Casting stone manufacturing technology. A room for organizing the production process. Options for using artificial marble

Making liquid stone with your own hands is quite simple. It is a modern finishing material, which is manufactured using technology that makes it possible to achieve an imitation of the resulting products with appearance natural stone. This name is explained by the fact that the finished product is the result of polymerization of a multicomponent liquid composition based on polyester resins. The obtained materials are used in different areas, it can be finishing facades, as well as the manufacture of plumbing fixtures. As a result, it is possible to obtain the following products:

• sculptures;
• decorative fountains;
• steps;
• countertops;
• baths.

Liquid stone is used, which you can make with your own hands, and for finishing rooms for various purposes. The products are cheap, but very durable and flexible, which is sometimes necessary. This is true when covering surfaces with an irregular configuration. Manufacturing can be turned into a profitable business.

Making countertops from liquid stone

Before you start making liquid stone for the countertop, you need to make a mold. The surface should ultimately be as smooth as possible, so the base should be made durable. This is due to the fact that the solution should not push through the material with its weight. To do this, you can use chipboard sheets that are installed on racks or trestles.

The surface of the base needs to be covered with something in order to separate the tabletop from the chipboard after hardening. Great solution will be the use of polymer film. A single sheet is installed on several trestles, only then can we begin making the mold. It can be done for several tabletops.

The next step is to prepare liquid stone for the countertop. To do this, you can use a cement-sand base, to which additional ingredients are added. These can be fillers in the form of sand, as well as resin and marble chips. The penultimate component acts as a binder.

Review of additional properties of liquid stone

Usually included in liquid stone, which is a polymer composition. She is the quintessence of plastic. Various fillers and components give this material special properties. Standard colors number about 120 units. If necessary, the material can be given almost any color, which will remain unchanged for a long time.

If you add polyester resin to the ingredients, then the surface after polymerization will require virtually no maintenance; it will be enough to wipe it with a soft cloth soaked in a soap solution. In most cases, such cladding is used when decorating interiors, as well as in the manufacture of furniture.

The coating is polymer, it imitates the color and texture of natural material, which, unlike natural material, is more plastic and warm. It makes excellent countertops and window sills, which can be made to imitate a concrete or brick wall.

The stone does not fade in the sun and has increased wear resistance. They are used to decorate walls near sinks, that is, they are simply used instead of regular tiles. Despite the fact that this finish resembles granite, it is more affordable and lighter in weight. The products are environmentally friendly, they are resistant to mechanical stress and temperature changes, do not corrode and do not become scratched during intensive use. The structure does not create environments that would be suitable for the emergence of pathogenic microorganisms. Wood, metal and glass components are often added to the layer before the mixture completely hardens. One of the fundamental properties of this material is its low cost.

Methods for making liquid granite

Liquid granite can be made using one of two technologies. The first involves the use of casting methods, while the second involves the spraying method. When casting, the finished mixture is poured into molds and left until completely dry, and then the products are removed, and at the next stage they are processed.

Liquid granite can also be made using the spraying method. In this case, the technology of spraying liquid stone onto the surface is used; the layer thickness does not exceed a few millimeters. In turn, the pollination method is divided into two more types:

• direct spraying;
• reverse spraying.

The first method is as follows: primer is applied to the workpiece, and then left until it dries. Then a layer of liquid stone is applied to the base by spraying, and it is ground and polished, but only after drying. The production of liquid stone can be expressed in the reverse spray method. It is used if the workpiece is not part of a piece of furniture.

The products are placed on a molding surface made of glass or chipboard, the contours are outlined, and then a side made of plastic or chipboard is installed. A layer of release agent is applied to the surface, and then liquid stone is sprayed. After it has partially hardened, the soil is sprayed so that the stone layer does not show through. As a result, it is possible to obtain a mold into which polyester resin is poured. After polymerization, the products are removed.

Production of liquid granite

Manufacturing technology liquid granite requires compliance with certain rules. The first of them says that the production premises should consist of two rooms. The first is required for casting, while the second is required for polishing the resulting product. The temperature is maintained at 24 °C, ventilation is required.

