Decorative plaster in the bathroom

It's no secret that the bathroom has high humidity. In this regard, there was a stereotype that the walls must be tiled, if not completely, then at least half. Fortunately, in the courtyard of the 21st century, and with the advent of the latest materials allowing the use of new methods of surface treatment, the once created stereotypes began to crumble. One of these materials is decorative. It's no secret that the bathroom has high humidity. In connection with the plaster, with the help of which you can get a wonderful embossed surface, thereby ensuring a non-standard effective design of the room, especially since the color for this can be chosen the most arbitrary. Today, special waterproof materials are used for plastering walls. Let's take a closer look at how these materials are good, namely, decorative plaster.

Main advantages

In addition to the fact that this type of finish creates spectacular embossed surfaces, it still has a number of other equally important advantages:

• vapor permeability is one of the most important advantages, especially with regard to bathrooms, where humidity is significantly increased;
• favorable microclimate that impedes the development of the fungus - this is due to good vapor permeability;
• lack of fogging of mirrors and glasses - this effect is obtained due to the good absorbent properties of the finish, i.e. excess moisture is absorbed

Types of decorative plaster

Among the main types of plaster for bathrooms, several types can be distinguished:

• sanitizing - mixtures that do not require equipping walls with waterproofing, they are based on exclusively environmentally friendly components, by the way, the composition is also applied without the help of a reinforced mesh, and therefore this type of plaster is an almost ideal option, ready to compete with traditional tiles;
• • “Rotband” mixtures - created specifically for rooms with high humidity, provide reliable protection against both moisture and fungus, in addition, this option seems to be the cheapest compared to the rest;
• facade - cement-sand mixture is the basis of this type of plaster; in addition to water-repellent properties, it also has high mechanical strength of surfaces, which is why it is recommended for decorating bathrooms and showers that are visited by a large number of people

Thus, it can be summarized that for the decoration of the bathroom it is necessary to use only moisture resistant mixtures, the basis of which is cement or gypsum, since another type of plaster will simply begin to exfoliate from the walls, and, immediately, after using the room for its intended purpose.

Finishing methods

The technology of decorating the walls of the bathroom by plastering is practically no different from the usual decoration of the internal walls, except for some exceptions. And these differences exist only at the final stage, at the moment when the finishing decorative layer of plaster is superimposed on the rough layer and waterproofing. And for the formation of this layer, such methods of applying the mixture are used:

• homogeneous-rough - the method is carried out using a broom sponge or using a crumpled newspaper placed in a plastic bag, using these objects a relief is formed that resembles “goose bumps” on the surface of raw plaster;
• furrowed-rough - reception is carried out, thanks to the special finish "bark beetle”, As well as with an ordinary grater in order to smooth the finish layer, the reproductive process of the formation of a grooved relief is realized after the casting of a special plaster with coarse-grained elements forming grooves after horizontal or vertical smoothing with a grater;
• grooved - the method is carried out using a special template or the most ordinary spatula by forcing the relief on the surface of the wet layer, the method allows you to simulate brick or masonry;
•  Venetian - reception is carried out by layer-by-layer application of special mixtures with different shades, after which multiple grouting is performed, as well as scraping of the layers, this method helps to create an excellent imitation of natural masonry, however, it is worth noting that this is the most difficult option

In addition to all of the above technologies for creating relief, there is another option - the plastered wall can simply be painted with the help of commercially available “shop stencils” and, thus, create a unique decorative plaster in the bathroom.

Preparation process

All of the above methods are implemented only on a pre-prepared surface. How to prepare it? Just do the following:

• clean the walls of the bathroom of old plaster, whitewash, tile or other unnecessary elements that impede access to a concrete or brick base;
• to cover with cement-sand mortar all existing cracks, chips and holes, and mount metal beacons on a clean surface of the wall;
• sprinkle a layer of the starting waterproofing mortar along the beacons

As a result of all these actions, a new wall is obtained that has a perfect even shape.

Next, we can proceed to the implementation of a clean layer, which is the basis for a new relief. And for this you need to do the following:

• prepare a solution of finishing plaster;
• sprinkle it on the hardened starting layer, and then level it with a spatula;
• if it is necessary to form a new relief, in this case, the grouting step with a grater can be skipped;
• without waiting for the final hardening of the plaster, proceed with the decorative relief

Today's construction market offers simply an abundance of stucco dry mixes containing plasticizers and various additives, which provides them with great advantages compared to conventional cement plasters, namely: they are much easier to apply, dry faster, do not shrink, present a more durable material that does not give cracks on the surface.