Facade stucco itself
Each owner wants to make his home unique and inimitable, both inside and out. Beautifully decorated facade of the house is always in the spotlight, so the question of its decor has today become one of the most pressing. Non-standard to decorate the structure can be using the original embossed stucco.
This method of decoration is successfully used in various styles, such as Empire, classicism, modern, rococo and others. It allows you to beautifully and quickly arrange the exterior of the building, to give the home a respectable and elegant look. Agree that no matter how modern and stylish the exterior finish of a lady is, she will still look unfinished, if the cornices, slopes, door and window openings will remain without finishing, that is, standard.
The technology of mounting stucco on the wall does not require special knowledge and experience in this area. You can, of course, ask for help from specialists who will make an individual project and organize the delivery and installation of selected items. But such services will be expensive. Facade stucco made with your own hands is much more economical.
What are the advantages of decorating buildings with embossed elements?
- Fretwork can turn any structure, even the old and dilapidated, into a real work of art.
- It does not require a major renovation of the building, it can be done independently.
- Reasonable price and a wide choice of elements of a stucco molding, allowing to embody any stylistic idea in reality.
- Durability and durability of the structure in combination with impeccable aesthetic qualities, thanks to modern materials and production technologies.
- Stucco molding on the wall was, is and will always be in fashion. Thus, having decorated the house with decorative architectural elements, you absolutely will find yourself to benefit.
Forms of stucco
For self-decoration of the house with stucco you need to know what options exist and for which building areas they are suitable. This will allow you to create a truly beautiful veneer, without breaking the rules of architecture.
Stucco molding can decorate both the walls as a whole, and its individual parts, for example, only the base.
Note! Traditionally, it is customary to decorate gables, windows, doors and all protruding parts of the wall with relief elements. Decorating a house in places where walls meet, for example, will emphasize the correctness of the lines and the geometric shape of the entire building.
Fretwork is divided into:
- Columns and pilasters. They are used to finish the walls. Columns are usually installed at the main entrance.
- Sandriks and arches that can be installed above the door or windows.
- Bas-reliefs of various shapes.
- Decorative panels.
- Balustrades and handrails for the decoration of balconies and stairs.
- Moldings and cornices that serve to decorate windows and gables.
- Other decorative elements, for example, for ventilation grilles.
What is stucco
Facade stucco made of plaster, concrete, polyurethane, foam and polymer concrete. The choice of material depends on the architectural features of the building. It is also important to take into account the scope of the forthcoming work and its financial capabilities. With a thought-out approach, decorating the house with stucco will be a really interesting solution for the facade.
The most common materials for self-design exterior walls are gypsum, foam and polyurethane. Consider the advantages, disadvantages and installation technology of each type of stucco.
Gypsum
Gypsum stucco is known to mankind for more than one century. Despite the fact that the modern market of finishing materials is replete with modern, durable and beautiful decorative elements, gypsum does not lose its relevance. People prefer traditional plaster stucco because this natural material is able to take any form. Even the most complex patterns, ornaments in the smallest detail are absolutely accurately transmitted with the help of gypsum.
Other advantages of gypsum include:
- Safety for humans, since it consists of natural materials.
- Good strength. Stucco molding of gypsum can serve for centuries, while not losing an attractive appearance. Gypsum is timeless.
- The possibility of painting and the endless potential for restoration.
- Moisture and incombustibility.
Note! Although gypsum has good strength, it is at the same time a very fragile material. With a rough mechanical impact, it crumbles into pieces. It is important to take this into account when working, because a randomly dropped fragment of stucco will crumble into many pieces during installation, that is, it will be irretrievably lost.
Stucco molding under the influence of water (after all, rains are inevitable and sooner or later, but plaster is dampened) begins to absorb moisture like a sponge. This leads to a weighting element. Before fixing the plaster trim on the old fragile walls, think carefully: the load will increase many times, which in the worst case can lead to the destruction of the wall.
Installation rules
It is not difficult to fix the gypsum elements on the facade. To do this, prepare the surface of the wall and the back side of the gypsum element. Stages of work:
- Make a markup on the wall to eventually avoid distortions.
- To clean the surface of the wall and wash with water.
- Apply a layer of primer to the molding element and wait for it to dry.
- Prepare the glue by mixing the plaster mix with wood glue.
- Lightly moisten the surface of the wall and plaster details.
- Brush a thin layer of glue to the part and wall.
- Press the element firmly against the wall.
- Remove excess glue and wait for drying.
Gypsum stucco can be bought, but you can make your own original items. Those who have an extraordinary fantasy and desire to decorate their home in a special way, can make plaster stucco independently. We invite you to watch a small video workshop:
Styrofoam
This is a material obtained by saturating a gas with a polymer. Its main advantages are ease of construction, low cost and ease of installation. However, the foam does not belong to durable materials, it is susceptible to cuts and punctures. Stucco molding of foam plastic necessarily requires finishing, it protects the elements from seasonal exposure.
Note! The disadvantages include the fact that the decorative parts of the foam are always clearly visible scratches. Since the replacement of a separate section is impossible, due to the fact that the seams will be noticeable, you will have to change the entire part.
Installation is simple: a markup is applied to the prepared wall. Glue is distributed over the surface of the part and on the wall section. Element of stucco pressed against the wall, and the excess glue gently removed. For reliable fixation, you can use self-tapping screws and dowels.
Polyurethane
This material is popular along with gypsum due to its advantages:
- Lightweight and durable, does not absorb moisture and does not become heavier.
- Suitable for decoration of any buildings, including wooden, which expands the possibility of its use as a cladding material.
- Perfectly keeps a form, it is not deformed owing to mechanical influences.
- A wide selection of various finished products. This allows you to quickly arrange all the necessary elements and proceed to installation.
The only drawback is a shorter service life of products, compared to plaster.
Fastening on the facade of polyurethane stucco is the same as fastening elements made from other materials. Installation instructions require glue and a well-prepared wall surface. To install the stucco fragments, two people are enough and a little time.