The production of liquid stone begins with degreasing the surface, removing dust and dirt. Before coating, the base is washed with water and dried well. All damage and cracks must be repaired. At the next stage, a mixture of transparent gelcoat with granules is prepared. You need to use a ratio of 2 to 1. The first ingredient is polymer resin. Hardener is added before spraying. The resulting composition is applied to the base. To do this, you can use one of the two methods described above. The surface of a new product must be ground and polished.

Making liquid marble

If you want to make liquid stone with your own hands, you can try making marble. It is very popular, especially for its lithium variety. It is based on polyester resin. An additional ingredient is a mineral filler. However, they may be quartz sand or marble chips.

Depending on what fillers are chosen, marble can be obtained in imitation of the following types of stones:

• onyx;
• malachite;
• granite;
• jasper;
• natural marble.

When making liquid stone with your own hands, you should know some features about it. Among others, it should be highlighted that the material can be used for finishing, and it is lightweight, environmentally friendly and flexible material with acrylic polymers and marble chips. Such products can even be cut with scissors or a knife, and also glued to walls instead of wallpaper.

Additional area of ​​use

The material has a perfectly flat, seamless surface, so it can be used for cladding buildings irregular shape, namely:

• spherical objects;
• columns;
• arches

Before making liquid stone, you need to prepare the appropriate equipment:

• filling molds;
• mixer;
• spray;
• brushes

Form information

Filling molds are also called matrices, but a sprayer is needed for gelcoat. To stir the composition, you need to stock up on a mixer, while you have to lubricate the molds with brushes. Molds for marble are made on the basis polyurethane rubber. The matrix is ​​durable and not prone to deformation, so it is expensive, but its price pays off, because production is highly profitable.

Material composition

If you started making liquid stone, then you need to adhere to the proportions. To do this, mix polyester or acrylic resin with marble chips, using a ratio of 4 to 1. Cement or mortar or building gypsum. However, resins are the most commonly used because they provide high strength.

Conclusion

Products made from liquid stone are used everywhere today. These can be decorative elements or parts of furniture, as well as facing materials. It is noteworthy that you can do them yourself, which will allow you to save a lot. In addition, today there are a lot of varieties of such stone, and all the ingredients can be found in a building materials store. But you can engage in production based on the technology that you like more than others.

To everyone who took at least a minimal part in construction work, it is well known that concrete is an important building material. Concrete products are used to construct building foundations, floors between floors, and serve as the basis for staircases. However, many do not even imagine that you can make marble from concrete with your own hands. This work is simple and does not require special professional skills.

Concrete marble can withstand temperature changes and retain its strength.

Marble, made from concrete, is an ideal facing material due to its properties. Products made from artificial marble are excellent for exterior finishing buildings, as they can withstand temperature changes well without losing their original strength.

Before making marble from concrete, you should carefully study the technology of its production, and then purchase the components necessary for production.

Materials and tools for making marble from concrete

Regardless of the number of marble products being manufactured, it is necessary to prepare a place protected from precipitation for work. To mix the mortar, it is better to use a construction mixer, but if you have a powerful hammer drill in the house, the kit usually includes a special attachment that makes it easy to prepare high-quality concrete mortar.

If artificial marble is produced in large quantities, you will have to purchase or rent a vibrating table designed to compact the finished solution and remove air from it. This ensures perfect adhesion of the solution to the surface of the polyurethane mold. This procedure makes it possible to obtain a finished product with a glossy surface that does not require further processing. In the manufacture of marble products small size you can do without a vibrating table, replacing its work with vigorous shaking of the mold filled with solution.

To make artificial marble from concrete, you will need the following materials:

Vibrating tables come with horizontal and vertical vibration.

• cement grade 500;
• fine-grained sand;
• filler (marble chips or pebbles);
• plasticizer S-3;
• inorganic dye of various shades, insoluble in water (oil paint);
• polyethylene film;
• water.

Among the tools needed to create marble from concrete, the following should be highlighted:

• polyurethane mold;
• container for mixing the solution;
• mixing attachment.

