DIY artificial granite made from concrete. Do-it-yourself cast marble - complete instructions and proven mixtures. Imitating marble: materials and tools

Not everyone can afford to finish surfaces with natural materials, due to the high price of products and work. The process involves not only laying marble on a specific surface, but also processing it, which is done with a specialized tool. Various quantities of polymer concrete fall into the subcategories of artificial marble.

Marble finishing in large quantities can be done with your own hands, through organized production at home. An obvious advantage is the production of artificial marble of the required shape and consistency, which is unique and cannot be found on the market. The general composition of accessories for making artificial marble at home does not change depending on the required shape of the product.

Properties of artificial marble

The main components of artificial marble are polyester resins, which are wear-resistant and durable. An alloy of mineral fillers, dyes, and various acrylic resins are used in production. The composition of artificial marble varies depending on the work and the type of product. More budget-friendly variations involve the use of crushed quartz crushed stone, pebbles, concrete-cement mixture, and tinted sand.

The homogeneous structure is an obvious advantage; the material does not delaminate and is not flammable. Artificial marble does not conduct electricity, does not burn, and is used in various fields. Products in the form of accessories for kitchen and bathroom utensils may have excellent anti-corrosion properties and resistance to cleaning chemicals.

Artificial marble in the interior

There are several varieties of material; it is divided into casting, casting, and liquid composition. There are many varieties that are used in production and industry. The main purpose of the material is finishing facades and offices, making countertops, fountains, and kitchen utensils.

Cast marble

The base of the material consists of a neutral mineral, quartz chips, crushed marble and others, combined with polyester resin. The added mineral allows you to turn liquid marble into a kind of granite, jasper or malachite stone. To make the composition, you will need to prepare the ingredients and preliminary solutions:

1. Mixed polyester type resin, one to four ratio with mineral. This type of solution belongs to polymer concrete and is necessary for subsequent use in the manufacture of artificial marble.
2. Butacrylic solution is made by mixing AST-T and butacryl in proportions of 1 to 1. Half the volume of crushed crushed stone is added to the resulting mixture.

Do-it-yourself cast marble is made using the following auxiliary substances: river sand, gelcoat, pigment and plasticizer. Compliance with the production stages will allow you to produce a high-quality product:

• The mold for the product is coated with gelcoat.
• The prepared solution is laid out in a mold, the excess is removed.
• The mold is covered with an airtight film and left for 12 hours in a dry place.
• The finished stone is removed from its shape and dried in a well-ventilated area or in the fresh air.

The hardened stone can be further polished to achieve shine. The manufacturing process does not take a lot of effort and time, but the components are not always freely available, and the price of the final product is high. Based on this, it is worth considering similar methods for making artificial marble from other components.

Oselkovy marble

The preparation of the composition from gypsum is made by mixing a mixture of water and glue, which is applied to the product and sanded to a shine. Gypsum marble is tinted to achieve the desired result; the basic appearance is similar to lapis lazuli, malachite and other types of materials. Production does not require expensive materials; it is necessary to properly prepare the solution, following several steps:

• Wood glue with dry plaster is mixed with water.
• Next you need to add the melted resin.
• After uniform stirring, the pigment is added.
• Mixing occurs until streaks and natural inclusions appear.
• The solution is poured into the prepared mold, and excess mixture is removed using dry gypsum.
• Hardening occurs within 8-12 hours, depending on ambient temperature and humidity.
• Waterproof properties are imparted by potassium silicate, which is applied on top of the product.
• Polishing is done using specialized abrasives; if you don’t have them, you can use soft felt.

It is important to know that for the finished product with a natural color, a special mixture is used. Artificial marble made from gypsum turns out more natural if you mix 200 grams of gumilax, a liter of alcohol, and 50 grams of gypsum.

Aniline dye will give the product a black tint, while orange humilax will appear as a lighter color. Do-it-yourself touchstone marble is the most accessible due to the low cost of the ingredients. The design is light and durable, and is successfully used in residential premises.

