How to make artificial marble from plaster by own hands?

The use of natural stone for decoration has always been highly appreciated in terms of aesthetics. Such material is durable and reliable, and also differs in variety of assortment. But this product is not used universally.

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 the means to purchase, you should take into account that natural stone has an impressive weight. That is why to lay it on the wall you will have to build a solid foundation or to strengthen the old one.

Why is it better to replace natural stone with artificial

In addition, you will have to carry out activities that are accompanied by material investments. Yes, and to process such samples, not having in the arsenal of special tools, does not work. As an alternative solution, there are materials that can be cast from the mixture itself. In the role of components are different ingredients, but one of the most popular is gypsum.

Why choose an artificial marble?

If you still have not decided whether to make artificial stone using plaster, you should consider some features of the material, among which:

• Possibility of use in any room;
• Accessibility of technology;
• Low costs for self-manufacturing;
• The possibility of interior design in an unusual style.

Such a stone for environmental friendliness does not differ from natural, it is even able to regulate the microclimate in the premises. The surfaces that you trim with gypsum stone will not lose the 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. Per piece, but the independent manufacture will cost 800 rubles. Decide how much formwork is needed, you can, 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 quite identical in shape. Therefore, the quantity will be determined by the texture and size of future products, as well as by material possibilities.

Preparation of formwork

When an artificial marble made of gypsum is made, a sample is preliminarily placed from which it will be possible to make copies. This can be a natural material, including the one that is presented for sale. Dimensions of the shape should be slightly larger in relation to the future product. Prepare the formwork can be from a piece of PVC-panel, moisture-resistant plywood and similar materials. It is necessary to take into account the number of samples to be made, as well as whether the form will withstand the weight of the material.

Preparing for pouring

Performing artificial marble from gypsum, in the next stage you can start preparing the mortar. The inner part of the formwork is better treated with solidol, including the sample. To do this, you can also apply the lubricant "Tsiatim", but it will cost a lot.

The frame should be placed on polyethylene film. The base must be as level as possible. In order to eliminate the spreading of silicone, the edges of the formwork must be pressed firmly against the surface. To make patterns, you need to buy silicone, you can also use a sealant, but it costs much more.

During the pouring process, it is necessary to control how evenly the mass is distributed over the area. Correct it with a brush, pre-moistened with detergent. In the latter there should be no alkali, so the laundry soap is not suitable for this.

Features of mold making

The thickness of the template is chosen taking into account the dimensions of the sample. Once the mass has dried, it can be removed from the formwork and inspected. Shells are embedded silicone, and the protrusions are smoothed or cut. If you decide to make artificial marble from gypsum, first you can prepare a shape that usually pours out of silicone. It hardens quite slowly. For a centimeter layer it will take a week.

Therefore, the template should be left in the formwork for this time. This period can be shortened if the construction is kept in a warm room. The heater is not necessary to achieve forced hardening. The cost of this form will be equal to the limit of 220 to 280 rubles. Using it you can pour up to 40 samples of stone, everything will depend on the accuracy of the master.

Filling the mixture

When an artificial marble from gypsum is made by one's own hands, it is necessary to decide whether a white or painted color material will be used. Surface coloring will be cheaper, but it will not be longevity. Better is the method of tinting, but it is expensive, for its implementation, the dye is introduced into the mixture.

To make the process cheaper, the filling is carried out in two stages, for each of which a composition is prepared. In one the dye is added, and the painted mixture is first filled, which should be well condensed, it is most convenient to use a wire, with which the mass is pierced all over the area. Carry out these manipulations necessary to remove air.

If you are thinking about the question of 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 samples of increased strength to the first layer of the mass, reinforcing material is laid, which can be a mesh for plastering.

The mixture can be made not from pure gypsum, but with the addition of cement. When the mark does not matter, the ratio can be 2 to 1, where the first ingredient is gypsum, while the second is cement. To improve the quality of adhesion of decorative stone with the surface to be removed on the curing base, it is necessary to make slits in the form of longitudinal strips. Such a mixture will grasp fairly quickly. Before you make artificial marble, you should familiarize yourself with the technology. From it you can understand that the product will be fully ready within an hour.

Useful recommendations for the manufacture of stone

If among the ingredients there is no cement, then this stone is suitable for interior decoration. For the cladding of buildings, this material can only be used for certain weather protection measures. For this, the stone is treated with a primer, and the surface is varnished.

As an alternative solution, it is possible to introduce plasticizers in the form of polymers. The solution will consist of one part of cement and three parts of sand. Coloring ingredients are substances that are added to the gypsum in a ratio of 1 to 20.

After the template can be removed from the mold, it must be washed with a soap solution. Quite often real estate owners are wondering how to make artificial marble from gypsum quickly. To reduce the setting time, add citric acid to the formulation, its volume in relation to the total mass should be 0.4%. When a stone is made at home, only four templates will suffice. This technology is suitable for the production of figured products, with which you can decorate any room.

Making of stone from polished gypsum

Artificial marble from polished gypsum is called oselkovym. It is a colored mass, which is prepared with the help of a glue solution. Such a compound is applied to the substrate, and after drying it is brought to a mirror finish by grinding and polishing. The material can be toned for different types of marble, among them lapis lazuli and malachite.

The main raw material for such a product remains gypsum, in which substances that slow down the setting are added. The advantages of this material are low weight and rather high strength. With this trim, lightweight structures can be made. To improve the microclimate, marble is used to decorate living quarters. It absorbs excess moisture and gives it away if the room is dry.

Alternative marble formulations

The technology of obtaining artificial marble from gypsum can assume the use of a different composition of raw materials. For this, polyester or acrylic resin with marble chips is mixed. The ratio will look like this: 4 to 1. As the connecting elements used:

• Building gypsum ;
• Cement mortar;
• Lime mortar with the addition of cement.

The most common resins that guarantee high strength. Decorative materials, such as colored quartz, colored sand and pebbles, sometimes act as fillers. At the same time, finished products will not have the appearance of a natural stone, they will be a completely new finishing material.

Artificial marble from gypsum at home can be made using mineral pigments. When the agent is introduced into the base composition, it is mixed a little, which allows you to get veins. Pigments are able not only to color the material, but also to make it resistant to external influences. The top layer of gelcoat imparts gloss to the coating.

Conclusion

Information about what is called artificial marble from gypsum, was presented above. To carry out the work, the molds need to be polished, and afterwards to apply the material, which will exclude adhesion. Gelcoat is applied to the inner surface of the mold, using a cup sprayer or special installation.

Once the gelcoat hardens, you can start making polyester blends of filler, hardener, polyester resin and pigments. Mixtures are poured into shapes that vibrate to remove air. At the final stage, the material cures, only after the product can be extracted from the mold, having processed the surface by grinding.