The procedure for making artificial marble with your own hands

1. In a clean container, mix two parts of fine-grained river sand and 1 part high quality cement. After mixing these components, a filler is added to the resulting dry mixture - pebbles or marble chips. These components give the future product an original flavor.
2. Dye is added to the resulting dry mixture. Its amount should be approximately 1% of the total mass of the mixture. All components are thoroughly mixed, but do not achieve uniform coloring. ready mixture. It is very important that it has an uneven color scheme. This will make slabs or other products made of artificial marble look like natural stone, having veins and spots.
3. The container with concrete should be shaken several times to remove excess air from the dry mixture (if you have a vibration table, use it), and then add water and a plasticizer. Initially, about 80% of the prepared water is used. The required amount of plasticizer is 1% by weight of the cement used. The resulting mixture is thoroughly mixed with a mixer, and when it becomes plastic, the remaining water is added to the mass. After adding the remaining water to the mass, the mass must be mixed again.
4. The resulting concrete is poured into clean and dry molds made of polyurethane. If the finished product must have increased strength or a complex configuration with large dimensions is being created, then it is necessary to carry out reinforcement using durable, painted wire.

For this purpose, the prepared wire is simply buried in the solution until it has completely hardened. Then the concrete with which the forms are filled is covered with a polyethylene film. The ready time for artificial marble is at least 24 hours. During this time, the mass of concrete should completely harden. It must be borne in mind that the surface of the form must be absolutely smooth, and before pouring concrete into it, it must be installed strictly horizontally. In order for the finished product to be easily removed from the mold, it must be detachable.

Popularity of artificial marble made of concrete

The connecting elements of the tiles are practically invisible.

The main advantage of marble, for the production of which concrete is used, is the absence of the need for it additional processing. Products are immediately made to the required shape and size, with smooth surface, the design of which completely imitates polished natural stone. When making tiles, used both for finishing walls, steps, and for use as pavement coverings, it is possible to give them such a shape that they will connect with each other, creating an ideal flat surface. The joints of such tiles will be almost invisible. The price of this wonderful product is affordable to the mass consumer. finishing material- also very important reason high demand for products made from it. Few consumers can afford to decorate their home with natural marble. It is especially difficult to choose the required shade of finish, since marble of some colors can be mined far from the construction site.

For this reason, its price becomes inaccessible to consumers with average incomes. Cultured marble gets its color from pigments added to the concrete, so you get desired shade the product is not difficult.

A product made from artificial marble is stronger than natural stone; there is no waste during its creation. All components used in its production are environmentally friendly; when heated, they do not release harmful impurities.

Those consumers who are distrustful of marble made from concrete should be reminded that the most affordable of natural materials - granite - has increased levels of radioactivity.

Marble having beautiful decorative properties, has always been valued in construction. But due to the high cost of the material, not everyone can afford to use it to decorate premises. Therefore, as an alternative, it was developed artificial material imitating stone. It was called artificial marble.

Description and types of material

Artificial marble is a material that is used primarily in plumbing, in the manufacture of linear, facing materials. It is used to make window sills, bathtubs, countertops, steps, decorative fountains and sculptures. It is used for finishing offices and administrative premises.

The term “artificial marble” refers not only to cast marble, which is an imitation of natural stone. There are other varieties of it that are found wide application in construction, industry and interior decoration.

Types of artificial marble:

1. injection molding;
2. touchstone (or gypsum);
3. ground (or crushed);
4. flexible (or liquid).

Liteva

The most popular is cast marble - composite material, which is based on hardened polyester resin and mineral filler. The filler can be marble chips, quartz sand, etc.

Depending on what resins and fillers are chosen, the material can be made as an imitation of natural marble, jasper, granite, malachite, or onyx.

This is what cast artificial marble looks like in the photo

Oselkovy

Touchstone marble is a colored mass of gypsum, sealed with adhesive water, which is applied to the base and brought to a mirror shine by polishing and grinding. It can be tinted various materials, such as lapis lazuli, malachite, different types marble.

The main material for the production of semolina marble is gypsum. Special substances are added to it that slow down the setting of gypsum. The most commonly used glue is diluted in water.

The advantages of gypsum marble are low weight and high strength. With its help, you can build lightweight structures. The use of this material in residential areas helps improve the microclimate: it absorbs excess moisture or gives it away if the room is too dry.

Photo of Oselkov marble

Ground (microcalcite)

Ground or crushed marble is a finely dispersed filler of mineral origin. It is a white or powdery substance gray. It is made by grinding white marble.

