Business idea artificial stone. The production of artificial stone is a really successful business plan

An artificial stone is a material that was obtained not naturally, but artificially, and consists of non-natural substances.

Such material has no value and is a simple element decor. The main advantages of such a stone will be beauty, light weight, cheap cost, as well as ease of manufacture and, accordingly, low cost production. The technology of such production is carried out using the simplest equipment, but at the same time, the strength that such an artificial stone gives is in no way inferior, and may even exceed the strength of products made from natural stones.

Advantages of the stone

Decorative stone is very popular. The main advantage of manufacturing are simple and cheap materials that are used in the production of simple concrete. It turns out that raw materials for cooking can always be easily and quickly found, and this will not be a big problem.

When using decorative stone, you can get any colors you want, you can make any shape and make any dream come true. Another great advantage is that the base of the decorative stone will never fade under the action of sun rays, so this material is often chosen for finishing the facade of the house. The house not only becomes beautiful, but it is also much better protected from moisture and other weather conditions as well as minor damage. A huge plus is that such work can be carried out at any time of the year, since the stone is unpretentious in construction.

The technology for the production of decorative stone makes it possible to obtain products that cannot be distinguished from natural ones, and at the same time, simple materials such as sand, cement and chemical additives can be used to make any color and any pattern. For this reason, designers and decorators are very fond of working with this material.

The production of such material as artificial stone is based on cement, to which fine or coarse filler, sand or crushed stone are added, respectively, and chemical additives are added, thanks to which all elements bind together and form a strong connection. A mineral pigment is responsible for obtaining the color, thanks to which it is precisely the resistance to fading and moisture that appears.

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Production Methods

You can make artificial stones using a silicone mold on your own.

The manufacturing technology of decorative stone is based on two methods, such as vibrocasting and vibrocompression. These two methods have their own advantages. For example, the vibrocasting method requires less expensive equipment, the setup and use of such equipment is much easier. There is no steaming in production and more products can be made per shift. And another plus is that the surface of the product is of better quality and the color of the product is more saturated, since less water is needed to make concrete.

The advantages of vibrocompression will be to obtain products that will be slightly cheaper in cost, and there will also be more mechanization in production than manual labor.

In general, the production technology artificial stone has its own merits. This is lightness, unlike natural stone, it can be used for finishing the outside of the building and inside, does not require special processing, the stone is very easy to install and no additional protection is needed for it.

If you need a production with an average number of products, then it is better to use vibrocasting technology, and if you want to get much more products, then vibrocompression technology is worth choosing.

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Vibrocasting technology for the production of decorative stone

Let's talk about manufacturing technology using vibrocasting, during which a stone is obtained. To begin with, it is worth deciding what equipment will be needed for production.

Of course, you will need a vibrating table in order to process concrete products. It is used by both large and small companies. Types of vibrating table can be different, it will depend on what products will be manufactured.

You will definitely need a mixer with which you can get a high quality solution.

The next piece of equipment is a vibrating sieve, since it is very important to use a well-sifted filler for decorative stone.

And the last mandatory equipment will be mold equipment for making good and beautiful forms products.

There is also other additional equipment, but we do not consider it, since it is used in vibrocompression technology on a large scale of production.

We have decided on the equipment and now we will directly consider the process of production of decorative stone. The procedure will be as follows. First you need to prepare the concrete mixture. To do this, the necessary components are taken, such as cement, dye, filler and additives, and mixed in a concrete mixer.

Then, on a vibrating table, the concrete is placed into molds and compacted in them.

Then the products are aged for two days in vivo, that is, no complex actions need to be performed. Temperature, humidity and breathability should be normal.

The next step is to separate the products from the molds on a special table.

Well then finished goods sort, select the right quality, without chips and scratches and stacked on pallets, which are taken to the warehouse.

Separately, it is worth talking about the forms for the production of products. Molds for cast products must be of high quality. Previously, when artificial stone was not so popular, hard forms of concrete, plaster, wood and metal were mainly used. Now there are many new technologies, new equipment, improved materials, so mold casting can now be of any texture, any size and any geometry.

It becomes clear that the good equipment and at skillful hands It is not difficult to establish the manufacture of such products from decorative stone. The main thing is to follow the procedure and have quality materials, and of course, a decent workforce.

