How to overlay the arch with decorative tiles. A stone arch is inexpensive, but looks great. How to finish a plasterboard arch

Arched openings have firmly entered the interior design of a home or office. Even in ancient times, the arch was associated either with a passage into the future, or with a triumphal procession. Decorative stone in the decoration of this architectural element gives the arch even more sophistication and chic.

Designers offer many ways to decorate arches. Among them, gypsum moldings, wood paneling and forged elements look especially elegant and elegant. Such combinations will perfectly fit into any style of the room and emphasize its individuality. But nothing can compare with the beauty and durability of stone. This is what ensured him superiority in the decoration of arched openings. But a natural stone very expensive today. And therefore, its artificial counterparts are increasingly being used to decorate arches.

Which is better: artificial or natural stone?

Of course, fans of everything natural will give preference to natural material. And even its cost will not be a reason to abandon the plan. Photos of arched openings trimmed with natural stone in magazines and on the Internet show how much beauty and grace they add to the interior. Very unusual in texture and surface are rocks such as sandstone and shell rock. And marble is valued for its unusually delicate color and intricate pattern.

The arches in the apartment, finished with granite, look unusually majestic and rich.

But do not deprive your attention of the decorative analogue. It has a lot of advantages compared to natural, the main of which is the cost. An artificial counterpart is much cheaper than a natural one. But at the same time, he can imitate absolutely any breed.

Decorative stone is made from environmentally friendly materials such as expanded clay and pumice. And in order to achieve desired color, into the mixture add special pigment . After the material has been dried and fired, its strength is in no way inferior to its natural counterpart. And the weight of such a stone is several times less, which is also a significant plus.

Finishing Tools

It is worth noting that in order to complete the decoration of the arched opening with artificial stone, special skills are not required. Here are some tools you will need:

grinder or hand saw to cut the stone;
sandpaper;
construction knife;
chisel;
hammer.

decorative stone needed cut into small pieces so that there are no overlaps in the process of work.

Sequence of work

As you can see, there is nothing complicated in such work. But you still have to get used to it.

The advantages of finishing the arch with decorative stone

Decorative stone in the decoration of the arch has a lot of advantages. It not only adds zest to the interior of the apartment, but also helps to give the entrance to the room a special style and monumentality. But this finish option also has a practical component. A doorway is a place through which both people and animals pass. Which means he gets very dirty. Decorative stone will help to avoid this. In addition to the fact that this material is perfectly cleaned, it also has a rather interesting texture, on which stains will not be noticeable.

The decorative finish of the arch has many variations that are perfect for any interior. Many photo ideas are proof of this. You can choose a material imitating brick or small pebbles, and you can choose the design for granite.

Decoration methods

Of course you can post decorative stone and the entire wall that is adjacent to the arch. But most often they only post side row around the arch.

With the help of various stone imitations, you can create the most different variations entrance to the room. So, a granite arch will imitate the entrance to old castle, and the arches light green color will become a semblance of the entrance to the sea grotto. What exactly you want to see in your home is up to you.

It is worth noting that using combination of photo wallpaper and masonry you can create a panorama from the ruined building and the city behind it. But not only this decor option can be applied. This is a matter of taste and your imagination.

And, most importantly, you should not overload the interior if the arch decoration in it is planned from stone. This will lead to the fact that the effect of pretentiousness is created. The whole design of such a room, if there is more than one stone element in it, will crush with its weight. But, if you have a fireplace in your house, it must be finished in the same style as the arch. Together they will create harmonious ensemble, betraying the house a special charm and warmth.

Decorative arches in the apartment

Many rooms are equipped with arches separating different zones. Arches have become a fashionable alternative to doors and partitions, they make the apartment more spacious and can be an ideal decor object. For the design of arches, various natural and artificial materials are chosen. One of the most popular options is the decoration of the arch with decorative stone. To decorate the arch correctly, you need to know about all the nuances of the design and material.

Advantages

For the decoration of the arch, one of two types of stones is chosen - artificial or natural. Each type has its own advantages.

