, and so, but keep in mind that the glue seizes very quickly and there is very, very little time for rework. The plan will make things easier.

Surface preparation

You can finish with artificial stone walls from any material, but they all require preliminary preparation. If the walls were previously finished with something, the entire finish is removed, a bare wall with plaster should remain. Gluing a decorative stone on old wallpaper is a waste of time and money: the finish will simply fall off. Some very light collections can be glued onto wallpaper, but these can only be fragments - a few tiles. And then, no one will guarantee that the wallpaper will not tear and everything will not collapse.

The easiest process for preparing walls is if they are plastered. Just cover them with primer. Its type is selected depending on the material (gypsum or cement). Then you can proceed to the actual finishing.

If the walls are made of bricks, building blocks, or any other similar material, they are first primed, then plastered with a suitable plaster. Drywall is also allowed. But at the same time, you greatly limit yourself in choosing a finishing stone - you will need to choose from the lightest collections in terms of weight, and this is mainly a decorative stone made of gypsum.

If the walls are wooden, they are first coated with waterproofing impregnation, after drying they are treated with a primer. Then a paint grid is nailed to the surface and only then plastered. When choosing a plaster, it is advisable to choose from those that "breathe" and will not interfere with the wood to regulate moisture. With glued tiles, this will be problematic, but the decoration of the hallway with decorative stone is usually fragmentary - the tiles are glued only in some places, and the rest of the surface will remain vapor-permeable.

What to glue

Most manufacturers of decorative stone advise using special adhesives designed specifically for working with this material. They are of three types:

for lightweight finishing stone weighing up to 30 kg/m 2 ;
for heavy from 30 30 kg / m 2 and above;
for low temperatures (below +5°C).

It is necessary to dilute the glue in small portions, strictly following the recommendations of the manufacturers. It is better to stir with a drill with an appropriate nozzle - it is easier to achieve uniformity.

You can also glue on good quality tile adhesive, only it must be really good - you will have to keep a decent mass. The third option is for liquid nails. This method works great on drywall, with plastered surfaces it is better to use an adhesive solution.

Sticking technology

Plastered or plasterboard-leveled walls are coated with a primer. While it dries, dilute a portion of the glue. When laying, it is important that the rows of finishing stone are laid horizontally. To achieve this, markings can be applied to the wall. This can be done with a paint cord, or you can draw with a pencil using a bubble or.

Laying decorative stone in the hallway starts from one of the corners. Some collections have special corner tiles that are easier to work with. If there are no such fragments, you will have to decorate the edges with “end” fragments. They are in some collections - their edges are also painted. The same elements are used last in a row where it is necessary that the ends have a decorative look.

Before laying, the back of the decorative stone tile must be inspected. There may be remnants of cement milk - this is a thin, foamy coating of light color. It must be removed. This can be done with a stiff brush.

If the air temperature is high or the humidity is low, the back of the stone is moistened with water. Then, a layer of glue is applied with an ordinary spatula, leveled, and the residues are removed with a toothed one (with a tooth of 4-5 mm).

The fragment is pressed against the primed surface, moving it slightly from side to side, making close contact with the wall, setting the fragment in the desired position. You can knock on the surface with a rubber mallet for better adhesion.

This option of laying the finishing stone on the walls requires a significant amount of time. It is used when it is required to lay only a few tiles or along the edges of a large fragment. If you need to lay a significant amount, it is easier to apply glue to the wall, and also remove the excess with a notched trowel. And press the tile moistened with water to the glue on the wall.

Otherwise, the entire sequence of actions does not change.

If the masonry is seamless, the next element is installed closely. If a seam is needed, the distance between the tiles is fixed with plastic, wooden wedges of the same size, pieces of drywall are also suitable. If the seam is small, you can use plastic crosses.

When working, glue can be squeezed out from under the tile. If it gets on the front surface, it must be removed immediately. Concrete finishing stone can be used with a damp cloth, gypsum - only dry. The glue sets very quickly, and then it is almost impossible to remove it without damaging the surface.

According to this principle, the planned volume of finishing is laid out. When the glue sets (indicated on the package), you can start filling the seams.

Grouting

A special compound is used to fill the seams. In color, it can imitate masonry mortar or be in contrast to the color of the finish.

