Design of arches trimmed with artificial stone. Final decoration of the stonework. Proper preparation of stone tiles for laying

Decorating a doorway in a living room or hallway in the form of a large arch has been popular in our country for decades. This gives the interior individuality and special charm. However, you should not leave the arch without additional cladding - modern finishing materials can emphasize the beauty of this design element. Today we will tell you how to finish an arch decorative stone.

Finishing two arches in one room with decorative stone in an identical way

Decorative stone for finishing work is a material with virtually no disadvantages. Artificial in itself, it consists of components such as cement, pumice, expanded clay and others, which are environmentally friendly. Corrosion, putrefactive processes or fungus cannot occur on decorative stone. Moreover, in comparison with natural stone This material is cheaper and lighter in weight.

A variety of colors, textures and imitations of decorative stone in construction stores

When decorating arches, artificial stone exhibits the following advantages:

Easy to care for;

To clean the surface, you only need water and any non-abrasive detergent.

Many options for textures and colors;

The production of artificial stone is quite common, and today consumers can choose suitable option for any interior. Excellent imitation of natural analogues in color and texture allows you to create cladding that is indistinguishable from natural stone finishing.

Fairly simple installation of the material;

Surface cladding process artificial stone It’s completely uncomplicated, so you can handle it yourself.

Protection for arch corners.

Artificial stone covering the corner of the junction of the wall and the internal opening will perfectly withstand various mechanical damage.

Corners lined with artificial stone are perfectly protected from mechanical damage

Stages of finishing an arch with artificial stone

If the pressing question for you is how to decorate an arch with stone, and moreover, if you decide to do the installation yourself, the following recommendations will be useful.

Preparation for work

The preparatory stage of work consists of selecting the material, acquiring the necessary tools and preparing the surface of the arch.

Selection of decorative stone;

To decorate the arch you should choose thin and narrow plates of artificial stone

Usually the shape of the slabs is chosen in the form of thin narrow rectangles; such proportions will look best on the opening. Often the surface of walls (and arches) is leveled using plasterboard, which necessitates installation lightweight material, and thin plates are the ideal option here.

Another advantage of this form of stone is that if you arrange the tiles vertically, this will visually increase the height of the arched opening. In addition, in rounded arches such material is easier to attach.

Small plates of artificial stone are easier to use in finishing a semicircular arch

Required tools for installation;

To decorate an arch with decorative stone, in addition to the material itself, you will need:

putty;
primer composition;
masonry mortar or liquid nails;
putty knife;
angle grinder;
plumb line or level;
pencil;
sandpaper (or file).

Preparing the arch surface.

It is necessary that the surface of the arched opening be smooth. If this is not the case, then the defects in the walls should be smoothed out - cracks and depressions should be filled with putty, and bulges should be sanded.

Careful preparation of the arch surface before finishing with artificial stone is necessary

In the case of a flat surface, notches are made on it using a small hatchet or similar tool. This will increase the adhesion of the applied materials.

also in mandatory the entire area on which the stone will be applied must be cleaned of dirt and stains. Then the surface is primed, and you can proceed directly to installation.

To comply the right technology When facing an arch with stone, surface priming is required

Technology of facing an arch with stone

Depending on the chosen design, the sequence of installation of materials on the surface of the opening may be different. Typically, installation begins from the bottom up from the junction of the opening and the wall.

The first plate is attached to the surface, leveled or plumb and fixed. Then adjacent plates in a row are fastened in the same way. When the first row is laid out, the installation of the second row begins. Usually, seams are left between the elements - about 4-5 millimeters. To keep them even, you can use special plastic dividers.

Beginning of installation of artificial stone on the surface of the arch from bottom to top

It is worth considering that when installing stone on inner surface The arch element should protrude outward by the size of its thickness. This will allow you to decorate the external walls with overlapping material and avoid the need to mask the corners.