By choosing the idea of ​​producing such a stone for business, you will not lose, because it will pay for itself very quickly due to the high demand. But, of course, if you just need to use the stone for yourself, for example, lay out a path on suburban area paving stones or make a staircase in the house, it is best to hire professionals and buy finished products, since it will be problematic to make a stone without equipment alone and at home. Therefore, to save your time, money and nerves, it is better to entrust this work to specialists. They will do everything quickly and efficiently short term, since such work usually does not cause any difficulties.

The construction business is growing at a rapid pace. Production of artificial stone at home is a profitable investment Money for those who want to discover own enterprise. Thanks to the latest technologies, it is not difficult to make a decorative stone in a handicraft way today. The scope of its application is quite wide:

• landscape design;
• exterior cladding of buildings;
• interior decoration of premises;
• restoration of historical buildings.

Properties of artificial facing stone

Artificial stone is more profitable than natural counterpart. It is stronger, cheaper and has a variety of colors.

Varieties of artificial stones

They can decorate the interior design of any stylistic direction. It has specific advantages over natural stone:

• It is environmentally friendly, hygienic, as it does not have scratches and microcracks on the surface, which contribute to the growth of harmful bacteria.
• Artificial stone is much lighter.
• It has high sound insulation.
• It is unpretentious: easy to install, easy to install.
• Retains all its positive qualities for a long time.

Decorative facing stone does not lose its properties under the influence of temperature changes, excess moisture in the atmosphere chemicals. It does not change color under the influence of ultraviolet rays. And also has a high thermal conductivity - a quality that is very valuable when finishing the interior surfaces of the room.

Classification of decorative stone

Depending on the production technology and the raw materials used, there are several types of artificial stones. Some of them can only be made on industrial enterprises. In artisanal conditions, a decorative stone is produced from gypsum, cast acrylic and concrete (reinforced or molded) stone.

Artificial stone for exterior cladding, in particular reinforced concrete, is made from the following materials:

• sand;
• cement;
• fillers;
• colored mineral pigments;
• hardening accelerators;
• special plasticizers.

Concrete stone is used for the manufacture of decorative cobblestones and boulders that do not look different from natural ones, as well as for facing buildings from the outside.

Artificial acrylic stone is made on the basis of acrylic resin with the addition of a composite material, hardener, color pigment. It is used for interior decoration inside residential and public buildings. The disadvantage of this material is that it can be easily scratched.

But it is compensated by the ability to restore the glossy surface with a simple polishing.

The composition of gypsum cast stone includes:

• gypsum;
• white cement;
• pozzolanic additions;
• oxide pigments.

Such additives make gypsum less brittle. It is used only for interior decoration, as it is unstable to low temperatures.

Decorative gypsum tiles are environmentally friendly, practical to use, support indoors natural humidity and is also suitable for long-term use and inexpensive.

DIY artificial stone

Workplace organization

Before opening the production of decorative stone, you should correctly plan the upcoming work, consider options for marketing products.

Production plaster tiles at home and other facing stone in small quantities can be arranged in a small room - a personal garage or barn. If you want to organize an enterprise more large scale building needs to be selected. bigger size and subject to certain requirements.

• Room rental. Take off working room it is more profitable on the outskirts of the city - it is easier to find a spacious and inexpensive building here. In addition, you do not have to deliver products from the center to customers.
• Water. The manufacture of artificial building material requires significant use of water. Therefore, you should rent a room next to water wells or a water treatment plant. Under such conditions, industrial water will be much cheaper when purchased, and its delivery to the stone production site will cost minimally.
• Heating. The warehouse does not require heating. If the warehouse of finished products is located outdoors, it is necessary to make a canopy over it from the rain. The temperature of the main room, reserved for the production of decorative stone, must be positive, so that the water needed for work does not freeze. In a place specially designated for stone drying, it is necessary to constantly maintain 30 degrees of heat and dry air. Rooms for auxiliary workers are also heated. We must not forget about the ventilation in the room.
• Wiring. Important point- good wiring. Stone production consumes a lot of electricity. So electric wires must be in perfect condition and the right sizes so that there is no equipment breakdown or fire at this enterprise.

Faulty wiring can lead to irreversible consequences

The production of stone in large quantities requires the recruitment of working personnel - at least two people: a technologist and an auxiliary worker.

Before starting the work of the enterprise, it should be registered with the relevant authorities.