Artificial marble with concrete filler

The method available for production, easy production from available materials, and low costs make concrete filler one of the most popular marbles in use. It is quite simple to produce artificial marble; the production technology is similar to the casting method, but there are some nuances:

• The mold is coated from the inside with a moisture-resistant gelcoat and completely dries.
• A concrete mixture is prepared using clay or slaked lime.
• The filler is prepared from a 2 to 1 mixture of river sand and cement, and a small amount of pebbles. The composition is filled with water, approximately 80% of the container volume, pigment for natural color is added at a ratio of 1 percent of the total mass of the solution. Mixing takes place with a mixer, the duration of the operation is from 30 seconds to a minute.
• The resulting solution is poured into molds, completely filling the empty spaces; excess is removed with a spatula or other available tool.
• Drying occurs with a covered form for 24 hours, after which the material is processed with a grinding machine.

The finished product will allow you not to waste time on manufacturing, but will not be able to fully meet the necessary parameters.

Marble with concrete filler

The most affordable is ground artificial marble, which is durable and highly resistant to moisture. The liquid product is used for difficult-to-make forms; it can be cut with a knife and made into any product.

DIY artificial granite at home

• 1 Artificial granite - production and use in everyday life
• 2 DIY artificial granite
• 3 Liquid stone: artificial granite for walls, granite technologies for countertops, making granistone with your own hands at home
• 4 How to make artificial marble with your own hands at home, technology with video
• 5 Artificial marble
• 6 Do-it-yourself artificial granite - Metals, equipment, instructions 6.1 Definitions
• 6.2 Artificial granite - production and use in everyday life

Since time immemorial, stone has been one of the best finishing materials. But nowadays it is quite expensive to buy natural stone. The question arises: is it possible to replace, for example, natural granite with a cheaper, but no less high-quality analogue? It turns out that yes!

What is artificial stone made of?

Artificial granite is a material that consists of natural stone chips and binding components. The basis for everything is universal polyester. Special reagents are added to the resulting mass: accelerators and hardeners.

High-quality artificial granite contains no more than 80% granite chips and about 20% binder resins. Thus, the most natural stone is obtained

Artificial stone can be found in various fields of human activity:

1. In the process of finishing interior or exterior interiors.
2. As a decorative base (fireplaces, basement flashings, rustications)
3. For landscape design

Artificial stone is no worse than natural stone. In addition, production technology significantly reduces the price: artificially produced stone is 30% cheaper than natural stone. In addition to all this, such a stone will fit into any interior thanks to its wide range of colors.

The artificial stone in question is often produced at a factory, but the production of the material is also possible at home.

Advantages of artificial stone

Products made from artificial stone have many advantages:

• Price. The cost of artificial stone is much lower than natural stone
• Large scope of application. Artificial granite or marble can replace natural varieties of stone in any field of human activity.
• Appearance. Artificial stone can have any color and different texture.
• Easy to use. Artificial stone is easy to process and is not difficult to install.
• Service life: this material can last about 30 years in an aggressive environment.
• Resistant to damage. The material is not scratched and does not support corrosion processes.
• Similarity to natural material. It is impossible to distinguish factory granite from the real thing by eye.

There is a simple test that allows you to determine whether the stone is natural or manufactured at a factory. You need to take a metal object (for example, a coin) and knock on the surface of the stone. Natural rocks will sound loud, while artificial ones will sound muffled.

Use in everyday life using the example of a kitchen sink

One of the most striking examples when a product made from such granite will be no worse than products made from natural granite is a sink.

Almost any person with taste would like to acquire such splendor instead of classic stainless steel. In addition to practicality, this solution will turn the process of washing dishes into a holiday, since a stone sink looks very nice and expensive.

Sinks made from artificial stone are perfect for any interior. Before the washing process, the customer can formulate absolutely any task. Due to the fact that artificial material is used as a basis, the sink can be of any shape, depth, texture and color.

Methods of spraying liquid granite

Before hardening, the artificial stone is a liquid mixture. Therefore, an artificial granite sink can be made in two ways:

• Sheet stone is a material ready for construction. Often these are slab-shaped chipboards or MDF sheets. The surface of the sheet is covered with liquid stone. This type of production is very expensive and impossible at home.
• Liquid stone is a material for lining the surface of a workpiece. As usual, the phrase “liquid stone” does not mean the material, but the process of lining the workpiece with the mixture.