This material is characterized by strength, low chemical reactivity, durability and ultraviolet rays. It has bright White color and practically does not absorb moisture. Most often it is used for the production of plastic products, paints and varnishes, abrasive cleaning products, paper, linoleum, etc.

Liquid

This type of marble is one of the newest finishing materials. It consists of marble chips and acrylic polymers.

Liquid marble is very flexible, lightweight and environmentally friendly. It can be easily cut with scissors or a knife and glued to walls instead of wallpaper. Using this material, you can get a perfectly flat, seamless surface. Therefore, it is often used for cladding irregularly shaped structures, such as arches, columns, and spherical objects.

Application of liquid marble

Production of cast artificial marble

The technology for manufacturing the material is quite simple and only requires special equipment, premises, time and financial resources.

Equipment

For getting cast marble A small set of equipment is used:

• filling molds (matrices);
• gelcoat sprayer;
• mixer for stirring the composition;
• brushes for greasing molds.

Molds for marble production are made on the basis of polyurethane rubber. High-quality matrices, which are characterized by strength and are not prone to severe deformation, are very expensive. However, their cost pays off in full, since production is highly profitable.

Composition of raw materials

To make the material, acrylic or polyester resin and marble chips are mixed in a ratio of 4:1. You can also use it for linking cement mortar, building gypsum, lime mortar with the addition of cement. But most often it is resins that are used, since they provide high strength to the material.

The filler function is sometimes performed decorative materials(colored sand, pebbles, colored quartz). In this case finished goods are not an analogue of natural stone, but fundamentally the new kind finishing materials.

To achieve the required color, mineral pigments are introduced into the mixture. The material is produced in different color options, with inclusions and stains. For this purpose, a special technique for mixing pigments is used. Pigments not only color the material, but also make it more resistant to external influences. Outer protective layer from gelcoat gives the coating a glossy shine.

Production technology

The technology for manufacturing the material is very simple and not labor-intensive. It involves preparing the matrix, mixing the polyester resin and filler, pouring the resulting mixture into the matrix and curing it.

The artificial marble casting process can be divided into the following stages:

1. The molds are polished and a material is applied to prevent adhesion.
2. Gelcoat is applied to the molds. For this purpose, a special installation or cup sprayer is used.
3. The gelcoat is curing.
4. A mixture of polyester resin, filler, pigments and hardener is prepared.
5. The mixture is poured into molds.
6. The molds are vibrated to remove air from the mixture.
7. The material is curing.
8. The products are removed from the molds.
9. Further processing of the material is carried out (in some cases).

In the video, the production of cast marble and sinks from it:

DIY cast marble

It is quite possible to make artificial cast marble yourself. You just need to purchase all the components of the material, molds for pouring and follow the instructions.

To make cast marble you will need:

• polyurethane casting mold;
• film;
• mixer;
• brush.

In production, the filler is CaMg(CO3)2, and the hardener is Butanox M-50. At home, pebbles and cement can be used instead of these substances.

Materials for making artificial marble:

1. sand (river) – 2 parts;
2. cement – ​​1 part;
3. water – 0.2 parts;
4. pebbles (as filler) – 25% of the total volume;
5. pigment – ​​1% by weight of cement;
6. plasticizer – 1% by weight of cement;
7. gelcoat

Sequence of production of cast marble:

• A dry and clean mold is coated with gelcoat and allowed to dry.
• Mix sand, pebbles and cement. Add a plasticizer, coloring pigment and water (80%) to the mixture, mix with a mixer to obtain a plastic mass (about 30 seconds). Then add the rest of the water and stir the mixture again until smooth.
• The mixture is poured into a mold, excess is removed from the edges, covered with film and left to harden for 10 hours.
• The material is removed from the mold and left in the open air for some time.

In this simple way, you can obtain a material that can be used in its original form or subjected to further processing to give the desired shape.

Technology self-made artificial cast marble is shown in the video below:

Pros and cons, reviews

Although the composition of artificial marble is fundamentally different from its natural counterpart, it has the same technical properties. Moreover, the level of strength and wear resistance of the produced artificially material is many times higher than natural.