Equipment and working inventory

For the manufacture of artificial stone at home, equipment and various tools are needed, which are purchased depending on the scale of production. A small amount of decorative stone can be made using a vat, a mixer drill, a trowel, and self-made molds. For example, you can make gypsum tiles with your own hands.

Special equipment for the production of artificial stone on a large scale includes:

• Vibrating table. With its help, the material is compacted, removing air bubbles from it.
• Vibrator - for the movement of the vibrating table.
• Vibroconveyor for moving bulk materials.
• Concrete mixer and mortar mixer for mixing water and dry material until homogeneous.
• Elastic silicone or stone molds. A diverse range is obtained by using in the production of various forms.

Silicone mold for making artificial stone

But tools and other working equipment are also needed:

• desktops;
• drill with a special nozzle for mixing;
• boxes for finished stone;
• scales;
• racks with pallets;
• drying chambers;
• forklift for transporting goods;
• container for coloring pigment;
• pallets;
• vibrating sieve.

Technological process

The production technology of artificial stone is divided into two types.

The first is vibrocompression. This method is characterized by low cost of goods and fully mechanized production. This technology is suitable for the production a large number products.

The second method is vibrocasting. Its advantages are in inexpensive equipment, high-quality surfaces, large selection products, rich color of artificial stone. The technology of vibrocasting is expedient in the manufacture of an average amount of products.

The technological process includes several sequential steps:

• Creation of a master model. To start, three pieces are enough.
• Preparation of forms. There must be at least ten of them if you need to get different invoices, since each of the forms is used only once a day.
• Prepare a mixture of the desired components by mixing them in a mortar mixer until smooth.
• Pouring the resulting mixture into molds.
• Compaction of the solution on a vibrating table for at least two minutes. Thus, air is expelled from the solution.
• For several hours (8-10) at a temperature of 30 degrees, the solution in the forms is in the dryer until it hardens. Then it is transferred to a room with normal temperature and humidity for two days.
• Forms with a frozen mixture are transferred to a special desktop and the products are separated from them. Then select a quality finished products, stacked on pallets and sent to the warehouse.
• At the end of the work, the molds are washed with acid from the remnants of the solution.

Acid to clean up the residue of the solution

The production of gypsum tiles has some differences from the production of other types of artificial stone:

• molds for casting - small size and weight;
• a vibrating table is not used for production;
• the process of painting the finished stone is quite simple and not expensive;
• ready-made gypsum mixture has a low price.

Producing decorative stone is quite simple and profitable. A competent approach to the enterprise and excellent product quality will make the income high and stable.

Video: Making gypsum stone at home

Many of us consider artificial stone a new material, however, it has been known to people since time immemorial. Ordinary clay brick, cement, gypsum and lime mortar are varieties of artificial stone.

The popularity of this material began to grow after new polymer compositions and forms appeared, allowing it to be used for interior decoration and landscape design.

In particular, artificial stone can be used to make tiles for wall and floor cladding, steps and other elements of stairs.

It is used for the manufacture of countertops, decorative moldings and sculptural compositions, borders and paving slabs.

In terms of strength and durability, some types of artificial stone are not inferior to natural stone, surpassing it in ease of processing and ease of finishing. This material can be made in very thin tiles, which reduces its weight and reduces the cost. For natural stone this thickness is unattainable due to high brittleness.

Not yielding natural material According to the color scheme and variety of surface textures, it is more profitable to use artificial stone for several reasons:

• it can immediately be made perfectly smooth, which eliminates costly operations for sawing, grinding and polishing;
• it does not need to be transported given material can be done by hand at the place of application;
• the amount of waste is minimal, since there are no losses for transportation and processing;
• Besides rectangular shape it can be made curly or shaped, which allows you to finish surfaces exactly in place without additional adjustment.

Types of artificial stone

Considering the question of what artificial stone is made of, it is not difficult to choose a technology suitable for use at home.

Depending on the raw materials and methods of its processing, artificial stone is divided into the following types:

– Ceramic (tiles) - the manufacturing process requires the creation of a high temperature for firing raw materials and turning it into a monolithic conglomerate.

- Gypsum (cast). It can be made at home. The cost of raw materials and production is minimal, however, such a stone is suitable only for interior decoration, since it is not resistant to frost.

- Concrete mould. In terms of production cost, it is more expensive than gypsum, since the resource of molds for pouring concrete is less. Suitable for self-manufacturing. Frost-resistant.

