Decorating doorways with decorative stone - step-by-step instructions
There is an opinion that this method of designing openings is not suitable for residential premises. However, many experts recommend in some cases finishing the door jamb with decorative stone. A detailed examination of this technology leads to the idea: this type of framing allows you to realize original design ideas, and with your own hands.
The feasibility of using decorative stone is determined on site; it depends on many factors - the overall interior, the appearance of the door installed in the opening, its geometry and others. But in some cases this material is simply irreplaceable.
- For decorating openings in large, spacious rooms. As an option - small, but with a minimum of furniture.
- If the walls in the area of the door jamb have significant, difficult-to-remove defects, decorative stone perfectly masks them.
- In cases where this finishing material is an integral part of the decor. For example, if the room is stylized as antique.
There are two types of decorative stones on sale – natural and artificial. The former are not used so often in the interior of residential premises due to the high cost and complexity of the cladding; they are characterized by heavy weight. And this includes the load on the ceiling and certain difficulties in fixing the samples on the jamb. The tiles are an imitation of natural analogues; moreover, they do not contain “chemistry” (or its concentration is negligible and is not taken into account). The raw materials are crushed rocks; Dyes are added to the mixture prepared for molding to give the desired shade. To reduce the weight of samples and increase fracture strength, some manufacturers add granular polymers.
Rules for choosing decorative stone
Now the construction market is ready to offer customers a huge number of different options for decorative stone for finishing. Therefore, in the selection process you should be as careful as possible in order to purchase a truly high-quality product that will delight you with its appearance and technical characteristics.
So, here are some tips for choosing decorative stone:
Advantages of artificial stone
- A variety of shapes, shades, textures of decorative slab products.
- Easy to attach. The imitation of natural material is characterized by correct geometry, low weight and is easy to cut, which makes it easier to fit fragments when finishing door jambs.
- Increased sample strength and resistance to abrasion.
- Inertness to climatic factors and aggressive chemical compounds. Consequently, finishing doors with decorative stone can be done in any room, regardless of its specifics. Even in those where there are sharp changes in humidity/temperature and their high/low values.
- Convenience of choice. All artificial stones differ in standard sizes and thickness. In addition, they have smooth edges, and this makes it easier to calculate the required number of products for finishing a specific area.
- Consistency of color over time. The dye introduced at the stage of preparing the mixture is evenly distributed throughout the entire structure of the material.
- Decorative stone does not burn and does not block the base; it “breathes”, which has a beneficial effect on the microclimate of the room.
- Good maintainability of the jamb lining.
Finishing a window opening with artificial stone
Decorating windows with stone looks no less impressive than decorating doorways. An important condition is the size of the elements. It is necessary to trim the window slope with a small facing stone so that the finished window opening does not look massive
.
It is recommended to use small products for window cladding.
Window slopes must be leveled and primed outside and inside. When using artificial material, reinforcing the surface of the slope, even if it is made of plasterboard, using reinforced mesh is not required.
The material is laid on the windows using the monolithic method, starting from the bottom of the slope. When the lower fragments are securely fixed, you can continue laying out the upper rows. Corners should be formed by trimming the end sides of the facing products at an angle of 45 degrees.
It is difficult to imagine the modern interior of houses and apartments without arches. A special place when choosing a finishing material for such openings is occupied by natural or artificial decorative stone. The finishing of the façade of houses, which are more appropriately called castles, is done with the same stone. The spirit of antiquity of European buildings and at the same time the individuality of the building, which is given to the building by facing with decorative stone, was liked by many homeowners.
The architectural technique of using stones not only in construction, but also in finishing external and internal surfaces is convenient, practical and very beautiful. So:
- Cladding with natural or artificial stone does not require a perfectly flat surface.
- The simplicity of the work allows you to complete the installation process yourself, guided only by the advice of the master in the video you watched.
- Ice and fire, stone and wood are a wonderful combination and complement of two opposites.
- Decorating doorways with decorative stone creates a piece of a grotto, cave or palace made of marble in a house or apartment.
- Excellent imitation of the texture of natural stone and brick with significantly less weight.
- Attractive appearance and variety of textures.
- The ability to create various architectural forms and reliefs when finishing arches, doorways, corners of hallways, balconies, fireplaces and stoves (see Stone finishing of stoves and fireplaces: making a choice). A lot of material on this topic is presented in photo galleries and arranged in selections in easily viewable blocks.
- Low weight allows for cladding of light and thin partitions.
- Good thermal insulation properties, it does not burn and is fire resistant.
- Modified finely ground gypsum, which forms the basis of artificial stone in its manufacture, is a “breathable” material and allows you to create a favorable microclimate in the house.
- Artificial decorative stone does not absorb dust and dirt, is easy to clean and is used in rooms with special health standards.
