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Humanity has been using baths for tens of centuries. The oldest of them - made presumably five thousand years ago - was discovered by archaeologists during excavations on the island of Crete. During its existence, the shape of the reservoirs has not changed. But the material from which they were made was very different.
Bathtubs were made of wood, granite and ceramics, bronze and cast iron, steel and plastic. But, recently, the time has come for products made of artificial stone. These are stone mass baths or cast baths.
Stone chips are used as a filler or base component in this material. Often these are products of processing marble or serpentine, granite or jasper, onyx or malachite, as well as quartz sand. Manufacturers use acrylic or polyester resins as a binder, and specially designed catalysts are added to accelerate the solidification of the liquid mass. The proportions of ingredients, as well as the manufacturing technology of injection molding baths, are selected depending on the specifics of each manufacturer.
Such stone products are not installed on the usual supports. They come with special mortise legs.
The process of casting a bath from an artificial liquid stone, as a rule, includes the following steps:
Let's take a look at the recognized advantages and obvious disadvantages of a faux stone bathtub. Products made by casting are diverse, since the production method allows the production of models of all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors. These are corner and wall-mounted baths, round and rectangular, with an original pattern or snow-white.
Supplied with hydromassage systems, orthopedic headrests, devices for the legs and back. Stone bathtubs are distinguished by advantages that have already been appreciated by discerning consumers.
Pros:
Artificial stone products are also not perfect. But what is important is that they have much fewer weak points than those made of other materials.
Minuses:
Of course, a stone bath has more advantages than disadvantages. If, however, this sanitary ware is handled with care, proper care and operation are ensured, and even subtle superficial damages are eliminated in time, then the service life will be long and practically unchanged from the original appearance.
It is not difficult to purchase a bathtub made of artificial stone. In specialized stores, collections of plumbing fixtures are constantly displayed, which include these products.
But a potential buyer should definitely pay attention to the fact that there are both respected brands and inexpensive products of dubious quality in retail chains, produced without observing the necessary technology.
It is clear that such bathtubs will not please the owners with the desired service life. This is what visitors to forums and social media tell about them. nets as cracked, non-removable stains or products that have lost their original color.
The most worthy among the manufacturers of injection molding baths:
- Marmorin and Kerasan in Italy;
- Vispool in Latvia;
- Marmite - joint production of Sweden and Poland;
- Riho in the Czech Republic;
- Marmorin in Poland, etc.
Baths made of artificial stone from Russian enterprises are prestigious and popular among buyers:
- LLC "Astra-Form";
- LLC ESSE;
- LLC "Estet".
Stone bathtubs from these manufacturers are not cheap, but the high cost is justified by the exceptional quality. Prices are formed depending on the size, model, availability of additional accessories. As a rule, manufacturers provide a service of manufacturing a bathtub, taking into account the wishes of the consumer. Of course, the ordered model will be more expensive than the one presented on the sales floor.
It is clear that buyers themselves make a decision in the difficult choice of the main and obligatory plumbing item in the house. But spectacular modern bathtubs made of artificial stone do not go unnoticed.
Photo gallery of bathtubs made of artificial stone
Bathtub decoration with natural stone is an ancient tradition in some European countries. In those days, such an interior was used during the construction of public baths and was considered indispensable due to its excellent performance indicators, the main of which is resistance to high humidity and direct contact with water. Currently, the use of natural stone is very rare, for many users this material is too expensive. And the artificial stone began to enjoy noticeable success.
What are its advantages?
artificial stone for interior wall decoration
As an example, we will consider the process of cladding the walls and floor of a bathroom with artificial stone.
Obtaining the desired result and guaranteed durability depends on adherence to the facing technology recommended by the manufacturer. To complete the work, you need to have the following tools.