— Reinforced concrete of free molding. This artificial stone is made piece by piece, as a rule, at the place of use (artificial cobblestones, boulders, slabs).

— Polyester of hot hardening. According to their mechanical and decorative features surpasses some types of natural stone, but the hardening of the synthetic compound occurs only in vacuum at elevated temperature. It is not suitable for home production.

— Cast acrylic stone of cold curing. Suitable for home making. In the temperature range from +175 to 210 it is thermoplastic, therefore, after casting, it allows additional molding.

How to make an artificial stone with your own hands?

This requires two basic components: mold and casting mixture. home technology for the manufacture of artificial stone can be implemented both on the factory polyurethane form and on home-made silicone. It all depends on the total footage of the finish and the budget allocated for this work.

The polyurethane matrix is ​​quite expensive, but it allows you to make several hundred high-quality casts. The silicone mold is more suitable for small piece stone production and home sculpture crafts. Its resource usually does not exceed 20-30 castings.

DIY silicone mold making a set of natural stone or tiles is laid out on a horizontal, stable and even surface, having previously covered it with polyethylene. After that, a frame made of wooden lath or plastic is placed on it. The height of its sides should be 1-2 centimeters higher than the height of the copied material.

The surface of the tile and the inside of the sides are coated with grease or cyatim. Silicone can be taken the cheapest - acid. From the tube, it is squeezed out into the mold in a spiral, starting from the center to the sides until it is filled.

To prevent the formation of bubbles, the silicone is smoothed with a wide flute brush. It needs to be dipped into the solution. detergent for dishes. Soap solution is not suitable here, as it is alkaline and can ruin acidic silicone. After filling the surface future form smooth with a spatula, also moistening it in detergent.

Dry molds for the manufacture of artificial stone at room temperature in a ventilated area. The drying rate of the silicone composition is approximately 2 mm per day.

Casting mixtures

Gypsum artificial stone

A mixture for gypsum stone is prepared from gypsum grades G5 - G7. It is made in small portions, counting on the simultaneous pouring of no more than two forms, since the setting time of this binder does not exceed 10 minutes.

Composition of the mixture: gypsum, lemon acid to slow down hardening (0.3% by weight of gypsum), water - 60-70% of the volume of gypsum. The pigment is taken at the rate of 2 to 6% by weight of the gypsum. The dosage of the coloring matter is selected on test samples of castings.

concrete stone

It is inexpensive and of high quality to make an artificial stone with your own hands from concrete. Unlike construction, here the initial composition of the components is somewhat different: 3 parts of cement are taken for 1 part of sand. The proportions of the pigment (it is necessary to use resistant to an alkaline environment!) Are the same as for gypsum stone.

The addition of polymer additives reduces the brittleness of this material and increases its resistance to abrasion.

Acrylic cold curing stone

This material is made on the basis of acrylic resin and hardener. The recommended volume of mineral filler to acrylic is 3:1. The amount of pigment is taken depending on the total weight of the filler (on average from 2 to 6%).

As an inexpensive filler, you can take gravel, stone chips or granite screenings. Before preparing the mixture, the filler is washed with dish gel, then calcined over a fire and rinsed with clean water.

The preparation process consists of three stages: first, the pigment is mixed with the filler. Then the acrylic resin is mixed with a hardener and a filler with a pigment is added to it.

The time during which the acrylic mixture must be poured into the mold (from the moment the hardener is introduced into the resin) is no more than 20 minutes. The setting time of the mixture lasts from 30 to 40 minutes. The product takes 24 hours to fully cure.

If you are interested then the best materials for their manufacture is concrete or acrylic. The concrete product is heavier and does not allow you to create the same variety of surfaces in terms of pattern as when using acrylic resin. However, the low cost of raw materials and the simplicity of the casting process partially compensate for this disadvantage.

Compounds-separators

For different types artificial stone, various compositions are used to separate the form from the product.

For gypsum stone, a solution consisting of artificial or natural wax in turpentine in a ratio of 1: 7 is optimal. To do this, in turpentine, heated in a water bath to +50 - +60 C, wax shavings are added in small portions, stirring.

For concrete stone, conventional greases (lithol, emulsol, cyatim) are used. Before pouring the acrylic composition, the mold is lubricated with a solution of stearin in styrene (proportion 1 to 10) or cyatim.