Attention: Gypsum can be destroyed by frost, so the use of artificial stone is limited when finishing external surfaces.
- An environmentally friendly material, safe for humans, which is an important factor when choosing a finishing material.
Design secrets of using decorative stone for finishing
To ensure that the decoration of the doorway with decorative stone fits neatly into the overall interior and does not disturb the harmony of the room, there are developments from specialists. So:
- The decorative trim of rectangular doors in the lower part is made slightly wider at the top, which visually creates the illusion of naturalness. This technique allows you to make the transition to another finishing material, which is used to decorate the walls of the room, unnoticeable.
- The finishing of the arched opening of the upper part of the vault is carried out strictly according to a template corresponding to the curvature of the structure. This draws attention to the perfect rounded shape and allows the arch element to stand out against the background of the wall.
- The opening, without installed doors, is lined with decorative stone on both sides, including facing the slopes, to ensure a smooth transition from stone to another material during finishing.
- If finishing doors with decorative stone takes up a minimum of space, in order to maintain the harmony of the room, you can limit yourself to framing a mirror or shelf with decorative stone. This technique serves as a support for the design solution.
- The uneven edge of the decorative stone finish gives a natural look and some negligence.
Features of choice
- The color must contain at least two shades. The uniformity of color neutralizes the naturalness of the decorative stone. It is immediately clear that this is just an imitation, and not the most successful one.
- Edges. The front surface is free of large fractions, dye clots, stains and stains. On the back side, the base should not be perfectly smooth - this will reduce the quality of adhesion of the decorative stone to the door jamb; or rough, or with notches (grooves).
- Sample edges. You need to decide on the type of seam between the stones. If it is chosen to be even along its entire length, then chips of up to 2 mm are allowed. Some owners prefer to lay masonry with a visible seam; in this case, edge defects can be more significant - up to 6 mm.
- Surface treatment level. First of all, this relates to the moisture resistance of decorative stone. If there is no protective layer, it is better not to purchase; independent application, and high-quality one, is a complex process that requires practical experience.
Basic rules for decorating jambs with stone
- Symmetry. Both sides of the opening, regardless of whether there is a door jamb in it or it is dismantled, are finished identically. Only this approach will ensure the completeness of the composition.
- Height proportions. Priority is given to the bottom of the door. This applies not only to the vertical, but also to the horizontal axis. That is, the base of the opening, with any method of its design, should visually look more massive. In accordance with this, a scheme for decorating the jamb is drawn up, taking into account the size of the purchased samples.
- A combination of texture and seams. The task of a master working with artificial stone is to achieve complete naturalness of the cladding. Experts recommend that before starting installation, lay out the “picture” on the floor and evaluate the effect it gives. How to position the products relative to each other, with what interval or offset - all such nuances are calculated in advance.
- Compliance with the jamb material. This must be taken into account even before purchasing decorative products. If the door frame and slopes are well polished and varnished, then stones with a smooth front surface are used to decorate the opening. And it is advisable to attach textured samples around a jamb that is untreated (made independently) or with a “rough” wood pattern.
The procedure for designing the opening
Decorating the slopes of the front door with decorative stone is done using the same technique as the interior door. The only difference is in the choice of material - not every imitation is suitable for these purposes.
Preparing the base
- The excess is removed - old paint, plaster, and in some cases the door is also dismantled if an arched opening is planned. The task is to achieve a flat and durable surface on which the tiles will adhere securely.
- Marking the wall according to the diagram for fastening the stones.
- Applying notches (grooves) to the base. This increases its adhesion to the cladding.
- Treat all segments to be finished with a primer. The goal is the same; Plus, this composition prevents the absorption of moisture by the wall material.
- After drying, it is advisable to apply concrete contact to the base. This product will further increase the level of adhesion, which means that the fixation of the stone will be as reliable as possible.
Door jamb trim
- The tiles are laid out on the floor according to the diagram. This will make further installation easier and will allow you to once again evaluate the correctness of the choice of location of the fragments.
- Removing the baseboard. The stone is laid to the floor, and therefore the lower molding will be a hindrance; Upon completion of the work, it is easy to return it to its place.
- Determination of the horizon line. Task: to ensure that all seams are located in this plane. Using a level and a long strip, a line is drawn on the wall that corresponds to the lower cut of the stones of the first row.
- Fastening the tiles. Cladding work always starts from the corner. To fix the samples, adhesives recommended by the manufacturer are used (tile, “liquid nails”).
The nuances of the work depend on the design intent. During the finishing process, stones will have to be cut, edges polished, and bevels made; but these are details that are not of fundamental importance. If platbands are installed later, then indentations are made for them.