To cut accurately desired length plate, first it is applied to the wall, and on the inside, markings are made with a pencil directly along the arc of the arch - this will be the cutting line. Exact size tiles are especially important when installing decorative stone on an arched arched opening.

Most main question, which worries inexperienced craftsmen - how to properly cut a plate of artificial stone. There are two common methods - using pliers and a handsaw.

In the first case, on the cut line made with a pencil, you need to draw it several times with pressure with a construction knife. Then everything that is unnecessary is simply bitten off with pliers, and the uneven edge of the plate is sanded with a file or sandpaper.

After marking, the excess part of the artificial stone is bitten off with pliers along the line

As a rule, already mounted material is cut with a hand saw directly on the surface. This method has its own nuances. Firstly, it is only suitable for plates installed vertically or horizontally and glued to a solution containing gypsum (in cases where the stone was mounted on cement, a circular saw is used for cutting). Secondly, some experience is required when working with a hand saw - if the material is damaged, then replacing one damaged element will be almost impossible.

The last stage of installing decorative stone on an arch is sealing the tile joints. About a day after the completion of laying the material, the gaps between the plates are filled with a special solution. To lay the grout into the seams, use either a rubber spatula or a construction syringe (gun). To make the seams look neat, they should be smoothed with a brush.

Filling the seams between artificial stone plates using a construction syringe

Important! Despite its high strength, artificial stone can be damaged during finishing work. Therefore, do not press the material too hard or bend it.

If you cannot imagine the result of such a design of an arched opening, we offer you a photo of arches, the finishing of which was done using decorative stone. We are sure that among them you will definitely find a suitable option for your home or apartment.

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 a 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 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. Great importance has its external inspection. 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. Use heavy big stones not recommended, as they can damage or deform the structure.

It is necessary to take into account the color and configuration of the stone. It is optimal to use more bright 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. Classic version The solution 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. even layer onto the surface of the arch a few millimeters thick.

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 preparatory work you can start laying 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. At the same time artificial finishing material it 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 in this case the first stone protrudes beyond the wall joint by the width of the facing tiles. 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 the finishing stones to the wall and cut them along the contour of the arc. After that, using a pencil, mark the stone protruding along the edge of the arch with its inside and cut it too. If there are irregularities during trimming, they must be removed with sandpaper.

Very important point is interior decoration arches. 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.

The history of arches as an architectural element comes from the Ancient East. It is impossible to determine who its creator is. IN modern world materials for building arches went far beyond stone. Now arches are made from OSP boards, chipboards, etc. But what if the araka just looks boring? Brings down the design. In this case, the arch is decorated with decorative stone. It is very easy to use and has a number of advantages: resistance to mechanical stress and absence of rotting, corrosion and fungus. Decorative stone is an environmentally friendly material for indoor use and will not cause harm to health. But when laying decorative stone, for the most pleasant effect, you should remember the work technique and follow it. How to finish with decorative stone? What could be the result later in the article.

Interesting decoration of the front door with decorative stone: photo

There are many ideas that can be realized using decorative stone. Walls, corners and doors look cozier. The stone protects them from external influences, lasts a long time. And the variety in color will help to make the most daring dreams of apartment design come true.

Options for compositions made of decorative stone for doorways and entrance doors:

If the interior of the room is restrained in colors and content, then you can put a decorative stone only on the wall, using a rare step. Without weighing down the entire arch. This will help highlight the opening, but not cover the rest of the space.
Completely cover the walls where the entrance doors are located with stone. Unusual effect of a stone house. The entrance openings are trimmed with stone, which allows the use of heavier items in the interior, such as a massive chest of drawers made of wood.
The murals of the Greek motif create around them the atmosphere of sunny and warm Cyprus. They allow you to forget about the cold and remember the sea.
Decorative stone is used to achieve the effect of antiquity. They completely decorate the wall with it and imagine themselves in a safe castle.