When using a homemade silicone matrix, it must be protected from deformation, which occurs when the hardening gypsum stone and acrylic resin are heated. To do this, before pouring the working mixture, it must be placed in a pan with fine dry sand so that the thickness of its layer is from 2/3 to 3/4 of the height of the mold.

Useful video

Artificial d decorative a rock -- is a promising product on the market of finishing building materials, it has aesthetic appeal, hygiene, fire resistance, architectural expressiveness, high heat and sound insulation properties.
High productivity, low raw material costs, compactness of production and lack of energy consumption are clear advantages for our own business like what to produce artificial stone no expensive high-tech equipment is required. Gypsum is poured into molds without vibration, removal of products artificial plaster stone is produced 15 minutes after pouring, so you save on a concrete mixer during its production. That is why gypsum technology does not require high costs on the initial stage, which is very beneficial for your own business on the production of decorative artificial stone.
To open a production plant artificial stone from gypsum any room with an area of ​​​​20 square meters, it is desirable that there be heating to be able to work in winter period, as fake diamond in demand all year round.
Having 5 different forms of polyurethane, you will get 8 square meters of artificial stone from one form, 40 square meters of gypsum stone will be obtained from five different forms in an 8-hour shift.
Given that one meter of gypsum artificial stone costs from 10 US dollars, your turnover per shift will be approximately 400 US dollars. Material costs are not significant. One bag of gypsum 50 kilograms costs from $ 7 per bag, from one bag of gypsum you get from 5 to 10 square meters of decorative stone I, depending on the thickness of the tile, for 40 square meters, on average, gypsum costs $ 70, special additives for decorative stone, pigments and paints also do not cost much, for 40 square meters, about another $ 25 - the maximum cost for high-quality gypsum production stones are no more than 120 dollars.
The most expensive production artificial stone These are high quality elastic bands. You should have several varieties of stones, preferably several of the same kind, but all this is in the process of developing your own business. Molds withstand from 1000 to 15000 castings from one mold.
The workshop should have tables set to the level anddrying cabinet, which can be made independently from improvised materials. You can also find some ways to speed up drying there. artificial stone from gypsum, which are used in production .

For many millennia, decorative stone remained the best building and finishing material. Decorative stone is expensive, so many craftsmen have mastered the manufacture of stone at home, for example, a light gypsum stone or a heavier and more inexpensive one based on concrete.

What is decorative stone made of?

In the 60s of the twentieth century, artificial stone began to be actively used in the West - the walls and foundation look organically in the stone jungle of the metropolis. The idea of ​​making decorative stone and decorating buildings was picked up by architects and interior designers, pushing a whole segment of entrepreneurship into development. Forgotten building materials are popular again.

Ancient masters learned how to process stone long ago, they distinguished it by the type of application, like:

• construction or hewn;
• finishing or decorative;
• ornamental for jewelry work.

In previous centuries, sand and stone chips, grated pumice and shells, lime and chalk were mixed into hardening gypsum. Dyes were taken natural:

• soot;
• colored clay;
• metal oxides.

In modern times, the stone and its counterpart have come to modern building and arrangement of rock gardens, and today it is difficult to imagine modern house without them. The decorative stone, the photo of which is presented in the article, clearly demonstrates the capabilities of this building material.

Do-it-yourself decorative stone is made today on a different basis, and there are technologies available in everyday life. Forms are prepared independently or purchased factory models. Recipes, technologies and components are also known - they are offered by specialized companies.

The basis of simple mixtures is water, cement and fine, pigment is added. The material turns out to be quite durable, similar to natural stone, has excellent decorative properties. A variant close to ancient methods - from gypsum, and today polymer materials used as a binder.

The texture of wild stone has a different surface:

• fine-grained and smooth
• layered and bumpy
• chipped and ribbed.

Natural stone crumbles and stratifies when in contact with the tool, while artificial stone does not require processing. It is immediately given the required shape. The most common varieties:

• rubble, similar to a natural boulder;
• chipped, uneven, reminiscent of chips from a blow;
• sawn, with smooth and even edges;
• wild stone, natural form;
• decorative of arbitrary shape, with sagging, folds or bumps, reflects any imagination of designers.

Advantages and disadvantages of artificial stone.

