Design for finishing an arch with decorative stone. Independent finishing of arches with decorative stone: advantages, design options

Decorative stone is an excellent material for finishing both building facades and interiors. This material is easy to process, cut and drill.
He is easy to work with. However, to obtain an aesthetically good result, it is necessary to strictly follow the cladding technology.

Tools

First, let's prepare the tool.
You will need:

• Construction mixer
• Building level
• Cutting machine or cutting machine
• Putty knife
• Bucket
• Metal brush
• Paint brushes
• Rubber mallet
• Trowel
• Construction tape
• Grout syringe
• Household spray bottle
• Wooden or plastic wedges of the same thickness

Consumables – making the right choice

You will also need consumables:

• Adhesive for decorative stone

Our advice is when purchasing glue, carefully read what is written on its packaging. The instructions must accurately indicate its properties.
For gluing decorative stones of different weights, there are different types of glue. Therefore, first choose a decorative stone that suits you, then buy glue, and not vice versa.
Price in this case plays a secondary role, the main thing is quality.

Decorative stone suggests that in addition to laying stone on a vertical surface, you will also need to cover the vault. In this case, a pull-out force will constantly act on the glued stone.
Therefore, following all recommendations for choosing the right glue is especially important.

Important - when carrying out work on installing decorative stone at an ambient temperature below +5 degrees, it is necessary to use a certain brand of glue. Consider all this when choosing.

You will also need:

• Grout of a suitable color
• Primer

Our reference is a water repellent, a water-repellent composition for concrete.

Small addition. Many may have a question: what is the difference between hydrophobization and waterproofing?

The fact is that when waterproofing the walls are protected from moisture, but in turn they do not breathe. Hydrophobization not only protects walls from moisture, but also allows them to breathe.

Decorative stone finishing

Step one - surface preparation

The first and very important stage is competent and proper preparation surfaces.

Before laying decorative stone on the wall, it is necessary to carry out preliminary preparations:

• Remove remnants of old whitewash, paint or wallpaper
• The walls must be leveled using putty
• Prime the wall and arch. The primer holds together small particles of the wall and on such a surface any finish holds stronger

Our information is that primers for all surfaces are currently on sale. Choose what you need based on the material of your walls.

Concrete walls, especially monolithic ones, must be treated with a special adhesive primer “Betonokontakt”. elevated temperature or high ambient humidity, it is recommended to moisten the back side of the decorative stone with water.

Drywall arch - rules for stone finishing

Someone will be interested in how to finish decorative stone plasterboard arch:

• When laying decorative stone on drywall, it is recommended to use light grades of stone.
• In addition, decorative stone can only be laid on gypsum boards indoors.
• If yours is under a canopy and on outdoors, you cannot cover it with decorative stone.

The surface of moisture-resistant gypsum board must be treated with a primer, after which it is necessary to allow the sheet to dry. Only after this can you begin installation.
It is convenient to apply the primer using a roller. At the same time, do not forget to prime both the outer and inner surfaces of the arch.

Proper preparation of stone tiles for laying

Do not rush to lay decorative tiles right away:

• Mix stone from different packages.
• Next, lay the stone on the floor.
• Select the position of individual stones so that its texture looks as advantageous as possible.

For example, distribute it according to the shades of the color difference or place short and long elements in the masonry so that masonry looked more natural.

Checking the stone - what is important to know

Before laying, make sure that there is no thin foamy layer, the so-called cement laitance, on the back of the tile.
If you find it, you need to clean the back with a wire brush. Do it.

Our information is that the presence of cement laitance significantly impairs adhesion. Your tile will simply fall off.

In a bucket, strictly following the instructions on the package, dilute the glue. Using a mixer, mix it thoroughly.
The mixture should be homogeneous:

• Using a spatula, apply a layer of adhesive to the wall where the tiles are installed.
• Also apply a layer of adhesive mass on the back side of the stone with a spatula.
• Each layer, whether on a wall or on a tile, should be 5 – 10 mm.