Tool name | Brief description and purpose |
---|---|
Used for high-quality preparation of glue. Mixer attachment with medium whisk. | |
The condition of the wall surfaces is checked. Length not less than one meter. | |
To align the position of the tiles. It is advisable to use mallets made of white rubber, black can leave marks that are difficult to remove. | |
For preliminary cleaning of tile joints, application of various impregnations and topcoats. Professionals recommend having a selection of brushes of various widths. | |
For finishing the surface of artificial stone. | |
Control the width of the tile joints. | |
Evens out the seam surface, can give it a convex shape. | |
Plastic, metal or rubber bucket, volume approximately 10 liters. The tile adhesive is being prepared in the container. | |
Measuring tool for preliminary marking of tiles. |
The artificial stone is fixed with a special glue, the brand depends on the weight of the tile.
Important. Never install artificial stone with ordinary ceramic tile adhesive. The fact is that artificial stone almost does not absorb moisture, and all cement-based solutions can only be used with hydrophobic materials. The special adhesive has plasticizers that ensure high adhesion to the surfaces of plastic materials.
If the house is uninhabited and the temperature in the premises drops to minus values, then you need to purchase glue with special additives. But professionals recommend to work only at positive temperatures, due to this, the strength of the tile laying is significantly increased. Grouting materials are used to finish the joints; they should be matched to the color of the tiles. It is imperative to use a primer to prepare concrete surfaces. It not only eliminates the micropores of the material, which is very important for bathrooms, but also makes the surface more durable. Waterproofing is done by impregnating the surface of the walls with a water repellent.
Step 1. Calculate the number of materials taking into account the area of the walls, but do not take into account the dimensions of the door and window openings. The reserve for artificial stone is within 3-5%, this material has a minimum amount of unproductive waste. Be sure to buy tiles for interior and exterior corners. Such elements are difficult to make on your own, and in terms of quality they are always worse than factory products. In addition, due to the use of ready-made additional elements, the time for surface cladding is significantly reduced.
Step 2. Prepare wall surfaces. Use special primers, apply the solution with a roller. Leave no gaps, it is advisable to prime in two coats. Re-processing is done only after the first layer has completely dried; in hard-to-reach places, apply the primer with paint brushes. The choice of the type of primer depends on the material of the walls.
Important. If the interior partitions of the bathroom are made of plasterboard, then choose light types of artificial stone for cladding.
If the room temperature and humidity are high, the back of the stones should be moistened with water. You can use a paint brush for this, and pour water into a clean bucket.
Step 3. Shuffle stones from different boxes. The artificial stone manufacturing technology allows slight differences in the tonality of the tiles. If they are not mixed before use, then noticeable spots with different shades may appear on the wall, and this negatively affects the design of the room.
Practical advice. If you find it difficult to imagine the appearance of the wall and calculate the joints, then it is recommended to first lay out the tiles on a flat surface.
Step 4. Start finishing with corner pieces. Before that, beat off the position of the lower edge of the row. To prevent spontaneous sliding of the first row under the tiles, substitute wooden slats of the appropriate height, they are fastened with dowels or self-tapping screws. Check the back of the tile for laitance, such defects may be of poor quality. If there is milk, then it should be removed with a metal brush. Remember that it will significantly reduce the adhesion of surfaces.
Step 5. With a special building thread with blue, beat off the lines for placing the joints of the tiles on the wall. In the future, constantly check the position of each row, make adjustments if necessary. It is not a problem to correct a small error in time, but if it exceeds one millimeter, you will have to dismantle several rows of the laid stone. Otherwise, the difference in seam width will become noticeable.
Step 6. Prepare an adhesive mixture for fixing the stone. Remember that there are two types of glue depending on the weight of the tile. Stir the mixture thoroughly with an electric mixer. The amount of water is indicated by the manufacturer. Always pour water into the container first, and then add dry ingredients. If you do the opposite, then dry glue will remain in the corners of the container.