For natural materials the following features are characteristic:

They have a very interesting texture. Such stones look non-standard - both on the pages of magazines and photographs, and upon closer examination. These include shell rock, sandstone.
lovers delicate flowers in the interior, you should choose arches lined with marble. This stone has been aged various shades pink, pastel color looks very neat and unobtrusive.
To emphasize their status, buyers often choose arches finished with granite. This material is very expensive, but it gives the interior solidity and is a sign of financial well-being.

Artificial decorative stones also have their advantages:

They are made so high quality that they are almost indistinguishable from natural materials.
The price of such material is democratic. You can finish the vault with a large number of stones without worrying about financial costs.
Fake diamond usually finished in such a way that it is not inferior in strength to natural materials.
Weight decorative coating significantly less than natural. The combination of strength and lightness gives the artificial material a significant advantage.
Artificial stone is not affected external factors. It is not subject to rotting and mold formation, harmful bacteria do not appear on it.
With the help of a variety of dyes, they create a wide palette of colors for stones, so you can choose a shade that is suitable for your apartment.
Decorative material is easy to clean, no need to buy special means for care and adhere to special technologies.

Based on these characteristics, you can determine which type of material is more suitable for finishing arches in your apartment. You will be able to choose the most the best option.

Tools

To glue the opening with stones, you need to stock up on certain tools and materials:

hammer;
sandpaper;
chisel;
hacksaw for stone carving;
construction knife;
building level;
putty knife;
roulette;
construction mixer;
Grout syringe.

The following items are used as consumables:

Choose a special glue for decorative stone - depending on the chosen coating. Some materials require glue with a special composition, so be careful when buying.
To make the seams between the stones invisible, choose a grout that is close in color to the material.
Get a primer to prepare the walls. Choose a primer carefully, taking into account the composition of the walls, because different types primers may differ from each other. Not all of them will be suitable for your apartment.
A water repellent is needed for the final processing of the stone.

With all necessary materials and tools, you can easily cope with the design of walls with decorative or natural stone.

Preparation

In order for the material to be fixed as firmly as possible, it is imperative to prepare the surface of the wall and the part to which the stone itself will join.

Remains of wallpaper and paint should be removed from the walls. If there is whitewash near the doorways, then its traces must also be removed.
Use putty to level the surface.
The arch and walls in the apartment must be treated with a primer. If the arch is made of drywall, do not lay heavy stone on it. Drywall won't hold a lot of weight.
Some use stones of several colors in the interior. If you are going to start finishing the vault, lay out the composition of stones in such a way as to draw up a drawing in advance - and only then transfer it to the wall.
Calculate the size of the material so that each part fits exactly into a specific place in the doorway.

Finishing

The direct finishing of the opening is the main stage of the whole process, which must take place in a certain sequence:

It is necessary to stir the glue to a homogeneous mass (using a mixer). You should do this strictly according to the instructions.
Glue is applied to the surface where the stone will be placed, and on reverse side the tile itself. Layers should be from 0.5 to 1 cm thick, but no more.
Stone tiles or decorative brick attach to the wall surface and press down. Each piece is fixed in a predetermined place and leveled using a building level. Square parts are much easier to apply, but tiles of a different shape will make the cladding more original.

Try with your hands to attach the stone to the wall as tightly as possible.
Tap the surface of the material and remove the protruding adhesive, if any. When the glue holds the pieces of tile together from the end, it should be left.
After you need to carefully grout the seams. Using a syringe, it is necessary to fill the joints between the pieces of the tile so that the recess is at a distance of 0.3-0.5 cm from the outer edge of the coating.

After half an hour (after the solution has dried), the surface should be leveled with a spatula.
To create an imitation of natural material, tiles should be decorated with chips. To do this, you need to pre-outline the chip line. Slowly and carefully remove the excess edges with pliers, moving from the edge to the intended line. Use a file to smooth out the edges of the chips. Use sandpaper for final polishing.
You can spray the tiles using special aerosol. If there is high humidity in the room, treat the material with a water repellent.

