Decorative plaster with a brush. We create decorative plaster from ordinary putty: application methods and video tutorials. Wallpaper or decorative plaster

To obtain original surfaces, it is not at all necessary to purchase expensive decorative plaster. It can be made from simple gypsum putty or plaster used to level the walls. This article will talk about techniques for obtaining decorative textures and their most interesting types.

What kind of putty can I use?

To create decorative surfaces, all types of gypsum putty are used. The ideal option is a finishing type Knauf Uniflot, Knauf Rotband, Ceresit ST127 or their analogues.

• A high-strength composition similar to adhesive, called Knauf Uniflot, is intended only for interior work. It has a low degree of shrinkage and is practically not susceptible to cracking.
• Knauf Rotband plaster is used for plastering concrete walls and ceilings - its adhesion (stickability) is excellent. The surface is very even and smooth. The mixture has a reduced consumption and is used even in rooms with high humidity.
• White polymer putty Ceresit ST127 is suitable only for interior work. It can be applied to many types of bases, including concrete, cement-sand and gypsum.

The price for regular putty is:

finishing putty

Acrylic, silicone and other types of polymer putties are well suited for creating decorative surfaces. Fillers (sand, flock, stone chips, etc.) introduced into them are distributed evenly. Cheaper cement-based plaster is used for finishing facades.

Preparing the walls

It is advisable to apply decorative plaster to leveled walls. This could be rough plastering over beacons or the use of drywall. If textured plaster is planned, then minor defects in the walls are not critical.

After leveling the wallprime.It is better to use a deep penetration primer - it ensures uniform application of the subsequent layer. Drying time differs depending on the brand - for compositions Knauf, Starateli, Optimist, Ceresit it is 2-3 hours.

A smooth base for finishing (gypsum board sheets, OSB, etc.) is treated with an adhesive primer with quartz sand of the “Betonokontakt” type.

Mixing putty

Polymer compositions are sold ready for use, but are slightly more expensive. If a dry mixture is used for work, then it is diluted with water according to the recipe specified by the manufacturer. It should not spread, but also not be too thick.

You can mix the solution either manually or using a mixer or drill with an attachment. When adding color, you need to remember the proportions of the materials in order to subsequently prepare putty of the same shade. Otherwise, the color will be uneven, and color joints will form on the surface. When making structural plaster with filler (sand, stone chips, flock, etc.), no more than 10-15% of them are added. Otherwise, the adhesion of the solution will decrease and it will not hold firmly.

Applying the base layer

It is better to learn to work with decorative surfaces from the simplest patterns. Let us describe the process of applying textured plaster in stages:

1. If only parts of the wall are involved in creating decorative panels and coverings, mark it out and glue the required areas with masking paper tape.
2. First, the finished mixture is applied with a trowel or spatula and distributed evenly over the surface. The layer thickness for this type of plastering is up to 10 mm.
3. After the solution has set slightly, begin decorating section by section from top to bottom.

Creating a decorative surface

Using a roller

Roller, “bark” texture

An original decor can be achieved using a special embossed roller or a regular one with long pile. The range of decorative tools with patterned surfaces is very large, and they are inexpensive. But even with an ordinary foam roller with large pores you can get original grainy textures. If desired, you can cut out your own patterns on it with a sharp knife.

You can make a decorative roller yourself by wrapping a thick cord or clothesline around the tool. When imprinted, it forms an unusual pattern on the wall. You can attach, for example, a crumpled plastic bag to the roller. Any textures can be combined by changing tools.

Using a Notched Spatula and Trowel

You can use a spatula with U-shaped or V-shaped teeth. Depending on the size of the stroke and its direction (with a spatula you can make straight, wave- or arc-shaped or chaotic movements), unique patterns are obtained on the walls. There are rubber shaped spatulas on sale with teeth that allow you to imitate the texture of wood.

Figured rubber spatula “wood texture”

But even with a standard trowel you can create decorative patterns. For example, by pressing and moving the trowel away from the wall, they create a “fur coat” type texture on the putty. Then, if part of the relief is smoothed out, you get stone-like plaster.

Available means

The most unusual means are often used as a tool for drawing at home: a crumpled sheet of paper or film, combs, pieces of foam rubber, etc. For example, using crumpled film, you can achieve the effect of silk. If you “comb” the wet surface with a comb, you will get original weaving. The blotting movements of the foam sponge create a grainy texture.

The result obtained also depends on the grouting method - the movement of the hand can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, circular or spiral.

Putty with filler

Sand can be added as a filler to create the texture of the plaster (several fractions of sand grains of different sizes are added to one solution), stone chips, flocks (chips), synthetic fibers, foam balls, sawdust, etc.

Such mixtures of simple putty should be spread evenly over the wall. If desired, the design can be complicated by using a notched trowel or a roller with a pattern.

Stencils and stamps

There are many stamps (silicone molds) on sale for creating embossed decorative plaster. They are quite simple to work with. The putty is slightly moistened with water. The stamp (seal) is pressed against the wall and an impression is left on it. This is how various patterns and textures are obtained: stone, wood, brickwork, leather, leaves, etc. As a rule, stamps are made in such a way that the subsequent pattern can be matched with the previous one.

Working with stencils is a little more difficult. The drawings are applied as a second layer onto already dried plaster (and sometimes already painted). The stencil sheet is pressed against the wall, and putty is placed in its slots, which is smoothed with a small spatula.

After the mixture begins to set, the stencil is removed. If you need to cover the entire wall with decorative ornaments, then the sheet is transferred to the next section and everything is repeated. You can also create individual drawings that complement the finish.

Painting, varnishing

Colored plaster can be used both to create stylish interiors and to decorate facades. Before painting, the surface is coated with a primer and left until completely dry.

The putty can be painted in one tone or several. The following method will help you highlight the texture well:

• First, the wall is evenly painted in a single color using a brush or long-haired roller.
• After the paint has dried, the second shade is applied with a short-haired roller, painting only the protruding parts of the relief.
• The painted wall is coated with acrylic varnish to fix the dye and add gloss. You can add glitter (sparkles) to it.

Photos of created textures

Using the techniques described above, you can create many textured surfaces from the simplest to the most complex. Interesting examples can be seen in the photo below.

Do-it-yourself decorative plaster is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Wall decoration with decorative plaster is now gaining great popularity. This option has become a serious competitor to conventional wallpaper when carrying out repairs. There are different types of plaster for interior decoration. The main difference is the texture and method of application.

Types of decorative plaster can be as follows:

• structural, which contains inclusions of a certain size;
• textured, which allows you to form a smooth relief surface;
• Venetian, imitating marble.

Before applying decorative plaster, you need to carefully study the features of each option and application technology.

Structural

Methods for applying decorative plaster to obtain a structure involve the use of heterogeneous granular compositions. A type of material is obtained by adding small pebbles, quartz fragments, wood fibers, etc. to the plaster. The finishing material is made from cement and limestone. Synthetic latexes or silicates are also added to the composition. It is better to select the composition from ready-made mixtures. This is the only way to achieve good results. When mixing the components yourself, a good result is not guaranteed.

To prepare high-quality plaster, it is better to use ready-made mixtures

Finishing walls with textured plaster is easier if you use compositions based on aqueous solvents. This is due to the fact that before applying decorative plaster with your own hands, you will not have to “evacuate” the apartment’s residents. The water-based material does not have a strong odor.

Finishing walls with plaster of this type is easy. This is due to the high ductility of the material and its obedience during operation. The technology for applying decorative plaster is simple and convenient. The work can be completed immediately. There is no need to prepare the mixture, since it is sold already in liquid form in jars or buckets.

The application technique is as follows:

• You need to prepare materials and tools for decorative plaster. For the structural composition you will need a roller, trowel or spatula.
• Before laying decorative plaster, you need to prepare the surface. A perfectly flat base is not needed. The thickness of the plaster layer and its structure can hide small defects. First, the surface is cleaned of dirt, dust and grease. After this, the bulges are knocked down and large cracks and potholes are covered.
• A clean and dry base is strengthened with a primer. With it, decorative paints and plasters will adhere better to the surface. This layer also prevents the exchange of moisture between the base and the finishing material. You can begin applying decorative plaster yourself only after the wall primer has completely dried.
• The principle of the work performed is suitable for all compositions: mineral, silicone or silicate based. Plastering is carried out using a trowel or spatula in one layer. The coating is applied to the wall using circular or linear movements.
• After application, the layer must be allowed to dry. At the same time, it is necessary to control that the room maintains a constant temperature and humidity, and that there are no drafts. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to deterioration in the quality of the decorative layer and the appearance of cracks.