Step 7. Using an even trowel, apply the material to the substrate and tiles. Some unscrupulous craftsmen apply glue either only to the tile, or only to the wall. It is not recommended to do this, the resulting adhesion strength does not guarantee its stability. The thickness of the adhesive should not exceed 5 mm, too much thickness may cause the stone elements to slip.
Remember that the adhesive must completely cover the back of the tile; voids are strictly prohibited. Moisture or condensation may enter the voids, which later becomes the cause of the destruction of the finish. You can check for voids with a rubber mallet and a plastic ballpoint pen housing. Place the handle body against the hammer handle and tap lightly on the surface of the stone. The voids give themselves away with a dull drum sound.
Press the tile firmly into the mass, check its position. To ensure maximum adhesion of the adhesive, move each tile slightly forward / backward. During such movements, the glue becomes thinner and better spreads over the surface of the wall and stone. Along the perimeter, the solution should be squeezed out a little, the excess is immediately removed with a trowel. If the glue does not come out in all places, then this means that a mistake was made during its application. If the solution gets on the front surface of the artificial stone, it must be immediately removed with a slightly damp cloth.
Artificial stone can be laid without seams or with jointing. The first requires more attention, the absence of seams significantly reduces the possibility of adjusting the position of individual tiles. When laying with pins, plastic or wooden wedges should be used to control the joint width.
Practical advice. If you have pieces of plasterboard, then thin strips can be cut from them and used for joint gaps.
Step 8. After the masonry is completed and the glue has hardened, the jointing can be started.
This is a very important stage of work, carefully follow the recommendations of the professionals. The seams are filled with material on a cement base, antiseptics must be present. Otherwise, at high humidity and temperature, the seams will turn black and mold will appear on them. Not only is it difficult to remove from deep seams, mold can cause negative allergic reactions in the body.
The trowel should be applied in the following order:
After the grout has completely dried, you can start treating the surface of the stone with a water repellent. This special protective solution is applied over the entire surface of the artificial stone and serves as a protection against water penetration. In addition, the surface of the bathtub becomes smooth and shiny, which has a positive effect on the interior of the room. The solution is applied with a paint brush or a construction pneumatic spray gun. It is easier to work with a spray gun, and the processing quality is significantly improved. The particles of the water repellent at high speed hit the surface of the artificial stone, penetrate deeply into the pores, and process even the most remote places on the surface of the wall. It is recommended to apply the solution until it ceases to be absorbed by the surface of the stone.
Important. If an artificial stone with a powder on the front surface was used to decorate the walls of the bathroom, then the solution can only be applied using a spray bottle. The fact is that a paint brush can tear off individual pebbles of the powder and worsen the original appearance of the cladding material.
What mistakes do beginners most often make when laying artificial stone? The shortcomings in the work are as follows:
Only strict adherence to all installation requirements can guarantee an excellent result.
For laying tiles on heated floors, you need to buy a special glue that can withstand relatively large linear fluctuations in the coating.
The stone should be cut on a special machine with a diamond blade and water cooling. Ordinary tile cutters are unsuitable, artificial stone is much stronger than ceramic tiles. The thickness of the coating may vary, but practitioners do not recommend buying thick sheets in order to save money. High levels of physical strength guarantee the stability and safety of the coating even with a board thickness of approximately 5 mm.
Tile - artificial stone
If the size of the bathroom is small, then it is recommended to lay the tiles diagonally, due to this, the bathroom visually increases. True, the amount of waste is increasing at the same time.
Practical advice. It is much more convenient to work with floor tiles in special knee pads, they are fixed to the legs, pain does not appear even after prolonged work.
For work, you need a mixer with a small whisk, a laser level, and a container for mixing glue.
Before laying, check the quality of the screed, if the variation in height exceeds 5 mm, it is recommended to use a notched trowel with a comb of at least 10 mm.
We will tell you how to check the screed a little below.
Step 1. Prepare the glue, let it sit for 5-10 minutes and apply the solution to the area. The size of the area should be such that you can reach the first tile.