Our advice is not to apply too thick a layer of glue, as this may cause the decorative stone to slide off the wall.

Important - the glue must completely cover the back side of the tile without voids. This recommendation also applies to the wall, on which glue is also applied. Everything should be covered in an even layer.

Internal voids can lead to the formation of condensation inside the masonry.

We lay the stone ourselves - competently and efficiently

So:

• Place the tile in the desired location and press lightly.
• Next, use a building level and a rubber mallet to level the stone.
• Move it from side to side until it fits well against the wall.

Our advice is that finishing arches with decorative stone requires high-quality masonry. Therefore, during installation, tap the surface of the stone with the handle of a screwdriver.
This way you can determine if there are voids inside. If they are found, the stone must be dismantled, the glue cleaned off and re-installed.

• Additionally, tap the surface of the stone with a mallet. If any glue comes out around the edges, remove it with a spatula.

At the same time, if there is glue left on the ends of the stone, you should not remove it, this way you will achieve better adhesion of the stone not only to the wall, but also to each other. Finishing arches with decorative stone in an apartment (see) precisely presupposes high-quality adhesion of the tiles to each other.

Masonry with jointing

There are two types of installation artificial stone:

• With jointing
• No seams

Decorating the arch with decorative stone with jointing is one of interesting options design. If you need just such a laying, you need to use wooden or plastic wedges during the laying process.
Select wedges of the thickness you require. After the glue has dried, the wedges can be removed and the seams can begin.
Joining the seams of decorative stone is no less important stage work when finishing an arch or just a wall with decorative stone. The entire final result of such painstaking work depends on its competent and careful execution.

Grouting joints

The gaps between decorative stones should be filled with a special grout using a syringe.

So:

• Fill the syringe with grout solution
• Squeeze it out slowly and carefully fill all the seams.
• It is recommended to fill the joints with grout so that it goes 3 - 4 mm inside the outer edge of the stone. This way you will achieve a pronounced relief of the masonry.
• If you need to get a smoothed texture of the masonry, you can fill the joint with grout at the same level as front side stone

• After the solution begins to set, this is about 30 minutes, it must be smoothed out with a spatula or a special shaped spatula for jointing.

Our reference is that the time range we indicated is 30 minutes.
It all depends on the specific grout you purchased. Read the instructions carefully and carry out all work according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Available for sale big choice grout imitating the color and texture of real mortar. You can choose grout of different colors and shades, according to your taste and the requirements of the intended design.

We cover the arch - “correct” chips

In an apartment, using decorative stone means that the stone will need to be cut to the required size. Many may have a question: how to decorate an arch with decorative stone without finishing the walls with stone?
It is necessary to understand that a cut, smooth edge of a stone at the junction of masonry and a smooth, unlined wall will not look entirely natural and beautiful.

A more acceptable result would be when the stone laid along the edges will have various chips. This will create the impression of naturalness and the effect will be more natural.

Decorative chips are quite easy to make using sawing and cutting tools.
To perform the correct chipping you must proceed as follows:

• Using a knife, outline the main outlines of the future chip
• All excess is bit off using pliers

Our advice is that you shouldn’t try to bite off the mark right away. You need to start from the edge, biting off a small piece.
Thus, everything unnecessary is removed according to the mark made. Otherwise, the stone may break in a completely inappropriate place.

• Chip areas are corrected using a knife or file
• Subsequently, to give the chips a smoother shape, they are processed using sandpaper
• If desired or required by the design, chips may not be smoothed out. Everything is at your discretion

Decor – the finish line

Upon completion of the masonry, small defects may remain, chips in unnecessary places, abrasions, end cuts and not entirely correct color matches.
All this can be easily fixed with an airbrush. In this case, it will take you less than an hour for your masonry to take on its finished shape.

The airbrush mixture is:

• Tinting paste
• Water
• Acrylic lacquer

To give the stone the greatest relief and expressiveness, a finishing spray is applied to its surface with an airbrush. In this case, it is necessary to apply spraying in such a way that the airbrush is at an oblique angle relative to the surface to be finished.