Finishing with decorative stone allows you to diversify the interior. Soft colors stones create an atmosphere of warm countries and remind of summer. The darker colors of the decorative stone look noble, like the reliable and indestructible walls of a castle or a large wooden house. The main thing is that this is really so. After all, with such a decorative element, the walls are not afraid of time.

Proper finishing of entrance door slopes with decorative stone: photo

Slopes lined with artificial stone will suit the interior original look. You can create the illusion of a cave or ancient castle. And the practicality of this type of finishing makes it one of the most popular among the people. Artificial material has a number of advantages that make it so popular.

The surface on which the stone is placed may not be flat, the weight of decorative stone is less than natural stone, there is a very wide variety of textures and appearance.

Artificial stone has good fire resistance and heat insulation, and does not absorb liquid. It is used indoors where very strict sanitation standards are observed. This material is safe and easy to use and clean.

Working on door slopes for artificial stone dictates a number of conditions:

When the door has rectangular shape, That Bottom part is made wider. This will create visual evenness and natural look, will help you transition from stone to another material without harsh elements.
The template must match the curvature of the structure.
You should not make smooth edges, this can destroy the naturalness.

All this work can be done without a master, who may charge too high a price. To perform this type of work with your own hands, you must remember that the color and size are selected before installation; the stone is easy to cut special tool. Everything is assembled into a single composition and after that you can finish the required surface.

Stone arches: preparation of tools, adhesive joints and surfaces

Before you start framing the arches with artificial brick or stone, you need to prepare everything necessary materials. After all, you can’t just start working on top of old untreated walls, gluing artificial stone onto jelly. The adhesive connection required for the work is prepared and the working surface is processed.

Materials to help create an arch:

The stone itself, which is selected according to a pre-thought-out design;
Pencil for indicating the location of parts, framing;
Sandpaper will help to trim rough corners of the stone;
The surface is covered with a soil solution to prepare it for cladding;
Adhesive connection for attaching stone to the surface of interior walls;
In order for the stone tiles to look decent, the gaps between each element are covered with grout for the seams;
A tub for mortar or glue.

Unevenness on the walls can also be smoothed out with sandpaper, and later also primed. This will prepare the surface. A special glue (liquid nails) or mortar (made of cement and sand) is used. The reliability of the fastening depends on the quality of the adhesive joint or how rough the surface of the decorative stone itself is. If the work is carried out without the help of a specialist, then it is worth preparing the solution gradually. This will help prevent it from drying out quickly. Mix the adhesive compound using a drill with a special attachment. The solution should resemble liquid sour cream in consistency.

How to decorate doors with decorative stone

The materials used to decorate doors with stone can be completely different. Granite, marble and many alternative things created by nature and processed by man. But they are rarely used, due to their heavy weight. This puts stress on the wall and doors. Cracks may form. Also, such material is difficult to transport and is expensive. It is for these reasons that decorative stone is most often used.

Laying technologies decorative material(how to tax):

Surface preparation. As stated above, it is necessary to prepare the plane for work. Remove remaining elements of old materials and finishing material.
Apply primer to a dry wall, perhaps even more than one coat.
Wait for it to dry completely.
The stone is laid out according to the planned design scheme, observing the color transition.
The mixture for the adhesive joint is prepared. All necessary components mix until a homogeneous solution.

It is advisable not to wet the stone before installation, as this may prevent the adhesive joint from fixing the stone to the wall. It is possible to lay stone in a beautiful pattern if you study the patterns (seamless and seamless), which are available to anyone. All these nuances are taken into account during work for the most acceptable effect.

Practical finishing of an arch with decorative stone (video)

A beautifully and neatly decorated door or arch with decorative stone will help the interior become expressive and stylish. The room will look elegant. No one will remain indifferent under the effect of stone walls or an original design with a decorative stone frame. This design (cladding) looks great.

Behind last years Decorating arches with stone is becoming increasingly popular. Received uncommon appearance rooms, for example in the hallway, gives the room individuality, originality and a solid look, expanding the space and creating a feeling of spaciousness.