- Finishing the joint
To make the stone more natural, it is advisable to spray the prepared composition over the entire area of the cladding, as well as adjacent areas of the wall: acrylic varnish + tinting paste. The mixture is diluted with water to the desired consistency and applied to the surface. It is not difficult to choose a recipe.
Decorating a jamb with decorative artificial stone does not require professional training. But if this option is unacceptable for some reason, you can use materials that successfully imitate such a finish. There is a large assortment of polymer texture panels on the market, special wallpaper of the appropriate texture; working with them is much easier, as well as updating (reinstalling) damaged samples. But still, they are not able to completely replace decorative tiles. This design solution can be considered the most preferable.
The advantages of this finish
As a rule, decorative artificial stone is used to decorate doorways in apartments. Natural is not always suitable for these purposes due to its high cost. The artificial material is made in appearance completely similar to natural gypsum with the addition of special components and pigment. It, of course, comes out much cheaper.
Artificial stone is much easier to install, it is practical and has a variety of shapes and textures. Its texture can imitate natural stone, brickwork, or be more original.
Here are several advantages due to which decorative stone can be used to decorate doorways in apartments and private houses:
- Artificial stone is an environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic material that does not affect the environment and human health. But to comply with these conditions, the material must have a quality certificate.
- Significantly less weight than natural stone.
- Fire safety. Decorative artificial stone will not burn.
- Moisture resistance, thanks to which the material can be used for finishing bathrooms and saunas.
- High strength.
- Resistant to color changes during use. The natural pigments used in production are integrated into the structure of the material, allowing it to remain in its original form.
- Standard thickness and smooth edges, which ensures ease of installation.
- Installation can be done with your own hands, without the participation of professionals.
- A damaged surface can always be restored.
Features of working with stone
Facing with a decorative coating makes the doorway an original design. But when working with stone, you should follow a number of rules that will make the surface safe and stylish. For example, the material must be laid out in such a way that the protruding side of the stones does not cause injury.
Finishing rules
Finishing with artificial stone must comply with generally accepted requirements. Main rules:
- Uniform covering of the entire surface with material. It is not advisable to make the upper part of the structure more massive than the base.
- Masonry work is carried out taking into account the characteristics of the opening surface.
- The relief pattern should be positioned symmetrically.
- When laying, the stone is pressed so that the glue comes out. Excess composition is immediately removed.
- Decorative stones of different sizes are placed in a chaotic manner. This creates the most spectacular surface.
The optimal temperature for installation work is from +5 to +30ºС. If the weather is hot with temperatures above +30ºС, then half an hour before masonry work, the back side of the stone is wetted with water.
The best harmony is achieved when decorative stone is used in combination with a suitable wooden surface (polished wooden panels and smooth texture of finishing material, rough wood texture and rough stone covering).
Required materials and tools
To line doorways with decorative stone you will need the following materials and tools:
- finishing material;
- glue;
- primer for concrete;
- sandpaper;
- grout;
- bucket;
- Master OK;
- roller;
- tassels;
- spatulas;
- mesh for reinforcement;
- plastic crosses and wedges;
- sponge;
- level;
- plumb line;
- metal brush;
- roulette;
- chisels;
- construction mixer;
- spray;
- hacksaw for metal.
Materials and tools used
To trim the doors you will need:
- finishing;
- adhesive composition;
- primer for concrete;
- sandpaper;
- grout mixture;
- bucket;
- Master OK;
- roller;
- brushes;
- spatulas;
- reinforcement network;
- plastic crosses and wedges;
- sponge;
- building level;
- brush for metal surfaces;
- roulette;
- chisels;
- spray;
- construction mixer;
- hacksaw for metal.
Stages of work
Installation of decorative stone with your own hands is carried out in two ways:
Seamless installation is a faster and easier technology. The material is laid close to each other. As a result of this installation, a monolithic surface is created.
Laying decorative coverings with jointing is a labor-intensive procedure. But it is in great demand because the surface finished in this way has a more attractive appearance.
Installation work involves the following sequential actions:
- removal of plinth and platband;
- cleaning the surface from old coating;
- wall marking;
- laying decorative stone on the floor;
- treating the walls with a primer (it is better to apply 2 layers);
- drying of the primer;
- installation of finishing material.
Laying out decorative coverings on the floor is necessary to properly sort products by color and size. When a pre-planned pattern is created on slopes, there should be no even horizontal and vertical seams on the created surface.
Particular attention is paid to the preparation of a special composition. The effectiveness of attaching decorative stone to the wall largely depends on its quality. In most cases, 1 kg of dry mixture is added to 180-220 ml of water. The composition is thoroughly mixed with a construction mixer (5-6 minutes). The working solution is used within 15 minutes.
The covering of the doorway begins in the lower corner from the area where the plinth was removed (it will be attached to the already created base). The main guideline for laying the first row of facing material is the floor.