Do-it-yourself structural decorative plaster of walls is perfect for finishing common rooms, for example, an entrance hall, a kitchen or a corridor. In some interiors, it can harmoniously fit into the space of a bedroom or living room.

Before starting work, be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions. It indicates a more specific application technique and how to use the material correctly.

Textured

The method of applying decorative plaster with your own hands allows you to obtain an original texture. The boundary between textured and structural plasters is drawn rather arbitrarily. Methods for applying the composition in question make it possible to obtain complex options. For example, imitation wood, crumpled paper, natural stone.

This option is suitable for almost any room. Making decorative plaster of a textured type allows you to support any design.

Most often, lime flour is added to the composition as the main ingredient. But you can also find polymer-based plasters. Polymers improve performance characteristics. This composition does not crack when dried. In work, polymers allow you to create a more relief and interesting pattern.

The finishing properties largely depend on the fillers. Fibers of different materials, granite or marble chips are introduced into the textured solution. The consumption of decorative plaster largely depends on the complexity of the chosen pattern.

How to apply textured decorative plaster:

• Before applying the solution correctly, you will need to prepare the base. The inner surface is treated in almost the same way in all cases. Here the requirements are the same as for the structural composition: absence of contamination and severe unevenness.
• Before working with decorative plaster, you need to coat the wall with a primer. This layer should be allowed to dry.
• After the primer, a base paint is used, which is applied with a brush. There are compositions on sale that combine two functions: a primer and a substrate. They are worth buying to reduce time costs and simplify the process.
• Decorative wall plaster, the application technology of which involves the use of a spatula, trowel or brush, is laid in 1-2 layers. The thickness depends on the complexity of the terrain. The more interesting it is, the more solution will be required. It is not recommended to apply a layer thicker than 20 mm at a time.
• A master class on decorative plaster should be completed with a finishing layer. Transparent paints, which are also called glaze paints, are used as such a composition. They not only protect the surface, but also give it a pleasant pearlescent shine. Options for applying decorative plaster can also consider using paint, impregnation or special wax as a final layer.

Decorative plaster, the pros and cons of which should be read separately, will give the premises a complete and unique look. The advantage of this composition is its high plasticity and the ability to give the finished surface a rather complex texture. But the coin also has a downside: the difficulty of application. Getting an original drawing is not so easy. You may first need to take a master class on applying decorative plaster from an experienced craftsman.

This will help you understand how to properly and efficiently plaster brick walls inside the house and surfaces made of other materials.

Venetian

This type of decorative plaster for interior work allows you to create an imitation of marble. The texture turns out very beautiful. The material is perfect for almost any room.

The composition is sold in ready-made liquid form. The weight of a can or bucket usually ranges from 7 to 25 kg. The plaster contains marble flour and slaked lime. An aqueous emulsion is used, which avoids unpleasant odor during application.

Before plastering brick walls, you will need to level them. Decorative plaster can be applied to the walls only after the base is perfect. This type of material does not tolerate shortcomings. This is the difficulty of working with Venetian plaster.

If necessary, the solution can be painted in any color. With this plaster you can create amazing mosaics or entire paintings with your own hands. The advantages also include environmental friendliness and safety. The composition is suitable even for the bedroom. The surface is fireproof and wear-resistant. After application, the layer dries quite quickly.

Training in decorative techniques may look like this:

• First you should prepare the materials and tools for applying decorative plaster. Here you will need a medium-sized spatula and sandpaper with very small particles.
• After cleaning the surface, begin leveling the base. It must be perfect. First of all, get rid of chips. After this, you need to smooth out the cracks and depressions using cement-sand mortar or putty. To eliminate defects as much as possible, apply a leveling layer of Portland cement-based plaster. The thickness of the layer is determined depending on the severity of base defects. On average, 20 mm will be enough. Evenness is controlled using the beacon rule. To do this, before starting work, special strips with a certain pitch are installed on the wall. Another option for leveling is plasterboard sheets.
• The leveling layer must be allowed to dry. After this, you can apply the primer. This will allow the finishing material to better adhere to the wall.
• Venetian plaster is tinted before application. After this, take a spatula and begin to apply the mass to the base with thin strokes. The entire surface must be treated. If necessary, the solution is applied in several layers. The maximum thickness per application cannot exceed 12 mm.
• After application, allow time to dry. It is important to control the temperature and humidity conditions. It is recommended to close doors and windows to prevent drafts. Violating this rule will result in cracks appearing on the surface when drying.
• When the surface is dry, begin cleaning. To do this you will need sandpaper. The work is performed in a circular motion. Everything should be done very carefully.
• The last stage is protection. The finished layer must be coated with special white wax in one layer.

Which is better?

There is no exact answer to this answer. Each case must be considered separately. In one case, the plaster will be better structural, and in the other, textured. The choice should be made depending on the interior of the room. But it is worth taking into account the experience of the master and his skill. Before choosing decorative plaster, you need to objectively assess your capabilities. For example, an option such as Venetian coating is not for everyone.

Application to ceilings

When renovating your home, you need to take care of more than just the walls. Carrying out work on the ceiling is more labor intensive. Here you will have to constantly raise your head, which can be very tiring. The general principle is practically no different from the technology for walls.

There is only one difference. If on the wall the maximum layer thickness for a structural and textured mixture is 20 mm, then on the ceiling it is reduced to 5 mm. To level the base, it is recommended to use drywall rather than special compounds.

Decorative plaster, made with your own hands from ordinary putty, is gaining increasing popularity as an affordable type of finishing, since almost everyone is looking for a middle ground when renovating their home, and an optimal price-quality ratio.

Advantages of homemade plaster

Modern renovation is expensive in terms of both purchased materials and hired labor. The work of a plasterer-finisher costs a lot of money. Everyone’s desire to save money is understandable and reasonable: no one wants the repair to drag on for many months, if not years, due to the high cost of the material and the work performed. To prevent it from becoming a family curse, you need to look for the most rational way out of this situation. However, the solution is obvious: make the material yourself. This option will suit the vast majority of people who want to make inexpensive and beautiful renovations to their apartment.

There are plenty of tools for this, and it’s not difficult to acquire them - if you would like to make a pattern.

The use of textured and structural rollers

A simple way to make textured plaster from ordinary putty with your own hands is to use a special roller. It is quite simple to obtain the desired quality of finish in this way.

Depending on the working surface, this tool produces the desired result - the desired pattern on the wall.

Rollers differ in the material they are made of:

In addition to the listed rollers, there are also tools made of foam rubber, fabric, polyethylene, with a spirally attached cord. With their help you can achieve a rough surface with a pattern.

Important! You should not press too hard on the tool while working - a clear pattern is obtained only with minimal force. The tool must be moved from top to bottom without stopping, pressing firmly against the finished strip.

These tools fall into two categories:

Homemade finishing tool

It is not necessary to use only those tools that are sold in stores. Having waste materials on hand, you can make a roller that will create an unusual, unique design.

You can use, for example, a ready-made roller, but make your own adjustments to its design. Examples:

There are any number of options for such homemade creativity: polyethylene, twine, rope, threads are used. The foam roller can be used to cut abstract shapes, slits, etc.

Important! When working with structured and textured rollers, you need to work smoothly, without making sudden movements.

Other necessary tools

You can apply the pattern using other devices:

In addition to the listed tool, you can use a lot more, from a paintbrush to a Venetian trowel (trowel). Even a simple broom can give a wall a unique design.

Decorative plaster from ordinary putty

Of course, one should not discount simple types of finishing, which are quite attractive in appearance, using the most ordinary putty, both starting and finishing. How to make textured plaster with your own hands? Very simple, and this option has been widely used lately. “Branded”, ready-to-use putty costs about three times more than regular putty, and making it yourself is not difficult.

Now let's talk about how it can be made and how to work with a homemade mixture.

Materials for decorative putty plaster:

• PVA glue - 200 g.
• Gypsum-based mixture - 6 kg.
• Water - 2l.