Possesses not only beautiful design but also practicality. After all, the stone does not require ideal use when using smooth base, and there is no need to level the surface. Many apartment owners want, but do not know, how to decorate an arch with stone. The information presented below will help you figure this out.

And what advantages will the surface have if you decorate the arch with stone?

Scheme of masonry arch arch: B - the height to which you want to raise the top of the arch, C - half the width of the opening, R - radius.

Finishing arches with stone, as mentioned above, creates not only a pleasing external interior. Decorative stone has correct forms and is light in weight, which greatly simplifies the work. This material is absolutely harmless from the point of view of ecology, it is not subject to corrosion, fungi and other bacteria. No need for a stone special care, you can wash it with any non-abrasive detergent, it has a wide selection of colors and structures (imitation of brick or in the form of tiles), in addition, the style of execution can be different (antique or modern).

The stone is especially valuable for such advantages as reliability and durability. Typically, arches are included in the design when designing the interior of corridors near entrance doors. This part of the apartment is characterized by a high probability of pollution and damage to the walls.

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What tools and materials are required for finishing arches with stone?

When carrying out the work, the main difficulty is the fact that it is necessary to cover not only the flat surface, but also the inner rounded part of the arch. If you carefully read all the nuances of the process, stone finishing will no longer seem so complicated; you can do it yourself.

To finish the arch, before starting work, you need to prepare the following tool:

pliers;
pickaxe;
roller;
saw;
primer;
building level;
putty knife;
knife for construction work;
sandpaper;
pencil.

In addition, you will need:

stone;
liquid nails or glue;
cement mortar;
grouting solution.

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Preparatory stage of work

Stone tiles can be attached not only to cement, but also with liquid nails.

Before starting work on facing with stone arches, the following operations are required:

selection of stone. If the surface of the arch is made of drywall sheets, then too heavy stone tiles can deform or destroy it. As a rule, narrow plates are purchased for finishing arches, since it is easier to fasten them to the arcuate inner part;
surface preparation. It is necessary to carefully inspect the surface for possible defects.

The stone can only be fixed to a solid, clean surface.

Gluing a stone onto a dusty or dirty surface is strictly prohibited. This will lead to poor-quality fasteners, and the stone will soon fall off. The surface must first be treated with a special impregnation. Penetrating inside the material, it significantly strengthens it. If the surface is too smooth, then with a pickaxe it will be necessary to make notches. They will help improve the adhesion of the stone plate to the arch. Finally, the arch is treated with a primer.

Preparation of cement mortar. The composition depends on the type of stone used. Classic mortar includes sand, cement, lime and glue. The exact proportions of all components depend directly on the stone. Therefore, it is better to resolve this issue with specialists. If a decorative stone that is light in weight is used, then it will be easy to glue it to a pre-treated surface using special glue or liquid nails.

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How to finish an arch from the outside?

Stone laying is carried out according to the following sequence:

After facing the arch, at least 24 hours must pass, after which all seams must be wiped with a special solution.

Laying the 1st row. The walls bordering the arch also need to be finished. The first tile is attached at the junction of the arch with the wall. Start work from the bottom. To obtain a neat, even row, you need to use a building level and plastic crosses.
The 2nd row is also placed at the intersection of the arch with the wall. However, the 1st stone of this row should protrude beyond the joint at a distance equal to the thickness of the tile. The cladding tile is overlapped at the outer corners. This will allow not to close them in the future, and the masonry will become more durable. It turns out that the tiles should be stacked in a checkerboard pattern. The number of tiles depends on the length of the rows.
Approaching the curve, the finishing tile is first applied to the wall on which it will be mounted, and then, being careful, it is cut along an arc (maintaining the radius of the curve). Using a pencil, the stone is marked according to the rounding.
You can carefully cut the stone by first passing several times with a construction knife along the drawn markings. After that, all excess is removed with ordinary pliers. In addition, you can cut the tiles using special tile cutters or a grinder. The cut surface is processed with sandpaper. All other elements bordering the arch, if necessary, are adjusted in the same way.