The main advantages of artificial marble:

• has a high level of mechanical strength and is not afraid of impacts;
• is durable, has a long period operation;
• almost does not conduct heat and electricity, has high level fire safety. Therefore, it can be used to decorate heating radiators, electric stoves, etc.;
• the material does not heat up, does not delaminate, is not afraid of acids, alkalis, solvents, does not absorb fat, and does not leave stains on it. Due to this practicality, it is often used to decorate kitchens and bathrooms, and finish floors in residential, industrial and public spaces;
• doesn't highlight harmful substances, is environmentally friendly;
• Thanks to the external gelcoat coating, it looks aesthetically pleasing and can be used for decorative purposes.

It combines the hardness of natural stone and ease of processing. Unlike natural marble, artificial material provides a greater degree of comfort and is always warm to the touch.

Among the disadvantages of artificial stone, many note that it cannot be considered a complete analogue of natural material. It feels more like plastic, and the top coating looks like polyurethane.

In addition, the gel coating often cracks over time. As a result, the material becomes discolored and destroyed.

Average cost of artificial marble

The marble manufacturing process involves minimal investment and very high profitability. Initially, costs are incurred for the purchase of equipment, raw materials, rent of premises and production of matrices. In the future, the cost of products is determined mainly by the cost of raw materials.

The production cost is estimated at approximately $5 per 1 sq. m. m., while the market price reaches $30 per 1 sq. m. m. or even higher.

Various are considered as beautiful, strong and durable as products made from real natural stone. After all, its production has been improved over the course of 30 years and achieved high results.

The question of why to make marble from concrete could probably only be asked by some ancient ruler, for which this luxurious building material was mined and brought by slaves, and completely free of charge. In modern times, real marble, given the cost of its difficult extraction and delivery from the deposit, is not affordable for everyone. Meanwhile, today, as in ancient times, external or interior decoration The marble building gives it a magnificent, noble, even regal appearance. Therefore, it is not surprising that our practical contemporaries, armed with new technologies, have learned to make artificial marble from concrete. And, as it turned out, this does not require large industrial capacities and indeed no serious production at all. It is quite possible to make such building material at home and with your own hands.

It should be noted that “concrete marble” is made using different techniques, as a result of which the resulting material is called differently: decorative (or colored) concrete, systrom, artificial marble, etc. During production decorative concrete For example, sometimes marble chips of a certain shade are added, which makes it possible to give the material a unique “marble” pattern. However, this does not change the principle and essence of production technology: despite different names, it's the same material.

Solid advantages

If a person is not a snob, for whom natural marble is preferable only because it is a sign of luxury and wealth (that is, a reason for superiority over others), then he will definitely appreciate all the advantages of concrete marble. And this wonderful material has quite a lot of them. In short, the advantages of “concrete marble” are as follows:

• accessibility - as we have already said, artificial marble does not need to be transported from distant marble quarries, where it is not so easy to obtain, and therefore this material is many times cheaper and more accessible than natural material;
• environmental friendliness - not only of the material itself, which is as safe for others as natural stone, but of its production: the production of marble from concrete is practically waste-free;
• low thermal conductivity - thanks to this, artificial marble can not only perform finishing and aesthetic functions, but also serve as a good additional insulation;
• moisture resistance - allows the material to maintain its quality for a long time and perform certain protective functions;
• strength - thanks to the use of “heavy” grades of cement and special plasticizers, this characteristic of an artificial building material is in no way inferior to the strength of natural stone, especially since the strength of “concrete marble” can be further increased by using metal mesh reinforcement;
• ample opportunities for creativity - unlike natural marble, the color, size and shape of which are largely determined by nature, artificial marble has those properties that are set by the manufacturer during the manufacturing process (using fillers, additives, including colored ones, molding, etc.) P.).

In other words, marble made from concrete is practically not inferior in its quality characteristics to natural stone, and in some ways it even surpasses its “prototype”. Finish like this modern building materials looks no less noble and aesthetically pleasing than the decoration natural stone, and sometimes gives more possibilities designer for his creativity. And at the same time, it is distinguished by strength and durability, and also, importantly, a very reasonable cost.