Step 2. You need to start laying from the corner of the room, remove the dimensions of the first tile and cut off the excess on the machine. Reinstall it, check the horizontal position.
Step 3. Continue laying whole tiles using crosses or other devices for controlling the width of the tile joints, if you are laying tiles without gaps, then the crosses will not be needed. But remember that this method of styling requires certain practical skills; it is quite difficult to correct the mistakes made. Accurately measure and trim the stone around walls. When cutting, allow for the thickness of the diamond blade. You can leave a gap of up to one centimeter near the walls, which will then be closed with a plinth.
The diagonal nesting method often requires very complex cuts. For inexperienced craftsmen, this situation causes problems, they measure the cut configuration for a long time, transfer it to the tile. And after circumcision, it turns out that a mistake has been made, the material has to be thrown away.
If the cut is small, then there is a possibility that the tile can still be used in other places. How to make a difficult cut the first time?
Bonding tiles with glue
Despite the fact that you have to make a template, the time for cutting a complex tile contour is significantly reduced in comparison with measuring each line with a tape measure. In addition, the possibility of error is completely eliminated.
Rail - threshold
/ fromImportant. For artificial stone, it is imperative to apply glue to both the floor and the tiles. Numerous adhesion tests have proven that only this method provides maximum adhesion.
Wipe the floor with a soft cloth
Answers to your questions
How to check the quality of the base correctly?
Place tiles without glue in the corners of the bathroom, the same markers can be made on the walls and in the center. Put a long rule or a level with the ends on the tile, check the position of the air bubble. If there are deviations, then raise one end of the level until the bubble is in the desired position. The distance between the tile and the bottom plane of the level indicates the amount of deviation from the horizontal plane. Such measurements need to be taken in several places. If the difference is significant, then you will have to make an additional screed; small deviations can be leveled out by changing the thickness of the glue.
How to install tiles near the front door of the bathroom?
Draw the location of the door leaf based on the floor. The edge of the tile should be exactly in the center of the canvas. If this is not done, then the difference between the tiles in the corridor and the bathroom will be visible, and this is not allowed by the current rules.
And one moment. At the threshold of the door, the width of the tiles cannot be less than ten centimeters. Why is there such a requirement? It is in this place that the maximum loads on the floor are. If the tile is small, then the likelihood of its undermining increases significantly. As a result - the need for extraordinary repairs with all the ensuing negative consequences.
How to hit zero without a laser level?
This can be done with an ordinary water level. Spread the tiles in the corners and center of the room. Using a water level, make marks on the wall, beat off a line around the perimeter of the entire room. Depending on the spread in height, select the optimal zero of the flooring, beat off another line around the perimeter. On it you will need to control the position of the tiles.
Where to start leveling the uneven screed plane?
Professionals advise to start laying from the area that has the minimum deviation values. Why? If a mistake is made, then it is never too late to increase the thickness of the glue by a few millimeters. If the laying was done from the lower part of the base, then the error can be corrected in two ways. The first is to strip off all the coating and start over. The second is to hammer the floor screed. Both options are highly undesirable.
Video - Artificial stone in the bathroom
First of all, I would like to say that natural stone is one of the most ancient materials, distinguished by special strength and reliability, proven over the centuries. It is a durable building material of several types, with which the premises were previously decorated. Since ancient times, such types as marble, granite, sandstone, onyx, quartzite, etc. have been used. However, this pleasure is not cheap, therefore this material was not particularly popular for interior decoration in those days.
But with the advent of artificial stone, the picture has changed dramatically, because decorative stone is now quite affordable at its price and, moreover, has many different forms, even the most bizarre. The richness of textures amazes the imagination. Another huge plus is the fact that artificial stone is much lighter than natural, and it is much easier to lay it. And what can they decorate directly in the interior of the bathroom? Yes, literally anything you want, be it walls, floor, doors, mirror or washbasin area - everything that your imagination is enough for.
