Wall stucco molding, its types and materials of manufacture, surface finishing with plaster and polymer decor with a finishing coating. Stucco molding is an ancient architectural tradition dating back to the times of the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece. Despite the presence of many ultra-fashionable interior styles, the desire to decorate their homes with such decor has not disappeared among its modern inhabitants. Today you will learn how to decorate the walls with stucco molding yourself using the available materials.
Materials for making stucco on the walls
Earlier, ornaments on the walls were made by hand. Masters applied mass to plaster and modeled it into patterns and reliefs, hence the name - stucco molding. After the appearance in the production of molding and casting, stucco has turned from an expensive luxury into an affordable pleasure.
Metal forms make it possible to produce any ornamental details without any additional finishing. Without losing quality, each mold can withstand over 2000 pours. In the manufacture of stucco molding, much depends on the quality of its material, which, when passing from one state to another, should not give much shrinkage and cracks. There are several such materials:
- Gypsum … It is environmentally friendly and resistant to temperature fluctuations. During hardening, the gypsum mass increases in volume, creates pressure and can penetrate even the smallest depressions on any surface. The plasticity of the material greatly facilitates the work of gypsum cladding. It is easy to process, so molded products can be easily adjusted to the required size. In the process of working with gypsum stucco molding, it is easy to mask the unevenness of the walls and damage to products that may arise during their transportation. When making such a stucco molding in a home workshop, the form filled with a solution must be shaken to remove air bubbles from it. Plaster wall decoration with stucco molding has some drawbacks: it has a lot of weight and therefore, over time, the cladding can crumble. In addition, gypsum strongly attracts moisture, which causes fungal plaque to form on the relief. This disadvantage is eliminated by applying a protective layer of paint or varnish to the stucco molding.
- Polyurethane … It is obtained by mixing polyester, diisocyanite, water, catalysts and emulsifiers. Their combination leads to a gas-forming reaction, the result of which is foamed plastic. The material is resistant to temperature fluctuations and even withstands heating up to 280 ° C, which makes it suitable for use in lighting fixtures. Polyurethane stucco molding adheres well, it is durable, lightweight and easy to paint. It is distinguished by durability, moisture resistance, hardness, a huge variety of assortment and purity of the embossed pattern, it does not accumulate dust and does not absorb odors. Polyurethane in its density and texture corresponds to wood, but unlike it, it does not deform and does not crack over time.
- Styrofoam (polystyrene) … This stucco molding has an attractive price, although it is not particularly sophisticated. The decor is fragile and needs careful handling, therefore it is most often used to decorate the tops of walls and ceilings. The foam production process is continuous and fully automated. Quality products are obtained by extruding them from a molten mass. Their structure does not contain pronounced granules, the presence of which is characteristic of foamed plastic. Such grain deprives the stucco molding of the clarity of the drawing and does not disappear even after repeated painting. Some companies make extruded polystyrene, which has an ultra-high density, the strength of which is quite comparable to wood and polyurethane.
In contrast to the bare walls, the embossed decor can rightfully be called a home "psychotherapist". This is because motor is alien to the human eye, and it is constantly looking for any small interior details in the form of leaves, curls and the like, on which it can rest.
Varieties of stucco products for walls
Various elements of stucco molding for walls and ceilings are made from the above materials. It can be:
- Garlands and medallions … Garlands, the so-called "scallops", imitate floral and floral decor entwined with ribbons. They are installed at the top of the walls and under the eaves. Medallions are decorative panels with a floral pattern, vignette or plain.
- Arched framing … They are manufactured as standard sections. By successfully combining them with each other, you can elegantly and effectively decorate bookshelves, a bar or the interior of a niche. These stucco elements decorate door and window openings both outside buildings and in the interiors of their premises. The door decoration is completed by the installation of decorative corner elements, the paneled canvases are decorated with moldings. Above the upper platband, you can fix a relief pediment and decorate its center with some medallion in the form of a coat of arms, cockade, etc.
- Cover panels … They can be used to decorate the surfaces of doors and walls, giving them a solemn and rich look.
- Overhead niches … They are wall-mounted; niche frames are sold separately. They can be selected according to your idea and taste. Niche bottoms are often made of white matte plexiglass. It allows you to organize backlighting in them. To do this, a dim lamp is installed under the glass, which, illuminating the objects installed in the niche, emphasizes their beauty and gives them unusual shades.
- Columns and semi-columns (pilasters) … They consist of three parts: the base is the bottom of the column, the trunk is its middle part, the capital is the top. The barrels are decorated with flutes - special grooves that add elegance to the details. Stucco columns can be made in different styles: Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian or Ionic. Column plinths, bases, shafts and capitals are supplied separately. Typically, polyurethane columns do not bear mechanical stress and are purely decorative. But if desired, their hollow samples can be made load-bearing. To do this, you need to place a metal pipe in the form of a rack taking the load into the cavity of such a column. Gypsum columns in such cases are subject to reinforcement. Stucco columns often conceal risers and pipes that run alongside the walls in a conspicuous place. The diameters of the columns of living quarters can be 15-35 cm, administrative ones - up to 60 cm.