Advantages:

• the ability to cast on site to reduce transport costs and scrap generated in delivery;
• make small thin plates to reduce the weight of the finished structure;
• its strength does not depend on the size and shape of the tile;
• the pigment added to the mixture gives the desired shade;
• it is possible to get a stone of a straight and arbitrary shape;
• allows you to make the dimensions of the tiles corresponding to the installation site, even taking into account the curvature and irregularities;
• produced ready-made forms make it possible to obtain a coarse-grained and smooth texture, almost polished;
• easy to make any material irregular shape and a broken front surface;
• some technologies make it possible to obtain a more durable analogue of fragile natural stone;
• polymers give plasticity, and even after manufacturing, you can give new form or consider an edge for a seamless connection;
• artificial material often has the best decorative properties;
• differs from natural stone in ease of installation, thanks to the smooth back side;
• indispensable refractory building material for decorating stoves, barbecues, braziers and fireplaces;
• sufficiently moisture resistant, suitable for wet rooms such as a pool or wine cellar;
• the price of an artificial decorative stone is less than a natural analogue, which requires technological sawing and processing;
• does not need special care, long and reliably serves;
• all sorts of options for shape, shade and texture allow artificial stone to fit into the interiors of any style.

Disadvantages:

• some decorative types have a complex manufacturing technology that increase the cost of the material;
• not every wall is suitable for finishing with wild stone due to its high specific gravity, the exception is gypsum analogues;
• sometimes requires additional costs for transportation and high-tech installation;
• it is not always possible to ensure an impeccable joint of individual blocks of a fantasy shape; clearance of gaps is required.

To guarantee quality, finishing building materials are made in strict accordance with the recipe and production technology. The components and production technology make it possible to obtain a decorative stone of various names and properties.

1. Concrete reinforced stone, the so-called monumental, freeform material, it is made individually by hand where it is installed. This is a technology for cobblestones, boulders and artificial granite slabs.

The basis for the shaped batch is a cement-sand mortar:

• for 3 parts of cement in proportion - 1 dry sand;
• 2-6% pigment by weight of the solution;
• add polymer additives.

2. similar material- shaped stone from the same cement-sand mixture. Suitable for construction and decoration. Differs in the increased durability and frost resistance. It is made in hangars, workshops and garages during the cool season.

3. Ceramic is the most expensive material that requires firing or hardening at a certain temperature. Its production is associated with high energy costs and the presence of a large free heated area. In addition, trained workers are needed.

4. Gypsum cast decorative stone is the simplest technology and minimum equipment. Do at room temperature, but it is only suitable for work on interior decoration, does not like temperature changes. The mixture quickly becomes viscous.

It is made in small portions and immediately poured into the prepared form, but no later than 3-4 minutes from the start of the batch. We need citric acid up to 1.3% by weight of dry gypsum, it will slow down hardening, pigment - 2-6% by weight of gypsum plus water. It is better to make several test samples to correct the proportions.

5. Decorative polyester out synthetic material. It is made by hot hardening with the addition of mineral fillers. Surpasses many natural analogues, but the hardening technology requires a vacuum, they are made in workshop conditions.

6. Liquid stone on gelcoat. Inferior in hardness to cast stone, the gel accepts less mineral fillers. The mixture is suitable for the production of products with complex configurations, such as stone puzzles, but gel-acrylic-based stone is more expensive.

There are 2 compositions - primer and front, differ in the percentage of filler and composition. Priming composition: gelcoat - 20%, microcalcite - 73%, hardener - 1% and accelerator - 6%. Front composition: gelcoat - 40% accelerator and hardener - as in the 1st composition, back composition - filler plus pigment up to 6% by weight of the solution. The composition sets in about half an hour, after a day the stone can be laid.

7. Cold cured cast acrylic stone based on acrylic resin. Easy to manufacture, requires strict adherence to instructions and additional equipment, such as a shaker. It surpasses other artificial material in many properties. At high temperatures up to +210°С, it is possible to change its shape without changing the quality.

Advice: The lack of pores and resistance to chemicals of acrylic stone in the finish provide impeccable hygiene, so it is suitable for rooms where frequent soiling and cleaning of surfaces are possible - entrance hall, kitchen, veranda and covered terrace. The material is also known for its low thermal conductivity, gives a feeling of warmth - this best choice for bath, bathroom or pool.

There are many methods to make stone molds on your own according to the chosen method, but it is easier to buy ready-made ones.

There are about a dozen types of molds for the production of artificial stone with your own hands, but 3 types are most often used:

1. Ready-made polyurethane, for small production, they are offered by firms for the production of equipment and the sale of wild stone technologies, they are convenient and durable, but they cost a lot.

