Decoration of arches with decorative stone. Decorating an arch with gypsum artificial stone in an apartment. What to choose: natural or artificial decorative stone

The arch is a real decoration of any room; its smooth shapes bring softness and special comfort to design solutions. A very important point in the design of this element is the finishing, since it is this that determines the style and effectiveness of the arched passage. Decorative design should correspond to the overall style of the room, but at the same time it can become the center of visual attraction of the entire interior.

It should be noted that arches are installed not only in wall openings, but also as decoration for niches or windows.

Finishing an arched opening with artificial stone

Recently, decorating these arched structures with artificial stone has become especially popular.

1. Material selection

Today, a large assortment of this material is presented on the markets. A variety of colors and textures allows you to choose a material to suit any interior and taste. Among the most popular imitations of stone are shell rock, slate, granite, travertine, marble, etc. The texture of the tile can be smooth and refined, or it can resemble wild, rough stone.

The tiles are produced in the form of smooth plates of different sizes and thicknesses, as well as a corner version of the product, which allows you to easily and accurately design all the corner parts of the arch. But it must be purchased after careful calculations of all sizes and quantities of material.

In addition to the fact that this is the most spectacular type of decoration, it can also be called the most complex. In order for the artificial stone to hold well, you need to choose it correctly. The choice should depend not only on the appearance of the product, but also on the surface on which it will be glued.

Facing stone is made on different bases. For the arch, you need to choose options made of lightweight materials, such as acrylic or quartzite, but in some cases tiles made of gypsum, alabaster or sand-cement mortar are also suitable.

For example, if the arch has a structure covered with plasterboard, light and flexible acrylic tiles are best suited for it, but the gypsum option is also quite suitable.
An arch made of brick and plastered can be decorated with imitation stone made from cement-sand mortar.

Advice: Better adhesion can be achieved if the tile contains the same material as that found on the surface on which it will be laid.

Attention! Some craftsmen make tiles that imitate natural stone at home. Now the forms and material for its manufacture can be purchased at construction stores.

When an artificial stone is selected, you need to carefully prepare the surface for future masonry.

2. Surface preparation and choice of glue

To ensure that the work goes smoothly and the tiles adhere well, the surface is leveled and treated with a primer. Then they dry it well and only after that they start working.
The choice of glue depends entirely on the material from which the artificial stone is made.

Acrylic and quartzite tiles provide good adhesion to a plasterboard surface if they are glued to so-called “liquid nails.”
The gypsum or alabaster version gives good adhesion to drywall and even to a concrete surface if gypsum-based adhesive is used.
Cement-sand products can be glued to concrete mortar or special cement-based adhesive.
In addition, you will need a special mixture to seal the joints between the tiles. The procedure for making seams is carried out after the work is completely completed.

3. Stone masonry

When finishing an arch, the problem of neat masonry lies in two zones - the corners and the arc of the structure. Remember, any tile begins to stick from the bottom row.

Angles

To prevent wide seams from forming at the corners and make them look perfect, you can use two methods of work:

the first of them is acceptable for hard tiles made of gypsum, alabaster or concrete. At the matching corners of the tile, along its thickness, cuts are made at 45°, which will fit neatly to each other, and the seam at the corner will be minimal;
The second method of laying a corner is that the tiles are glued overlapping, i.e. in the first row, on one side of the corner it is aligned with the corner and glued exactly along it, and on the other side - with a protrusion exactly the thickness of the previously laid tile.
The result is the following masonry design: in each even row a tile is pulled out from the left side of the corner, in each odd row - from the right. The length of the tiles should be adjusted to the total length in the vertical row.

Arch vault

It should be immediately noted that it is best to finish the vaulted part of the arch inside with acrylic flexible tiles. Using it, you will not encounter any difficulties in your work. Acrylic adheres well to the surface and takes the shape of a semicircle, and can also be easily adjusted in length and width.

If you decide to finish with a non-flexible material that has a certain thickness, then you need to choose a narrow tile and arm yourself with some tools.