In order for the installation to be successful, you should adhere to a number of rules when working with decorative stone. Let's take a look at them:
Everything is quite simple - decorative stone has water-repellent properties, and this is a huge plus for bathrooms. Well, the aesthetic properties of the stone are of considerable importance. Especially when the room is spacious, you can create magnificent original solutions based on the play of texture and color. But even if you are not the owner of the royal choir, but have a standard bathroom of 2 - 4 sq. meter, you can still successfully use decorative stone in the interior, if you competently and thoughtfully approach the preparation of the design project. By the way, we immediately note that it is not worth revealing the bathroom with a stone entirely and completely, otherwise you will reduce it even more.
But to highlight some small area, for example, the mirror area, sinks, the outer walls of the bath itself,
shower cabin,
wall near the built-in wardrobe
or just a part of the wall is what you need in your case.
Accents like these transform the bathroom into a true spa.
At the same time, the stone can be applied to any texture and any shade. Although, if you listen to the advice of designers, then the imitation of granite or marble looks best - this gives a special luxury to the room. However, water droplets on a glossy surface will be much more noticeable. The bathtub itself can also be turned into a medieval element. If you choose a stone for granite or marble, then the interior of the bathroom will turn out to be very original and even luxurious.
Mixing of different styles is also allowed. Since the stone is waterproof, its presence is simply necessary in bathrooms. As for the decorative stone cladding of the walls of the bathroom, we can say that parts of this material are glued together using a seamless method, thus forming flat surfaces without gaps, as if they were cut from a single piece of marble or granite. Walls like these will perfectly hold shelves, mirrors and towel holders attached to them. artificial stone is a very durable and reliable material that can withstand any stress.
The traditional material for cladding walls and floors in a bathroom is tiled or other tiles. But standards are there to be broken. Why not try to add a twist and get away from the rules, for example, by finishing the bathroom with stone. Are there any advantages to such a solution? This, as well as the methods of finishing with stone, will be discussed in the article.
In fact, there are quite a few advantages to deciding to cover the bathroom with materials. Among them are:
Artificial or natural decorative stone can be used to decorate various surfaces in the bathroom. Thanks to him, it is possible to create a unique atmosphere that promotes relaxation and rest, which is so necessary in the hustle and bustle of the modern world. The stone has additional protective properties that protect the walls from the appearance of fungus and mold on them. The latter are common in a damp room. Artificial or natural stone perfectly tolerate temperature extremes and exposure to high humidity, which is one of the main requirements for this type of room.
With the right approach to finishing, a stone bathroom is quite easy to combine with any design idea. The stone doesn't have to look clumsy. Modern types of artificial stone can be made with imitation of noble rocks. The surface of the artificial stone has antibacterial properties. This is due to the lack of pores in which moisture could accumulate and pathogenic organisms develop. Natural and artificial stone do not have harmful secretions, which will not affect the health of family members.
When decorating floor and wall surfaces with artificial stone, a countertop will be an excellent addition. It will create not only an additional functional area, but also visually expand the space of the bathroom. Natural or artificial stone of irregular shape is almost impossible to lay in the same way, so you can be sure that the bath will have a unique solution. It is always possible to combine different types of stone. In order for the choice to fall on just this method of finishing the bathroom, it is necessary to weigh all the disadvantages of such a decision.
The use of stone with a dark shade is an excellent solution for large areas, but it cannot be applied in a small room. Visually, such a stone will make the area even smaller. Therefore, for small baths, it is better to use an imitation of granite or similar material. A way out of the situation can be a fragmentary finish, which will make it possible to highlight any elements. For example, you can add edging to walls or floors.
