Interiors with inclusions of natural stone, metal or brick are quite rare today. And is there any point in using these materials if the sale is full of inexpensive, effective and easily mounted imitations. One of the representatives of this family is gypsum tile. The variety of design variations of this material allows you to very successfully embed it in a variety of environments.
Gypsum has its own characteristics, which provide it with well-deserved popularity.
The advantages of the material are:
low weight - thanks to this it is excellent for finishing thin walls and drywall partitions;
the ability to clad any base;
frost resistance - withstand withstands at least 50 cycles;
heat resistance - not afraid of heating to 70 ° C;
environmental friendliness and the absence of toxins in the composition;
simplicity of cutting and installation;
availability for any budget;
the ability to make tiles yourself.
By cons include:
relative fragility;
insufficient moisture resistance.
Features and properties of gypsum tile
Gypsum tiles are widely used in the decoration of walls and ceilings both in private apartments and houses, and in public premises. In its original form, it is suitable only for internal work. For the external facade, such coatings cannot be used. On sale are rectangular and square products that look like stone, brick, fabric, leather, metal.
The basis of the material is ordinary gypsum, which is absolutely harmless to human health. If desired, you can make a tile yourself. This will save a lot of money and will allow you to get a unique material that fits perfectly into the future interior.
Composition
The composition of the mixture for the preparation of tiles along with gypsum include sand, water, surface-active elements and modifiers. Due to the cellular structure, the material is similar to aerated concrete. It may contain cement, lime, aluminum powder, quartz sand. Modifiers give plaster cladding additional hardness and resistance to mechanical damage. The tile acquires special strength after the glue dries.
The size
Dimensions of gypsum fragments differ depending on the version of the material and the features of its design. Basically, these are small individual rectangular bricks or blocks, with a composition of several decorative elements. Bricks can be narrow or wide.The tiles are available in the following sizes - 28 x 6, 29 x 6.5, 38 x 9.5, 19 x 5, 19 x 9.5 cm. Fragments imitating natural stone have parameters - 21 x 10, 27 x 10 cm. Blanks for corners have side facets of 7 and 12.5 cm.
Design, color and texture
Gypsum tiles are available in a wide range of colors. Due to this circumstance, the possibility of including such a cladding in a home interior is greatly expanded. Accent finishes are in great demand in the design of a variety of rooms. Properly selected texture, shade and consideration of the features and purpose of the space will allow you to get a stylish interior. Most often, tiles distinguish zones in the corridor and living room, but it can be just as often found in the design of children's rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and balcony areas.
If the room cannot boast of impressive size, white brickwork on one of the walls will be the perfect solution. It will visually expand the room, which is very important for the kitchen, bedroom or nursery.
The area highlighted by imitation of natural stone will give the space dynamics. It can act as an independent element, but also as a background it will also look very worthy. Against its background, plain furniture, photo frames, paintings will look spectacular and noble.
The most common are white samples. But you can easily find on sale products of dairy, sand, beige, gray shades.
Interesting combinations of contrasting paint look. This is especially true for large spaces. Black tiles will look luxurious against a white or beige wall. Bright accents in such interiors are also very welcome.
Often manufacturers use several colors at once. They are most often related, which helps to create smooth transitions and give the material more realism. This allows you to achieve the effect of versatility, volume and naturalness.Even at close range, it is impossible to distinguish tile from natural stone or brick. Brown, dark gray and even black blotches are meant to shade light shades. Also, the surface of the plate can be smooth, decorated with ornaments. The pattern is formed depending on the form used. It can be geometric shapes, ornate patterned monograms, leaves.
Kinds
The variety of gypsum cladding is determined not only by its shape, color and dimensions, but also by the features of the texture.
The most common tile variations are:
brick imitation - insignificant thickness allows you to perfectly fit it into small spaces, decorate openings and separate areas of the hall or kitchen - bar, television. No less impressive is the similar look in spacious rooms;
imitation of natural stone - products are available in various shades and are almost indistinguishable from natural material. Especially popular is aerated concrete tiles that convey the texture of slate. Special coloring solutions help to achieve shine. Gypsum-cement samples, which are used for decorating arches, fireplaces and niches, are no less popular.