Preparation for production

Any technology involves a preparatory stage of production, namely the selection of materials and tools. It should be emphasized that the availability of artificial marble production is ensured, first of all, by the simplicity and low cost of the materials necessary for this. Each of them can be purchased at any hardware store. The following materials will be needed:

• water – of course, clean, this is the only requirement for the natural solvent that will be used for the production of “pseudo-marble”;
• plastic film - needed only at the end of the manufacturing process building material, however, it should be at hand so that at the most crucial moment you don’t have to look for it;
• fine sand - the finer and cleaner it is, the better; It is advisable to initially take the finest sand and without foreign impurities so as not to waste time on additional cleaning;
• filler – gravel or small pebbles can serve this role, and the filler, like sand, must be sufficiently clean and uniform so as not to spoil the noble “marble” texture;
• paint - it should be oil-based and of very high quality; with its help you can give artificial marble the desired color, and experts often use several shades, but here you need to maintain a sense of proportion;
• plasticizer – a special additive to increase the strength and other quality characteristics of concrete;
• cement is perhaps one of the main components of the manufactured building material, the basis of the future concrete mixture, for which in this case Cement marked M500 or M400 is most suitable.

Please note that thoroughness and accuracy are preparatory stage will help you avoid disappointment in the end.

Tool preparation

It is clear that all of the listed materials will need to be mixed somewhere, so in order to make marble from concrete with your own hands, you will need suitable container. This can be a special concrete mixer, or any other container in which the mixture can be made using a conventional drill with a mixer attachment. You will also need special forms for concrete “castings”. You can buy them ready-made, polymer, but in the case of a non-standard “order” you can actually make them yourself, using suitable clean plastic containers or designs.

Manufacturing stages

So, the materials and tools are in combat readiness, the “marble from concrete” technology has been studied - it’s time to get down to business. The production of “concrete marble” involves several stages.

1. Preparation of concrete mixture. It is initially prepared by the most traditional way, based on a 1:3 ratio, only the highest quality cement is used (as already mentioned, it is better to take the M400 or M500 markings), and the sand is very fine and clean. If necessary, it can be pre-screened through fine mesh like through a sieve. All this should be mixed very well and only then add filler (small pebbles, crushed stone, marble chips, etc.).
2. Coloring. The color of the future product is given by the addition of pigment - oil paint. At this stage, when adding colors to the dry mixture, it is important not to overdo it with mixing - in this case, heterogeneity and stains only improve the quality of the material, since they are the ones who create the unique “marble” effect.
3. Adding water. It should be taken at a ratio of 1:2 to the dry mixture, but not poured in immediately. First, about 80% of the total water is added, and this is where thorough mixing is necessary. After this, a plasticizer is added to the solution (about 1% of the total volume of the mixture), everything is thoroughly mixed again and left for a few minutes so that the solution thickens a little. And only after that the remaining water is added.
4. Molding. To give the final appearance to future “concrete-marble” products, forms must be prepared in advance. You can even make them yourself (for example, fasten them together plastic panels to obtain a simple slab of artificial marble), however, it is better to purchase polymer forms at the construction market. The prepared solution is poured into them, which must be covered in time. plastic film- before it completely hardens. If ready material for some reason it must have special strength; after filling the molds it can be immersed in the solution metal mesh, which will become a kind of frame for artificial marble.

After complete hardening and drying finished parts Can be used directly or sanded and polished special tool to give them the shine and beauty of the marble “prototype”.

Marble is an expensive and durable material. It has earned popularity due to its reliability and impressive appearance. An alternative is to make marble from concrete to get beautiful material good quality at a reasonable price.

The uniqueness of marble lies in its variety of uses. The material has long been used for finishing interiors and facades of premises. Such pleasure is expensive. Therefore, not every owner of an apartment or private house can afford marble products.

The price of natural material is determined by the location of the raw materials in hard to reach places and the need to deliver special equipment to mountainous areas. Marble is quarried meticulously. The cost of delivery and processing of raw materials also increases.

Concrete is simpler in this regard. Making marble concrete yourself will require patience and a set of home tools. With their help, they create durable elements that decorate the walls of the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and outer part Houses. And the proper use of paints will allow you to maintain a given color scheme.

The chemical properties of the artificial composition make it resistant to physical impact. Concrete mix is not afraid of sudden temperature changes, does not ignite and does not crumble. Thanks to these qualities, the composition is often used in the decoration of fireplaces and stoves.

Sidewalk is becoming more popular every day marble tiles made of concrete. The result is a stone similar to a natural specimen that lasts for decades.