Decorating the front door with decorative stone
Surface cladding with artificial stone
Let's look at how to decorate an entrance doorway with decorative stone:
- Since the decorative material should be glued using a special solution, the cladding begins with mixing the glue. Remember that the glue must be used within 15 minutes after preparation. That is why it is better to make a small amount of solution - start from the proportions of 200 ml of water per 1 kg of glue.
- Finishing the front door with decorative stone takes a long time, so the help of family or a friend will come in handy. It is best to seal the doors with newspapers - it is possible that glue will accidentally get onto the surface.
- You need to decorate the entrance doors from the bottom corner - apply the glue with a notched trowel and apply the tile, slightly pressing it against the wall. The gap between the tiles should be 0.3-0.8 mm, at this distance a beautiful seam is created.
- Wild stone combines uneven edges, so you can put the picture right on the wall. Cross stitches are used for straight seams.
- It is better to fill the seams with a special mixture for sealing
DIY gypsum stone
You can make artificial stone yourself. For this, gypsum is used - subsequent processing and grinding of the material occurs without much effort. Photos and videos with master classes and options for beginners help eliminate all the manufacturing nuances.
Do not forget that when decorating the jamb, the trim and baseboards must be removed. After laying out each row of decorative stone, check it using a level. Constantly apply the trim to avoid the formation of incorrect distances. The final step will be the installation of all additional door elements and baseboards.
Important! A large amount of dirt gets into an apartment or house from the street, which will soon be noticeable on the embossed artificial stone. Together with the varnish, a durable protective layer is created; use it when decorating the opening to the kitchen.
Design fantasy
When decorating a doorway, you can bring various design ideas to life. After all, decorative stone imitates different surfaces.
Imitation of natural stone, sandstone and pebbles is suitable for rooms with a lot of flowers, wicker furniture, wooden products and other natural elements.
The original solution is to imitate the entrance to a cave. This option will lead to a visual increase in room space.
The door can act as a passage to a medieval castle. This imitation is the optimal solution when the house is dominated by antique furniture with paintings and other rare items.
The most popular is imitation brickwork, which is distinguished by its variety of colors and textures. Decorative coatings, which are characterized by a transition from one color to another, are in particular demand.
Stylistic devices
As you already understand, artificial stone is both an aristocrat when it comes to appearance, and a democrat when it comes to accessibility and ease of use.
trong>Thanks to the standards of form, it, unlike natural stone, does not hold back the designer’s imagination with such things as difficulties in masonry. In the photo you can see how many different ideas were put into this material. The plastic mass is poured into molds and the stone can imitate a variety of surfaces:
- masonry made of natural stone of different variations;
- smooth pebbles;
- brickwork;
- sandstone masonry, etc.
When choosing a material for work, you need to have a pre-thought-out design , which will be implemented using decorative stone. In the photo you can see many ideas for decorating a doorway.
From stone you can create such magnificent and original ideas for a doorway as:
- A passage in a medieval castle is a great option for a home full of rich antique furniture, paintings and other antiques. Such options look most successful if there is a door frame and arched structures. An imitation of large, rough masonry in grayish and sandy colors is suitable here. Imitation of masonry from large stone blocks looks more than impressive. If desired, you can complement it with a fireplace with the same finish;
- Imitation of brick or stone masonry is perhaps the most popular and varied in texture and color. Torn edges from white to brown - imitation masonry is interesting in both rectangular and arched openings. It is ideal if the decorative brickwork is not monochromatic, but changes from color to color;
- Grotto , the entrance to the cave can be decorated using imitation large stones. This is an option for bold interior design, but the delight of visitors is guaranteed;
- Naturalistic style with imitation pebbles, sandstone and stone goes well with wood, wicker furniture, flowers and various natural elements;
All options look simply amazing and for each you need to choose your own texture and color palette.
Finishing doorways with decorative stone
Decorating doorways with decorative stone is appropriate in cafes, shops, and other public places; it serves to protect walls from damage and as a design technique. Decorative stone is used much less frequently for finishing residential premises.
Conservatism in the choice of materials used for home decoration can be explained by other decorative objectives. After all, finishing the walls of rooms and other areas of the home must be done:
- safe for children, protruding stones can cause injury;
- simple, dismantling stone decor requires some effort;
- aesthetically pleasing, for example, in a small room filled with different styles of furniture, stone creates a dissonant accent.
Meanwhile, there are cases when decorating doorways, walls, and windows with decorative stone in residential premises is appropriate and looks wonderful. Stone finishing is suitable for:
- large premises;
- rooms with a minimum of furniture;
- styling the room for specific design tasks;
- masking a wall defect.
