Imitation of a stone. Facade tile under the stone. Tile under the stone

Not everyone who wants to use natural stone in finishing their homes can afford to buy it. This natural material has always been quite a high price. Fortunately, for many years it has been replaced by the so-called "imitation" of stone, which is much cheaper.

Using the material in the interior

The imitation of a natural stone admirably decorates almost any interior. At the same time it is used not only for finishing walls and floors, but also other decorative and functional elements of the room (columns, fireplaces, portals, niches, partitions). This decoration brings to the interior a special cosiness and novelty. Contrary to popular belief, this finishing material is ideal not only in antique, classical and medieval interiors, but also in those rooms where there is an ultramodern design. The effect of imitating a stone directly depends on what texture it has (texture) and coloring.

Types of stone imitation

Walls for a stone can be created with the help of various finishing materials. Currently, they are produced a huge number. Below are the most common of them.

Finishing artificial stone is made of a mixture of cement and sand with the addition of various additives (pigments, fillers), improving the performance and decorative functions.

Tile, imitating a stone, has long earned a well-deserved popularity. It is durable, resistant to abrasion and has a remarkable appearance.

Recently, the panels under the stone have become very popular. They can be used for decoration and facades, and interior spaces.

This imitation of stone, like granite, has been known for many years. It is much durable and stronger than ceramic tiles. There are many different colors and textures of this finishing material. Today we also produce innovative decorative 3D panels with amazing reliefs.

Tile under the stone

This cladding material appeared on sale for a long time, although it was in demand only in public establishments - such as restaurants, bars, cafes. In recent years, it is increasingly used for finishing living quarters. Modern tiles under the stone simply amaze with a variety of textures and shades, allowing you to create a stylish and original interior design. Such decoration materials, made of ceramics, have a variety of shapes, textures, colors. Thanks to this their popularity is growing every day. Gypsum stone tiles are much cheaper than their natural counterpart. Another of its advantages is simplicity in processing and installation.

Varieties of tiles under the stone

Tiles for wild stone are made of various materials. The simplest of them consist of gypsum and ceramics, but there are also expensive ones, for example, produced on the basis of acrylic. Below are the different varieties of this tile:

• Ceramic tiles imitate the surface of natural stone. It is made on the basis of clay. After molding, the tiles need to be fired at high temperature.
• Gypsum tiles are used only for interior decoration. You can do it yourself. At home, the tiles are made from a special modified gypsum. The cost of such material is relatively low. Gypsum tiles are often used for decorating walls and decorating fireplaces.
• Acrylic tiles on a gel base are highly durable. It is used for the manufacture of countertops, "marble" panels, decorative elements. Often, from the acrylic imitation of a stone, artificial types of onyx used for the production of wall panels are produced.

When choosing this lining material, you should pay attention to what it is intended for. Facing tile under the stone is produced for both internal and external (facade) works. Both these types of materials are distinguished by their reliability, durability, resistance to mechanical stresses. It is believed that the ceramic tiles under the stone is an environmentally friendly finishing material. That's why more and more people give her preference in finishing dining rooms, living rooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Gypsum tiles for stone can be used for interior finishing only. It is used where there is no increased humidity.

Facade tiles under the stone does not change its properties, even under the influence of low and high temperatures. Despite the changes in humidity, it retains its original appearance for many years. Facade tiles under the stone have different sizes, textures and shades. The newest photo-printing machines imitate almost all known breeds of natural stone. The latest collections of tiles are characterized by their uniqueness and careful drawing of the smallest details. Recently, a very popular stone imitation stone, reminiscent of marble, onyx, travertine. Such a finishing material gives any room a special aristocracy.

Tile under the stone, a photo of which can be found on many sites on the Internet, allows you to create the most unique interiors. The only thing that is necessary for this is enough money and a little imagination. Today it is possible to choose tiles from one collection, but in different shades - in order to not repeat any of them on 3-4 square meters of the square.

Now the dark tile under the stone is especially in demand. Decorative ceramics of this type is perfectly combined with such materials as glass, wood, metal. With the help of it, any design ideas are realized.

"Stone" panels

Today the panels under the stone are at the peak of their popularity. Many designers use them not only for finishing the facade, but also for interior work. This finishing material is manufactured using innovative technologies, which makes it virtually indistinguishable from natural rocks. Wall decorative panels under the stone are practical, have an excellent appearance, are easily mounted. Another advantage of this facing material is its comparative cheapness. The most accessible of these panels are made of high quality plastic. They are durable and do not require complex maintenance. Most often they are used in the decoration of bathrooms, kitchens, canteens. They can often be found even in office buildings.

Varieties of panels under the stone

Most often, this finishing material is produced by high-pressure casting. Depending on its composition, the panels are distinguished:

• They have a homogeneous structure (made of high-quality PVC).
• Combined (the outer layer is made of polymer, and the inner layer is made of expanded polystyrene). This material is a good insulation, so it is in high demand.
• Made with the use of expanded polystyrene and polystyrene, combined with an external coating.

Many panels include resins, foam and stone powder. On sale there is a huge number of models of facade panels, which imitate such types of stone as shale, limestone, sandstone, malachite, quartzite, topaz. Also popular are varieties with relief forms (rocky or rocky stone). On sale, you can find materials that resemble flat basalt, onyx, granite, travertine, gold-lite, dolomite. The most popular models are neatly stacked rows of rectangular stones.