The color of the coating should be slightly darker than the color of the stone itself. If you want to get an unusual effect, you can add special metallic pigments, gold or bronze, to the mixture.
But you need to understand that this coating must be used in limited quantities, preferably at the ends of the stone.
IN normal conditions this shine will be practically invisible. But when direct rays of the sun or directed light hit it, your decorative stone will “come to life” and begin to sparkle. different colors just as it happens in nature.

Our advice is that after completing the decorative finishing and applying the finishing spray, we recommend that you coat the masonry with acrylic varnish.
This recommendation is relevant in places active zones. Arches are just one of these zones. This will protect the coating from scuffs.

Use clear, matte or semi Matt lacquer on water based. It can be applied using an airbrush or spray gun.

Finishing the arches with decorative stone will add a unique and truly memorable look to your interior.
On our resource there is quite a variety of video and photo material on design and ways to implement it. With us you can learn a lot of new things and get acquainted with expert advice that will be useful to you when performing certain types of finishing work.
Good luck to you!

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 decorate an arch with 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 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;

The process of covering a surface with artificial stone is completely simple, 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 resist 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 prove useful.

Preparation for work

The preparatory stage of work consists of choosing material, purchasing necessary tools and preparation of the arch surface.

1. 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 the installation of 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

1. 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).

1. 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.

It is also imperative that 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 accurately cut the required length of the 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.

Decorative stone today acts as one of the most suitable materials for finishing surfaces both inside and outside buildings. This material is quite easy to process; it can not only be drilled, but also cut. But to get a good result, you should be guided by the installation technology, which will be presented below. You can use decorative stone to decorate the interior, one of the elements of which is an arch.

Preparing tools

Decorative stone begins with the preparation of tools, among which are:

• construction mixer;
• cutting machine;
• bucket for mixing adhesive solution;
• paint brushes;
• trowel;
• grout syringe;
• wedges of the same thickness.

Among other things, you will need a building level and a spatula. It is important to ensure that you have a metal brush, and with the help of the latter you will be able to adjust the elements on the surface after installation. To measure and cut the material you will need a construction tape. You can’t do without a household spray bottle while working. Wedges can be made of wood or plastic, they will allow you to form seams. You can replace the cutting machine with a cutting machine.

Preparation of materials

Decorative stone is carried out after preparing all the necessary Supplies, among them the following should be highlighted:

• glue;
• primer;
• grout;
• water repellent.

When choosing an adhesive, you need to pay attention to its purpose. For certain types of finishes, different grades of adhesives are available, usually they are designed to hold the calculated weight of the material. Therefore, first you need to choose finishing materials, and only then start purchasing glue. If the work is supposed to be carried out at low temperatures, then you should take a more serious approach to the choice of adhesive composition; it must have the appropriate properties.

Surface preparation

Finishing with stone necessarily involves preparing the walls. To do this, you need to rid the base of old whitewash, wallpaper or paint. The master will have to carry out the leveling using putty. The surface of the arch must be primed; this composition will bind small particles together, so any finish will be held as firmly as possible.

On sale you can find primers for any surface. If you have to work with a concrete wall, you should treat it with Betonkontakt primer. When the room conditions are high in humidity or temperature, backside decorative stone must be wetted before installation.

The finishing of arches with decorative stone is carried out using a slightly different technology if we are talking about a plasterboard structure. It is necessary to prepare a light stone for such work. Such manipulations should be carried out exclusively indoors. If an arch made of gypsum plasterboard is located outdoors or under a canopy, then it cannot be decorated with stone.

The surface of the drywall is treated with a primer, which should be left until it dries, only then can you begin installing the products. The primer is applied with a roller, and not only the external, but also the internal surfaces are treated with the composition.

Preparing stone for laying

If you will be decorating the arches with decorative stone (photos of design options are presented in the review for your reference), it is recommended that you first mix all the products from different packages. At the next stage, the stone must be laid out on the floor. The position of individual elements is chosen in such a way that the texture looks most advantageous. For example, you can distribute elements by shade or shape, as well as size.