The thickness of the layer at the end of this procedure should not exceed 15 mm. Often, a sink made of such granite has a thickness from 3 to 15 mm, depending on the wishes of the customer.

Technology for the production of sinks made of artificial granite material

Let's take a clear example of how sinks are made from artificial stone, and take a step-by-step look at the process of making them. To prepare the mixture, you do not need a large room - only up to 50 m2.

However, the apartment must consist of at least two rooms, one of which will produce artificial stone. In addition, the air in the rooms must be heated to at least 20C. All procedures can only be performed with good ventilation.

How to make liquid stone at home

1. Preparation of the substance. The gelcoat is mixed with special granules. The ratio is 60-70% to 29-39%, respectively. It is best to mix the mixture with a drill. Before applying the finished mixture, 1% hardener is added.
2. Among the methods of applying liquid stone, two can be distinguished:
   - Direct method. Applying the mass to the workpiece. Convenient for finishing elements of complex shapes. The main disadvantage is the high consumption of material.

   There is a more practical solution.

   - Reverse method. This application technology is applicable with ready-made sink formwork. Often plywood or plastic is chosen as the material. A mixture of granules and gulcoat is applied into the mold in an even layer. Then add soil with dye and calcite.

   When the mixture has hardened into the mold, you need to place a blank based on wood-shaving material. To remove excess primer and air bubbles, place a weight on the surface of the product for a couple of hours. After which, the product is again coated with a primer.

3. The last step will be sanding. After this, the artificial stone sink is thoroughly polished.

Thus, products made from such artificial material will be an excellent solution for a modern kitchen.

DIY artificial granite

• 1 Artificial granite - production and use in everyday life
• 2 Cast artificial marble: composition, production, do-it-yourself, chipped, flexible, ground, liquid, gypsum, touchstone, photo
• 3 Do-it-yourself artificial granite - Metals, equipment, instructions
• 4 DIY liquid granite: technology, reviews, prices, videos, products
• 5 Do-it-yourself artificial granite - Metalist's Handbook

Since time immemorial, stone has been one of the best finishing materials. But nowadays it is quite expensive to buy natural stone.

The question arises: is it possible to replace, for example, natural granite with a cheaper, but no less high-quality analogue? It turns out that yes!

Cast artificial marble: composition, production, do-it-yourself, chipped, flexible, ground, liquid, gypsum, whetstone, photo

Marble, which has excellent 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, an artificial material imitating stone was developed as an alternative. 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 and facing materials.

Liquid stone: artificial granite for walls, granite technologies for countertops, making granistone with your own hands at home

An alternative to cement has appeared on the construction market, which from the point of view of environmental friendliness of production is not safe for the atmosphere. Every year, about 2 billion tons of cement are produced worldwide, with each ton releasing 0.4 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Engineers worked hard on this problem for a long time until they invented liquid granite - a new word in the technology of producing finishing materials.

It has many advantages compared to other finishing materials: fire resistance, versatility, quality, safety, strength.

Definition of liquid granite

Liquid granite is an artificial liquid stone.

Its advantages are due to the fact that, unlike the composition of granite, liquid granite contains purified marble chips (80%) and polyester resin (20%). It hardens when an accelerator and hardener are added to it. During the process of chemical reactions, all harmful substances are released, and the finished product will be environmentally friendly.

Liquid granite can be used in any premises: apartments, offices, schools, summer kitchens in the country and so on. The surfaces for spraying are: wood, stone, metal, porcelain, fiberglass, ceramics, chipboard and fiberboard.

Products made from liquid granite resemble products made from natural stone, because it contains marble chips, and you no longer need to use large pieces of stone.

The color range of the material is varied thanks to hundreds of color dyes that allow liquid granite to fit into any room.

Manufacturing technology

The production of the finished product is not difficult and not expensive; you will need several available materials for making molds and a grinding machine. Do-it-yourself artificial marble is obtained by following the technological process; just follow a few simple steps. The production of artificial marble makes it possible to obtain a finished product of the desired type, give the structure uniqueness, and ensure the proper appearance.