Thanks to the variety of these panels, anyone can quickly finish their house as an alpine house, and under the medieval wall for relatively little money. Due to the wide color palette for the front panels, you can choose any shade of the stone from light beige and white to dark brown and black. Such a variety of colors allows you to create a harmonious combination of the house and the surrounding landscape.

Properties of facade panels under the stone

Such a finishing material is not afraid of high or low temperatures, moisture and salts. Since it has a low coefficient of linear expansion, these panels do not deform for many years. A reliable joint system allows them to withstand even strong winds. High-quality materials are resistant to sun burn. Other properties of facade panels for stone include:

• Wear resistance;
• Low thermal conductivity;
• Good sound insulation;
• Impact resistance;
• Resistance to corrosion;
• Fireproofness.

This finishing material has the following advantages: low cost, light weight, the ability to mount on walls of any type without special preparation.

Cost of facade panels

On sale are both very expensive and cheap panels for the stone. The formation of prices is influenced by such factors: the manufacturer, brand awareness, used equipment (technology), the quality of raw materials. So, for example, panels made of heavy-duty material, in which there are special additives, will be much more expensive than conventional ones. The cost affects the quality of the surface of the panel. So the smooth materials are cheaper than the relief ones, which imitate the stone more plausibly. Panels with bright, saturated hues will have a higher price than light ones, since they require additional color stabilization. The most expensive finishing materials of this kind are those that have the thickest layer of insulation.

Artificial granite

This finishing material imitates a granite surface. It is used for the manufacture of table tops, window sills, small panels. It can be milled, cut, polished. It is made with a vacuum mixer, in which a special filler is mixed, for example, GRANATEX 350, 400, 500 and POLYLITE resin 32166-16. First, stirring is carried out without a vacuum. At this point, the filler particles get wet. After this, a catalyst ("Butanox M50") is added to the mixture and again everything is mixed under vacuum. The procedure is repeated 2-3 times for 15 minutes. Ready mass is poured into a special shape and the surface is leveled with a special brush. The frozen sheet of artificial granite is polished using a polishing machine. Approximate composition of the composition: resin - 35-40%, filler - 60-65%, catalyst - 1.5-2%.

Rules of care for imitation stone

Virtually all the finishing materials that mimic natural stone, are wear-resistant material. They are easy to take care of. Such material is very durable, durable, resistant to mechanical influences.

Imitation under the stone can not be scratched, washed with aggressive detergents. It should be periodically wiped with a soft rag.

Manufacture of artificial stone by own hands

There is another imitation stone. With your own hands, you can make an artificial stone made of concrete. Its cost will be slightly higher than the imitation of gypsum, but it can be used not only in interior decoration, but also for facing the facade. It is also used for landscape decoration. Concrete is made of "boulders" or tiles, imitating the surface of natural stone.

To get the simulation you need to learn some skills and get the necessary materials. The technology of producing artificial stone from concrete differs little from the way of making ordinary paving slabs. You need to purchase the following materials:

• Polyurethane injection molds of various shapes and configurations;
• Cement of the highest marks;
• Sifted fine-grained sand;
• Clean water;
• A special release agent, which prevents the solution from adhering to the walls of the mold. If it is not available, you can use normal engine oil.

First of all, mix the cement mortar. Its proportion is 1: 3. Polyurethane molds are laid on a flat surface, their internal walls are smeared with a separating compound and the ready solution is poured. Using a spatula, the cement-sand mass is compacted slightly to remove air bubbles. The surface layer is carefully leveled.

After the solution has solidified, the shape is carefully folded, and the finished artificial stone is easily separated from it. These blanks should be carefully dried and dyed in the color you like. To make imitation of a stone of a more natural kind choose a moisture-resistant paint of natural tones. The blanks are painted in several layers using a spray gun. Before this, the surface of the imitation is dusted off with a dry cloth. To give artificial stone from concrete a more natural look of the groove on it, it is possible to paint in a darker shade. Also, often on the imitation draws various specks, veins and other textures that copy this or that natural stone.

Making an imitation stone from gypsum

To produce this finishing material, you need to purchase special polyurethane molds and modified gypsum. There is a strict sequence of solution preparation. Gypsum is added to water, not water to gypsum. With constant stirring, a solution is prepared, which very quickly solidifies. That is why for a single time prepare a mixture of only 1-3 blanks. The ratio of dry mixture to water depends on the brand of gypsum. In this case, the thicker the composition, the stronger will be the artificial stone. Typically, the ideal consistency of the solution resembles thick sour cream. To increase the strength of gypsum stone imitation, about 10% of the sand can be added to the solution.

To speed up the work on making simulations, plasticizers such as citric acid or PVA glue are added to the solution. They prevent rapid hardening of the gypsum mass, which allows to produce more stones at the same time.

A ready mix is poured into molds. Its surface is carefully leveled. After 30-40 minutes the imitation of the stone should freeze. Frozen workpieces are easily removed from the polyurethane mold. They go to dry for several hours.

To obtain varicoloured artificial stones, add a pigment of the desired shade to the gypsum mixture. A more realistic color is obtained by manually painting the stones after drying. Such imitations after the drying of the paint are covered with a waterproof frosted varnish.