Rules for applying glue

Before starting work, you must read the instructions and dilute the glue in the bucket according to it.

The composition is mixed using a construction mixer until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Using a spatula, the mixture is applied to the wall only in the place where the product is supposed to be installed. The reverse side of the stone must also be treated with glue, which is applied with a spatula. The thickness of the layer should not appear to be more than 1 cm. If this parameter is exceeded, the product will slide down the wall.

The glue is applied to the entire surface of the stone, while avoiding voids that can cause condensation to appear inside the masonry during operation. This recommendation also applies to walls; glue should be applied to their surface in an even layer.

Methodology for installing decorative stone

When decorating an arch with decorative stone in an apartment, you must follow certain instructions. The stone is applied to the area treated with glue and pressed against the surface. In this case, it is important to use a building level, and with the help of a mallet the products are aligned vertically. The stone can be moved from side to side to achieve a tight fit to the surface.

In order to check the quality of the masonry, during installation it is necessary to tap the products with a screwdriver handle. This will allow you to understand whether voids have formed inside. If there are any, then the stone is removed, cleaned of glue, and the work is repeated again. When finishing an arch with decorative stone in an apartment, you should definitely look at the photo. They will allow you to understand which material is better to prefer. As soon as the finish is on the wall, you need to gently tap it on its surface, and remove any excess glue using a spatula. If the mixture appears on the ends, there is no need to remove it; it will improve the quality of adhesion of the material to the wall. Work can be carried out using one of two technologies:

• no seams;
• with jointing.

Laying stone with seams

When finishing an arch with decorative stone with your own hands, you can form seams between the products. Their grouting is carried out using a syringe filled with grout. The solution should be applied in such a way that it deepens 4 mm from the outer edge of the product. This will create a clearly defined relief. To obtain a smoothed texture, it is necessary to fill the seam at the same level as the front surface of the stone. 30 minutes after applying the grout, it is necessary to smooth out the seams using a special spatula or spatula. When choosing grout, you should know that the compositions can imitate the color and texture of real mortar. The grout may have different colors.

Chip processing

When finishing a door arch with decorative stone, it may be necessary to process chips. The stone is cut to size, but if its edge remains smooth at the joint, the wall will not look natural. You can make a chip by outlining its outline with a knife. At the next stage, the excess part is bitten off with pliers. There is no need to bite off the product along the edge of the mark; you need to start with small pieces, otherwise the product may break in the wrong place. You can correct errors with a file; with its help you will make the chip smooth. Additionally, the surface is treated with sandpaper. However, sometimes the chips are not smoothed out.

Final decoration

Finishing an interior arch with decorative stone can be completed by applying varnish or a tinting mixture. The latter allows you to hide defects and cracks that formed during the work process. It is better to use an airbrush to apply the composition, but some artists make do with paint brushes. The airbrush allows you to apply the mixture from a long distance, while holding the tool at an angle to the surface to be painted. You don’t have to cover the entire area completely; it will be enough to tint the main protrusions and depressions, this will help to get a deep texture.

An interesting effect can be achieved if bronze or gold coloring pigments are used as the basis for the mixture. In this case, only the ends of the tiles need to be tinted. With this finishing technique, the metal does not catch the eye, but with certain lighting at the ends, the masonry begins to play with golden highlights.

Conclusion

The arch is a rather small element of the interior, but its design sometimes takes several days. However, you should find time and energy for this work, because decorating this part of the room will allow you to decorate the house, making it more comfortable and the interior more refined.

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 apartment layout to suit their vision of space. Unnecessary bulky partitions are demolished and plasterboard structures are erected that do not take up much space.

This also applies to doorways. Traditional rectangular shapes change to beautiful rounded arches. Immediately there is a feeling of spaciousness in the room, and traffic flow 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 constantly closed. After all, every family member comes there quite often. Instead of the usual wooden platbands and extensions, the arch is finished with decorative stone.