First, we apply a layer, which is called the main layer - this is done with a wide spatula. When this layer dries, we begin decorating. The methods for creating a textured surface are varied. You can apply the composition with spatulas of various sizes and textures - from smooth to jagged. They can be combined.

You can do this with one spatula, applying strokes in different directions. Even the most ordinary broom, as already mentioned, is used to create a pattern, and the result is achieved when impressions are made on the plaster with a broom - from chaotic to strictly directed strokes.

There are many application methods, you either need to choose the one you like.

Applying decorative putty

Each of us would like to get the beautiful appearance of our own home at minimal cost. One of the easiest methods to get what you want is to buy finishing putty. Precisely the finishing one, if the purpose of finishing is a soft texture.

There are many ways to get a beautiful surface when using decorative putty for walls. Let's give one of them, quite popular.

Tools:

• Mack brush.
• A napkin or trowel rolled into a cone.

It’s still better to work together, because you need to do everything quickly, not allowing the mixture to dry out prematurely, so that transitions are not visible. After all, one of the main advantages of this finish is the absence of joints on the surface.

Of course, this option is far from the only one. It's all about your personal preferences and taste. Your imagination should work for you!

Different application methods

How to do:

• The plaster is dried before painting.
• If there is such a need, it must be treated with fine-grain sandpaper.
• Paint is applied in two layers. The base layer - a dark shade - is applied with a long-haired roller.
• After complete drying - a lighter color. Short-hair roller.

Painting methods:

Everything will depend on the drawing. In any case, the background paint is applied in two layers. After finishing the work, two layers of varnish are applied.

Of course, a homemade composition is simple to make, and gypsum-based mixtures are inexpensive, but they will not 100% replace branded decorative putty for walls, which contains marble and granite chips. In no case should it be compared, for example, with Venetian plaster, which is applied only by masters, and even then not by everyone. But nevertheless, the option described above is available to anyone who wants to add variety to the interior of their home. It will give both wallpaper and painting a head start both in appearance and in the durability of the coating.

It is quite understandable that many owners of private houses want to give their home a completely unique look. They come to the aid of relief plasters, which are made from mortars on various bases and are applied to the surface of the walls either with special tools, or with improvised, sometimes completely unexpected objects, depending on what effect is planned to be obtained.

Do-it-yourself decorative plaster of walls is a great way to stand out from the crowd. Before deciding on the choice of the desired pattern and the technique for its reproduction, it is necessary to consider various finishing options. After the desired relief has been determined, it is advisable to conduct a practical lesson and plaster it in accordance with the plan.

Some techniques for working with decorative plaster can be called art, since three-dimensional paintings with various subjects are molded from it, which can become an exclusive decoration for the wall of an apartment or a country mansion. Experienced craftsmen, using them, create real works from ordinary plaster mass, which set the style for the entire design of the room or facade.

Decorative plaster - what is it?

For a long time, decorative plaster has been used to decorate walls, and with changes in interior styles, its plot patterns and relief changed, becoming more complex or, conversely, simplifying for the sake of fashion. It has not lost its relevance to this day - in our time, with the help of a similar technology, finishing of both the facade parts of buildings and the interior walls of the room is carried out.

Most often, a plaster coating is used, which, in addition to being decorative, also performs a protective function, preventing moisture and dust from penetrating the main wall.

For interior walls, finishing with a uniform pattern or a relief plot panel can be used. By choosing a relief in the form of a painting to decorate your home, you can be sure that it will be guaranteed to be original, since it is almost impossible to depict the same pattern twice in exactly the same way using this technique.

Reliefs applied to the wall are usually covered with one or more shades of color, which give them a deeper dimension. If desired, when you get tired of the original color of the decorative plaster, you can easily change it to another. Moreover, this process can be carried out both on a uniform coating and on a panel. Paint is applied to relief panels with a brush and sponge, and on a uniform surface using a spray gun or roller.

Decorative plaster can have a deep relief, which is called bas-relief - it protrudes above the wall surface by 8÷15 mm, or it can be almost smooth and stand out only in color. Today in construction stores you can find compositions that can form a relief surface even when applied with an ordinary spatula, and for some of them special attachments are used that are installed on rollers. They are able to imitate tree bark, tall grass, layered rocks and many other three-dimensional patterns.

The plaster mixtures used to create the relief are quite plastic. They are easy to apply to a previously prepared wall surface and transform into various designs.

Basics of technology for applying textured plaster

Work on finishing walls with decorative plaster is carried out in stages, in accordance with the requirements of the developed technology. It includes several stages.

• The first step is to determine the design that will decorate the walls, as well as the tools necessary to reproduce it. The relief sample should be in front of your eyes while working so that you can follow its contours. This is especially important if the plot option of the panel is chosen.
• Next, you need to prepare the tools that will be used to mix the plaster composition, apply it to the wall and create a relief pattern.
• When everything is ready, you can move on to preparing the walls. This process is carried out almost identically for both facade and interior walls - it includes cleaning the surfaces of old coatings, rough leveling, and then priming them. It is better to choose a primer composition with antiseptic additives, then the walls will be protected from damage by mold, mildew, moss, etc., as well as from the creation of nests by insects.
• Then a starting leveling layer of plaster is applied to the prepared, well-dried surface - it will become the basis for the textured finishing layer.
• After the starting layer has dried well, the wall surface is recommended, once again, to create higher adhesion between the layers of the plaster composition.

• The next step, again, after the soil has completely dried, is applied finishing textured plaster, from which the relief is formed. In some of the techniques used, the upper part of the applied plaster is leveled into one plane, and textured depressions remain inside, creating a uniform but chaotic relief.

• When reproducing some designs, it is necessary to apply several layers of decorative plaster, and in this case, each of them requires good drying.
• Next, if the color was not added to the plaster mixture, the paint is applied on top of the textured layer. If the surface is given a uniform pattern with indentations, then this process is best carried out using a spray gun. If you plan to paint unevenly, you can use a sponge or brush for tinting. The paint should be applied so that it emphasizes the beauty of the relief of the decorative coating. When tinting a panel, the paint is applied in several stages to create a visual perception of its depth.

When performing work, you should strictly follow the step-by-step instructions. Making any changes to the relief manufacturing technology can have a bad effect on the design result. Therefore, there is no need to rush - you need to thoroughly dry each of the layers, observing their order. It is better to immediately prepare for the fact that it will take more than one day to create a high-quality relief wall covering.

Now that we know the general principles of decorating a wall by applying decorative relief plaster to it, it makes sense to consider the tools that can be used for these technological operations.

decorative plaster

Tools for working with relief plaster

When decorating a wall with decorative plaster and using it to form a relief pattern, use the following tools:

• To mix the plaster mortar, you will need a drill and a mixer attachment. With their help, you can easily and quickly enough, without much effort, make the mixture plastic and homogeneous.

• Spatulas of various sizes - these tools can be called the main ones when working with any plaster, since you cannot do without them when applying any of the finishing layers.
• or a trowel are also quite often used to cover surfaces with plaster solutions.
• A special glove that is used both for creating relief and for coloring it.

• A brush with hard or soft bristles, plastic film, rubber gloves, a sponge or a plastic mesh for washing dishes.
• Using a roller and rubber attachments can be called the most popular way to make a wall in relief. The variety of these devices allows you to choose one of the many textured patterns offered by the manufacturer.

In addition, using this technique, the work goes faster, and the print on the wall turns out neat and aesthetic, however, such reliefs cannot be called exclusive. The attachments on the rollers can have patterns of plant patterns, waves, various curls, geometric shapes and others.

Reliefs that imitate the texture of leather or tree bark, as well as other natural materials, look especially impressive.

Nozzles can create a textured pattern located vertically or horizontally, chaotically or perfectly correctly - this factor will depend on the preference of the owner of the home being finished.

Textured plaster expands the possibilities of transforming walls, and the presence of a variety of tools opens up scope for creating numerous designs. It should be noted that craftsmen who professionally engage in this art, when making reliefs, often use completely unexpected tools and household items, for example, wood chisels, manicure spatulas, or even ordinary teaspoons.

Materials for decorative plaster

In addition to properly selected tools, it is necessary to choose the optimal plaster composition. The assortment is quite wide, since many well-known manufacturing companies offer special ones that allow you to easily transform the facades and premises of houses.