First, the tile is tried on on the plane of the arch, in the place where it will be glued, and its length is noted.
A construction knife is drawn along the marked line several times, after which the marked part is broken off using pliers. Edge roughness is smoothed out with a file. If the tile is made of gypsum, it can be cut with a regular hacksaw.

3. Sealing seams

Approximately 18-20 hours after completion of the masonry work, you can begin sealing the seams.

This process requires extreme care, since staining the tiles with mortar can ruin the entire job.

The seams are filled using a rubber spatula; excess composition is immediately removed with a damp soft cloth.

If it is intended to decorate not only the corners of the arch, but also the wall around it with artificial stone, this is done after completing work with the main structure.

Examples of arch finishing

Everyone chooses interior decoration to their own taste, but if you decide to use a stone to decorate the arch, it’s a good idea to look at ready-made options. Perhaps someone will find one suitable for themselves among them.

This interior uses acrylic tiles that imitate natural stone.. It is arranged in an unusual and interesting way around a spectacular arch. The texture and color scheme harmoniously combines with the overall design of the room. The shade of the plastered walls and door panels is perfectly matched. A fairly thin wall in which the structure is built would hardly allow the use of tiles made of heavy materials - they would look rough and inappropriate. The acrylic version gives subtlety and elegance to the design.

A wide arch, finished with gypsum tiles imitating wild stone, organically echoes the fireplace masonry and is, as it were, its continuation. This option uses small narrow tiles, which will make it easier to lay. The work will take more time, but will save you from unnecessary adjustments to the material. The arch fits perfectly into the interior both in shape and color. The design is in its place, creating the overall harmony of the room.

A heavy version of artificial stone imitation was used in the design of the arch and fireplace. made from cement-sand mortar. It has a certain thickness, but does not look rude or defiant. The rounded edges of the tiles give the masonry a special charm and elegance. It should be noted that such tiles are made independently or to order, as they have an individual shape for a specific arch design. In some places of the vault, corner tiles are used, which makes the corners neat and beautiful. In support of the arched opening, the same stone is used to cover the fireplace, niche and decorative element on the wall. The interior imitates a room in a medieval castle, but more comfortable and modern.

Using this arch as an example, you can clearly see how the corner stones for a semicircular arched vault look and are secured. This is a very convenient element that eliminates the need to mask seams at the corners. The arch is decorated with tiles, looking like wild stone. Such specimens are made from a cement-sand composition and are attached to a special glue based on cement. In this case, the seams also play the role of decorative decoration of the opening.

When starting to decorate a structure with artificial stone, you need to think through all the nuances of the work. After reading the instructions described above, you can draw conclusions about whether you can arrange this element of the interior yourself. If you are completely unfamiliar with such a process, it is better to invite a qualified craftsman who will do everything in the best possible way.

There are many options on how to make the interior original and attractive. One solution is to create a beautiful arch from the doorway. But such a design by itself may not be enough. In some cases, you can’t do without a spectacular finish. And for this, artificial stone is very often used.

About arches

An arch is an architectural element that plays the role of an opening in the interior. It is known that there are references to the first arches from the times of the Ancient East.

Given such a long history, it is not possible to know the reasons for the creation of arched structures. For a very long time the structure was built from stone and brick. Nowadays, plasterboard, wood, plywood, as well as OSB, chipboard or fiberboard have been added to this list.

About decorative stone

This material is not just an excellent way to decorate the interior, it performs an excellent protective function. That's why designers loved him so much. Of course, if artificial stone is used indoors, then its protective functions are limited to resisting only accidental mechanical damage. And this material is used in the interior in a targeted manner, the maximum that can be finished in one room is a wall. But most often the material is used as an addition to existing elements.

Advantages of a stone arch

This design option has almost no disadvantages. After all, the material does not rot, is not subject to corrosion and fungus. Decorative artificial stone consists of environmentally friendly components and is therefore safe for health.

