Decorative plaster for the balcony: pros and cons, choice and decoration

The balcony is a special pleasure during the warmer months. Decorating with decorative plaster will make such a holiday even more enjoyable. You can create an original and unique design on your own.

Decorative plaster allows you to quickly and economically create embossed designs on the walls. The variety of textures and colors makes the material literally a godsend for the implementation of design ideas.

In an apartment, such material can be used in any room and even on the balcony. The advantages of decorative plaster are as follows:

• the composition can be used even if the balcony is not heated or insulated;
• some types of decorative plaster do not burn; such a finish is able to protect the balcony from accidental fire, which is possible if something gets in through an open window;
• finishing with such material will last longer than wallpaper and any other decorative materials;
• mechanical stress does not damage the wall covering;
• gives room for design ideas, goes well with both smooth and textured materials such as stone or wood;
• wide assortment and various prices;
• cleaning can be done using chemicals and disinfectants;
• you can cover the walls with a white compound, and paint on top in the desired color or colors;
• the coating dries quickly.

There is no perfect material. It is worth considering the following disadvantages:

• it is necessary to carefully choose the composition depending on the main component and relief;
• when mixing, you need to follow the instructions, otherwise you can ruin the plaster;
• it is necessary to strictly follow the application technology so that the coating is durable and beautiful.

Decorative plaster does not level the walls, but, on the contrary, creates a beautiful relief.

The compositions can be divided into two large groups.

This composition is easy to apply. it great solution for beginnerswho have not previously carried out finishing work. Small stones, fibers and crystals create a noticeable relief. It is noteworthy that when applying, there is no need to carefully level the coating.

We'll have to practice so that such a composition looks neat on the walls. Small additional components create a patterned effect. Every detail can be seen on the surface. This option is suitable for the embodiment of complex decorative elements.

There are quite a few types of textures for decorative plasters. This allows for the original choice, but can also be confusing. It is worth considering the features of different plasters.

Can be used to decorate any premises. On the inner wall of the balcony, such plaster will serve for a long time, even if the balcony is open.

Acrylic, silicone and silicate components are found as the basis of the mixture. Visually, the wall looks like it was showered with sand. The color is natural and depends on the type of stones in the composition.

Crushed marble is used as a decorative element; particles can be of different sizes in the range of 0.5–5 mm. Dyes, resins, lime and additives are added to the composition to increase decorativeness.

It is recommended to varnish such plaster. Otherwise, the composition will crumble at the slightest mechanical stress. Bare marble must not be washed with detergents.

This option is distinguished by its strength, reliability and long service life. High decorative properties make the composition popular among amateurs and craftsmen.

Externally, the walls take on a woody texture. It matches any interior style. Furrows can be either almost imperceptible or deep. It all depends on the additional components of the mixture.

Plaster contains stone flour. It has a high artistic value and is famous among interior designers.

Outwardly, the wall resembles marble. It is noteworthy that the shades are always deep, and the drawings look natural. It is such a surface that is capable of beautifully reflecting light.

This solution allows you to create a lot of different reliefs. Threads, sand, stones, fibers, gypsum, mica and more can be added to the composition. The application is rather complicated and is carried out in several stages. With the help of rags, curly rollers, sponges, you can create a unique relief. Such plaster will help to visually correct curved walls.

The properties of decorative plaster largely depend on the base material of the composition. The following varieties are worth noting:

• silicone base - can be used on facades, wear-resistant, easily tolerates aggressive and changeable conditions;
• mineral base - it manifests itself well in warmth, decorates walls for a long time, but such plaster cannot be used if the balcony is open and without heating;
• lime base - outwardly, such a composition is similar to natural stone, it is used exclusively for interior decoration; it is important that the balcony is heated and glazed;
• vegetable base - the plastered wall with this treatment allows air to pass through well and does not deteriorate from exposure to moisture;
• vinyl or acrylic base - the walls under such plaster do not breathe, so they must be pre-treated with compounds against fungi and mold; dampness and moisture to plaster are not terrible;
• gypsum base - high decorative properties require certain conditions; can be used only in warm and glazed balconies;
• cement base - a universal mixture can be used for work in any conditions; wear-resistant and durable plaster is not afraid of moisture, temperature extremes and mechanical stress.

Decorative plaster is universal. Depending on the composition, it can be used on any balcony. When choosing, several criteria must be taken into account.