2. Clay molds on wax lost models, suitable for modeling and artistic casting.

3. Silicone molds are suitable for home-made tiles by the piece, they are enough for dozens of castings, they deform over time.

Advice: A sand cushion is required for silicone molds; when vibrations and heating, they burst. Before casting, the mold is deepened into the sand in the pallet up to 3/4 of the height in order to reduce deformation, and the horizontal immersion is checked with a water level.

Additional materials.

1. Pigment for building mixtures offered in catalogs and stores for building materials in different form release: liquid, paste and powder. Synthetic pigment powder is evenly introduced into gypsum or other dry filler, pigment paste is introduced into the prepared mixture. By the way, thanks pigment paste it is easier to get an uneven color - layered or spotty, it is injected with a syringe directly into the batch at the end of the kneading.

2. There are different types of separators:

• for cast acrylic;
• for concrete mortar;
• for gypsum composition;
• for liquid stone.

They are sold from ready-made instructions and detailed recipe. You can also use a high-quality lubricant - cyatim, fiol.

3. A thermal gun is a device like a small building hair dryer with a strong jet of heated air.

4. The vibrating stand is the main machine for making stone with your own hands, which guarantees the high quality of the final product, ensures the uniformity of the hardening mixture.

Advice: you can make such a stand yourself - there is on the Internet detailed instructions and video, for example, on the manufacture of decorative stone on cement base using a homemade vibration stand.

The simplest technology.

1. The sand is mixed with cement for the first layer 3:1 until a homogeneous mass is added, for coloring, a suitable dye is added about 2-3% relative to cement, kneaded with water until the density of sour cream, the liquid pigment is preliminarily diluted with water.

2. The finished mixture is evenly laid out in a mold up to half, compacted and distributed by shaking and tapping. To reinforce the stone, a metal mesh is placed on the 1st layer, the 2nd layer is poured without pigment and cruciform grooves are struck with a nail for adhesion during installation.

3. After 10-12 hours, the finished stone can be removed from the mold and laid to dry completely. The mold must then be cleaned and rinsed with Fairy after each pour.

4. In the process of monumental molding of a large block, the base is formed on a blank, twisted with reinforcing mesh and wire, where thick cakes without dye are laid out in layers. When the base sets a little, prepare a solution with the addition of a pigment of the desired consistency and make the final shape. Artificial boulders, when solidified, for about a month, are covered with a film from the rain.

At home, decorative stone is made in several ways. Let's dwell on the description of the proven in practice.

2. 1 liter is evenly squeezed into it silicone sealant on acetic acid, the layer is smeared with grease or other separator so that the finished stone does not stick.

3. The sample stone is pressed into the box with silicone until it is completely drowned in it, up to the back surface, the excess silicone must be cleaned off, the mold dries for a couple of days.

4. After complete drying, the sample is carefully removed from the mold box. The finished silicone is soft and elastic.

5. Gypsum mixture according to the recipe, sour cream with pigment is kneaded until thick, and poured into a mold greased with grease. After the first layer, it is desirable to reinforce the tile with a fine metal mesh, a 2-layer is poured without dye, leveling is achieved by shaking and left to dry. If the gypsum sets quickly, interfering with the reinforcement process, the mixture is diluted with milk - then it thickens longer.

6. It is better to drown the mold in sand on a pallet, to preserve the silicone mold, and press the gypsum on top with corrugated glass so that the uneven back surface is better attached to the wall.

Advice: There are labor-intensive methods for manufacturing stone, such as quartz, which make it possible to obtain the highest quality and durable building material for cladding. Having mastered some techniques, you can open your own business.

1. The finished decorative stone is attached to any dry surface with additional crate. Installation, with or without jointing, is done on cement mortar, building glue, stone is cut by a grinder at low speed with a disc on concrete.

2. Before starting the installation, it is better to make a sketch of the finished work or use a picture with a similar material. The stones are laid out according to the pattern on the surface for the most beautiful accommodation and fitting fragments.

Additional decoration.

For a long time, stone was not only widely used in architecture, the Japanese used it to decorate tobiishi gardens. Today, for special design purposes, the stone is additionally painted or primed with part of its surface, so that green growth is more likely to form in the rock garden. They rub it with ocher with soot, having grown old, and the bulges on the south side are rubbed with iron minium to get the appearance of tanning and weathering.