Preparatory work

Before any work you will need the necessary materials. To obtain artificial marble you will need:

• Filler that is selected according to the budget. Ideally, marble chips are used; for a cheaper process, you should pay attention to crushed stone, quartz sand or a cement-sand mixture.
• Depending on the recipe and the desired result, a polyester resin is selected, preferably with an alcohol composition, as saturated as possible.
• Important parameters of high strength are achieved by using a hardener.
• Prepared dyes give the product color.

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Do-it-yourself fillers for making artificial marble

The materials necessary for the production of artificial marble with your own hands can be purchased in specialized stores in construction markets. Only after all the preparatory work is it possible to begin work on the production of a mixture of material.

Preparation of the solution

The solution is prepared in a special container. The prepared ingredients are mixed in accordance with the proportions and recipe; the main requirements for mixing are the absence of lumps and a homogeneous mass at the output. For small volumes, it is possible to use an electric drill with a special stirring attachment, similar to a butterfly. Large volumes are mixed with a construction mixer.

Preparing and filling out the form

Before making a mold, it is necessary to determine whether it is advisable to produce a collapsible mold, because there are designs that are made once. The main materials for making molds are gypsum, polyurethane, plastic and others. The strength of the form depends on the volume and mass of the solution. Flow production involves division into sectors; this method is used when several products are made from a homogeneous composition.

The forms must be pre-polished and material applied to prevent adhesion. The gelcoat is sprayed onto the surface with a special cup device, then allowed to settle until completely cured. After pouring the material, it is necessary to remove air bubbles. This procedure is performed manually by piercing the mass over the entire area; for a faster, automated process you will need a vibrating table.

Hardening depends on the volume of the product and the ambient temperature. Filling is done in small layers to completely fill the form. The appearance of cracks on the surface of artificial marble is avoided by sealing with polyethylene or other available material.

Processing of the finished slab and subsequent care

The finished slab is processed with a grinding machine until shiny. Final polishing is done with felt; for a more pronounced shine, a polish is used, the color of which depends on the product.

Subsequent care requires special care; aggressive detergents can scratch the surface and remove shine. Removal of dirt is done with a soft cloth or a special sponge. To maintain shine, dilute a solution of detergent with water. The shine is maintained by rubbing with a towel after washing.

Usage

The manufacturing process differs depending on the materials and purpose of the structure. Products made from artificial marble are widely used in the decoration of residential premises and administrative buildings. Artificial marble tiles are used for the manufacture of stairs, building facades, and other areas.

Artificial marble tiles

The cheap material, compared to natural stones, is used everywhere due to its waste-free production and ease of maintenance. Marble is being replaced by artificial stone and is used in various fields of construction; some forms and types are used by certain types of industry. It is possible to make artificial granite with your own hands using the casting method as an example, but the process will require a lot of effort as a consequence of the changed technological process.

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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 the appearance of 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 resulting materials are used in various fields, such as finishing work, facade cladding, and 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.

Manufacturers

• GRANITO-FARFALLA is a company engaged in the production of countertops and window sills made of liquid granite. The quality of products is ensured by materials and equipment from world famous manufacturers. The company constantly strives to improve technology and improve technical performance.
• "GRANIT" is a company that produces the decorative filler GraniStone for the production of liquid stone, and the ready-to-use liquid composition AquaGranit, made from polyester isophthalic resin and acrylic.
• “Liquid Granite” is a company producing countertops, window sills made of artificial stone, wall panels and door trims made of granite.

• MASTERCOMPOSIT is a manufacturer of coatings and artificial stone products using GraniStone technology.
• ColGran - the company produces liquid polyester stone in 150 colors.
• Hi-Macs - manufacturer - LG Corporation produces a stone consisting of 70% natural materials, the base is acrylic resin.

Read about the Fusion style in the kitchen interior at the link.

Products made from liquid stone have a beautiful, attractive appearance, are varied in color and have a texture similar to seamless marble. They go perfectly with any finishing materials. Quality, safety and durability complete the list of advantages of this material.

Making countertops from liquid stone

Before you start making liquid stone for the countertop, you need to complete the mold. The surface should ultimately be as smooth as possible, so the base should be made strong. 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. An excellent solution would be to use 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.

Where to buy ready-made artificial stone?