Photo. Decorating the entrance doorway with decorative stone
As an intermediate option, to satisfy the desire to decorate an apartment with natural materials, try imitation stone in the form of special wallpaper, polyurethane foam panels of the appropriate texture, panels covered with a thin layer of synthetic or natural stone. This technique is not ideal, but it is quite suitable for understanding the style. Moreover, dismantling boring decor is simple. We’ll talk about the techniques used for fastening panels, rolls imitating natural stone, and methods of processing such materials another time. In the meantime, let's return to the use of decorative stone for finishing.
Decorative stone used for finishing comes in two types.
- Natural, made by processing natural rocks, such material is quite expensive;
- Artificial, manufactured in a factory, from natural materials using a method reminiscent of making concrete structures, combining cheap natural materials (gypsum and others), with the addition of pigments.
Types of decorative stone
- decorative brick
Brick in a natural shade is a popular material in loft-style interiors. Brick-like tiles imitate brickwork. A brick arch looks good in combination with dark-colored ceiling beams in a country-style interior.
White brick will make the room more romantic and light. Suitable for interiors in Scandinavian, Mediterranean and vintage style and of course in Provence style.
- shell rock, sandstone
Cladding tiles made of shell rock will fill the interior with light and warmth. The warm colors and porous surface go well with columns in antique-style interiors.
- limestone
Limestone tiles or its imitation are distinguished by texture and a variety of shades: from white to brown.
- river stone
This cladding looks very brutal, reminiscent of a medieval castle or the entrance to a cave. A large stone is suitable for interiors in the chalet style and in the Gothic style.
When looking for suitable options, it is useful to study catalogs of finishing materials. Finished products made of natural stone include dozens of different items, skillfully combining which you will get a harmonious interior consistent in your style.
Decorating an opening with stone has a number of advantages. Firstly, it protects the side surfaces and outer corners from abrasion and contamination. Secondly, this finish is more durable.
Thirdly, an opening or arch takes on an interesting appearance and can become an accent in the interior or emphasize its overall style.
Finishing the doorway with artificial stone will help visually unite the hallway with the living space; it looks great in combination with decorative plaster or smoothly painted walls.
Decorating openings, arches and walls with natural or artificial stone provides ample opportunities for the flight of design ideas in interior design. The light pastel colors of the stone harmonize with various frescoes.
A long corridor can be visually “broken” into sectors using arches lined with stone, and “expanded” by decorating the walls with mirrors.
Advantages of artificial stone
Let's focus on artificial stone, affordable, affordable, and superior to natural stone in terms of convenience in construction work. Artificial stone has a standard shape; many forms of stone are available. Such materials have different colors, textures that imitate natural stone, brickwork, and other surfaces.
Photo. Various artificial stone textures for finishing doorways
Several reasons to use artificial stone to decorate doorways in residential and public spaces:
- artificial stone is neutral, does not affect the microclimate of the room, must have a hygienic quality certificate;
- artificial stone is much lighter compared to natural stone;
- safe in terms of fire protection, combustion is excluded;
- artificial stone is stable in a humid environment, suitable for decorating a home sauna or bathroom;
- artificial stone in the best examples is not inferior in strength to natural stone;
- natural pigments used for tinting are integrated into the structure of the stone, so the color of the stone remains unchanged in any conditions;
- artificial stone, available in standard thickness and with smooth edges, its use for finishing is quite simple;
- Wall decoration with artificial stone can be carried out even by a non-professional, since it is lighter in comparison with natural stone, there is no need to equalize the thickness of the layer of stone attached to the wall, the alignment of the fastening rows on the wall is easily determined using a building level.
- The damaged surface of artificial stone can be restored and restored.
Features of decorative stone
Finishing a doorway in an apartment with decorative stone is possible due to its high technical characteristics. It is perfect for tiling the kitchen, hallway, corridor, balcony, living room and other rooms where such a finish would be appropriate in style.
When performing such finishing indoors, a cozy atmosphere is created. In addition to external aesthetics, this material also has a practical purpose - it perfectly protects the corners of the opening from mechanical damage and abrasion. Also, finishing a doorway with this material allows you to visually expand the room and give it status.
Advice! The interior can be supported by wall paintings of the Roman and Greek type.
If the room does not have a sufficient area, then decorative brickwork in the decoration of the doorway in combination with mirrors on the walls can make it longer and significantly change the geometry. In the hallway, the decoration of the doorway can neatly transition into a wall picture made of the same material.
How to choose the right stone
There are many manufacturers of artificial stone on the construction market. Let’s not dwell on any particular manufacturer now; let’s learn how to choose the right material for finishing doorways with decorative stone.
- We select a stone that is the same in color, texture and size; the material should look natural in appearance.
- Ideally, a stone is selected that combines two or more shades of the same color, so the finished finish looks natural.