Each of the options presented has its own advantages and is endowed with unique properties. The choice in favor of a certain type of tile is made depending on the style of the interior, the dimensions of the room and the personal taste of its owner.
Where applicable - design features
When decorating walls or ceilings with this material, moderation should be observed. A fragmented finish will look most textured. It will be especially effective against a smooth surface. If you glue the entire wall with tiles, it will lose its expressiveness, it will look too heavy and uninteresting. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to one or more accents that will make the mood of the entire interior.
Tiles are perfect for creating an accent area.She can decorate the wall behind the TV, highlight the dining or sleeping area, emphasize the convexity of the architectural element - the fireplace, columns, arches.
Do not use the tiles in different rooms or on two or more walls at once. It will be a bust. Finishing is very active in itself, so it is better to limit yourself to one element in the apartment.
In the hallway with plaster bricks they tiled a section of the walls near the door, corners. The material is applied in part, simulating a exposed stone. Most often, the fragments are laid out with a ladder, or randomly, placing them in a horizontal position. To frame the entrance of the product, they are laid perpendicular to the doorway. When finishing the lower sections of adjacent walls, masonry is performed according to the brick principle.
Masonry Methods
The choice of method for laying gypsum decor depends on the designer's idea. Most often, two main methods are used:
brickwork - each subsequent row is shifted by half a fragment relative to the previous one;
classic - the tile is laid strictly one under the other and the faces form a crosshair.
Giving preference to a particular method, the shape and size of the products should be taken into account. If they are made in the form of bricks, it is preferable to stick them with a shift, forming pronounced joints. When they form a stone wall covering, they try to make the seams invisible. All the resulting cracks are masked with a cement mixture tinted to match the finish. The "stone" wall should look monolithic and fundamental.
Compositions of fragments of different sizes, which differ from each other by surface relief and different levels of faces, are assembled on the wall like a ceramic mosaic. Before installation, it is advisable to lay out the future "panel" on the floor and only after that mount it on the wall. This will help to avoid the need for alterations, will make it possible to minimize the number of joints, save time and material.With this method, painstaking alignment of the side borders is not required.
To trim the protrusions beyond the accent area, use a grinder. The large thickness of the material will not allow this work to be done with a tile cutter.
Self-made gypsum tile
Grand repair requires a solid investment. Therefore, the opportunity to save on material is always relevant. The fact is that tiled cladding can very well be made independently. And it is not as difficult as it seems. With a proper choice of the brand of gypsum and observing the ratio of the components of the mixture, the artificial stone will have sufficient strength. Deviation from recommended standards inevitably leads to fragility of the material, the rapid formation of cracks and defects.
Tools and materials required for production
First of all, for the manufacture of tiles you will need a large space in which a certain humidity and temperature is stored, as well as:
the ingredients for the manufacture of gypsum mortar - gypsum, plasticizers;
container for preparing the mixture;
silicone or polyurethane molds;
flat horizontal base exposed with the help of a level;
colorings;
matte acrylic based varnish;
brushes and putty knife.
Self-made molds will significantly reduce costs.
Mold production
The work will take several days. To form a future capacity, a tile sample is required. In the finished matrix, pour liquid polyurethane with a hardener and wait until completely solidified. For the production of bricks, a depth of 0.5-1 cm is sufficient, and to simulate slate - 1-2.5 cm.
It is necessary to determine in advance the amount, weight, size and shape of the fragments, take into account the characteristic features of the room.
Prepare gypsum, molds, a container for mixing mortar, a construction mixer, slaked lime and color of the desired shade.If additional surface painting is planned, then it can be performed after the completion of the manufacturing process, which includes:
gypsum mixture preparation;
filling out forms;
drying.
DIY step-by-step instructions for making tiles
For 6 parts of gypsum powder, you need to take 1 part of slaked lime and add 7 parts of water. We prepare the mixture with a mixer until a homogeneous mass is obtained. The finished solution should be similar in texture to thick sour cream.
Wet the molds with water and laundry soap dissolved in it. Thanks to this procedure, it will be easier to remove the artificial stone from the tank.