Why can't you use natural material? The fact is that, firstly, it is very expensive, and secondly, not all structures can withstand the weight of natural stone. The same granite is three times heavier than its artificial counterpart.

There are a number of other advantages of this approach:

no special care required - any detergent that does not contain abrasives will do;
you can use an artificial analogue of any natural stone - manufacturers began to make very high-quality imitation;
Decorating arches with stone with your own hands does not require any special skills, so the procedure is easy.

Materials for creating the structure

Creating a stone arch in an apartment requires the use of a certain list of materials that need to be prepared in advance:

the decorative stone itself;
pencil;
sandpaper;
primer;
mortar or glue;
grout for seams.

Instructions

Finishing an arch with decorative stone starts with the traditional stage of surface preparation. You need to smooth out the unevenness using sandpaper, and then putty them using a pre-primer.

Preparation of adhesive solution

Decorative stone can be laid using special glue, cement-sand mortar, or liquid nails.

The quality of adhesion of the finishing material to the base depends on the roughness of the back side of the tile and the quality of the adhesive mixture. If you need to prepare the solution yourself, you need to do this in small portions, since it sets quickly enough, losing its properties. You need to mix the powder and water in a convenient, capacious container using a mixer (this can be a drill with a special attachment). You need to mix until you get the consistency of thick sour cream.

Laying

Laying is done from bottom to top. You need to start from the corner of the opening-wall. The seam should be left approximately 4-5 mm. If corner stones are used, they must be glued from below. If flat ones are used, the installation should be done with an overlap.

During the procedure, you should not forget to check the horizontal positioning. Elements on the arc can be trimmed to maintain the required radius. This can be done with wire cutters or a grinder with a special attachment.

The edges must be sanded using a file. When the finishing is completed, you need to wait for the solution or glue to dry. After this, you need to start refining the seams. For these purposes, we use grout of the appropriate color. To perform the procedure, it is better to use a construction syringe. Otherwise, you can use a rubber spatula. You can make the tool yourself. To do this, cut a square piece of polyethylene, roll it into a cone, and secure it with tape. The tip of this element must be cut so that the resulting size corresponds to the size of the seams between the stones.

Next, use one of these tools to press the grout into the seams to completely fill them. In this case, you need to do everything carefully so that the material does not get on the front part of the products. All you have to do is wait until the grout dries - the decorative stone arch is ready.

Seamless installation

In this case, the tiles are laid tightly together, so finishing the arch with artificial stone requires painstaking work. The glue or solution is applied to the stone. If the installation is done from top to bottom, you can get a smooth border with clear lines.

Since the edges of the finishing material are well prepared, no time is required for selection during installation, so the procedure is carried out quickly. At the end, the surface can be opened with impregnation, which will repel water and protect it from the effects of chemicals.

A stone arch is inexpensive, but looks great

Decorating an arch with stone allows you to give this element of the interior more expressiveness and style. The room takes on a more sophisticated and attractive look. This option looks especially good in hallways and living rooms. In a word, the effect of this finish is amazing, as you can see by looking at the photos of the options.

Currently, an industry such as private construction is developing very actively. Over the past decade, new finishing materials have been introduced into practice. One of them is decorative artificial stone. It is used for finishing various rooms and structures. It is widely used for finishing arches. Today, arches are often used in the construction of houses instead of simple doors. They are oval or semicircular openings that can be curtained or open.

An arch is a complex structure that requires adherence to strict technology when carrying out decoration and repair work. Decorative stone is excellent for cladding an arch, as it has good performance characteristics and has a sufficient range depending on the design. Most often, a stone made to look like marble or granite is used to decorate an arch. It is important to know that when decorating an arch, the architectural features of the structure itself and the interior of the room must be taken into account. Let's take a closer look at how to lay an arch with decorative stone and the main advantages of the stone.