It should be remembered not only the main stages of the process, but also the special advice that professionals give in the design of arches in the premises:

Artificial stone arches in the hallway are recommended to be left with seams between the tiles. This nuance gives additional comfort. However, it is important to remember that too sharp a contrast between the shade of the coating and the color of the seams is unacceptable.
If you have to cut artificial material using a saw, it is important not to put pressure on it during this process, otherwise there is a risk that the stone will crack.
A stone arch is inseparable from good lighting. Make sure in advance that the room or corridor is equipped with powerful electrical appliances. This will allow you to enjoy all the beauty and texture of the material. Luminaires can be placed directly in the vault structure itself, which will give the design additional originality.
Arches lined with decorative stone or brick look especially beautiful in combination with plants. The vegetation near the structure will make it sparkle in a new light and make your interior truly sophisticated.
Even openings made of stone can be decorated with decorative curtains made of a suitable material. Curtains should not attract attention, they are only intended to create additional comfort in the room.

Design options

The room in which the arch is located can be decorated in various styles. For each of them it is necessary to select a material of a special texture and a certain color.

Interior arches in the loft style are made under the old brick. They can be decorated in red, gray or brown. It is in these structures that a large number of chips, emphasizing the influence of time on the material.

The gentle concept of the Provencal interior involves the use of light stone or brick, without pronounced signs time. Such masonry should be very neat.

The pompous baroque style involves the use natural stone for decoration of interior arches. Such material is a sign of wealth and solidity. The stones near the doorway are very large and massive. In most cases, they are designed in light shades.

In the Mediterranean style, arched decoration can be embodied in the fullest variety. Any texture material can be selected. Preference is given to light or neutral brown shades, depending on the main scale of the interior. Mediterranean arches can even be combined with curtains in a similar style.

The Empire direction is very specific for creating interior arches. His feature is the supply of the structure with columns on the sides. This design makes the vault a catchy detail of the interior. The main colors are white, beige. The columns at the top are often decorated with stone carving technology, which may also be present on the arch itself.

The minimalist style practically excludes the allocation of space around the arch with the help of masonry. Usually, small stone slabs cover the entire wall where the arched opening is located, and inner surface openings are finished using special materials - without the use of stone.

Country style is dominated by beige brick. The arches are created with a purposeful focus on the junctions. The material finds echoes in other interior items - for example, in a fireplace, which goes well with the arch.

Many people think about in which parts of the house the presence of an arched structure is acceptable.

There are several options for its location in the premises:

Popular are such arches that separate the kitchen area and the dining area. A similar layout can often be seen in country and Provence styles.
The dining and living areas are also often separated in the same way. Sometimes stone arch suitable for rooms decorated in various color schemes. It looks equally presentable with any shades of furniture and walls.
Arches are popular not only as doorways, but also for styling windows. Often the wall is designed in such a way that a protrusion in the form of an arch is located above the window. This design is relevant for the loft style.
In the bedroom, arches separate the work area from the relaxation area. This concept is especially often embodied in modern directions interior.
If the loggia is insulated, then often top part walls are removed. There remains an elegant lower partition, turning into an arch.
In large rooms, openings are sometimes used as boundaries between all zones. Such replacement of doors contributes to the visual expansion of the space in the room.

The design of the doorway in the living room or hallway in the form of a large arch has been popular in our country for more than a decade. This gives the interior individuality and a special charm. However, you should not leave the arch without additional cladding - modern Decoration Materials able to emphasize the beauty of this design element. Today we will tell you how to decorate the arch with a decorative stone.

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

Decorative stone for finishing works is a material that has practically no drawbacks. Artificial in itself, it consists of components such as cement, pumice, expanded clay and others that are environmentally friendly. Corrosion, putrefactive processes or fungus cannot occur on decorative stone. In addition, in comparison with natural stone, this material is cheaper and lighter in weight.

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

When decorating arches, artificial stone shows the following advantages:

Ease of care;

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. An excellent imitation of natural analogues in color and texture allows you to create a cladding that is outwardly indistinguishable from natural stone finishes.