One of the options for creating both an original and practical interior is to design the doorway in the form of a beautiful arch. Now it has become fashionable to combine the kitchen and dining room, living room and bedroom into a single room. The arched opening in this case unites the rooms, but leaves some isolation behind each functional space. In rooms with high traffic, corridors, kitchens, dining rooms, they get rid of doors altogether, because household members get tired of constantly opening and closing them, with constant open door its presence becomes meaningless.

Types of arches

The variety of designs of this element makes it possible to find a suitable option for any room style. Depending on the design idea, the vault of the structure takes various shapes. Taking into account the appearance of the arch, the following types are distinguished:

Classic. The most common, concise and harmonious in large quantities interiors. They have a semicircular arch without protrusions, suitable for spacious, high rooms.
Romantic. Their arches are rectangular, and the corners are somewhat rounded. They are usually used in wide interior openings.

Portal. It has a laconic square or rectangular shape, which eliminates unnecessary labor costs, but is not applicable everywhere.
Modern or British. An intermediate form reminiscent of classic and portal. The circle is smoothed, but cannot be called rectangular. Looks good in the openings of rooms with low ceilings.
Trapezoid. The vault has a trapezoidal shape.
Ellipse. Popular universal look designs where the corners are rounded. The most popular type of design for low, spacious rooms. Combines with other types, columns.
Half arch or Thai. The arch is asymmetrical, the left and Right side made differently, combining in one design an angle and roundings of a non-identical radius.
Turkish. Originates in the palaces and harems of the Ottomans. It will require harmony with the entire interior, the presence of Mediterranean motifs in decoration and furnishings.
Gothic. It has a spectacular sharp arch and can be the center of the interior.
Arch transom. Its upper part is decorated with an insert made of plastic and glass. Stained glass and relief details are used.

About decorative stone

Among the popular materials that are used in the construction of arched openings, it is worth highlighting plasterboard, wood, brick and stone finishing. Each of the materials is complemented by a variety of decorative elements. Decorating an arch emphasizes the style of the room, helps change the dimensions of the opening, and disguise some defects. The decoration with stucco, forging and carving is good in its own way, but an arch made of decorative stone is the most impressive. There is no design idea that cannot be realized with the help of stone.

When using artificial stone inside a house or apartment, the requirements for its protective functions are significantly lower. But even here it resists mechanical damage better than other materials, does not corrode, and is not subject to rotting. The word “decorative” should not scare away lovers of natural things: the material contains cement, pumice, expanded clay, environmentally friendly fillers of volcanic origin, clay and slate derivatives. There are practically no shortcomings in raw materials.

Advantages of a stone arch

Listing positive points when decorating arches in an apartment with decorative stone, its aesthetic and practical properties should be noted:

Easy to care for. Special detergents not required, any one that does not contain abrasives will do.
The imitation has no external differences from the original. Manufacturers have achieved complete similarity. At the same time, the price and weight of artificial stone are much more attractive. It is used to decorate the walls of wooden houses; they would not be able to withstand a lot of natural granite and marble.
No special training is required to make repairs yourself. You can do the cladding of the arch yourself after receiving appropriate instructions and watching a video on the topic.
The material has many style options, antique, modern.
There is a wide range of colors, so you won’t have any problems choosing one to suit your interior.

How to choose a decorative stone for arch design

To begin with, they assess the purpose of the premises being renovated, in which it will be used as decoration. Afterwards they calculate required amount. For arched openings, narrow plates are more suitable, which are easier to attach to curved arches. Acquire better stones with water-repellent properties or then coated with a water-repellent composition several times.

To calculate required quantity material, 5-10% is added to the cladding area. Material is saved by using stone scraps in the corners and for additional fragments. Primers are taken at the rate of double treatment of the wall. The amount of glue is approximately 3 kg per 1 m2.