The composition is diluted with water to a pasty state (the proportions are indicated on the package), put into a special syringe or a tight bag with a cut off corner. The paste is squeezed out between the seams. Depending on the type of finish, the seam is filled almost completely or only halfway (up to 5 mm can remain to the edge of the tile). The result is either relief masonry, or more even.

Until the grout has set, they take a special joint and level the seams, giving them a convex, concave or flat shape.

Photo options for finishing the hallway and corridor with decorative stone

Finishing the hallway with decorative stone is often the decoration of corners and doorways.

What is good about this option - all the "dirty" places are covered with stone

There are many methods for creating a creative and cozy interior. For this, various finishing materials are used, including natural ones. Especially popular was the stone finish indoors. However, applying this method, you need to take into account some factors that fundamentally affect the final result. So, using stone cladding in a small room, you can visually make it even smaller. Such a cladding requires space and scope. It is great for decorating halls, living rooms, separate sections of walls in bedrooms, and is indispensable in the kitchen.

In the process of selecting finishing materials, their compatibility is taken into account. Artificial and natural tiles organically look together with metal, glass, textured wallpaper, textured plaster, frescoes.

Competent organized lighting favorably emphasizes the visual advantages of the pebbles, and the lack of light will create a “pressing” impression. Such moments must be taken into account if the wall cladding with artificial stone is done independently.

Range and characteristics

Before choosing a product for wall cladding, fireplace or countertops, you need to know its characteristics, behavior in a particular operating mode and possible applications. Particular attention should be paid to materials of natural origin, in contrast to which artificial stone for decoration is less capricious. In addition, the price factor is of great importance for many. Of course, non-natural products are cheaper than natural ones, but in terms of quality characteristics, they are often not inferior to them. For the most part, they are environmentally friendly, beautiful, do not burn, and in case of fire they only melt. Artificial tiles are affordable and can be made by hand.

natural materials

The most commonly used natural products are:

marble is considered one of the most luxurious materials, has a beautiful cross-sectional pattern, can be polished; occurs in various colors: from white to black, depending on the deposit; water-resistant, but susceptible to acids and alkalis, and also reacts to high temperatures; needs constant care; not only walls and fireplaces, as well as floors, are trimmed with marble, but only in dry rooms;
slate belongs to the category of rare and very expensive; usually found in brown-beige colors; despite the significant hardness, it is easy to process;
sandstone is gray and red in various shades; does not respond to temperature changes, but is not suitable for the manufacture of countertops, as stains remain on it;
travertines are classified as dense and relatively inexpensive materials and are used quite often; distinguished by beautiful colors and interesting cross-sectional patterns; to avoid the appearance of unwanted streaks or stains, it is recommended to cover the travertines with varnish or resin;
granite - the most durable, resistant to moisture and temperature changes, at the same time easily transferring installation, material; produced in various colors, it is used for facing surfaces in any room of the apartment: from the bedroom and living room to the kitchen and bathroom.

Sometimes the interior decoration of the walls with an artificial stone of the room is carried out with semi-precious minerals: agate, onyx, opal. Most often they decorate countertops, bathtubs, sinks. Many varieties of these representatives of nature are endowed with a translucent property. Therefore, they are used where the design of panels or individual parts with LED backlighting is provided, and they also perform some decorative elements. For example, flower vases or shades for table lamps, overhead lamps, sconces.

artificial products

Artificial stone for interior wall decoration is now quite common, due to its good technical and aesthetic properties. A wide variety of textures, sizes and colors allows you to make a choice to create an apartment interior in any style and in optimal combination with other materials.

There are several core types of non-natural products:

Based on cement. They give high surface strength, providing it with resistance to moisture, chemical attack, fire safety, long service life. Wall decoration with cement-based artificial stone perfectly imitates many rocks of natural origin, and is easily restored. But, such tiles are quite heavy, so the installation must be carried out on a very strong adhesive.
On a plaster basis. Practical, inexpensive, environmentally friendly, light in weight. The bars are made by molding in a special tooling from a mixture of gypsum, slaked lime, water and pigments. Therefore, you can get products of various textures and many colors. Gypsum and cement bars do not have to be bought ready-made; you can make them yourself. It is enough to have forms and study technology.
Acrylic - a modern composite product that has found wide application for interior decoration, despite the rather high cost. Tiles and panels, countertops, bathtubs, sinks and sinks are made from it. Products have a beautiful smooth surface, high strength, resistance to water and abrasion. Acrylic objects do not burn, weigh little, it is possible to lay artificial stone with your own hands. They produce plain, colored and interspersed tiles made of marble, granite, jasper, serpentine and other natural rocks. They can be glossy and matte, solid and transparent. During manufacture, they can take any form.
Quartz flint is made using a technology similar to acrylic production, from natural veined quartz bound with polyester resins and saturated with pigments. The product is quite rare, produced mainly in the form of tiles.

There is also a material that is called "flexible". In fact, this is a kind of textile wallpaper with a natural texture. They are obtained by applying the smallest particles of sandstone or a very thin section of fossil rocks to a fabric base using polymer resins. In appearance, such a cladding looks like an artificial stone finish. To avoid damage, manufacturers cover the front surface with a film that must be removed after installation or during installation. Facing with a flexible stone of the walls is made according to the method of wallpapering with some nuances.

Facing works

For wall decoration with piece products, it is not enough to use your own experience, you also need to ask the opinion of knowledgeable people and read the instructions for using the selected product. Like any other construction work, the installation of tiles requires preparatory work.

Preparatory actions

The surface of the interior walls of the apartment should be perfectly smooth. Depending on the condition, first leveling is done with a layer of plaster, possibly using a reinforcing mesh. If the plane is flat, then you only need to repair cracks and shells. If necessary, apply a starting putty. Before starting installation, the plane is thoroughly impregnated with a primer to protect against fungi, mold and so that the finishing layer has better adhesion to the base. The same procedures are carried out with surfaces made of drywall. During repair work, niches and partitions are made in this way.

In order not to perform work “approximately” and “by eye”, you need to draw up a sketch, drawing or diagram. This is not difficult to do, because the tiles have the exact size. You can correctly calculate their number and distribute the location of each pebble by color and pattern. Then the scheme must be transferred to the prepared surface, the raw materials are sorted and the adhesive composition is prepared. You can use ready-made mixtures or dry glue with water.

It is necessary to knead with a construction mixer or a perforator with a special nozzle, because it is impossible to manually achieve the desired plasticity and uniformity.

Main process

A person who has successfully finished a corner can already consider himself a good craftsman. Because the installation of the first row and the design of the corners is the most difficult work on which the entire facing process depends:

The adhesive composition is applied to the wall with a notched trowel or trowel to the height of the first row.
Start laying the pebbles from the corner, tightly pressing one to the other. The same width of the seams between the rows of bars can be observed using plastic crosses for tiles.
Each subsequent row must be slightly shifted relative to the previous one. This improves the visual effect of the work done. The resulting rusts are sealed with grout in the color of the coating or contrasting. It depends on the taste of the owner or the decision of the designer.
In order not to stain the finishing bar with a spatula, the grout can be pumped into the seams with a device similar to a pastry bag with a narrow nozzle. The cladding takes its final form after cleaning the surface with a soft brush.

If the wall covering is done entirely with pebbles, then there are no questions. If, however, separate parts are made out with piece products, then the main lining is first done with textured plaster, wallpaper or painting, and only then they take up the installation of piece products. Because the laid bar is not easy to get around unnoticed by another finishing material.

There are times when there is a need or just a desire to make the stone surface shiny. To do this, use a special varnish. And so that the color of the products does not change from the varnish, they are first coated with an aqueous solution of PVA glue. So the color will be preserved and the varnish will lie more evenly, without smudges. This maneuver is especially useful when using the cladding in a damp room, such as a bathroom or kitchen.

Application area

This method of sheathing the internal surfaces of the premises of a house or apartment is suitable everywhere. The choice of this or that product depends on the preferences of the owner, the purpose of the room and the style of the interior. For example, in the kitchen, non-natural granite or acrylic can be used for facing an apron, a dining table top, as well as a sink integrated into the work area can be made from it. In the living room, hallway, on the loggia, pebbles will be perfectly combined with wallpaper and frescoes, with finishing plaster or metal, with mirrors and glass. The main thing is not to overdo it, not to overload the room so that it does not lose its lightness and moderation.