A fairly simple installation of the material;

The process of facing the surface with artificial stone is completely simple, so you can handle it yourself.

Protection for the corners of the arch.

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

Corners with artificial stone cladding are perfectly protected from mechanical damage

Stages of finishing the arch with artificial stone

If the question is relevant for you - how to finish the arch with a 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 the choice of material, the acquisition necessary tools and preparation of the arch surface.

Choice of decorative stone;

It is worth choosing thin and narrow plates of artificial stone for finishing the arch

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

Another plus 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 the decoration of a semicircular arch

Necessary tool for installation;

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

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

Arch surface preparation.

It is necessary that the surface of the arched opening be flat. If this is not the case, then wall defects should be leveled - cracks and grooves should be puttied, bumps should be sanded.

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

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

also in without fail 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 the installation.

To comply right technology lining the arch with a stone, a surface primer is required

Technology of facing the arch with stone

Depending on the chosen design, the sequence of mounting materials on the surface of the opening may be different. Usually, installation starts 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 separators.

The beginning of the installation of artificial stone on the surface of the arch in the direction from the bottom up

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

To accurately cut desired length plate, first it is applied to the wall, and on the inside with a pencil, markings are made 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 archway.

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

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

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

With a hand saw, as a rule, already mounted material is cut 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 mortar 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 you spoil the material, then replacing one damaged element will be almost impossible.

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

Filling the seams between the plates of artificial stone using a building syringe

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

If you cannot imagine the result of such a design of an arched opening, we offer you photos of arches, which were finished with decorative stone. We are sure that among them you will definitely find a suitable option for your house or apartment.

The arch, as one of the design methods, is usually installed in the transition between the hallway and the living room.

This is, in fact, the first element of decor design that can surprise the guests who have come.

Now arched structures are very popular, they have a variety of shapes, sizes and designs.

Finishing the arch with decorative stone is the most popular way to make it more functional, sophisticated and trendy.

Arch decoration, what to choose?

You can decorate the arch in several ways: with plastic panels, with a wooden opening.

But all of them are no longer relevant: they are not environmentally friendly, because they do not let air through, plaster is very susceptible to mechanical stress, and wood does not always meet the high requirements of trendy design.

To date, the most popular way to decorate arches is to decorate them with artificial stone, which has a lot of advantages compared to natural.

In addition to everything, it has a high wear resistance of the surface and is able to retain the original appearance for a long time. appearance.

Artificial is better than natural!

Perhaps such a statement can be perplexing, since there is a general opinion that natural is always better than artificial, but not in this case.

Firstly, the artificial (decorative) material is one hundred percent natural and consists of expanded clay, pumice, cement and other natural fillers, and is only obtained in an industrial, artificial way.

It is strong, durable and no less beautiful.

Secondly, there are several advantages of decorative stone over natural:

It is almost three times lighter than its natural analogue, which allows the use of artificial material on arched structures of different strength;
Available for purchase on the construction market and is several times cheaper than natural;
The shape, texture, color can exactly repeat the popular types of natural stones used in decoration;
Ease of maintenance of the decorated surface;
Even an amateur can decorate an arched space with such material, the product is malleable during trimming and grinding sharp corners.

Thirdly, the material is immune to high humidity, temperature extremes, the effects of fungus, corrosion and decay.

This certainly makes it a leader among similar ones when choosing a product for room decor.

The main stages of work: where to start?

When decorating an arched space with artificial decor, there are three main stages:

Preparation of the working surface of the wall and working equipment;
Basic work on finishing the inner and outer surface of the arch;
Surface decoration.

The first stage includes preparing the base for laying artificial stone and the necessary working equipment.

In the first case, special care is not required, the main thing is that the surface be cleaned of dust and primed.

For better bonding of the adhesive, wall and decor, notches are applied to the base of the wall before laying the layer.

To work, you will need the following tools and materials:

Priming composition;
Mortar or construction adhesive;
Grout for seams;
Auxiliary tools (pencil, ruler, sandpaper, plastic spatula, construction syringe).