Before laying on the surface, the packages with the stone are opened and the contents are mixed. First, individual fragments of the future decor are laid out on the floor, selecting them according to shades and size. Short ones are combined with long ones; their placement next to each other should look natural. Inspect the tile from the back side; there should be no foam layer on it that impairs adhesion. If there is one, clean it with a wire brush.

Selecting a stone by color

The perception of the color of the cladding is influenced by several factors. When choosing a material, evaluate its color in different time day, with natural and artificial lighting. At the southern and northern windows, on a cloudy and sunny day, the samples will look different.

Pay attention to what the chosen one will be adjacent to. facing material: wallpaper, glass, decorative plaster. The texture and color of the products are selected in accordance, but not in one boring color.

The color choice is influenced by the history and style of the home. Some color may not suit the style and ruin it. Sometimes chocolate is better than black, and beige stones They look better than the gray ones. If there are colored specks, contrasts, and play of shades, this will create a more beautiful surface.

What styles are suitable arches made of decorative stone

Styles sometimes coexist with each other, sometimes one is born from another. It is influenced by wars, fashion, crises. The use of decorative stone is different, depending on the style of the room.

Classic

Strictness and proportionality, high-quality wood, silk are combined with a refined finish. It should be coarse, in small quantities. The most suitable single-color decorative stone.

Gothic

IN pure form practically never occurs, but you have to deal with the elements. Stained glass windows and forged elements are in harmony with decorative stone. Door portals framed in rough stone create a “castle” effect. The part of the arch with “losses” is impressive, where brick or different-sized stone masonry is visible.

Empire style

In a rich ceremonial decor with bronze, crystal, bas-reliefs important role The expressive texture of the stone will play a role. The arches are laid out with relief fragments, framed with frames and friezes.

Country

In a prosperous country house wood and decorative textured stone are required. Arches lined with stone harmoniously coexist with plastered walls.

African style

The arches are covered with stones of warm and hot colors: spice colors, brown, copper. Masks and wooden dishes, skins go well with mahogany, rosewood, and ocher relief stone.

Scandinavian style

The laconic northern interior is emphasized by light natural tones in finishing. The relief of the stone will look much more advantageous with multi-level lighting.

Vintage

“Grandma’s” antique furniture and the exit from the room through an arch made of smoky brick will appeal to lovers of romance.

Techno

Here, concrete, exposed floor beams, metal and glass will be in harmony with the rough texture of the stone-lined arch, whitewash and peeling paint. An uneven corner of a brick wall with visible reinforcement would be quite appropriate.

Lighting and other ways to decorate an arch

It is important to properly design the visual expansion of space in order to result in an interesting object. Decorative stone alone creates a feeling of incompleteness. If the arch leading to the hallway or to the nursery is stylized as the entrance to a cave, tunnel or mouth of an exotic lizard, additional way Decorating in this case is light and plants. Without vegetation, it is difficult to create an arch that will serve as a tunnel to the underwater world.

The lamps built into the arched opening do not spread light into the room itself, which is convenient at night. Illumination will add mystery to the arched doorway. You can't do without light here if the arch is the head of a dragon.

The color nuances and shimmers of the stone require good lighting. For such purposes, stylish sconces are hung and LED lighting is installed, depending on the specifics. The material goes well with living weaving plants and vines. The wide, uncomfortable opening is balanced with shelving and shelves on the sides.

Do-it-yourself arch finishing

To create a stone structure in a house you will need step-by-step instruction, a list of materials, the availability of which is taken care of in advance.

Tools and materials

Construction mixer for thoroughly mixing glue. In absence, they adapt a drill.
Level, tape measure, mallet.
A cutting machine is required.
Glue container.
Paint brushes.
Pencil, sandpaper.
Metal brush.
Grout syringe, grout.
Spatula or spatula, sponge.
Wedges made of wood or plastic.
Water repellent. Unlike waterproofing, it will allow the stone to “breathe”.
Primer, glue, the stone itself.