Fill the matrix with gypsum mass, shake several times to remove bubbles from the mixture. For this purpose, you can make a vibrating table. Set the forms on a horizontal smooth surface.
We dry for 24 hours, after which we carefully remove the finished tile from the mold and leave it to dry completely, avoiding exposure to sunlight. The conditions created in a special drying chamber can significantly reduce the time and improve the quality of this process.
If desired, the tile can be painted with water-soluble pigments or pre-lubricated with a paint form to highlight relief elements.
You can achieve a uniform tone with a spray gun.
You can fix the paint with two layers of acrylic varnish.
Tile Care Tips
Plaster care can be carried out using dry and wet cleaning. It is allowed to use a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle, soft brushes, wet rags. Abrasive materials and aggressive detergents can cause irreparable damage to the surface. Varnish significantly reduces the risk of damage to the top coat. To ensure moisture resistance to the finish, it is treated with special impregnation. After applying this product, the lining can be washed.
Conclusion
The accent of gypsum elements will make the interior original and unique, will saturate the space with a special authentic atmosphere, and at the same time it will not require a serious investment of funds and the use of excessive labor.
Interiors with inclusions of natural stone, metal or brick are quite rare today. And is there any point in using these materials if the sale is full of inexpensive, effective and easily mounted imitations. One of the representatives of this family is gypsum tile. The variety of design variations of this material allows you to very successfully embed it in a variety of environments.
Content
Advantages and disadvantages
Gypsum has its own characteristics, which provide it with well-deserved popularity.
The advantages of the material are:
By cons include:
Features and properties of gypsum tile
Gypsum tiles are widely used in the decoration of walls and ceilings both in private apartments and houses, and in public premises. In its original form, it is suitable only for internal work. For the external facade, such coatings cannot be used. On sale are rectangular and square products that look like stone, brick, fabric, leather, metal.
The basis of the material is ordinary gypsum, which is absolutely harmless to human health. If desired, you can make a tile yourself. This will save a lot of money and will allow you to get a unique material that fits perfectly into the future interior.
Composition
The composition of the mixture for the preparation of tiles along with gypsum include sand, water, surface-active elements and modifiers. Due to the cellular structure, the material is similar to aerated concrete. It may contain cement, lime, aluminum powder, quartz sand. Modifiers give plaster cladding additional hardness and resistance to mechanical damage. The tile acquires special strength after the glue dries.
The size
Dimensions of gypsum fragments differ depending on the version of the material and the features of its design. Basically, these are small individual rectangular bricks or blocks, with a composition of several decorative elements. Bricks can be narrow or wide.The tiles are available in the following sizes - 28 x 6, 29 x 6.5, 38 x 9.5, 19 x 5, 19 x 9.5 cm. Fragments imitating natural stone have parameters - 21 x 10, 27 x 10 cm. Blanks for corners have side facets of 7 and 12.5 cm.
Design, color and texture
Gypsum tiles are available in a wide range of colors. Due to this circumstance, the possibility of including such a cladding in a home interior is greatly expanded. Accent finishes are in great demand in the design of a variety of rooms. Properly selected texture, shade and consideration of the features and purpose of the space will allow you to get a stylish interior. Most often, tiles distinguish zones in the corridor and living room, but it can be just as often found in the design of children's rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and balcony areas.
If the room cannot boast of impressive size, white brickwork on one of the walls will be the perfect solution. It will visually expand the room, which is very important for the kitchen, bedroom or nursery.
The area highlighted by imitation of natural stone will give the space dynamics. It can act as an independent element, but also as a background it will also look very worthy. Against its background, plain furniture, photo frames, paintings will look spectacular and noble.
The most common are white samples. But you can easily find on sale products of dairy, sand, beige, gray shades.
Interesting combinations of contrasting paint look. This is especially true for large spaces. Black tiles will look luxurious against a white or beige wall. Bright accents in such interiors are also very welcome.