It should be borne in mind that the cement mortar (glue), its composition and proportions, must correspond to the selected type of material.

The second stage is the decoration of the arch with decorative stone, in a word, its laying on the prepared surface.

The first row of material is formed at the junction of the arch and the wall according to the “bottom up” principle, the second according to the same principle, but in a checkerboard pattern.

The complexity of the work of the second stage lies in applying decorative elements to the arched shape of the arch with the designation of additional markings of the required radius.

As well as trimming the product according to the intended pattern, followed by grinding the cut edges.

The time for drying the adhesive layer depends on the type of solution chosen, most often it is about two days.

Artificial stone can be laid out in two ways: without seams and with jointing.

In the case of using the second method, after complete drying glue, the gaps between the tiles are rubbed with a construction syringe or a plastic spatula with a special compound.

The third stage of finishing work is decorating the surface, that is, giving it a finished look.

It is important to remember that the applied adhesive composition must dry completely, otherwise, when processing the seams, the carefully laid out chess pattern may be violated.

Decoration includes: primary processing seams with a composition for grouting gaps between products, giving the finished surface the desired shade using an airbrush.

Also cleaning the masonry from excess glue and grout, surface treatment with polishing and water-repellent agents.

Laying of artificial stone can be carried out on a special construction adhesive, cement and sand mortar or liquid nails, the adhesive base is selected depending on the type of wall surface and the type of decorative product.

At self-cooking adhesive solution, it is necessary to use it in small portions, otherwise it may dry out and partially lose its properties.

You should not immediately lay an artificial stone, first you need to mix it together from several different packages.

IN modern world, where everyone strives to be individual not only in their appearance, but also in the design of their home, people are increasingly trying to remake the standard layout of an apartment to fit their vision of space. They demolish unnecessary bulky partitions and erect drywall structures that do not take up much space.

This also applies to doorways. Traditional rectangular shapes change into beautiful rounded arches. Immediately the space is felt in the room, and the permeability increases (especially in the living room or kitchen). Most often, the doors to these rooms are open, and there is no particular need to keep them permanently closed. After all, every member of the family goes there quite often. Instead of the usual wooden architraves and extensions, the arch is finished with decorative stone.

Having built an interior arch, you will no doubt add to home interior its own flair. Moreover, the arch lined with decorative stone will always be in the center of everyone's attention. And to give it the look of the Arc de Triomphe or it will resemble an old cave entrance - it's up to you, the main thing for this purpose is to choose the right type of stone. It is not recommended to use cement stone for finishing. It is heavy, most often quite thick and is used for cladding the facades of buildings. But finishing the arch with gypsum stone is exactly what is needed.

Gypsum stone is light, thin and will not steal extra centimeters from the space of the arched opening. There are a huge number of types of gypsum stone. Just as there are many varieties of stones in nature, so with artificial decoration you can choose what will fit perfectly into your interior.

What to put on

Glue. Laying artificial decorative stone on a wall or arched opening can be done on a special glue for artificial stone. There are quite a lot of them on the modern market, here are a few examples:

Adhesive for stone KR Professional Professional. This cement-based adhesive is used specifically for the installation of artificial stone indoors and outdoors. Sufficiently high-quality, hermetically fixes the stone and gives a neat seam (when laying artificial brick with jointing).
Glue for stone Plitonit Wb. This adhesive is used for gluing artificial and natural stone, all types of porcelain stoneware, facing and clinker tiles. Well proven when laying stone on gypsum plaster, drywall, reinforced concrete, brick surface, cellular concrete, lime and cement plaster. When mounted on this adhesive, artificial stone does not slip, which allows the master to lay it in any direction - both from bottom to top and from top to bottom.
Adhesive for stone Weber Vetonit - Stone Fix. It is used for laying artificial and natural stone, as well as any tiles, mosaics, both inside and outside the building. Adheres firmly to surfaces: gypsum-fiber and plasterboard sheets, cellular concrete, gypsum and cement plasters.