Preparing the surface

This stage is carried out traditionally: the remnants of the previous coating are removed, unevenness is smoothed out using sandpaper, then they are puttied using a primer. The primer is selected in accordance with the wall material.

If the walls are concrete, monolithic, a special adhesive primer is used. When working in a hot or humid environment back side the tiles are wetted. Moisture-resistant plasterboard is dried well after priming.

Preparing stone for laying

The installation material is being reviewed again. In accordance with the markings, the finishing stone is cut correctly. When developing a sketch, take into account the installation method: end-to-end or with a seam formed. Trimming is done using a machine, giving the products an arched appearance. If necessary, reverse side clean with a wire brush.

When using a hand saw you need to be careful. Excessive force when cutting leads to the fact that the stone breaks along unexpected lines.

Preparation of adhesive solution

The material is attached to the wall using silicone tile adhesive. Liquid nails, as well as cement-sand mortar, are suitable. The best option is a specialized composition, which is prepared in a bucket using a mixer. The composition is thoroughly mixed until completely homogeneous.

You should buy glue after purchasing the tiles and prepare according to the instructions. They don’t make a large supply, because... the solution sets quickly.

Laying stone

The design of the arch starts from the bottom. First, using a spatula, glue is applied to the wall, then to the back side of the stone. On both surfaces its thickness should be 5-10 mm.

An overly thick layer will cause the stone to slide and the cavity will lead to the formation of condensation. During the procedure, the horizontal positioning is periodically checked.

To finish the corners, use special shaped elements or lay the stone so that its edge protrudes to the thickness of the tile. The fragments on the other side of the corner will level the ledge.

The tile is applied to the selected location and pressed lightly. Using a level and a mallet, level and achieve a complete fit. When tapping, having determined the voids inside, the elements are dismantled, the glue is cleaned off, and the process is repeated again. The glue protruding along the edges is removed with a spatula. At the ends of the elements, the glue is not removed; it will contribute to their better adhesion to each other.

With the seamless method, the tiles fit tightly together. Provided that the material has been previously prepared, the process occurs quickly. Carrying out the installation from top to bottom, you get sharp lines borders.

For masonry with jointing, special wedges of the required thickness are used. You can use plasterboard strips of different thicknesses or tile crosses. The beauty of the arch in the future depends on competent and careful execution of the work. If the thickness of the fragments used exceeds 15 mm, the technology requires a pause after laying 3-4 rows, giving them a chance to set.

Grouting and final stages

After the solution hardens, about two days later, the auxiliary elements are removed. Excess solution is also cleaned off. Prepare a grouting compound that fills all the seams. A construction syringe is used to fill the cracks. After half an hour, the seam is smoothed out with a special spatula or spatula. You can use a dish sponge to remove excess grout. In accordance with the design, grout is used different colors and shades.

Rules and secrets for laying facing stone from specialists

To create a natural look for the masonry, the stone in places around the edge is decorated with decorative chips. To do this, draw the desired line with a knife, and bite off the excess along it with pliers, trying to snatch off the excess in small pieces. Chips are smoothed with a file.

The stone is large and small size alternate, and the joints of the slabs should not coincide from row to row. When finishing, which is not done from the floor, an auxiliary metal profile is fixed to the wall, which is removed after the structure dries. Clear and even corners and shaped parts are obtained using a grinder using a diamond wheel.

You can protect the arch from abrasion acrylic varnish. When cleaning, use a broom, vacuum cleaner, or spray bottle, after which the drained water is simply removed from the floor with a rag.

Arches, as a rule, do not stop at finishing with decorative stone. This element looks more advantageous, echoing the same fragments on the walls of the room. The process takes a lot of time, but an arch designed in this way will decorate the house in an original way and bring additional comfort.