Starting plaster

In addition to the decorative mixture, you need to purchase starting plaster, with which you can level the surface of the wall, preparing it for relief decoration. For this purpose, it is better to purchase compounds made on the same basis as the finishing, then we can say with confidence that good adhesion will be created between the base and the outer plaster layer. So, for the starting, leveling layer, the following are suitable:

• Starting plaster on a gypsum basis. A distinctive feature of this mixture is the short time before setting begins, so you need to work with it very quickly. If you have no experience in leveling walls, then it is better to choose a mixture that will provide the opportunity for longer work.

• For example, a cement-based mortar is perfect for both experienced craftsmen and beginners. You can buy it ready-made, or make it yourself from cement and well-sifted sand, taken in a ratio of 1:3. To make the homemade mixture more flexible, PVA glue or liquid soap is often added to it. Thanks to these components, the solution will become softer and at the same time “sticky” to the walls, and will be easy to work with.
• Sometimes clay is used for the starting layer, which can also be purchased at a hardware store in already prepared form. Most often, clay mortar is used for plastering a wooden surface, but recently craftsmen still prefer more modern materials for work. Although clay has numerous positive qualities, such as elasticity, good adhesion to the surface, environmental friendliness, and in addition, it is a “breathable” material.

Decorative plaster compositions

For decorative finishing, special plaster compositions are used, which are also made on different bases. They are intended for a variety of relief patterns, so some of them are equipped with various additives. On the packaging, the manufacturer indicates the name of the relief for which this mixture is intended, since solid crumbs from different materials can be used as additives, having large and fine fractions and giving different finishing effects.

The table below shows some types of decorative plaster, which are most often used to decorate the façade of a house and interior walls.

As you can see from the table presented, plaster mixtures are produced in a dry and pasty state. Ready-made pastes, diluted to the desired consistency, will usually cost slightly more than dry mixtures, but they are much easier to use, since you do not have to calculate the proportions when mixing.

Ready-to-use plasters can be used immediately after the primer has dried on the prepared wall. Upon completion of the work, the remainder of the mixture is closed in a packaging bucket, and during the next stage, the paste can be reused, since it can be stored for quite a long time in a closed state.

If you want to create your own plaster, you can use the recipes given in the table below as a basis:

Primers

Wall priming products used at the preparatory stage are sold in paste and liquid consistency.

plaster

• To treat the wall before applying the starting layer, it is recommended to use deep penetration liquid formulations that include antiseptic additives.

• After the starting plaster has dried, it should also be primed, thereby creating a good basis for the finishing decorative layer. For this process, it is best to use a primer that has a thicker, closer to paste-like consistency.

Each layer applied to the wall must be completely dried, and only after that the next one can be applied. Otherwise, the plaster may begin to crack or peel off the surface.

Coloring compositions for decorative plaster

They can be tinted, or they can be painted before starting work. Sometimes the color is added by the manufacturer to the plaster kit; in other cases, color additives are purchased separately and are also added to the paste or dry mixture before mixing or applying it.

Another option for giving finished decorative plaster the desired color is to paint it using a spray gun, roller or brush. In this case, a white or gray composition is applied to the wall, and then, after it dries, it is given a uniform or voluminous coloring.

To paint textured plaster applied to the wall, water-based paints are used - emulsion and water-dispersion. Such paints are produced in various colors, but if you wish, you can give them a shade yourself by purchasing separately a white “base” and the color you like. They are mixed immediately before being applied to the wall, and in this case you can achieve a darker or, conversely, lighter shade, which will help give volume and depth to the pattern on the wall.

Varnish for decorative plaster

For textured plasters that have shallow relief or a relatively smooth surface structure, a varnish or wax protective decorative coating is usually used.

Varnishes can be matte or glossy, and can significantly enrich the color of the wall decoration. Thanks to even one layer of varnish, the plaster will retain its original appearance much longer.

In some cases, to achieve the desired effect, it is better to apply the varnish to the wall surface in several layers. For example, if an imitation of polished stone or crocodile skin is reproduced on the wall.

Wax is most often used as a protective agent for Venetian plaster, which can acquire a matte or even mirror-like shine after application. Wax is odorless and is an environmentally friendly material. It is able to protect the wall covering from dust and yellowing, and in addition, it creates a water-repellent layer, and at the same time has good vapor permeability, that is, the walls do not lose the ability to “breathe”. Thanks to these qualities, wax coating can be used in living rooms and in rooms with high humidity.

The wax is produced in a colorless version and preserves the color of decorative plaster in its original state. In addition, it can be tinted with metal pigments or pearlescent additives. For example, CERA wax, shown in the illustration, is produced in three color options - colorless, silver and gold, which allows you to enrich the decorative finish with a pleasant soft sheen.

Masking tape

In some finishing works it is impossible to do without the use of masking tape. It is used to protect adjacent surfaces when working on one of them, as well as in cases where it is necessary to separate different textured or color patterns from each other. The tape easily sticks to any surface and is removed without leaving marks. It has a low price, so in any case, stocking up on all the materials necessary for finishing, it is worth purchasing as an auxiliary tool.

When purchasing any finishing materials, it is very important to pay attention to the manufacturer’s specifications, which are located on the packaging, about what kind of work they are intended for, internal or external. Many compositions for external use are well suited for finishing the walls of premises, but materials for internal use, when applied to the facade, unfortunately, will not last long.

Versailles plaster

Preparing wall surfaces

Now, having figured out how to choose a material and what tools you will need for the job, you can move on to considering the process of preparing walls for applying plaster solutions.

Preliminary preparation of wall surfaces

To get a high-quality result, it is very important to thoroughly clean the wall of old coatings, and similar actions are performed both on external and internal walls. It is necessary to remove old wallpaper, paint or whitewash from them, otherwise the starting layer of plaster will have insufficient adhesion to the surface.

The main activities for preparing wall surfaces are shown in the table below:

Illustration
	Removing the old layer of plaster from the walls. This process is especially important to carry out very carefully if the old decorative coating begins to peel off from the main surface. If you need to remove a thin layer of plaster, then for this purpose you can use a grinding machine or a construction float with coarse sandpaper installed on it.
	If the walls are covered with wallpaper, the old wallpaper must also be removed. Usually pasted old wallpaper is moistened with a spray bottle, and this process is carried out several times, since the canvases should get wet all the way to the wall. After this, the finishing material is removed using a spatula.
	Another option for cleaning walls from wallpaper is steaming. For this purpose, a special tool or a steam iron is used, and in addition, an air humidifier can be used, which is directed towards the wall that needs to be cleared of wallpaper.
	If the wall is painted, then the paint layer must also be cleaned off, otherwise the plaster layer simply will not lie on the wall. Paint is removed using a scraper, softening the old paint with a hot stream from a hair dryer. You can also use the abrasive method, using a grinder with an iron brush or an electric drill with an abrasive attachment.
	After the old decorative coating is removed from the wall surfaces, a leveling plaster layer or simply the solid concrete base itself will be exposed. Quite often there are depressions and irregularities in concrete that will have to be leveled by applying a putty layer.
	If you find plaster of good quality that does not separate from the main wall, then it does not need to be cleaned off. In this case, notches with a depth of 5–7 mm are made on the surface of the wall using an ax or chisel. They will be necessary to ensure better adhesion of the leveling starting layer to the wall. However, they often do without them, using modern “concrete contact” type primers, which provide excellent adhesion of the applied plaster compositions.
	However, quite often the situation is such that the old plaster has to be removed completely, since it crumbles and does not adhere securely to the surface. This flaw can be revealed when applying notches, since when tapping in some areas of the wall, the plaster layer can “bounce” or even simply fall off. If a layer separates over a large section of the wall, then it is best to remove the old coating completely - the process, as they say, has already begun, and no one can guarantee that the remaining areas will remain stable.
	Once the old plaster layer is removed, serious damage in the form of deep cracks may be found on the wall. They must be sealed, otherwise they will eventually appear on new plaster layers and the work will be ruined.
	Detected cracks are expanded, that is, they are made wider and deeper. They are then cleaned and treated with a deep penetration primer. They are filled with a plastic repair compound. Special repair solutions are available for sale, but for interior work you can also use regular starting putty. The repair solution must fill the entire volume of the cut crack, to the full depth or width. If a wide crack is found, it can be filled with polyurethane foam with a slight expansion. Its excess, which protrudes outward after the material hardens, is trimmed flush with the wall. In some cases, to strengthen the crack and to avoid its manifestation through new finishing layers, a reinforcing sickle mesh is glued on top of it onto the putty solution.
	After the repair “patches” on the cracks have dried, they must be cleaned with a construction float with an abrasive mesh installed on it first, and then with sandpaper.
	The next step is to coat the wall with a deep penetration antiseptic primer. If the first layer of primer is absorbed into the wall surface without a trace, then one or even two more layers of primer are applied. The primer composition will penetrate the pores of the plaster or wall material, strengthen its surfaces and create good conditions for adhesion of materials. The solution can be applied with a roller or a wide brush. Each subsequent layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried.