Nowadays you can buy decorative stone in almost any large hardware store. Hypermarkets such as OBI, Leroy Merlin, Maxidom offer a wide range of artificial tiles. The cost for different types varies, but generally ranges from 600 rubles per 1 square meter. After calculating how much gypsum or cement is needed to make that amount of stone, the advantage of making the stone yourself becomes obvious. Especially if you need to decorate large areas with tiles for tiling, when you need a huge footage of tiles. Of course, if you are finishing only a few square meters, then it is more profitable to buy artificial stone than to purchase forms.

Review of additional properties of liquid stone

Polyester resin is 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.

Advantages and disadvantages of the material

Liquid granite allows you to achieve a complete imitation of products made from natural stone, and working with it is much easier. The composite has many other advantages:

1. Resistance to aggressive factors. The material does not delaminate, does not soften and is not destroyed under the influence of alkalis and acids, household chemicals. This allows it to be actively used in the design of bathrooms and kitchens. It is not afraid of ultraviolet rays or changes in air temperature.
2. Pore-free and hygienic. Unlike natural stone, liquid granite is not porous, so it does not absorb grease and dirt, does not create an environment for the growth of bacteria, and is easy to wash and wipe.
3. Strength. Granite can even be used to make stairs and flooring. It can easily withstand the most severe mechanical loads and does not crack from impacts.
4. Moisture resistance. The material is quite suitable for creating bathtubs, sinks, sinks, because it is absolutely not afraid of moisture.
5. Maintainability. If, during long-term use, a chip or crack does appear on the granite, it can be repaired without much difficulty using the same mixture. After drying, the “patch” will be completely invisible.
6. Large range and versatility. The areas of application of the composite are diverse; it has a spectacular appearance and extensive decorative capabilities. You can add different pigments to the stone to give its texture interesting effects (from slight roughness to a mirror-like shine).
7. Environmental friendliness and fire safety. The material is suitable for any room, including children's rooms. It does not emit toxins, is not flammable, does not support smoke and is suitable for finishing fireplaces and stoves.
8. Durability. On average, the service life of liquid granite products exceeds 25 years.

The disadvantages of liquid granite include its high cost, although it will be an order of magnitude lower than the production of products from solid stone. However, products made from plastic, wood, MDF, and porcelain stoneware may be cheaper.

Important! When using the spraying technique, the thickness of the products will be small (up to 4 mm), and this increases the risk of peeling off the coating if used incorrectly.

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.

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The first method is as follows: primer is applied to the workpiece, and then left until it dries. Then, using a spraying method, a layer of liquid stone is applied to the base, 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.

Where is liquid granite used?

Due to its reliability, wear resistance and hygiene, artificial granite is especially popular in hotels and restaurants, clinics and laboratories, and in public areas. It looks no less beautiful in the interior of residential premises, country houses, dachas, and summer buildings.

The material can take any shape, even the most complex, and has a seamless surface, so it is suitable for casting spherical objects - arches, columns, balls. It is used to make stylish countertops, window sills, sinks, sanitary ware, pieces of furniture or individual parts, decorative elements and even facade tiles.

Liquid stone countertops

Liquid granite can be poured or sprayed onto the following base materials:

• ceramics;
• tree;
• metal;
• glass;
• stone;
• porcelain;
• Chipboard and fibreboard.

Production of liquid granite

The technology for manufacturing 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 a 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.

Peculiarities

• The color of the soil does not affect the color of the liquid stone;
• Pleasant to the touch;
• The material is non-toxic, odorless;
• Moisture resistance is achieved by adding a hardener;
• Does not lose its appearance over time, is durable - the service life of the products is more than 25 years;
• It is easy to remove dirt from the surface;
• When temperature changes, a product made of liquid stone does not lose its shape and properties.

Components for liquid stone:

• Plasticine;
• Fiberglass;
• Chemical resin;
• Filler;
• Hardener;
• Acetone;
• Calcinitis;
• Gelcoat;
• Hot melt adhesive;
• Chipboard, fibreboard.

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 a composite material based on polyester resin. An additional ingredient is a mineral filler. However, it can 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 a 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.

Marketing Tips

When planning to open your own business, it is recommended to choose a specialized area of ​​activity, depending on which the sales system will be built.

When performing work at clients' homes related to the finishing of a room or building, you should consider the option of completing the order on their premises. This solution will be facilitated by small-sized equipment that is not difficult to place at the construction site.