By building an interior arch, you will undoubtedly add home interior its zest. Moreover, an arch covered with decorative stone will always be in the center of everyone's attention. Whether to give it the appearance of an Arch of Triumph or to resemble an ancient entrance to a cave is up to you, the main thing is to choose the right type of stone for this purpose. It is not recommended to use cement stone for finishing. It is heavy, most often quite thick, and is used for cladding building facades. 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 too faux finish you can choose something that will fit perfectly into your interior.

What to lay on

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

• Stone adhesive KR Professional Professional. This cement-based adhesive is used specifically for installing artificial stone indoors and outdoors. Sufficiently high quality, hermetically fixes the stone and gives a neat seam (when laying artificial bricks 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. It has proven itself well when laying stone on gypsum plaster, plasterboard, reinforced concrete, brick surface, cellular concrete, lime and cement plaster. When installed with this glue, artificial stone does not slip, which allows the master to lay it in any direction - from bottom to top and top to bottom.
• Weber Vetonit stone adhesive - Stone Fix. 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 gypsum board sheets, cellular concrete, gypsum and cement plasters.

Liquid Nails. Finishing arches in an apartment with stone can also be done using liquid nails - strong adhesive. It is convenient because it is applied pointwise to stone tiles with a gun, sets quickly and is suitable for many types of surfaces:

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

Putty. In addition to the listed means, you can use gypsum finishing putty to glue stone to drywall. It can also be used to edit joints at corners, provided that the stone is installed unpainted. Painting will take place after installation. Not polymer, but simple gypsum mixtures such as “Prospectors” have proven to work well when installing stone on putty.

Preparation and styling

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

It is better to start decorating the arch with decorative stone from the bottom of one of the sides. Gypsum tiles can be easily sawed into the required pieces with a regular hacksaw. If you have corner elements, they will perfectly complement the corners of the arch. If they are not there, then the stone is laid first with inside arched opening, and then on both sides of the facade. To obtain the required fragment of torn stone for the front side, you need to saw off a piece slightly bigger size, than required for the front part. And then simply break it off with your hands or pliers on one side in the form of a broken stone. And stick it. This work is creative and requires attentiveness and a sense of proportion. Especially if the stone is installed already painted. Proper comparison of all stone fragments is the key to ensuring that an arch lined with decorative stone will look harmonious.

Painting options

After installation, the adhesive composition is given a day 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 or spray gun, and an airbrush is used to remove individual darker segments. It is recommended to first create a base color, that is, the main color of the stone. In order for the design of an arch in a 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 several tones darker or lighter than the color of the walls in the room.

Painting stone with tinted paint is not recommended, especially if the stone is porous. Because the paint clogs the pores and the relief gets lost. It spoils quite a lot appearance arches. Most the best option- namely pigments or colors diluted with water. The water will immediately be absorbed into the plaster, and the color will remain outside without damaging the stone relief. And the arch in stone looks as natural as possible.

Applying varnish 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-made aqueous dispersion of milky color with a slight odor. After this varnish has dried, 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-matte and glossy. When choosing, it is worth considering that glossy varnish will give the effect of shine on the stone, it will give the impression that the stone is wet. Semi-matte acrylic varnish will only reflect slightly. But matte varnish, unlike previous versions will protect the stone from moisture and will not change its color. This option is suitable for those who want to achieve a natural color when finishing.

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

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

Advantages

To decorate the arch, choose one of two types of stones - artificial or natural. Each type has its own advantages.

For natural materials The following signs are characteristic:

• They have a very interesting texture. Such stones look unusual - both on the pages of magazines and photographs, and upon closer examination. These include shell rock and sandstone.
• For lovers delicate flowers in the interior you should choose arches lined with marble. This stone is aged in various shades pink, pastel color looks very neat and unobtrusive.
• To emphasize their status, buyers often choose arches trimmed 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 of such high quality that they can hardly be distinguished from natural materials.
• The price for such material is affordable. You can decorate the vault with a large number of stones without worrying about financial expenses.
• Artificial stone is usually finished in such a way that it is not inferior in strength to natural materials.
• Weight decorative covering significantly less than natural. The combination of strength and lightness gives artificial material a significant advantage.
• Artificial stone is not affected external factors. It is not susceptible to rotting and mold, and harmful bacteria do not appear on it.
• Using a variety of dyes, they create a wide palette of colors for stones, so you can choose the shade that suits 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 best option.