Plaster work can be done on a primed and dried wall.

Applying a base leveling layer of plaster

The next important stage is plastering work, which finally prepares the surface for further application of decorative plaster. Alignment is carried out on a primed and well-dried wall.

Methods for plastering surfaces may vary slightly, depending on the wall material and surface quality. But the general technology is still general, and more details about it are in the table below:

illustration	Brief description of the operation performed
	If, when checking a wall using a building level, it is discovered that it requires major leveling, then the first step is to place beacons made of special metal profiles on the surface. They are fixed on the wall in increments of 1000÷1200 mm, controlled vertically and horizontally using a building level and a long rule. These profiles are fixed using cement mortar with the addition of gypsum or just a gypsum mixture, since this material sets quickly and will not delay subsequent work. Between the slides of the solution on which the beacon profiles are attached, a distance of about 400÷500 mm is maintained.
	Having set the beacons, you can proceed to mixing the plaster solution. It must be homogeneous, without hard inclusions, otherwise it will be problematic to level it to perfection, since voids may form near large hard fractions, which will weaken the coating. Before applying the solution, the wall can be slightly moistened by spraying it with a spray bottle or brush. The next step is to throw a thick layer of plastic mortar onto the surface, which should be 30–50 mm higher than the beacons. Excess mortar will be removed as a rule when leveling the plaster.
	Next, the wet solution applied to the wall is leveled by a rule moved along the beacon guides. Work begins from the bottom of the wall - usually, slowly, it rises up, while it is slightly moved from side to side for better distribution of the solution in the space between the beacons. At the same time, excess plaster mixture is usually collected, which can later be used for application to adjacent sections of the wall.
	After plastering the surface, it should be left for 2-3 days to set. In this case, it is recommended to periodically spray the wall with water to obtain greater strength of the applied layer. Next, the still wet plaster is rubbed down, pouring cement laitance onto it. This work is carried out using a plaster trowel or grout, which is lightly pressed against the wall and the surface is rubbed in a counterclockwise circular motion, making it even. The rubbed surface is left until completely dry, which depends on the thickness of the layer and can take from 5 to 15 days.
	The dried plastered wall should be well primed using a paste-like thick primer, which is applied with a roller. Hard-to-reach areas of the wall are treated with a narrow brush. A water-based primer dries quite quickly, so very often after 2-3 hours it becomes possible to move on to the next stage of work.
	If we are talking about interior work, then in order for the result of finishing the wall to be of high quality, it is recommended to apply a thin, 1.5÷2.0 mm, layer of gypsum-based plaster onto the leveling plaster layer. It will make the surface smooth, correcting all the shortcomings of the base layer. The plaster is applied with a metal trowel or a wide spatula, making semicircular movements. It must be remembered that the gypsum mixture quickly sets and hardens, so you cannot mix a large amount of the solution, since it will no longer be possible to “revive” it by adding water. It should be noted that as this starting layer for decorative plaster, you can use a ready-made cement-based mixture, or one of the common putty compositions. After this layer has dried, it must be primed.

Decorative plaster - application and coloring

When all the leveling layers have dried and the wall is completely prepared, you can proceed to the final stage of work - applying a decorative plaster layer.

Several popular methods of applying relief

This is perhaps the most interesting creative process, upon completion of which the wall will take on a completely new look. For this stage, a decorative paste-like plaster mass or a dry mixture is used, which is mixed independently, in the same way as the base solution, that is, using a mixer mounted on an electric drill.

In any case, the mass must be plastic and homogeneous, unless, of course, a coating such as “bark beetle” or “lamb” is chosen, which contains additives from stone chips. But even with such a solution, the solid fractions should be distributed completely evenly in the plastic mass.

Illustration	Brief description of the operation performed
	Venetian plaster can have a different relief pattern, but it is always shallow and chaotic. However, sometimes it is the background for clear geometric or floral designs. Decorative plaster is applied using a metal or rubber spatula in thin layers, the number of which can be from 5 to 8. Despite such a considerable number of layers, the total thickness of the plaster made using this technique is only 3÷4 mm.
	To reproduce Venetian plaster, an already tinted composition is most often used, otherwise it will be necessary to paint it after its application and drying is complete, and in this case part of the intended effect will be lost. The desired effect of a “silk” surface is achieved by the presence of several layers of the same color, and each of them is applied and rubbed in different directions. Thanks to this technique, strokes that differ in direction give different reflections of the light falling on the wall. Thus, the surface has a silky sheen. In some cases, in order to create the effect of a deeper spatial volume, translucent from the inside, several color shades close to each other are taken.
	Each of the layers of plaster composition applied with strokes is smoothed, but this process is carried out by tangential movements with the application of certain forces. For each layer, professional craftsmen use spatulas and trowels of varying thickness and width, creating a multi-layered chaotic relief pattern from the solution. Using this plastering technique, you can imitate the pattern structure of various finishing stones on the wall. To enhance the imitation effect, after completing the plaster application, after waiting for it to dry, the surface is polished with wax or coated with matte varnish.
	A more accessible option for non-professionals is relief plaster. The composition is applied using a regular spatula in one or several layers, each of which must be dried. The relief of each layer can be smoothed, or its protruding fragments can be left in their original form. Smoothing of the solution is carried out using a metal trowel, with gentle touches. Using this technique, you can create various reliefs, and their shape and direction will depend on the creative mood of the master.
	If you intend to create a relief that has regular smooth shapes and lines, you can use a notched trowel (trowel), usually used to apply glue when finishing surfaces with ceramic tiles, or a special comb to reproduce it.
	This type of relief pattern will not be difficult to reproduce for a craftsman who has picked up a plastering tool for the first time. The first step is to apply a layer of plaster mortar to the wall using a regular wide spatula, and it is not necessary that it be perfectly even. Then a relief is displayed on it in the form of semicircles, checkerboard lines or other patterns that you can come up with yourself.
	Another version of the relief that can be reproduced by any creative person is a print from an ordinary plastic film on wet plaster applied to the wall. In this case, your imagination also doesn’t have to be limited, since the film can be used unfolded or rolled into a roller, or simply crumpled up randomly. In addition, you can come up with your own version of using this material, since, achieving the desired pattern, you can safely experiment with the solution and film.
	When removing the film after it has been pressed against the wet plaster, it will inevitably pull the solution along with it, and as a result, peculiar relief protrusions are formed, which can be smoothed out with a spatula or trowel. Using this method of creating decorative plaster, you can use a tinted solution, or paint it after the wall has dried after applying the relief.
	Quite popular for decorating both internal and external surfaces of walls is such a textured pattern as “bark beetle”. For this, a special plaster composition is used, which includes hard stone fractions measuring 1.5÷3 mm. This solution is applied using a metal trowel, and it can be distributed on the surface in different directions, depending on what kind of relief is intended to be obtained. When applying plaster, hard fractions leave behind furrows that imitate damage to the surface by insects. These recessed stripes can be located vertically, horizontally, diagonally, in the form of a semicircle or entire circles - the direction of the relief pattern will depend on the preference of the master and the intended design.
	A frequently used tool for applying relief is a roller, which leaves a textured pattern on the wall surface. This method of recreating volume can be used by any homeowner, even those who have never done plastering work before. It is enough to purchase a roller with the relief you like on its rubber nozzle and leave an imprint on the fresh solution applied to the wall. The choice of attachments is so large that they can be selected to suit any, even the most sophisticated taste. If desired, you can make a roller attachment yourself, using pieces of foam rubber, twisted coarse rope, plastic film, fur, fabric with deep relief or other materials that can leave the necessary impression on wet plaster.
	If you plan to create the correct floral pattern on the walls, in the form of grass and leaves of different shapes and sizes, then a roller with such a pattern will have to be purchased ready-made. Work on decorating walls using this technique goes quite quickly, since there will be no failures in the process - the plaster mixture is applied and distributed to the surface with a spatula, and while it remains wet, a roller is passed over it, which will leave the selected pattern on the surface.
	And this is a completely simple method that does not require special expenses for purchasing a tool for reproducing the relief. For the finishing process, a regular flat brush with soft or hard bristles is used, depending on how clear the pattern is planned to be obtained. The relief is recreated using the same principle as when using a spatula with a notched comb - using fresh plaster applied to the wall.
	Another technique of decorative plaster, not performed over the entire surface of the wall, but only in certain areas. The background for it can be one of the above-described types of shallow relief. The panels are usually made from gypsum plaster mortar. The composition is applied in slides to the marked area of ​​the wall according to the pattern and left to dry. After drying, cutting tools are used - this can be a knife, cutters of various shapes and a spatula - with their help, the desired shapes are created. In addition to the cutters, you will need sandpaper with fine and medium grains, which will be used to smooth out the cut out elements of the three-dimensional pattern. In order not to spoil the wall, it is recommended to experiment by creating a small panel or its individual parts on a plywood sheet. Only after making sure that everything works out can you proceed to reproducing the intended relief design on the wall.