• The presence or absence of glazing on the balcony. It is from this criterion that one should start when choosing a composition. If the balcony is completely open, then plasters are used for facade work. A heated balcony can be decorated with interior composition. In some cases, for example, with cold glazing, it is better to give preference to street plasters.

• Large-relief compositions are used for external work, and small-relief compositions are used for internal ones. Thus, Venetian plaster can only be used on a warm and insulated balcony.

• If the balcony is combined with the room, then it is worth choosing the texture and color so that the overall look is harmonious. On a separated loggia, you can use any material that is suitable for the conditions of use.

• Coarse-grained formulations are better at absorbing noise. The balcony with this finish will be quieter and more comfortable.

• If you want to embody a complex design, then it is better to choose composition without pigment and purchase paint separately.

Decorative plaster is quite easy to use.

The standard procedure is as follows:

• it is necessary to dismantle all decorative cabinets, shelves and take out all the furniture from the balcony; if the decoration will be carried out on the outer walls, then the window sills and their fastenings should be additionally removed;
• cleaning the walls from the old decorative coating should be done as carefully as possible; if necessary, it is worth removing the old plaster to the bare wall;
• with a chisel nozzle on a perforator, each crack should be processed, as if opening; all cracks must be filled with a repair compound;
• a primer must be applied to a bare wall; the first layer should dry, and then it is recommended to apply the second;
• using a spatula, it is worth applying ordinary plaster to level the walls; it is better to use a cement composition;
• With a wide paint brush, you need to walk along the walls to remove the remnants of dry composition and dust that formed during the leveling.

When using Venetian decorative plaster, it is better not to level the walls, but to sew them up with drywall. This gives you the perfect foundation for beautiful designs. After the end of this stage, you can proceed to decorating.

The interior decoration of the walls is initially carried out according to the standard scheme, regardless of the composition. Can be plastered immediately after preparatory work.

Decorative finishing is carried out as follows:

1. using a drill or mixer, knead a homogeneous composition;
2. a small amount of the composition is collected on a trowel and thrown onto any section of the wall;
3. the layer is leveled with a wide spatula or a special float, the layer should not exceed 3-5 mm; this is how all walls inside the balcony are treated;
4. the plaster begins to set, it's time to smooth it out with a float as carefully as possible;
5. a decorative layer is applied, which will make up the external design, its thickness can vary within 0.5–2 mm; manufacturers usually indicate the recommended plaster layer;
6. form a relief.

The design directly depends on the main material, because the texture can be different.

Features of the formation of the relief are as follows:

1. mineral plaster can be simply smoothed out with a plastic float; beautiful grooves will form naturally;
2. the bark beetle should be applied to the wall and leveled; the relief is formed in the course of circular or longitudinal movements with a flat float;
3. Venetian plaster is applied to the base layer in very small portions; the composition must be immediately leveled in different directions, as a result, a translucent embossed haze is obtained;
4. textured coating is formed with a brush, a spatula with notches, sponges; you can use any materials at hand;
5. folded plaster becomes embossed if you cover the wall with polyethylene, as a result, many different folds appear; the package is removed after the decorative layer has hardened, the pattern will always be unique and inimitable;
6. textured plaster is made out with a roller, rubber or polyurethane stamp; symmetrical patterns are created by exposure to a still wet composition.

Then you can paint the decorative coating until it dries.

The exact drying time can be found in the instructions for the material. Finally, the walls are varnished. Wax is not recommended, active rubbing can damage the plaster.

Plastered walls do not require much maintenance if they are varnished. Simply wipe the surface with a damp dust cloth.

If the wall is simply painted, then the features of care depend on the composition of the paint, namely:

• water-based emulsion should not be heavily wetted and rubbed; wiping with a slightly damp cloth without detergents is permissible;
• acrylic can be washed with a wet bashing, but without much friction and chemicals;
• walls with a latex, alkyd or oil coating can be easily wetted and rubbed with the soft side of the sponge; use of non-abrasive, gentle detergents is allowed.

A balcony with decorative plaster looks interesting and stylish.

• Stylish balcony reminiscent of a London coffee shop... Decorative plaster is framed in the form of a canvas for a drawing.

• Plaster bark beetle with shallow furrows. Light and interesting coating.

• An example of a combination of decorative plaster and stone. It looks very stylish and interesting.

• Venetian plaster looks great. A light shade visually enhances a narrow space.

• Bright fine-grained plaster looks interesting... Wall and floor coverings are in good harmony with each other.

In the next video you will learn how to make the cheapest decorative "tree bark" plaster with your own hands from gypsum plaster.