Tools

To cover an 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 components are used as consumables:

• Select a special glue for decorative stone, depending on the chosen coating. Some materials require glue with a special composition, so be careful when purchasing.
• To make the seams between the stones invisible, choose a grout that is close in color to the material.
• Purchase 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.

If everyone is present necessary materials and tools, you can easily handle decorating walls with decorative or natural stone on your own.

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 be attached.

• Remains of wallpaper and paint should be removed from the walls. If there is whitewash near the doorways, then traces of it must also be removed.
• To level the surface, use putty.
• The arch and walls in the apartment must be treated with a primer. If the arch is made of plasterboard, do not lay heavy stone on it. Drywall will not support much weight.
• Some people use stones of several colors in the interior. When you are going to start decorating the vault, lay out the composition of stones so that you 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 location in the doorway.

Finishing

Direct finishing of the opening is the main stage of the entire process, which must take place in a certain sequence:

• You need to stir the glue until smooth (using a mixer). This should be done strictly according to the instructions.
• The glue is applied to the surface where the stone will be placed, and to reverse side the tile itself. The layers should be from 0.5 to 1 cm thick, but no more.
• Stone tiles or decorative brick Place it on the wall surface and press down. Each piece is fixed in a pre-allocated 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 to attach the stone to the wall as tightly as possible with your hands.
• Tap the surface of the material and remove any protruding adhesive, if any. When the glue holds the pieces of tile together at the end, it should be left.
• Afterwards you need to carefully grout the joints. Using a syringe, it is necessary to fill the joints between the pieces of tile so that the recess is at a distance of 0.3-0.5 cm from the outer edge of the covering.

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

You should remember not only the main stages of the process, but also the special advice given by professionals on decorating arches in rooms:

• It is recommended to leave arches made of artificial stone in the hallway 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 press on it during this process, otherwise there is a risk that the stone will split.
• 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. Lamps can be placed directly in the vault structure itself, which will add additional originality to the design.
• Arches lined with decorative stone or brick look especially beautiful in combination with plants. 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 suitable material. Curtains should not attract attention; they are intended only to create additional comfort in the room.

Design options

The room in which the arch is located can be decorated in different 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 to look like old brick. They can be decorated in red, gray or brown color. It is in such designs that it is provided a large number of chips emphasizing the influence of time on the material.

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

The pompous Baroque style involves the use of natural stone for decoration 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 design can be embodied in the most complete variety. Material of any texture can be chosen. Preference is given to light or neutral brown shades, depending on the basic color scheme of the interior. Mediterranean arches can even be combined with curtains in a similar style.

The Empire style is very specific for creating interior arches. His characteristic feature is to supply the structure with columns on the sides. This design makes the vault a striking interior detail. Primary colors – 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 eliminates the allocation of space around the arch using masonry. Usually, small stone slabs are used to cover the entire wall where the arched opening is located, and the inner surface of the opening is finished using special materials - without the use of stone.

Country style is dominated by beige brick. Arches are created with a targeted emphasis on the joints. The material finds echoes in other interior items - for example, in the fireplace, which goes perfectly with the arch.

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

There are several options for its location in the premises:

• Popular are those 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 divided in a similar way. Sometimes a stone arch fits into rooms decorated in different color ranges. 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 there is an arch-shaped protrusion 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 interior trends.
• If the loggia is insulated, then often top part the walls are removed. What remains is an elegant lower partition that turns into an arch.
• In large rooms, openings are sometimes used as boundaries between all areas. This replacement of doors helps to visually expand the space in the room.