In addition to those listed above, there are other objects that can be used to create relief designs on the surface of the wall. For this purpose, not only professional tools are widely used, but also improvised devices or even fragments of plants, for example, tree leaves or branches of various thicknesses.

Painting decorative plaster

As mentioned above, you can buy colored decorative plaster in construction stores, but working with it is much more difficult, since it is necessary to reproduce all the complex ones with one color. Therefore, most often a white plaster mixture is chosen, which, after final drying, is covered with selected shades, which significantly expands the creative possibilities of the home craftsman.

In addition to applying color to a finished relief wall, there is another technique for creating a colored surface. In this option, before applying it, a certain color is added to the white plaster, and then a relief on the wall is made from material of different shades. This is a rather complex technique, and a professional artist or a person with the appropriate talent can handle it. Therefore, the best option remains to paint the finished relief.

Usually, for painting decorative plaster, water-based paints are used, to which the desired color is added. When choosing a color, it is recommended to make it one or two shades darker, since when the paint dries, it will lighten.

Illustration	Brief description of the operation performed
	The most used technique when giving relief plaster a color is to cover it with a light tone of the selected shade. This coloring will become unifying for the entire composition. The paint is applied to the entire surface using a roller, after squeezing it on the ribbed surface of the paint tray. If the relief has a depth of more than 5 mm, then a long-haired roller is used to tint it, or especially deep fragments are tinted with a soft brush.
	The first paint layer is applied in one go, otherwise the coloring will turn out uneven. Therefore, if the paint is tinted yourself, you need to mix it enough so that it is enough for the first layer for all the walls in the room, or at least for one wall, but always for its entire area. This is especially important if the surfaces will be painted with one color without additional shades or stains. Coloring is carried out in different ways, depending on the depth of the relief and the desired final result.
	One of the options for uneven coloring is done using a sponge. Then they walk over the still damp painted surface with a soft cloth or a dry sponge, barely touching the protruding elements of the relief. This execution technique is aimed at enhancing the “depth of space” of the relief not only with the help of volume, but also with the use of color play.
	This method of finishing decoration consists of two stages - painting and cleaning the protruding relief elements with sandpaper. The first step is to paint the entire area of ​​the walls with a common color - this process can be carried out using a roller or spray. The second stage is carried out after the paint has completely dried. Fine-grained sandpaper is installed on a construction float, after which the tool is used to go over the protruding parts of the relief. In this way, the paint is removed or lightened from the surface, thereby revealing a three-dimensional pattern. If desired, the cleaned surfaces can be coated with paint that is close in tone to the main color, darker or lighter, depending on the effect you want to achieve. Usually a light shade is chosen, as it visually increases the volume of the relief.
	Only an experienced craftsman can make a relief panel, but you can try painting it yourself. However, you need to take into account that this process is quite complicated and time-consuming, since it will have to be done with thin brushes, so the work will take quite a lot of time. It is recommended to cover the finished relief plaster panel with a primer, dry it, and only then begin painting. You should not take pure bright colors, as the relief behind them will not be visible. Therefore, they are diluted to shades of the chosen color or a certain amount is added to white paint.
	In this option for painting decorative plaster, two colors are used - one is the main one, and the second is an auxiliary one, which will highlight the relief pattern. The work is carried out in two stages. Firstly, the entire surface is covered with one, primary color. This process can be carried out with a roller, wide brush or spray. Then this layer should be well dried. The second stage consists of applying paint using tangential movements to the protruding parts of the relief using a soft brush, a foam sponge or a mitten worn on the hand. The applied paint should be thick enough and the brush or sponge should be dry.

Video: an interesting example of painting a wall finished with relief plaster

The final stage of work on decorative plaster is coating the walls with varnish or wax. This process must be carried out carefully, since applying the final layer carelessly can ruin the entire job.

In conclusion, I would like to say that if you have little or no experience in performing decorative plastering, then it is not recommended to choose overly complex design techniques. In the same case, when a specific design is selected and the decision is made to reproduce it on the wall at all costs, you should carefully study the instructions and practice on a small section of the wall or a plywood panel.

Video: demonstration of various techniques for applying and decorating decorative plasters

“Versailles plaster”: a technology accessible to everyone - step by step

In the final section, the design of a wall with the so-called “Versailles plaster” will be considered as an example. In the proposed finishing technology, instead of plaster composition, two types of putty are used - starting and finishing, which allows you to save a decent amount on finishing. In addition, the advantage of this method of original decorative wall decoration is that even a novice master can do it. The main thing is to purchase quality material and use it correctly.

In addition to the two types of putty, to obtain the desired result, you will need “Quartz-primer” for application to the wall under the decorative cladding, which creates increased adhesion between the materials and also prevents the putty from drying too quickly. The presence of this material is a prerequisite for decorating a wall using this technology.

In order for the plaster layer to turn out aesthetically pleasing, it is necessary to purchase two more components, without which the desired effect will not be achieved.

This is, firstly, a decorative paint coating of the “Adagio Silver” type - on an acrylic binder, containing small metal particles of various shapes. Gives a very interesting iridescent effect, giving the wall a silky look.

Secondly, so-called glitter is used, consisting of tiny particles of polyester film of various shapes. This component is also added to one of the layers of decorative wall trim.