Preparatory work

Before you start decorating the arch with decorative stone, you need to carefully prepare the surface. First you need to clean it of paint and varnish using sandblasting and grinding. Its external examination is of great importance. This is important if there are cracks or other defects. After this, you need to level it with putty and apply a primer. If you glue a stone onto a dusty and dirty surface, it may soon fall off, since the adhesion to the surface will not be of good quality. The next stage of work is the selection of the required material. If, for example, the arch is made of plasterboard, then it is advisable to use narrow plates for cladding; they are better suited for the curved surface of the arch. It is not recommended to use heavy, large stones, as they can damage and deform the structure.

It is necessary to take into account the color and configuration of the stone. It is optimal to use brighter colors so that they stand out against the background of the arch itself. Currently, decorative stone can be selected in almost any shape and color, it all depends on the taste of the builder. The size of the stone tiles should be equal to the radius of the arch. Otherwise, you may need a grinder to cut it into several pieces.

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Preparation of cement mortar

To make an arch from decorative stone, you will need a solution to fix the material. It can be prepared using sand, cement, lime and glue. It is advisable to use liquid nails. The composition of such a cement mortar is determined by the type of stone. The classic version of the mortar includes components such as Portland cement, sand, lime and glue. The exact ratio of components depends on the decorative stone itself, so it is advisable to consult with experts in this matter. You can use ready-made adhesives. Glue based on a mixture of PVA and gypsum, mounting, acrylic, is suitable.

The fact that the stone will be laid with jointing or not is also important. If the surface of the arch is fairly flat and jointing is not provided, then mounting adhesive will do. If there are joints and unevenness, a cement-adhesive mortar is best suited.

It is applied using a notched trowel in an even layer on the surface of the arch with a thickness of several millimeters.

The most widely used adhesive compositions are: Ceresit SM 11, Ceresit SM 17, Ceresit SM 115, Litokol K 80, Kreps-super and others. The adhesive base should be thick and flexible, not dry.

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Decorative stone laying technology

After all the preparatory work, you can begin to lay the stone on the arch. The most optimal method is without jointing, that is, the slabs are attached close to each other. The first row starts first. The very first stone is attached in the place where the arch meets the adjacent wall. In this case, the artificial finishing material must be applied very tightly, especially if cement mortar is used. This is done in such a way that the excess solution is squeezed out along the entire perimeter of the stone. The material is attached with the flat side inward and the convex side outward. This technology ensures good sealing of the seams. If necessary (if the stone is large), it is sawed and processed with a grinder. In this case, it is recommended to place the cut tiles so that the cut is not visible.

The work of laying the first stones on the arch is carried out from below. You need to ensure that the masonry is level. To do this, you need to have a building level available. The second row is also laid at the junction with the wall. But in this case, the first stone protrudes beyond the wall joint by the width of the facing tile. Thus, the stones are overlapped at the outer corners in a checkerboard pattern. In the place where the arch begins to round, you need to attach finishing stones to the wall and cut them along the contour of the arc. After this, use a pencil to mark the stone protruding along the edge of the arch from its inside and cut it off too. If there are any irregularities during cutting, they must be removed using sandpaper.

A very important point is the interior decoration of the arch. It is carried out using the same technology. If the length of the stone slab is greater than the opening of the arch, then it is cut off. If the stone is made of gypsum, then a hand saw is suitable for these purposes; if it is made of cement, a circular saw is suitable. After completing all the work, you need to wait about 2 days for the material to finally fix and the structure to become strong. The seams are cleaned and filled with a special solution, then smoothed with a spatula or brush. There should be no mortar residue left on the facing side. If necessary, the stone can be painted in any color.

To beautifully and efficiently decorate a door arch with your own hands, we will need:

pencil;
building level;
roller, spatula and pliers;
cement mortar and primer;
hacksaw and knife;
sandpaper;
joint putty;
decorative rock.

How to decorate an arch with wallpaper?

The most popular way of covering a door arch in our country is with wallpaper. They can be joined together with decorative parts on a plaster base, they are cheap and easy to glue. When choosing, we recommend paying special attention to dense types of wallpaper, since there is a specific specificity to their painting.