- On the front side of the artificial stone, the presence of growths, stains of undissolved color, traces of the technological process of stone manufacturing, pieces of filler, cavities more than 5 mm in diameter are not allowed.
- The reverse side, with which the stone is attached to the wall, should be rough or grooved for high-quality adhesion of the surface to the glue.
- The end side of the stone has smooth edges; if the edges of the tiles form invisible seams when joined, then chips on the edges are allowed no more than 4 mm; if the edges form visible seams, then chips of up to 6 mm are allowed on the edges.
- Pay attention to the uniformity of the filler, that is, not to contain large particles of filler, which reduces the strength of the tile and makes the material look unnatural.
- When purchasing an artificial stone, pay attention to the need for additional treatment with special protective agents; which stone is best to avoid.
Additional recommendations
- You need to trim the doorway with stone evenly, without creating a more massive part at the bottom or top of the opening. Despite this, it will seem that the bottom is more voluminous than the top. An example of their daily life: the mountain at the base looks wider than at the top. This rule also works on the plane, creating a harmonious appearance of the finished work.
- Install the decorative covering taking into account the curvature of the doorway line. Be sure to follow the seams of the laid stone and the relief pattern of the tiles so that all decorative elements are located symmetrically to each other. This will help achieve a natural-looking end result.
- It is important to monitor the evenness and symmetry of the tiles not only on one side of the opening. Both sides of the decorated wall should be symmetrical relative to each other. This is especially important if there is no door frame at the opening.
- If you don’t know what to combine decorative stone with, pay attention to wood. These materials fit together perfectly. At the same time, do not forget that the texture should also be combined. So, for example, an equally smooth surface is more suitable for a smooth surface. You will find more information about the combination of decorative stone and wood in the interior here.
Decorative stone is perfect for decorating various rooms in an apartment, including the living room and balcony.
The process of installing decorative stone is quite simple, and the result is worth the effort. The most important point in all the work is the preparation stage, when you choose the appropriate material. If you are not sure that you can cope with this task, contact the sellers in a specialized store, they will help you choose the appropriate material.
Rules for finishing with decorative stone
The finishing of doorways with decorative stone is carried out according to generally accepted architectural rules, the observance of which ensures the correct proportions of the finished finish. Here are some basic rules.
- The doorway is trimmed with stone, evenly over the entire surface of the wall, near the opening or the bottom visually looks more massive. The upper part of the decor is never made more massive than the bottom. An example of their daily practice is that a mountain at its base is wider than its top. This rule works not only in volume but also on a plane.
- Lay the stones taking into account the curvature of the edge of the doorway, strictly follow the seams of the tiles, or the relief pattern of the stones, they should be located symmetrically to each other, thus achieving a natural look to the finished project.
- The decor of the door opening will have a finished look if the wall is symmetrically decorated on both sides, especially if the opening does not have a door frame.
- Wooden products that match the style of the stone go well with stone, for example, the rough surface of the stone is combined with the rough texture of wood, and the smooth surface of the stone is combined with polished wood panels.
Advantages of finishing openings with stone
The peculiarity of such a material as decorative stone is that it allows you to imitate rough stonework, but at the same time looks quite natural and neat. It is used both for private houses and apartments. If you decide to arrange an arch instead of a traditional doorway, this decoration option will probably be the most advantageous.
Advantages of stone arches:
- attractive appearance;
- create a feeling of comfort;
- relative ease of installation;
- variety of options available;
- durability;
- reducing the load on the structure compared to natural stone;
- environmental friendliness and safety of the material.
An arch finished with decorative stone is durable and has a very attractive appearance.
The finishing of doorways with decorative stone is carried out in several stages. In order to emphasize the shape and aesthetics of a doorway or arch in a particular interior style, various techniques and layout schemes can be used, so it is worth considering the possible options in advance and choosing the most suitable one.
Sequence of work
- We chose a site to work on. The place has probably already been prepared for work in advance. This means that there is no old paint, the surface is smooth and primed. If not, then preparation is carried out according to generally accepted methods. Use a brush to remove the old layer of paint or wallpaper, and use synthetic pastes to level the surface. Remove trim from doors and baseboards from the floor.
- We make markings on the wall showing how the wall will be covered with decorative material. Don’t forget the rule mentioned above – there is more on the bottom of the stone and there is less on top. Use a roller or brush to prime the selected area of the wall (the priming agent is selected in the store). After it dries, see the instructions for the primer; we recommend treating the wall surface with concrete contact. This is a modern adhesive material containing microscopic particles of mineral chips to improve adhesion. Used to improve adhesion during plastering, laying tiles, and other work.
- We lay the tiles on a flat horizontal surface in order to select the optimal tone combinations. If necessary, trim the edges. Ideally, you should lay out a layout of the work to be done on a horizontal surface.