Composition and manufacturing features

Natural marble has a heterogeneous color, there are veins, and a granular structure throughout the entire thickness. These characteristics are observed when making an artificial sample. Please note that the natural equivalent is painted in different colors:

• Pink;
• Blue;
• Grey;
• Black;
• Red;
• Green;
• Violet.

To produce artificial marble from concrete, a simple mixture of cement and sand is often used. The shapes are selected from elastic compounds - polyurethane, plastic. After drying, the product becomes strong and resistant to mechanical stress.

Homemade marble should not be thin, since the stone will be too fragile and may burst during installation. But you shouldn’t make it thick either. Concrete is not a light material, and the tiles may be too heavy.

If you choose quality materials and follow the basic rules for creating consistency and proportions - the result will be quite reliable stone. For example, to save money in arranging a kitchen, you can make a durable countertop from marble concrete. One note - the body of the furniture must be strong enough to support the stove.

Tools and materials

Marble is made from concrete quite quickly. You can create many different shades. It all depends on the design of the room in which the events will be held. Finishing work. The process will not take much time and money. All you need:

1. Water;
2. Cement (grade M400-M500);
3. Plasticizer S-3;
4. Sand;
5. Polyurethane mold;
6. Film;
7. Fine gravel (aggregate);
8. Drill;
9. Standard mixer attachment.

When choosing components, pay attention to their quality. For example, cement and plasticizer are purchased only from trusted sellers whose product quality is not suspicious. Marble chips are often used to fill the mortar. Also, do not skimp on the quality of the form.

Step-by-step instruction

The whole process is divided into several main stages. Initially, it is necessary to prepare all the tools and components of the concrete mixture. Select a clean container for mixing.

Experts advise using a standard solution whose proportions are 1:3. The beginning of mixing is carried out with the dry ingredients using construction mixer. Fine sifted sand is added to the cement.

After mixing sand and cement, filler is added to the dry solution. Such a base can be either pebbles or ordinary crushed stone. Also, in the production of marble from concrete with their own hands, pumice, ceramic chips, fine expanded clay. All these ingredients will help create a dense structure of the product.

Color

Factory technology and self-production artificial stone involves adding a coloring pigment to concrete. The basic rule is that after adding paint, the composition should be lightly mixed for several minutes. You should not thoroughly mix the pigment in the solution, as this will not make it look like real marble. A natural stone has a heterogeneous structure and color - this is what the master achieves.

Often two or three colors of coloring pigment are used at once. This will create an interesting, natural pattern. It is considered ideal if the following appear in a multi-colored consistency:

• spots;
• Divorces;
• Dots;
• Bends;
• Convolutions.

But don't add too much paint. The amount of pigments is 1% of the dry composition.

After adding colors, the solution is shaken. A vibrating table performs this process better. But if the task is to make one piece, then it will be enough to simply shake the container with your hands.

Water

Next, the technology for making marble at home includes the process of adding water. Ratio – 1:2. The first stage is adding no more than 80% water. The solution must then be thoroughly mixed. The second stage is the addition of a plasticizer, which helps the product acquire the necessary consistency and strength. The component is also added at the rate of 1% by weight of the entire composition.

The third stage - after a few minutes of rest, the remaining water must be added to the concrete.

Form

After mixing, the finished solution is poured into molds, which are thoroughly cleaned beforehand. The mold is covered with film over the composition. The structure is left in this state until it hardens. You can also add a metal mesh to the solution of the future slab. It reinforces the stone and will not allow it to crumble.

Next, the finished tiles are removed from the elastic molds and carefully polished. It is better to use specialized equipment with diamond discs. But you can limit yourself to improvised means. Sanding makes the walls concrete panels smooth. Make sure the surface is even so that further installation of stones does not create unnecessary problems.

The listed processes that can be performed at home are part of the “systrom” technology. Under the same name, marble concrete is produced by a popular research and production company. Therefore, following the steps will allow each owner to create durable products at home.

Bottom line

Many enterprises produce products from artificial marble that are not inferior in strength natural material. The popularity of marble concrete is growing rapidly due to the unavailability of stones. Making tiles is a quick, inexpensive process. The result is a reliable product at a reasonable price, which is highly durable and can be used in any type of room.