However, wallpaper also has disadvantages: a short service life, the impossibility of complete restoration and susceptibility to moisture.

How to decorate an arch with wallpaper:

Dissolve the glue according to the instructions included with the package. Mix thoroughly so that there are no lumps.
Paste the first strip on the wall near the arch, and the subsequent ones so that they partially cover the opening with an indentation of 4 cm.
We cut off the remaining indentation above the passage by 2 cm, bend it downhill and glue it to the surface. We glue the wallpaper on the other side of the arch in the same way.
Cut a piece of wallpaper along the width of the arched arc (inside) and glue it. Smooth it with a dry cloth from the center in different directions, removing air bubbles.

How to decorate an arch with decorative plaster?

Decorative plaster is becoming increasingly popular among designers and interior decorators. It allows you to create various universal reliefs and textures.

Its undeniable advantages include affordable price and excellent quality, as well as ease and ease of use for repairs. For finishing work using decorative plaster, you do not need to hire a specialist.

The disadvantage of the coating is the impossibility of restoration. It is almost impossible to remake it to its original form; the difference in layers will be visible. Also, decorative plaster is afraid of moisture and cannot be cleaned.

How to decorate an arch with decorative plaster:

We plaster the arched arch so that the seams of the opening and drywall do not show through.
We apply a primer that will provide adhesive properties for the plaster.
We apply putty. Using a sponge or grater, we form a pattern and texture on a fresh layer of coating.

How to decorate an arch with decorative stone: step-by-step instructions

Decorative stone is used for aesthetic interior design, but its protective properties are also at a high level. It is usually used in conjunction with other materials. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to decorate an arch with decorative stone with your own hands.

Step 1. Selecting a stone and preparing for finishing

To finish the arch, it is better to choose narrow layers of stone, as they are easier to glue to the frame in rounded places. Once we have chosen it, we prepare the surface for installation: we make notches and prime the arch with a roller.

We prepare a cement mortar suitable for the selected stone. Typically, the solution contains classic components: glue, sand, lime, cement.

Step 2. Cladding the arched wall

The arched wall is also partially laid with stone so that the whole composition looks organic. We lay the first stones from below at the junction of the wall and the arch. We check the uniformity of the masonry using a building level.

We also lay the next row of cladding from the joint. It should protrude beyond the joint by a size equal to the thickness of one stone. We glue the tiles themselves end to end.

If you need to decorate an arch with decorative stone, contact the Yudu masters database. Our specialists will perform finishing work of any complexity efficiently and inexpensively. Leave a request for services at any time.

What kind of work do the craftsmen do?

Decorating arches in an apartment with decorative stone is carried out in several stages:

selection and purchase of materials (you can do this yourself or entrust our specialists)
surface preparation for better adhesion of materials, aesthetics and long service life of the coating (if finishing with decorative stone is done on a dusty and dirty surface, the new coating will quickly come away from the wall)
primer
finishing work using lime, sand, glue - the master will determine the adhesive solution depending on the choice of material

Our specialists will help you choose materials that will best solve the problems of your interior. It can be porcelain stoneware, quartz, acrylic, gypsum stone. Each material has its own texture, which will give the room an original and aesthetic appearance. To consult with our experts, ask them direct questions in the chat.

Cost of services

The following aspects will influence how much it will cost to decorate an arch with decorative stone:

type of material
area of processed surfaces
scope of services of masters
urgency of the task

To get an idea of the prices in advance, look through the personal profiles of our craftsmen - many of them indicate how much it costs to decorate arches in an apartment with stone. But the performers write average figures - to find out a more accurate amount, write to the selected artists directly.

Leave a request in the feedback form on this page so that the decoration of the interior arch with decorative stone will be done with high quality and inexpensively. Describe your conditions in terms of price and urgency, indicate your preferences in the appearance of materials. Our craftsmen will write to you and offer services - the interior arch in the apartment will look beautiful and neat.