Photo. Adhesive for decorative stone finishing
- We start attaching the tiles from the bottom and from the corner. Since the plinth has been removed from the floor, it will be necessary to lay it out with stone, including the place of the missing plinth. Subsequently, we will return the plinth to its place and it would be more expedient if we installed it entirely, rather than in parts.
- We determine the horizon with a level, 3-4 cm away from the floor. We attach the strips of stone to the wall using liquid nails, tile adhesive or another composition suitable for these purposes. If necessary, we cut off part of the stone and break it to fulfill the decorative design. The edges of the stone must be sanded to remove sharp corners. When laying the stone vertically along the edge of the door, the stone is placed flush against the border of the casing. The place of the wooden frame and stone is leveled with special care. The combination of stone and platbands made of MDF or other synthetic materials is not advisable. Stone, even artificial, does not go well with artificial wood.
- The corners of the walls, when facing with decorative stone, should be done in a special way. They use a joint butt to joint, at an angle, connect to a wooden base, and so on. More often they use the connection of the end edge slabs of one side of the corner to the rear edges of the slabs of the other corner.
- After completing the work, time is given for the glue to dry. Next, they begin to decorate the surface of the stone. Prepare a composition for spraying onto the surface of the stone to give it a more natural look. The composition is prepared from a tinting paste, which is one tone darker than the base color of the tile, water and acrylic varnish. Particular attention is paid to the periphery of the wall, decorated with stone.
- The last stage in finishing doorways with decorative stone is attaching baseboards to the floor and trim around the doorway.
DIY design features
Before you start finishing the doorway, you should prepare for the process by choosing the necessary finishing material, tools and finding out the sequence of the entire work process.
Required Tools
- Special adhesive composition.
- Primer.
- Grout.
- Clean and dry bucket.
- Master OK.
- Roller.
- Tassels.
- Spatulas.
- Level.
- Acrylic lacquer.
- Coloring paste.
- Construction mixer.
Selection of finishing material
Now you need to decide which stone to choose, natural or artificial. To do this, it is worth considering the features of each of them.
Natural
Advantages of the material:
- strength and durability;
- moisture resistance and fire resistance;
- convenient to care for;
- does not fade over time;
- beautiful view.
Disadvantages of natural decorative stone:
- heavy weight;
- high cost;
- slight radioactivity.
Artificial
Using artificial material you can get the following advantages:
- Wide selection of textures, shapes and shades of material.
- Easy to transport and install due to low weight.
- Low cost. Thanks to this, you can decorate a large space.
- Easy to install and the ability to adjust the stone to the shape of the doorway, as it is easy to cut.
- Easy to care for.
- If cracks appear, they can be repaired with the same compound that was used to install the stone.
Artificial stone also has some disadvantages:
- This is not the most environmentally friendly material, so it’s definitely not worth using it in a bedroom or children’s room (how to decorate a bedroom with decorative stone?).
- Compared to natural stone, the service life of artificial stone is much shorter.
- Some types of artificial material may not be resistant to temperature changes and exposure to direct sunlight (they fade over time).
Step-by-step instructions: how to lay stone cladding?
Let's consider how to line the entrance doorway with stone cladding with your own hands.
- Preparing the wall . Using a brush, remove old paint or wallpaper, plaster, baseboards and door trim. It is important to make the wall level so that the tiles can stick to it more securely.
- Marking . Mark the wall. It should correspond to the future location of the decorative stone on the wall.
- Wall primer. After cleaning and marking the wall, it must be primed.
Use a roller or brush for this. Important For priming, choose a composition with antibacterial properties to avoid the appearance of fungus and mold in the future. - Preliminary laying of decorative material on the floor . Lay out the finishing material on the floor and choose the location of each segment. Do not forget that you need to take into account the color combination of both individual elements and the color scheme of the overall picture. If necessary, trim individual stones so that they fit better into the doorway.
- Preparation of the adhesive solution. This can be a ready-made adhesive mixture or dry. In the second case, dilute the dry composition with water in the proportions indicated on the packaging and mix everything with a construction mixer until smooth.
- Installation of stone. Attach decorative elements to the wall using a pre-prepared adhesive solution.
Liquid nails or tile adhesive are also suitable for these purposes. If necessary, cut off part of the stone so that it fits into the overall picture of the decorated doorway. Sand the edges of the stones to remove sharp corners. Attach the tiles starting from the floor itself and from the corner (since there is no longer a plinth). - Decorating the entrance doorway. When the adhesive has completely dried, you can proceed to decorating the stone.
To do this, prepare a composition of tinting paste, acrylic varnish and a small amount of water. The color should be one tone darker than the coating. Pour the finished mixture into a spray bottle and spray onto the surface of the stone. This will give it a more natural look. To avoid staining the rest of the wall when using paint, cover the border with the stone with masking tape. - The final stage . Replace the door trim and, if desired, the baseboard.