- Brackets and pedestals … Brackets are supports for window sills, mantels and bookshelves and more. As corner elements, they can be installed at the joints of the ceiling and walls or in the portals of the openings. Pedestals serve as supports for decorative vases, candlesticks, sculptures and other accessories. The maximum load on such stucco molding should not exceed 50 kg. The most common objects placed on pedestals look significant and unusual. Brackets and pedestals add majesty and solemnity to the style of the room, ennoble the angular modern architecture and can divide the room space into functional zones. When installing such products, it is necessary to take into account their proportionality in relation to the size of the room. Massive decorative stucco molding on the walls can easily "crush" a small room, and vice versa - small stucco molding will get lost in a large space.
- Skirting boards, cornices and moldings … They are used to decorate doors, walls, mirror frames and furniture. This stucco molding visually enlarges the space and completes the interior. With cornices, you can beautifully decorate the joints of the ceiling with the walls. Ceiling skirting boards can hide uneven joints. In addition, the embossed tape of the skirting boards is able to decorate the connection of the walls with the floor surface. Moldings are special borders used to decorate walls.
- Ceiling rosettes … They are intended to decorate the part of the ceiling around the chandelier. The diameters of such rosettes can be from 150 to 1000 mm.
- Domes … They are used to decorate the ceiling space in the antique Roman, Empire style and others. The dome can be painted, and a chandelier can be hung inside it. Domes are smooth, belted with patterned cornices or have a stucco ornament.
The technology of installing stucco moldings on the walls
The ceilings and walls, decorated with relief figures and ornaments, amaze with their sophistication and beauty. For such a finish, gypsum, polyurethane and foam are used. Below we will look at how to work with these materials.
Wall decoration with plaster stucco
Performing plaster moldings, you can get a completely unique pattern. Possessing excellent plasticity and casting qualities, this material allows, even at the manufacturing stage, to work out any detail as accurately as possible, regardless of the complexity and depth of its design.
Before decorating the walls with plaster moldings, it is necessary to determine the places of the room that are suitable for such a decor. Gypsum is a rather heavy and fragile material, therefore, it is not recommended to install products made of it without relevant experience and special knowledge.
Places of plaster stucco molding should be thoroughly rinsed before attaching it, removing whitewash. To fix the eaves, it is necessary to draw a line on the wall indicating the border of its installation. Such a mark can be made in a proven way: pull the painted paint cord along the wall, stepping back from the ceiling at a distance of the width of the cornice, then pull it back and release it. The trail of the cord on the wall will indicate the desired line.
Then on the stucco and the wall at the junctions, small notches should be made with a chisel. The installation of the cornice should start from the corner. The product must be cut into two pieces at 45 ° with a hacksaw. To fix them, use a special composition or a plaster solution containing 3% wood glue from the total mass of the mixture.
After preparing the surfaces of the stucco and the wall, they must be moistened with water and applied with a brush to the desired places with the adhesive. Then, attaching the parts to the wall, they should be rubbed in with light movements so that the glue fills the entire mating surface. Excess plaster mortar can be removed with a spatula.
In the case of installing large parts of the eaves, screws must be used. Holes should be drilled in the wall, dowels should be hammered into them and fasteners should be screwed in. Then, in the appropriate places on the back side of the cornice, it is necessary to make holes with their expansion in depth. After this, fill the holes with plaster mix and fit the cornice onto the screws screwed into the wall.
Another method of attaching plaster moldings to the wall involves fixing the products in a rigid way on screws. This method is used to fix ordinary boards. Rigid fastening makes it possible to install plaster stucco on many surfaces, including walls made of plasterboard sheets.
The joints between the stucco elements must be sealed with gypsum, since the homogeneity of the materials used avoids the occurrence of cracks.
Wall decoration with polyurethane stucco molding
Unlike the installation of gypsum elements, the installation of polyurethane stucco molding is very simple. High-tech production makes it possible to achieve accurate dimensions and clear relief of such products, which completely excludes the adjustment of their parts during fastening. During the installation of stucco moldings, polyurethane glue and "liquid nails" are used. Manufacturing companies attach special instructions to their products containing methods and rules for their use.
All parts of polyurethane stucco molding, including glue, must be in the room where they are supposed to be installed for 24 hours before installation. This is necessary to provide the material with a comfortable temperature regime, which ensures the proper quality of the adhesive elements of polyurethane decor.
Before installing the stucco molding on the wall with your own hands, the work surface should be treated with a special deep penetration primer. Do not forget that wallpapering or painting the walls can only be done after fixing the stucco products.
After that, you need to determine the height of the profile and mark its location on the wall. Next, you should outline and make cuts of the part for corner joints with a miter box. The joints of long spans must be filed at 45 ° so that they can be seen from the outside of the profile in the form of vertical straight lines. And the oblique lines of the joints should be noticeable only when viewed from below or from above. This cut achieves a maximum increase in the joint area on the glue, and the seam becomes invisible to the light.