Illustration	Brief description of the operation performed
	The first step is to mix the model mass, consisting of starting and finishing putty in a 1:1 ratio. Mixing proceeds as follows: Part of the starting putty and part of the finishing putty are poured into a container with water in turn, then the sequence is repeated, and so on until the required amount of dry mixture is poured. If necessary, add a little water to the bucket, and then mix the mass using a mixer attachment. Next, the finished solution is left for 10-12 minutes - this time is necessary for it to “ripen”. After this time, the mass is mixed again until smooth. It should be mixed very well and have a medium-thick consistency, that is, not particularly liquid and not thick.
	The finished putty composition is applied to the prepared, leveled, treated with “Quartz-soil” and dried wall surface. If the mass will not be applied from the ceiling, but below, along a broken line on the wall, then it is recommended to first stick masking tape along it, which will help leave the upper part of the wall clean and keep the upper border of the decorative finish even. Work starts from the top line. First of all, the putty mixture is distributed along the masking tape.
	The applied layer should have a thickness of 2÷3 mm. Particular attention should be paid to filling the joints of the planes, for example, if the putty will be applied from the ceiling line. The mixture is applied to the wall with a trowel in a relatively even layer. This work can also be done with a spatula having a width of 300÷350 mm. It should be noted that in this finishing option you don’t have to try too hard, leveling the solution to perfect smoothness, the main thing is that the layer of material has the same thickness over the entire plane of the wall and is fairly even. The smoother the putty layer, the easier it will be to see flaws in the relief pattern.
	An even facing layer is applied to a height of 1000÷1500 mm from the top down the wall. Then a relief pattern is formed on the wet putty. For this, a plastic trowel with a pointed plate in front is used - it is shaped like an iron. Work starts from the corners or the top line of the wall. The master makes wave-like movements, stretching the mass, while simultaneously creating a chaotic pattern in the form of stripes running in different directions. With the help of a trowel, the mass is lifted above the surface, creating a larger volume of decorative coating and leaving behind grooves of different widths, most often located diagonally on the surface. The convenience of creating a relief in this way is that the design applied to the solution can always be corrected if the master does not like it in some way.
	Having worked out the first batch of putty, and having reached approximately the middle of the wall in height, the next portion of the solution is prepared. During this time, the mass applied to the wall will have time to set. Therefore, many craftsmen have the problem of combining the plastered area of ​​the wall with the already set mortar and the fresh, just mixed mass, which will be applied below. The joint between the two areas of the wall should be completely invisible.
	In order for the combination to take place neatly and become completely unnoticeable, a fresh solution is applied overlapping the already applied layer by 150÷200 mm, and then the overall layer is smoothed out. This process must be carried out along the entire line of combining two zones - upper and lower.
	The overlap line needs to be smoothed out well, and then a general relief pattern must be applied to it.
	Applying the relief begins from the area where the design has already been applied. It turns out that it is, as it were, “picked up” with a trowel and extended onto an evenly applied unifying putty layer along its entire length.
	When combining two zones of the wall, it is important to ensure that there are no deep dents or clearly even stripes from the trowel left on it. Such defects must be smoothed out and these areas given a general relief, since they will be especially noticeable in these areas. When working on a connecting line, it is recommended to step aside and inspect the work area from a distance. This way you can more clearly identify shortcomings and correct them immediately.
	Then, the model mass is applied to the entire lower part of the wall in an even layer, and a relief is formed on it in exactly the same way. When the wall is completely covered with this primary layer of putty with the applied relief, it is left to dry completely for two days.
	When the wall dries, they go over its surface with a spatula, with which it is necessary to clean the protruding sharp edges of the relief strips, since they should be rounded.
	Then, the entire surface is treated with a construction trowel, with sandpaper No. 60 installed on it. Grouting is carried out with slight pressure, in a counterclockwise circular motion.
	After processing, you should get a relief surface with smoothed protruding edges of the pattern. An additional check of the surface, that is, its smoothness, can be done by running your palm over it. If untreated areas are found that scratch the palm, then this flaw must be corrected immediately. The treated surface must be thoroughly cleaned of putty dust - this process is carried out using a soft, wide brush or broom.
	The next step is to treat the surface with a deep penetration primer. The primer is applied with a roller with a nap attachment. The composition must be well distributed over the wall, collecting all the formed smudges. This layer dries in 1.5÷2 hours.
	Next, take a white water-based paint, add a color of the selected shade (in this case, the master used a beige dye), and the mixture is well mixed until smooth. The paint should be applied easily and not be too thick, therefore, if necessary, the solution should be diluted to the desired consistency with water. The relatively liquid composition of the paint, when applied to the wall, will become translucent, which, in combination with other layers of different shades, will create the illusion of space.
	The paint is first applied to the edge of the wall using a brush, and then the main part of the surface is tinted using a nap roller. It distributes the mass well over the relief surface, filling all the recesses of the design with paint, and when rolling out the composition, it collects its excess. As a result, the surface should be neat and evenly painted, free of smudges. After the entire surface is covered with the tinting composition, it is left until completely dry. Water-based paint applied in a thin layer will take about two hours to dry.
	Next, a composition made from a regular primer and “silver” - the “Adagio Silver” dye – is applied to the surface using a foam roller. The mixture is prepared in a 1:1 ratio, that is, in this case the master took 250 × 250 grams of these materials. The resulting mixture should have a fairly thick consistency and should not leak at all. The mass is applied to the wall without pressure, so that only the upper protruding elements of the relief are covered. The recesses should not be painted with this composition.
	The mixture is carefully rolled out over the entire surface of the wall, highlighting the relief with color.
	Next, you will need to prepare a finishing composition that will transform the wall surface beyond recognition. It consists of a water-based varnish and a small amount of glitter. The varnish is diluted with water, in proportions of approximately 1:3, and mixed well. The addition of water is necessary to ensure that a hard, uneven, glossy crust does not form on the surface of the wall after coating it.
	A small amount of glitter is added to the varnish, about a tablespoon per 0.5 liter of composition. Then the solution is thoroughly mixed by vigorous shaking. Before you start shaking, the lid of the container with the composition must be tightly closed.
	Next, the finished varnish composition is applied to the relief plaster using a foam roller and is well distributed by rolling it over the wall surface. Having completed this stage of work, the finishing can be considered complete. All that remains is to wait for the wall surface to dry, and then remove the masking tape enclosing the wall.
	The last illustration shows the result of this rather lengthy work on the design of the wall. But, you must admit, the technology is not so complicated, and the resulting finish looks very original.

When the construction of the house comes to completion, the turn of finishing work begins. This is one of the most important and, at the same time, interesting stages, on which the final result of the entire construction depends.

Today, there are hundreds of ways to decorate walls, and one of the most beautiful options can rightfully be called decorative plaster, which is distinguished by a wide range of colors, affordable price and practicality. Decorative plaster allows you to create an original, unique style and embody any design ideas.

If you prepare decorative plaster correctly and get used to applying it correctly, you can create magnificent decor on the walls, no different in appearance from a fresco.

But many reject this building material as a decorative finish, considering it very complex and labor-intensive. In fact, this is not true at all. In this article we will tell you about the advantages and features of this material and will dwell in detail on the process of preparing decorative plaster from ordinary putty with your own hands.

Due to the fact that the material contains modern plasticizers, the plaster is flexible, which allows even a beginner to work with it. It is universal, it can be applied to almost any surface (foam concrete, drywall, brick).

Thanks to proper application, textured plaster allows you to give the building an expensive and presentable look. Therefore, working and creating designer masterpieces on the wall using ordinary putty is a pleasure.

What is the difference between plaster and putty?

Before we move on to the process of creating decorative plaster from ordinary putty, let's understand these two concepts. In general, plaster is usually called a building mixture that is intended for leveling walls. Putty is also commonly called a building mixture for leveling walls, but, unlike ordinary plaster, we are talking about small errors.

What is the difference?

1. Grinding. If we carefully study the composition of both building materials, we will see that the putty uses substances of much smaller fractions, this makes it possible to create a thin coating.
2. Price. There will also be a difference in the price of these two materials, which is due to the lower consumption of putty compared to plaster. Coarse filler costs much less for manufacturers.
3. Strength. Plaster will be much stronger than putty. That is why it is often used to decorate external walls. If we recall the composition of concrete, we know that crushed stone is added to the composition to impart strength. So it is here. The larger the fraction of substances included in the mixture, the stronger and more durable the material itself will be.
4. Compound. Plaster is mainly made from a cement-sand mixture with various additives. It can be clay-lime, clay-cement, gypsum and, less commonly, clay-cement composition. To produce putty, manufacturers use cement with sand, to which various plasticizers are added.

In order to understand the scope of use and performance properties of various types of plaster and putty, let's take a closer look at the composition and types of these two materials.

Types of plaster for facade work

Today there are several types of plaster on the market, which differ in composition and connecting link.

Prices for popular types of plaster

Plaster

Advantages of textured plaster

If you decide to choose ordinary putty as a façade finish to create an intricate decor, you will have to work hard and practice applying the finish to get a really high-quality finish. But the result is worth it.

Decorative plaster is, first of all, a play of textures. And the color scheme plays the second part. It is important to understand when starting work that it is through texture and relief that you will achieve a complex texture on the wall.

Textured plaster has the following qualities:

• easy to apply;
• is highly resistant to moisture and UV rays;
• can be applied to any surface (foam concrete, brick, etc.);
• allows you to give the wall an original style;
• does not require perfect leveling before application;
• it is possible to choose any color scheme;
• goes well with other finishing materials;
• has a long service life;
• environmentally friendly material;
• increases the thermal insulation and sound insulation properties of the room;
• you can create a complex texture.