Liquid Nails. Finishing the stone arches in the apartment can also be done with liquid nails - strong fixation glue. Convenient in that it is applied to stone tiles point gun, fast setting and suitable for many types of surfaces:

polyurethane;
tree;
glass;
metal;
drywall;
cement and gypsum plaster.

Putty. In addition to the listed means for gluing stone to drywall, you can use gypsum finishing putty. She can also edit the joints at the corners, provided that the stone is mounted unpainted. Painting will take place after installation. Not polymeric ones, but such simple gypsum mixtures as "Prospectors" proved to be excellent when installing stone on putty.

Preparation and styling

An ideal surface before installation is required when you want to make a torn stone, that is, leave sections of the wall for another decorative finish. But drywall arches are most often initially even, so it is not necessary to putty the corners with putty and cover up the screws. The stone will hide it all anyway. If you decide to lay a decorative stone with your own hands, then initially the drywall arch should be primed before work. A deep penetration primer can be used for this, but ideally it is better to use concrete contact for priming. This special primer contains the smallest particles of quartz sand, and after drying, a rough base is left. After such processing, adhesion to any finishing material increases at the arched opening.

It is better to start decorating the arch with a decorative stone from the bottom of one of the sides. Gypsum tiles remarkably sawn into the necessary pieces with an ordinary hacksaw. If you have corner elements, they will perfectly complement the corners of the arch. If they are not, then the stone is laid first with inside arched opening, and then on both sides from the facade. To obtain the required Ragged Stone Fragment for front side, you need to saw off a piece a little bigger size than required on the front. And then just chip off with your hands or pliers on one side in the form of a broken stone. And glue. This work is creative, requires care and a sense of proportion. Especially if the stone is mounted already painted. Competent comparison of all stone fragments is a guarantee that the arch lined with decorative stone will look harmonious.

Painting options

After installation, a day is given for the adhesive to dry. And then you can start painting (if the stone is white). For coloring, you can use various colors and dry pigments. They are diluted in water and applied to the stone with a brush, spray gun, and an airbrush is used to remove individual darker segments. It is recommended to first create base color, that is, the main color of the stone. In order for the design of the arch in the hallway or kitchen made of decorative stone to fit into the overall picture of the room, it is necessary to select colors that are close or a few tones darker or lighter than the color of the walls in the room.

It is not recommended to paint the stone with tinted paint, especially if the stone is porous. Because the paint clogs the pores and the relief goes astray. This greatly spoils the appearance of the arch. The best option is pigments or colors diluted with water. Water will immediately be absorbed into the gypsum, and the color will remain outside without damaging the relief of the stone. And the arch in stone looks as natural as possible.

Lacquering for protection

In conclusion, I would like to talk about the finishing of artificial stone. An arch trimmed with decorative stone requires a protective coating. To avoid future absorption of moisture by gypsum stone, it is necessary to impregnate it with water-repellent compounds. They not only protect the stone from moisture, but also reduce the likelihood of mold damage to the stone. The artificial stone is cleaned of dust and the water repellent is applied with a brush in two layers.

To protect decorative stone, you can use acrylic lacquer. This is a ready water dispersion milky with a slight smell. After drying of such a varnish, a transparent, durable film forms on the gypsum stone, and the stone can be wiped with a damp sponge. The varnish is absolutely harmless and does not emit harmful substances. If necessary, acrylic varnish can be diluted with water and applied with a spray gun, spray gun or airbrush.

This varnish is produced in three versions: matte, semi-gloss and glossy. When choosing, keep in mind that glossy varnish will give the effect of the shine of the stone, it will give the impression that the stone is as if wet. Semi-matt acrylic varnish will only slightly glare. But the matte varnish, unlike the previous options, will protect the stone from moisture and will not change its color. Such option is suitable for those who want to achieve natural color finishes.

Some people think that if a stone is bought painted, then it is ready-made and there is no need to further process it after installation. But it's not. After all, it is impossible to say with certainty how the stone was processed during production. So when finishing interior arch finished with a decorative stone, it is recommended to go over with a brush again protective coating. It will not only clog pores gypsum stone and will not allow moisture to be absorbed into it, but will also add strength to the tile.