Places where the glue is applied must be sanded with fine sandpaper. After that, it should be evenly distributed over the length of the entire back side of the element. Then the stucco molding must be attached to the wall and slightly pressed down for gluing. To prevent the part from slipping, small nails can be driven under the products for support for a certain time.
Excess glue should be removed with a spatula. After that, you can install the next element in the same way, gluing the joint with a plentiful application of glue, the excess of which can then be removed with a sponge soaked in acetone. The joint of the parts can be additionally strengthened with staples using a construction stapler.
One day after the glue dries, the staples and nails should be removed. If excess glue remains on the stucco molding, they can be cleaned with a knife and sandpaper. At the final stage, the joints between the parts must be putty with an acrylic finishing mixture and sanded with an abrasive fine mesh.
Wall decoration with polystyrene stucco molding
Affordable cost, light weight and resistance to temperature extremes made foam plastic a popular material, especially for the manufacture of facade elements of wall decoration. Unlike gypsum products, polystyrene stucco molding is not afraid of moisture. It is resistant to decay and chemical attack, does not contain compounds harmful to health and is easy to use even with the hands of a novice craftsman. Polystyrene stucco moldings are used to decorate window sills, openings, gables, balustrades, pilasters and cornices.
The procedure for decorating walls with styrofoam moldings includes the stages of its manufacture and installation. Decor details are cut out of polystyrene with a red-hot string. In a production environment, the shape of the product can be programmed and cut with the highest degree of precision on a computerized machine.
Then the element of the facade stucco molding is covered with a mesh made of fiberglass and a deep penetration cement-glue mortar, which forms a protective film with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. In addition, it is an excellent basis for further painting of the product. After such procedures, the contact of the main material of the stucco molding with the external environment ends. Its parts stop attracting dust and become UV resistant.
The base of the wall for the installation of polystyrene stucco moldings must be dry, even and clean. Various chemicals and mechanical means can be used to prepare it. The cleaning process removes stains, mold and dirt from the wall. If the old plaster has voids, they should be removed and the surface leveled.
After finishing the preparation of the base and applying the marking, the stucco parts are fixed on the wall with an adhesive mixture. In addition to fixing the product, it provides a tight connection between the material and the supporting structure. Excess glue is removed with a spatula, the decor joints are glued with a special compound for seams.
Additional fastening of the stucco molding is made with dowels. Their caps must be deepened 3-4 mm into the material. Depending on the type of products and their size, anchors and embedded parts can be used during installation.
Polystyrene stucco molding is able to imitate natural materials: wood, marble, plaster, stone, etc. For example, polystyrene stones, which are often used to decorate the corner zones, do not differ in any way from marble or granite.
When choosing polystyrene or polyurethane stucco molding elements for installation, it is important to determine not only the quantity and types, but also to choose them correctly. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to several points described below.
Products can be straight and curved, which determines their purpose. For example, curved decor is used to decorate arched openings.
Some collections include additional details - external and internal corners, various transitions and plugs. When buying such a stucco molding, you should pay attention to the identity of the shades of its main and additional elements.
The sectional shape of the part is also very important. Flat elements are used to decorate walls, and corner elements are installed under the ceiling. The fixing surface of the corner profiles must be large enough to, for example, hide the electrical wiring.
Important! If the polymer stucco molding has uneven edges for joining parts or an erased pattern, such a model should be abandoned immediately, since it will be very difficult, and sometimes even impossible, to beautifully connect its parts.
Features of coloring stucco for walls
The original design of the walls invariably attracts attention. White-stone gypsum light and graceful relief, for example, in modern design is often painted. The same applies to stucco moldings made of other materials. It is tinted in accordance with the color scheme of the interior. Proven technologies for the manufacture of modern dyes and methods of their application provide a huge scope for creativity.
Polyurethane stucco molding has two types of surfaces - primed and laminated. Common, well-thinned paint is often used as a primer. This consistency allows it to penetrate deeply into the pores of the material. The primer is applied in 2 layers. After drying, any liquid coating can be applied to it: patina, gilding, etc. Various scuff or aging effects created with paint give the stucco molding a romantic touch of time. Products with a laminated surface are used exclusively indoors: on facades, such a film peels off.
The plaster moldings are finished with pigments and paint thickeners. A sponge or pieces of cloth are used to work with them. The surface texture can be different - granite, marble, etc. Gypsum can be decorated with patina or wax, making it velvety or glossy. If funds are available, the plaster stucco molding is gilded with foil: in this way, fragments or individual details of the ornament are distinguished. Silver enamel gives the items a noble shade and enhances the outlines of their relief.
Polyurethane and gypsum stucco moldings can also be coated with any oil or water based paints. If the products are of high quality, a good painting result can be obtained using a pneumatic spray gun.
How to fix stucco molding on the walls - look at the video:
A well-chosen decor completely transforms and enriches the interior of the room. If you make stucco on the walls, ordinary rooms with this design can become elegant and cozy apartments in which various shades of emotions reign - from prim severity to festive splendor. The interior gets harmonious completeness and high style tone.
