Decorating a summer cottage requires many costs, including stone and tiles. But you can use your ingenuity and make such stones yourself, which will not differ in any way from natural ones. This process will not take you much time, effort and financial investment. And the result can be the most interesting.
What can artificial stone be made of?
Artificial stone imitates natural or natural. Good quality materials can come from:
- sand, cement and water;
- gypsum;
- glue, grout, cement and sea salt;
- polyurethane foam;
- fiberglass, automotive putty;
- fabrics, grout.
Manufacturing process
It doesn't matter which option you choose. Anyone will involve several steps: material selection, mixing, shaping and drying.
You can find a high-quality shape in any hardware store, but you can really make it yourself.
A boulder of sand, water and cement
For a DIY stone made of sand, cement and water, first of all, you need to mix all these ingredients. Then add the dye diluted with water to the resulting solution.
The next stage - the solution is poured into a mold, a reinforcing mesh is laid on top, and then again poured with the remaining solution.
When the product begins to dry out, it is carried out with a nail, screwdriver or piece of wood. After 15-16 hours, it is taken out of the mold and left to dry completely in a ventilated room for 12-14 days.
Gypsum stone
The principle for creating this stone is the same. Only plaster hardens much faster. Therefore, you do not need to make large portions.
A clean mold is greased with oil, the plaster solution is mixed with a dye, poured into the mold, the mesh is laid and the solution is again poured.
Crafting a wild stone
This production method is different from the standard one. You will need:
- tile adhesive,
- black grout for joints,
- pigment for coloring.
The glue is kneaded, thickly. Then the mixture is divided into three parts. Pigment is added to one, grout to the other, and the third is left as it is.
Then the mixtures are randomly laid out and pressed, the surface is sprinkled with sea salt or other similar powder to give exclusivity.
Cover everything with plastic wrap, roll it out, leveling the surface and pressing the top material into the common layer. Then they form a shape for the sizes that are needed.
Unique stones or tiles should harden within 24 hours. After drying, the surface is washed, covered with artificial varnish.
The result is a material that is great for wall cladding and other decor. For the price, such tiles are cheaper than in the store.
Foam stone
For this you will need:
- polyurethane foam (2-3 tubes);
- base (basin, paper or other);
- enamel, colors at your discretion;
- brushes, solvent;
- moss;
- PVA glue.
They take any basis, up to paper. A hemisphere is formed. Foam the surface. Remove unnecessary places with a knife, leveling.
Painting is carried out after the foam has set. First, make the main layer, then, even before it dries, a second, but lighter paint, even white. To make it more natural, you can glue the moss.
Hollow decorative stone
Buy an automotive putty. Prepare fiberglass, epoxy, paper, scissors, cling film, tape, spatula, sandpaper, sand, gloves.
Process of creation:
- Gloves must be worn first.
- Roll up balls of paper and glue them with tape, giving the desired shape.
- Next, the resulting workpiece is wrapped in a film for better separation.
- Cut the fiberglass into pieces.
- Knead the car putty.
- It is applied to fiberglass and spread over the surface with a spatula.
- Place the impregnated workpiece on a paper and tape mold.
- The extra places are folded up.
- Another layer of fiberglass is made.
- After 2-3 hours, remove from under the dried blank of the newspaper.
- With the help of sandpaper, rub the irregularities.
- Then, after stirring the epoxy in the container, apply it to the surface with a spatula.
- From above, decorate the stone with sand, pressing it to the form.
- After 10 minutes, the decorative stone is ready.
Artificial fabric cobblestone
For this unusual method, you will need an old stone, or another base, several scraps of fabric, cement mortar, plastic wrap. From above, the mold is covered with the first trim, then with another already impregnated cement mortar. Then all this with plastic wrap. After a day, the film is removed and more cement mortar is applied on top. Repeat several times until you get the shape.
Finished stone decor
You can use painting the stone outside, not just dyes.
The product is painted when it dries. The surface is wiped from dust, then paint is applied. This must be done several times. More coats of paint will adhere more firmly.
You can apply a funny drawing as the last layer.
For interior decoration, as a rule, gypsum stone is used. And for the outside - made of cement. Fine gravel, stone chips, sea salt can act as additives to the cement mixture.
The silicone version of the mold is the most convenient.
Ideas for using artificial stones at their summer cottage
You can lay out paths with such stones, make the facing of the facade of the house, decorate the stairs and the entrance.
Other options include decorating fountains, flower beds, ponds, alpine slides, and decorating paths. Large boulders can be combined with smaller stones to create whole compositions from them, like a Japanese garden.
By the way, read about how to create a Japanese rock garden in your country house.
Artificial stone can also be used indoors. For example, for wall cladding, including by the fireplace, you can lay them out and the fireplace itself or the stove.
In general, such a product will definitely be used. It is beautiful, fashionable, inexpensive and exclusive. Allows you to show your creativity in decorating your home or the area around it.
