Decorative plaster bark beetle - fashionable, beautiful, profitable

Despite its frightening name, bark beetle decorative plaster is often used in a variety of situations - for exterior and interior decoration. And the material owes its name to the pattern created during surface treatment and reminiscent of the traces of the bark beetle left by it in the wood. The resulting surface can be seen in the photo below:

What is this material?

There are two types of decorative bark beetle plaster - acrylic and gypsum-based. If acrylic plaster is sold ready-made, then gypsum plaster is sold as a mixture of dry ingredients. If you try to describe this material in general, then it can be described as a composite plaster containing small granular stones.

Each manufacturer has its own recipe, but usually mineral chips or marble are used as granules in bark beetle decorative plaster. Depending on the size of the crumb, the size of which is from 0.1 to 3.5 millimeters, the material will differ in graininess.

Now consider the advantages that bark beetle decorative plaster has.

Material characteristics

• the use of mineral filler and polymer components instead of sand gives the finished composition lightness, which avoids unnecessary load on the structural elements of the building;
• decorative bark beetle plaster is environmentally friendly, because does not contain any harmful substances;
• it withstands ambient temperatures from minus 55°С to plus 60°С, does not fade in the sun, is fire resistant and does not emit toxic substances when exposed to high temperatures;
• decorative bark beetle plaster is durable, not susceptible to mold, resistant to weak chemicals and aqueous solutions, it can be washed with water and it does not collapse during precipitation;
• decorative bark beetle plaster is resistant to mechanical stress, it can be wiped with a sponge, cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, it will withstand mild blows;
• the main color is white, the desired color can be obtained by diluting or mixing by adding dyes, it is well painted with paints after drying;
• prevalence and availability - bark beetle plaster, the price of which is quite affordable, is available for general sale.

Application possibilities

As can be understood from the above characteristics of this decorative mixture, the possibilities for its use are extremely high. It has already been noted that it can be used both for interior decoration and for exterior. Below are examples of usage and the resulting result.

In addition, the picture that will turn out in the end will depend on your desire. This is determined by the nature of the movements by which the decorative bark beetle plaster is applied, and its subsequent grouting, i.e. when movements are performed along or across the surface to be treated, in waves or in a chaotic arrangement of the pattern. Or even quite possible to depict a wall painting. Various finishes are shown below:

Of course, the given examples of material properties are far from exhausted. In any case, they give an idea of ​​what can be obtained through the competent and correct use of the opportunities provided. Do not forget that additional effects can be obtained by painting the finished surface.

Material selection

Before starting work on finishing surfaces, you must select the material that you will use. There are many manufacturers, each with its own recipe and composition, but when choosing, you need to pay attention to the grain size and type of plaster. The graininess will determine the depth and width of the grooves obtained when creating a pattern and, accordingly, will set the resulting texture.

When choosing a grain size, one must take into account the peculiarity that bark beetle decorative plaster has - the consumption depends on the size of the grain. A material with a grain size of 3.5 millimeters has a higher consumption than a material with a grain size of 2.5 millimeters.

Then you need to choose the type of plaster - dry mix or ready-to-use. The finished mixture, of course, is more convenient to use, but it is also more expensive at a price. It uses synthetic fillers (acrylic, silicone). However, a properly prepared mineral "bark beetle" is in no way inferior to the finished mixture. Thus, the decorative bark beetle plaster, which you decide to buy, is only your choice for your plans and imagination.

Where can I apply decorative "Bark beetle"?

It is clear that it is necessary to apply such plaster on surfaces with which it will have good adhesion (adhesion). Therefore, it is useless to apply it to glass, the walls of an iron garage. But stone, brick, concrete, drywall - just such surfaces on which this material will lie down without any problems.

By itself, such plaster is a final finish, so it should not be used to seal cracks or holes in walls or ceilings. Yes, you can apply "Bark beetle" on the ceilings. An example of this can be seen in the photo below:

It should be noted that the technology for applying decorative bark beetle plaster is quite simple, and almost anyone can work with it, you just need to follow certain rules and carefully perform all operations.

How to apply "Bark beetle", a description of the process

To work with plaster you will need:

• bucket;
• a set of spatulas;
• plastic grater;
• a drill equipped with a mixing nozzle “mixer”;
• directly plaster "bark beetle".

Surface preparation

Before decorative bark beetle plaster is applied to the selected surface with your own hands, it must be prepared. It is cleaned of dust, grease, any oils, dirt and mold. After that, it must be leveled, all cracks and holes must be filled with putty. The resulting plane should be even, the irregularities should not exceed the grain size of the plaster.

Before applying bark beetle decorative plaster, it is necessary to apply a primer paint on the base, which should have the same shade as the color of the plaster. Such a primer will provide good adhesion in the future, and will not shine through the bulk. The drying time of the primer is about four to six hours, after which you can start plastering. The best result is obtained when materials from the same manufacturer are used at all stages.

As for specific brands, then, for example, decorative plaster ceresite bark beetle for surface preparation requires a primer having the brand CT16.

In the case when the outer surface is plastered, it is not necessary to prime it.

Preparing the mixture

If a dry mixture will be used for work, then it must be diluted according to the available instructions. The general rules for this are:

• you need to pour the plaster into the water, and not vice versa;
• water temperature should be (15-20)°С;
• it is necessary to mix the resulting mass using a mixer or a drill with a nozzle;
• after reaching the desired consistency, let the mixture stand for a few minutes, and then mix everything again.

Each plaster has its own expiration date in a diluted state, indicated on the package. It will not work to “renew” it with the addition of water, so you need to dilute as much as you can use in the specified time.

Application of the decorative mixture "Bark beetle"

“Bark beetle” is applied with a grater. It must be placed at an angle of 60 ° to the surface to be treated and spread the plaster over the surface. The thickness of the layer applied to the plane will depend on the grain size of the plaster. After the mixture stops sticking to the tool, a pattern is formed on the surface using a wooden or plastic grater.

The pattern (furrows) can be horizontal, vertical, crossed, circular, this is determined by the pattern you choose. The drawing and the movements with which it is performed are shown in the photo below:

A visual representation of how bark beetle decorative plaster is applied - the video below:

It is desirable to perform the entire procedure for applying plaster at a time, without lunch breaks and smoke breaks. It takes 1-3 days to dry the entire surface. If everything is done correctly and well, then no joints and glossy areas are visible, the surface is even and uniform.