Attention
The described instructions for installing decorative stone can be used for both natural and artificial materials, because there are no fundamental differences here.
Peculiarities
The advantage of artificial stone is that it allows you to imitate rough masonry, but the appearance of the assembled plates looks very natural and neat. It is used for finishing doors in cottages and apartments. Properly installed stone is durable compared to plaster or wood.
Dirt is less noticeable on the plates, and the colors do not fade over time, since the stone panels are additionally protected by impregnation.
The advantages of artificial stone finishing are as follows:
- beautiful appearance;
- comfort;
- simplicity of the assembly process;
- various options;
- long service life;
- low surface load compared to natural stone;
- environmentally friendly material.
Studying the main types and materials will allow you to decide which product is suitable for finishing your home. There are three types of artificial stone: brick, rock, cobblestone. The materials used in the parts are concrete and gypsum.
- Concrete stone is an ideal choice for people looking for a versatile cladding that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Concrete is durable, resistant to mechanical damage and weather. Particularly valuable material in places of temperature changes and high humidity.
- Gypsum stone is an ideal option for people who want to install stone panels in the fastest and least complicated way. Its advantage is its light weight and ease of assembly.
Proper finishing of entrance door slopes with decorative stone: photo
Slopes lined with artificial stone will give the interior an original look. You can create the illusion of a cave or an ancient castle. And the practicality of this type of finishing makes it one of the most popular among the people. Artificial material has a number of advantages that make it so popular.
The surface on which the stone is placed may not be flat, the weight of decorative stone is less than natural stone, there is a very wide variety of textures and appearance.
Artificial stone has good fire resistance and heat insulation, and does not absorb liquid. It is used indoors where very strict sanitation standards are observed. This material is safe and easy to use and clean.
Working on door slopes for artificial stone dictates a number of conditions:
- When the door has a rectangular shape, the lower part is made wider. This will create a visual evenness and natural look, helping to transition from stone to another material without harsh elements.
- The template must match the curvature of the structure.
- You should not make smooth edges, this can destroy the naturalness.
All this work can be done without a master, who may charge too high a price. To do this type of work with your own hands, you must remember that the color and size are selected before installation; the stone is easily cut with a special tool. Everything is assembled into a single composition and after that you can finish the required surface.
Advantages and disadvantages
The use of stone as cladding indoors is one of the most attractive solutions, giving the building its own style. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of the product, you can make the right choice.
The use of decorative stone in the interior has several advantages.
- Decorative stone attracts attention with its beauty and naturalness. The plates are suitable for decorating walls outside and inside the building. The pronounced structure and natural colors will suit any interior. The aesthetic effect is enhanced by the skillful use of lighting - shadows on the uneven surface of the stone that create unforgettable visual effects.
- Complementarity. The stone fits perfectly into another style of wall cladding. Placing the plates on a small piece of surface next to the doors creates an original look. If the design of the door takes place in the corridor, then a smooth transition of the plates to the furniture in the form of a regular strip will be an excellent combination. It is important that the colors of the furniture and decorative stone are in the same tone.
- The artificial stone is fixed using liquid nails.
- Gypsum is easy to cut with a saw, and the absorbent ability of the material allows it to be painted in any color.
Decorative stone has several disadvantages.
- The stone has a porous structure, it absorbs dust, fungi and water, and it is difficult to clean the plates to a new look. If you use parts to decorate doors on the street of a private house, then over time the material will become dirty, especially light-colored decorative stones. To prevent such consequences, you need to treat the surface with a water repellent. The composition impregnates the plates and a protective film appears from external environmental influences. The color of the parts becomes brighter.
- An ordinary concrete surface is not suitable for installing stone. You need to glue it on a plastered wall. And also cannot be glued to drywall, since the parts will tear off the top layer of the material.
Secrets for choosing a room
How to glue decorative stone
Decorating doorways with decorative stone cannot be done in all rooms, apartments and houses. To protect yourself from the absurdity of the finished design, it is better to familiarize yourself with the following tips:
- It is allowed to decorate the entrance to an apartment with a large hallway. This rule also applies to interior openings.
- When decorating with stone, do not clutter the room with furniture. It is best to maintain a spacious look.
- The cladding should be combined with the overall interior of the room, so you should think in advance about the color of the stone, wallpaper, furniture floor and baseboard.
When calculating how much material you will need, always purchase with a reserve. Framing an arch may require trimming the stone. In addition, different batches of decorative stone in the same color may have different shades. When choosing decorative material, pay attention to the back side - the porosity of this plane makes it possible to properly fix the material on the wall. The slope of the doorway must be combined with the color of the decorative stone.