The possibilities of decorative plaster are not limited to creating an original texture. Decorative plaster can be used to create intricate patterns and paintings.

It is best to use silicone putty mixtures as a base. They are more elastic, allow you to achieve perfect texture and the necessary relief, and also have high resistance to mechanical damage. Despite the intricacy of the texture, this material is quite easy to care for. Dust and dirt can be easily removed with ordinary detergents.

Varieties of plaster textures for facade finishing

There are two types of decorative plaster for facade work:

The following options are classified according to invoice:

Tools for preparing decorative plaster

Before you start cooking, stock up on convenient tools. This will simplify the work and allow you to quickly prepare the desired consistency.

Prices for building levels

Construction levels

You will need:

Process technology for working with decorative plaster

1. Preparatory work for leveling the walls.
2. Preparation of decorative plaster from putty.
3. Creating a base layer of plaster.
4. Working on creating a textured coating.
5. Finish coating.

Stage 1. Preparatory work before applying decorative plaster

Step 1. We carry out surface preparation work. We clean off all paint, varnish and other debris. Wash the wall thoroughly.

Step 2. We prime the surface. This will allow you to seal all the cracks, level the walls as much as possible and stop the putty from being absorbed by the wall surface, since the primer has excellent waterproofing properties.

Step 3. We apply an antiseptic and anti-corrosion protective layer. If decorative plaster is applied to a surface where there are metal nails, screws, pipes, then it is necessary to first apply a protective layer to all these parts. Otherwise, in the future, a rusty stain may appear through the plaster. The antiseptic will protect the surface from the formation of fungus, mold and other microorganisms.

Step 4. Let the primer and protective layer dry thoroughly for at least 12-14 hours. It is very important to wait this period of time, otherwise, after a short period of time, the plaster will lag behind the surface. If after the first primer a layer lag is visible or there is a suspicion that the surface is friable, then it is recommended to apply the primer in several layers, each time waiting for complete drying. The average time for polymerization and drying of the mixture is 15 hours, but before starting work, be sure to read the instructions on the package, since depending on the chemical components, the period can be significantly increased.

Video - Application of Ceresit CT 16 primer

Prices for facade primer

Facade primer

Video - The process of applying primer to walls

Important! All finishing work must be carried out at a temperature not lower than +5°C. Otherwise, the quality of the result and the performance properties of the facade finishing will be low.

Step 5. We use a building level to determine the degree of leveling. Keep in mind that checking the evenness of the walls should be done in several positions: horizontally, vertically and diagonally.

Now that finishing can be applied to the walls, we are preparing decorative plaster.

Stage 2. Preparing decorative plaster: step-by-step instructions

You can make textured plaster from almost any ordinary putty.

In order to decorate walls with textured putty, you need to prepare the following materials:

• putty (regular from any manufacturer);
• white acrylic primer;
• water (cold);
• acrylic lacquer;
• paint of the required color;
• glaze for finishing coat.

Step 1. We take a deep vessel (bucket) and mix in equal proportions ordinary putty, water and a building mixture for sealing seams. You can first mix only the bulk ingredients, and then slowly add cold water. Then you will speed up the mixing process and eliminate the formation of lumps.

Step 2. Mix the mixture thoroughly with a construction mixer or electric drill with a whisk attachment.

Step 3. If the final version requires a certain color, then after thoroughly mixing, add pigment to the finished consistency.

Step 4. Checking the texture of the finished material. If you feel that the consistency is too thick and does not allow you to work and create the necessary patterns on the surface, then you can add a little water, but do not overdo it, otherwise the material will roll or flow down the surface for a long time.

Advice! Prepare only as much mixture as you need in the near future. The solution will thicken quite quickly and will be difficult to work with.

Stage 3. Creating a Base Layer

Take a small amount of the prepared mixture with a spatula and apply a thin layer to the wall surface. The layer thickness should not exceed 2-3 mm. Use a special spatula for facade work and start stretching from the lower right corner.

Wait for a technological break (10-30 minutes) before starting to perform the relief. The drying time of the base depends on the technical features of the working mixture.

Stage 4. Working on creating a textured coating

Step 1. Mark the wall. This is an important point if, say, you are planning to turn your idea into a designer masterpiece and do not want to limit yourself to the usual application of textured putty. We use masking tape to mark the work area, and the solution can extend onto the paper. Once the job is complete, this tape will need to be carefully removed.

Step 2. Take a spatula, pick up a small amount of putty again and apply the mixture to the wall. It can be applied in several movements, depending on the design intent: scarring, circular movements, horizontal or vertical strokes. If you want to create chaotic strokes on the wall, without a specific pattern or relief, then you can alternate the technique. If your plan involves a certain pattern, then choose movements in one direction.

After each application of the mixture to the wall, thoroughly clean the spatula or grater before adding a new portion of the solution. Under no circumstances should the remaining mixture be placed back into the bucket of plaster.

Important! Practice applying the relief to a sheet of drywall first. This will give you the opportunity to “feel” the material and create exactly the design you had in mind.

With a spatula with a serrated edge, you can create a specific design, and with a special roller with a ready-made design, you can transfer beautiful patterns to the wall. The structure and relief of the wall can be adjusted during the process. If the strokes are too harsh and thick, take a trowel and, lightly touching the wall, walk over the surface.

Bark beetle style performed by translational continuous movements performed in a horizontal or vertical position. The pattern will depend on the movement of your hand and it is better to apply it with a trowel; it will appear already while applying the mixture to the wall. But individual strokes can be created with a grater, applying it to the wall and pressing lightly.

The consistency of the solution should resemble thick sour cream, otherwise the mixture may flow off the wall, disturbing the pattern. After applying one layer with a trowel, the “milk”, which no longer contains pebbles, is removed from the trowel with a spatula. If this is not done, then the “bark beetle” relief will not be pronounced. Hold the tool at an angle of 60 degrees when applying the solution.

The thickness of the layer will depend on the grain size in the finished mixture. The average drying time is 24-72 hours.

Video - Technology of applying bark beetle plaster

Advice! If you need to take a break from work, then cover the border of the completed finished drawing with masking tape, over which apply a wet solution. When you return to work, carefully remove the tape and continue the process. This will avoid visible grooves and transitions in the terrain.

"Pebble" texture achieved by sharp movements in a clockwise direction. It is very important not to interrupt the finishing work, since the hardening of the plaster can give a sharp transition on the wall.

Technology of applying pebble plaster - photo

Video - Lesson on applying pebble plaster

Step 3. To ensure that the painting dries completely, you need to protect the façade from direct exposure to sunlight and wind. To do this, it is necessary to install a protective construction screen made of mesh or film.

Creating complex terrain using a special roller

Using a special roller covered with steel mesh, rubberized or porous, you can create a unique pattern of any complexity on the surface. You can purchase such a tool in a store or get creative with the process and make such a roller yourself by wrapping it with twine or cord. Keep in mind that the more often the rope is wound, the denser the relief structure will be.

All work is carried out with a roller, which is carefully dipped into the putty and then the mixture is applied in a thin layer to the wall. Here you can use your imagination and work with the roller in different directions.

Prices for textured rollers

Stage 5. Finish coating

Now that the desired pattern on the wall has been created, we proceed to the final stage. You can paint decorative plaster in any color or varnish it. This process is not complicated, but in order for the result to really please you for many years, you should take into account several nuances.

Textured putty is best painted in 2 colors. This will give the surface greater relief and add volume.

If you want to focus on the convex parts of the picture, then it is better to paint these places using the dry brush method. But all the depressions and recesses, on the contrary, will be emphasized by the wet brush method, which will slightly blur the color.

If you decide to paint textured putty in dark colors, then it is better to choose the wet brush method, which will slightly blur the pigment. When painting the surface in a light color, apply the paint with a dry brush.

After the painting process has reached the finish line, let the paint dry well and cover it with varnish. Firstly, it will give a beautiful shade to the paint, fix it and protect it from fading and fading. Use a water-based varnish and apply 2-3 layers, each time waiting for the previous one to dry completely.

Despite the fact that the process of creating decorative plaster from putty is not complicated and does not require serious skills, watch the video with step-by-step instructions to do everything correctly.

Video - Painting decorative plaster

Video - How to make decorative plaster from ordinary putty with your own hands