Natural stone used in bathroom decoration is represented by the following types:
It is worth saying that the use of these types of stone in decoration will not be cheap, especially when it comes to the last three options. They are semi-precious. Some types of natural stone have the disadvantage of having pores. Because of them, dirt can be applied, which will be almost impossible to remove. Another disadvantage of natural stone is its considerable weight. Not all walls are adapted to such loads, this fact must be taken into account when choosing a finishing method. Due to these shortcomings, many opt for an artificial stone. Its main types are:
All these types of artificial stone are more than 90% composed of natural filler, which is represented by powder or fine mineral chips. They are held together by special compositions of various resins. The advantage is the lower weight and the absence of pores in the material. This simplifies the process of caring for the stone.
The photo above shows an interesting bathroom design with savage finishes. It can be either natural or artificial stone. Despite its disproportionate shape with a chopped surface, an excellent surface can be created when properly installed. If natural material is used, then it makes sense to open it with varnish for greater resistance to moisture. The design contains a combination of several material options.
Here's another interesting example of fragmentary trim. Here he performs not only a decorative, but also a practical function. As you can see, there is a stone lined wall with a fireplace. Thanks to this solution, it was possible to achieve excellent heat transfer, as well as the resistance of the finish to high temperatures. Taking a bath brings not only a relaxing effect, but also the visual satisfaction that comes in the process of contemplating behind a burning fire.
The photo above shows an example of a complete finish using natural material. Not everyone will like this solution, but it looks pretty neat. So that the room does not seem cluttered or unfinished, it is necessary to correctly implement the backlighting, which was done in this case. Small luminaires are located around the perimeter and have a directional light that can be changed if necessary.
An example of a finish with an emphasis on the functional area. The finished surface matches the worktop perfectly. Due to the contrast of colors, they do not merge. As a decoration, gypsum blocks can be used, which are covered with varnish or natural material.
In this bathroom solution, at least four types of blocks are used. One of them is granite, with which the wall is partially tiled. Most of the walls and floors are covered with marble. The shower partition is made of savage, and the shower tray is lined with pebbles. In this case, there is no imbalance. Correct lighting and two mirrors visually expand the room.
The photo above is an example that natural or artificial materials are possible for small bathrooms. The main requirement is the choice of light colors. Snow-white plumbing goes well with sandstone. Minimalist design with hanging elements does not clutter up the space. A glass partition and a large mirror also add to the effect. The ceiling is also made in white, which complements the picture and is in harmony with the door.
Here is a rather unusual solution, which is based on ordinary cobblestone. If you look closely, it is used not only in the interior, but also in the exterior, so the overall picture looks great. The floor is made of natural or self-leveling stone. Thanks to the use of light-colored seams, the surface does not look gloomy. When using cobblestone, you should be careful about its amount in the finish. It is better to select one of the zones, but do not use it for continuous laying on the walls, since the result will not be particularly pleasant.
A bright bathroom interior can be created by using marble. This project uses a full finish with this material. The table top was also matched to complement the picture. Light marble goes well with chrome surfaces or stainless steel elements. If the floor is lined with the same stone, then it is imperative to provide heating, since the material has a high thermal conductivity.
Here's an example of painstaking yet wonderful work. The decoration uses ordinary pebbles. Often it is not even necessary to purchase it. It is enough to go to the river or the beach and collect it there, if allowed by law. It is advisable to look for elements of the same size, but the separation will not be a special problem, since individual elements can be drowned more in the glue. Naked shoes are the ideal solution for the bathroom, as they tolerate moisture very well. Such finishing can only cost the cost of glue and personal time.
Although in this design the stone is specially laid out in this way, it serves as an example that in some cases it makes no sense to think about how the decoration of the bathroom will be done. It is enough to use what is already there. The main thing is to correctly approach the processing of seams and choose the appropriate plumbing. Check out the video below for more ideas.
As you can see, decorating a bathroom with natural or artificial stone has an uncountable number of variations. Often the disadvantages of a room can be turned into advantages. If the wall is made of bricks and plaster has been sprinkled, then this effect can be beaten by covering the brick with a log and processing the plaster chip. As a finishing material, you can use what is sometimes just lying around under your feet.