When manufacturing products to order and performing work on the territory of a business entity, the contractor will need to go to the site to take measurements and receive an advance payment. The order is completed within a week.

To attract customers, you should use the option of promotions and discounts applied to the customer’s cost item for transporting finished products from the production workshop to the installation site. To do this, you should first highlight the delivery of the product as an additional service, and then present it as a bonus, offering the customer to receive the service at a reduced price or for free. Price parameters, as well as the level of applied discounts, should be formed taking into account the level of competition in the region.

To search for orders, you should establish relationships with construction companies, manufacturers and distributors of furniture and plumbing fixtures. Cooperation with interior designers will provide the entrepreneur with constant work based on recommendations.

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 of 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.

Production of polymer granite

Now you will be presented with the technology of manufacturing artificial stone using the example of a table.

Table size 1100 mm x 630 mm. First of all, two types of materials are used - 16 mm chipboard and 12 mm plywood. The blanks are cut 1 cm smaller, i.e. 1090 mm x 620 mm. This is explained by the fact that in the process of pouring the edges of the RS blank we will increase it to the required size (the thickness of the artificial stone around the perimeter is 0.5 cm). When making countertops and window sills we use only chipboard. Plywood is used to prevent the legs from becoming loose during use of the table. First stage: gluing the workpiece.

Now the gluing is happening.
Both materials can be glued with different types of adhesives. In our case, we use PVA. After the glue is applied, we glue the two sheets together. If the plywood has a bend, then we use self-tapping screws, which act as a load (tie). There is no need to press the table hard. In order for the table top (hereinafter referred to as the workpiece) to be smooth, everything depends on the surface of the work table. The surface of the work table must be perfectly flat, otherwise during the process of pressure the table top (workpiece) may take on the unevenness of the work table. The load should be approximately 20 kg. per 1 sq. m., no more. Next stage: chipboard milling.
After the gluing process, the edge of the workpiece will be milled.
In our case, we use a manual milling machine with a cutter with a radius of 25 mm. (or other cutter at the request of the client). Next stage: production of sheet
(plastic sheet). Wax mastic is applied to a soft cloth and rubbed over the surface of the glass in a thin layer, after 15 minutes it is reapplied and polished. The quality of your sheet depends on the quality of the applied wax coating. If dust or other solid inclusions get on the sheet, it is advisable to remove them. If you do not do this, then pits will be visible on the front surface of the sheet. On the glass, as you can see, there is adhesive tape pasted on the back side, which shows the boundaries of our sheet. During production, you can use a template, as in this case, that is, lay down the template and glue the side according to the template. We use textolite strips and masking tape. The thickness of the ebonite strip is 4-6 mm. or you can use glass strips, etc. Next, the dimensions of our edge are checked. The surface is ready. The frame is made 1 cm larger than the dimensions of our table, because during the polymerization process linear shrinkage occurs up to 1%. ROYAL STONE stone is cast into a separate bucket, after mixing well, at the rate of 3-2.7 kg per 1 sq.m. In our case, the table area is 0.710 sq.m. multiply 3 kg. and we get 2.1 kg. RS 1-1.5 percent of catalyst per 1 kg is added to RS; cobalt can also be added if the room temperature is not very high (less than 20 degrees C). Measure with a syringe and pour into a separate mug. Separately pour in cobalt (at the rate of 0.2-1 cube per 1 kg. RS) and mix with a hand drill with an attachment, and then the catalyst. The mixing process takes on average 1-3 minutes.

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The mixing proceeds in this order: 1. Add hardener to the resin and mix for 5 seconds. 2. Pour the stone (crumbs) into the resin and mix. As soon as we see a homogeneous mass in the bucket, we immediately proceed to forming a sheet. 3. To avoid the formation of air bubbles in the stone, do not mix for a long time and do not lift the mixer from the liquid.

DO NOT MIX COBALT AND CATALYST TOGETHER TO AVOID AN EXPLOSION.

Film 1. Wax – a separating layer for polymer granite.