Often manufacturers use several colors at once. They are most often related, which helps to create smooth transitions and give the material more realism. This allows you to achieve the effect of versatility, volume and naturalness.Even at close range, it is impossible to distinguish tile from natural stone or brick. Brown, dark gray and even black blotches are meant to shade light shades. Also, the surface of the plate can be smooth, decorated with ornaments. The pattern is formed depending on the form used. It can be geometric shapes, ornate patterned monograms, leaves.
Kinds
The variety of gypsum cladding is determined not only by its shape, color and dimensions, but also by the features of the texture.
The most common tile variations are:
Each of the options presented has its own advantages and is endowed with unique properties. The choice in favor of a certain type of tile is made depending on the style of the interior, the dimensions of the room and the personal taste of its owner.
Where applicable - design features
When decorating walls or ceilings with this material, moderation should be observed. A fragmented finish will look most textured. It will be especially effective against a smooth surface. If you glue the entire wall with tiles, it will lose its expressiveness, it will look too heavy and uninteresting. Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to one or more accents that will make the mood of the entire interior.
Tiles are perfect for creating an accent area.She can decorate the wall behind the TV, highlight the dining or sleeping area, emphasize the convexity of the architectural element - the fireplace, columns, arches.
In the hallway with plaster bricks they tiled a section of the walls near the door, corners. The material is applied in part, simulating a exposed stone. Most often, the fragments are laid out with a ladder, or randomly, placing them in a horizontal position. To frame the entrance of the product, they are laid perpendicular to the doorway. When finishing the lower sections of adjacent walls, masonry is performed according to the brick principle.
Masonry Methods
The choice of method for laying gypsum decor depends on the designer's idea. Most often, two main methods are used:
Giving preference to a particular method, the shape and size of the products should be taken into account. If they are made in the form of bricks, it is preferable to stick them with a shift, forming pronounced joints. When they form a stone wall covering, they try to make the seams invisible. All the resulting cracks are masked with a cement mixture tinted to match the finish. The "stone" wall should look monolithic and fundamental.
Compositions of fragments of different sizes, which differ from each other by surface relief and different levels of faces, are assembled on the wall like a ceramic mosaic. Before installation, it is advisable to lay out the future "panel" on the floor and only after that mount it on the wall. This will help to avoid the need for alterations, will make it possible to minimize the number of joints, save time and material.With this method, painstaking alignment of the side borders is not required.
Self-made gypsum tile
Grand repair requires a solid investment. Therefore, the opportunity to save on material is always relevant. The fact is that tiled cladding can very well be made independently. And it is not as difficult as it seems. With a proper choice of the brand of gypsum and observing the ratio of the components of the mixture, the artificial stone will have sufficient strength. Deviation from recommended standards inevitably leads to fragility of the material, the rapid formation of cracks and defects.
Tools and materials required for production
First of all, for the manufacture of tiles you will need a large space in which a certain humidity and temperature is stored, as well as:
Mold production
The work will take several days. To form a future capacity, a tile sample is required. In the finished matrix, pour liquid polyurethane with a hardener and wait until completely solidified. For the production of bricks, a depth of 0.5-1 cm is sufficient, and to simulate slate - 1-2.5 cm.
It is necessary to determine in advance the amount, weight, size and shape of the fragments, take into account the characteristic features of the room.
Prepare gypsum, molds, a container for mixing mortar, a construction mixer, slaked lime and color of the desired shade.If additional surface painting is planned, then it can be performed after the completion of the manufacturing process, which includes:
DIY step-by-step instructions for making tiles
If desired, the tile can be painted with water-soluble pigments or pre-lubricated with a paint form to highlight relief elements.
You can fix the paint with two layers of acrylic varnish.
Tile Care Tips
Plaster care can be carried out using dry and wet cleaning. It is allowed to use a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle, soft brushes, wet rags. Abrasive materials and aggressive detergents can cause irreparable damage to the surface. Varnish significantly reduces the risk of damage to the top coat. To ensure moisture resistance to the finish, it is treated with special impregnation. After applying this product, the lining can be washed.
Conclusion
The accent of gypsum elements will make the interior original and unique, will saturate the space with a special authentic atmosphere, and at the same time it will not require a serious investment of funds and the use of excessive labor.