The mixture is poured onto prepared glass, lubricated with paraffin, and leveled with a spatula or other flat material. The thickness of the material applied to the glass is visually measured. You can use a vibrator, but after the sheet has been formed. The vibrator should operate for no more than two minutes. It is advisable to prime our chipboard + plywood blank with cheap polyester resin

based on 200-300 gr.
per sq.m. (0.5-1% cobalt and 1-2% resin weight plus 20% talc). The surface is primed. We give it the opportunity to saturate the wood and polymerize, but not completely until it becomes tack-free. After our sheet has begun to polymerize, and this is checked using the tack test method, when a finger leaves a fingerprint on it, but does not stick. Next, we disassemble the mold, and while the sheet has not yet completely polymerized, we undermine it. This must be done very carefully, because... the sheet is thin. If you apply very little release paste, the sheet may stick to the glass and tear. Pay attention to this! When the sheet is completely torn off, we cover it with glass so that the polymerization process is completely completed and the sheet does not warp. One slightly larger sheet of glass is enough. If you have any doubts, you can put additional weight on top and as a result the sheet will turn out even. Leave the sheet for a day. Next step: gluing the sheet.
Prepare 650 gr.
cheap polyester resin with 20% talc (with cobalt and a catalyst), which was used for gluing and priming, and the amount of resin poured onto the sheet should be 3 times more than on the workpiece. The resin can be tinted with pigment pastes to match the tone of the RS stone. Color: it is advisable to match the light RS coating with light colors and vice versa. Resin consumption for gluing the RS sheet to the workpiece is 1-0.9 kg. per sq. m. When gluing a sheet, be sure to visually check the correctness of the sticker, so that there is an equal weight on each side, so that our sheet extends beyond the dimensions of the table by approximately 0.5 cm. Next operation: closing the back side of the workpiece.
On the back side, cheap resin with a dye in the color RS is applied to the plywood at the rate of 1.4 kg of resin. In this case, it is advisable to use a light green color.

Filling the back side occurs in several stages: – pasting the edge with masking tape – filling the back side. – Sprinkling RS granules on top of the resin

This operation can be combined with gluing the sheet onto the workpiece. Next operation: filling the edge.

Painting tape is applied to the plywood side.
The free edge of the tape should extend 1 cm. A tape with a width of 25 mm is used. Pay special attention to the corners. The corners should be well sealed to prevent leakage of tar and stone. It is advisable for our table to be horizontal. This is checked using a level. 280 g per side. RS for 1.1 linear meter of workpiece. Cobalt accelerates the polymerization process. It is not recommended to add a lot of cobalt so that the air can escape on its own. The resulting mixture slowly spreads over the entire surface. When the first batch of RS is poured over the end of the workpiece, we then manually reshape the edge. Once the gelation is complete, we move on to the next side and so on in a circle. We give it a day for polymerization. Next stage: milling.
Since all sides of the table are poured, we need to make the end of the table even, so we again use a hand router with a finger router.
We adjust the cutter so that approximately 1 mm is removed. Also, milling the edge of the workpiece allows the stone to be revealed. If there are any irregularities left somewhere, then we move it another 0.5 mm and go through it again with a milling machine. All four sides are milled. Next point. We use a manual milling machine to make a 25 mm oval. along the perimeter. You can use cutters with different semicircles. It all depends on the wishes of the customer. Next stage: grinding and polishing.
For this process, skins are used, ranging from large sizes to zero. It is advisable to start at 120 and work your way down. The latest sandpaper is 320. The product is matte. If the customer wants the product to have a shiny surface, then we use polishing. Periodically, dust should be removed from the table surface with a dry cloth. The grinding process takes on average 1 sq.m. at one o'clock.

Technical data: 1. RS resins - 50-60% ( gelcoat

transparent under brush 50% +50% general purpose resin). 2. RS crumbs 40-50%, depending on the fraction. 3. Catalyst 1-2% by weight of resin.

Now you can make artificial granite with your own hands.

Calculation of materials for the manufacture of countertops “SNOWFALL” from artificial stone 2.31 m by 0.6 m with a thickness of 40 mm. large granule.

Calculation formulas.

When making artificial granite, first make and write down the calculation of the material consumption for your product. This will help you avoid mistakes.

Ready-made countertops

Kitchen countertop made of artificial stone.

Film 2. Selection of stone colors for polymer granite.

Mixes of stone colors for polymer granite (%)