Do-it-yourself decorative wood-look plaster: technology

Throughout the history of mankind, there was a tree next to it, which man used to build housing and for its decoration. It has a unique texture, the pattern of which does not tire the eye. When the boards are placed horizontally, their lines make the room visually wider, and when placed vertically, they make the room taller. However, natural wood cladding may not always be an affordable option for a family's budget. As in other similar cases, imitation became a way out of the difficulty. Decorative plaster imitating wood indoors and also on the facade of a house can imitate wooden cladding of a large area or individual decorative panels. This is done in different ways.

Types and applications

Using decorative plaster, you can achieve various effects related to texture:

tree bark,
surfaces eaten away by woodworms,
boards laid closely
wooden panels,
cross cut.

Textured wood-look plaster requires compositions that do not contain fibers or large inclusions. These are mostly smooth mixtures. Decorative plaster is made from mixtures with fine filler, looking like tree bark. The exception was structural bark beetle plaster with granules from 2 mm.

Wood-like plaster finishing is used in interiors in the form of wooden panels in the hallway, corridor or in other rooms. Such coverings look great on loggias and balconies, in the decoration of facades or small architectural forms (gazebos, walls, etc.), fences and even paths. Surfaces that imitate bark or wood cuts look advantageous in various interior styles.

Before working on the wall, practice on sheets of plasterboard, fiberboard or plywood.

The imitation wood made by professionals is very close in texture to natural wood. In fact, decorative wood-look plaster can be successfully done with your own hands and by those who are still new to the plaster business. It's all about the desire to learn, practice and the desire to achieve high quality.

Structural mixture

The differences between this mixture are the composition. Inside there are solid particles of a small fraction. After application using a trowel, the surface is rubbed. Subsequently, the granules create fine grooves, like a wood structure. This pattern resembles the bark of a tree that has already been eaten by the bark beetle. It is not for nothing that such plaster acquired the name bark beetle.

This structural plaster is used for facade finishing. With it, any home, even an old one, can turn into a modern and stylish one. In addition, neither rain, nor moisture, nor wind and sun rays can spoil the coating.

What's so good about this finish?

The main advantages of this type of finishing (compared to natural wood) are lower cost and greater durability. Decorative plaster for wood:

doesn't rot
withstands temperature fluctuations,
resistant to precipitation,
does not burn,
can be renewed by coloring,
hides minor flaws,
"breathes"
environmentally friendly

Why imitate wood?

Imitation allows you to create a variety of wood textures, cuts in longitudinal and transverse sections, the structure of old petrified rock or eaten away by insects, as well as make spectacular stylistic variations. After all, the use of natural wood varieties is in many cases impractical and unjustified.

Patterning tools

You can apply the selected material to the wall using a spatula or trowel. To develop a drawing, the following tools are required:

palette knife;
textured roller;
video with the image of a wood cut;
rubber spatula with a pattern;
various models of spatulas;
stencil.

How to make a wood-look spatula with your own hands

There is no need to buy an expensive spatula. It can be cut from ordinary plastic packaging from construction or other materials. First they draw a shape, and then cut it out with well-sharpened scissors and form notches. The following types of spatulas will be needed:

wide with large teeth;
medium with sparse serrations;
small smooth.

Materials used and preparation for application

Compositions on various bases can be used as textured wood-look plaster: acrylic, mineral, silicone. These are mainly smooth mixtures or with fine-grained filler, for example, decorative plaster Marmorino tree bark. To obtain the bark beetle effect, structural compositions are used. Often, decorative plaster imitating wood is done by home owners with their own hands, and from materials made independently. For example, they can imitate wood even using ordinary putty.

The work does not require colored mixtures, since the coatings, after completing the formation of the texture, are painted and protected with wax or varnish. As a result, decorative plaster is obtained to resemble valuable or aged wood, as needed in a particular interior.

Achieving an antique plaster effect has become increasingly popular lately.

This type of finishing can hide minor flaws and flaws in the base surface. However, in all other respects it requires the same preparation of the base as other types of coatings. Only in this case can a long, multi-year service life be achieved.

Prepared base:

cleared of remnants of the previous finish,
if necessary, leveled and repaired,
removes stains and traces of grease,
primed,
dried thoroughly.

If the surface of the base does not hold the coating well (for example, paint or foam), be sure to install a reinforcing mesh.

Textured mixture

Making a textured surface is more difficult, since you will have to skillfully use the tool. Compensation for this is the original and beautiful drawings, which in some cases are even better than the bark beetle. To apply the textured mixture, a perfectly prepared surface is required. Then the facade decor will look harmonious.

To summarize, we can draw certain conclusions. For example, structural plaster is easy to apply even for a beginner, however, it has too fine a relief. The textured mixture is more difficult to apply and requires practice, but the surface has a deep relief and it looks beautiful.

As for the plaster mixture itself, the following options are used for the work: cement-sand, cement-limestone, based on gypsum, acrylic or silicone. Creating a bark effect is best achieved by using ready-made plaster mixtures with a coarse-grained fraction. If you are a beginner worker, then it is better to buy acrylic or silicone mixtures. They are more flexible than their analogues, so forming a pattern is much easier. And they dry faster.

Technology and application methods + video

Bark of tree

As an example of how decorative plaster with the effect of wood bark is made, let’s take a finish made from the least expensive materials.

The working solution is prepared from gypsum plaster. The purchased dry mixture is diluted in water.
The solution is applied to the prepared base using a trowel in an even layer of 2-3 mm.
The initial relief is immediately applied with a roller moistened with water.
When (after 20-30 minutes) the surface of the plaster dries a little and does not sag when pressed lightly, it is moistened with a spray bottle and the protrusions begin to be smoothed. This is done with a spatula so that after it passes between the smooth areas, ruts remain - deepening cracks in the bark. After each long smoothing movement of the spatula, wipe it with a damp cloth so that the lumps of solution remaining on it do not spoil the surface.
The surfaces are allowed to dry completely (usually a day). After drying, small flaws that can be scratched are removed with a spatula.

Wax is usually used for the protective layer of decorative plasters. In this case, it can be replaced with non-woven glue mixed with water-soluble acrylic varnish. The glue is diluted, brought to readiness, and mixed with varnish in a ratio of 1:0.5. Then the selected color is added and after stirring, the “budget wax” can be used. It is applied with a trowel. With this application, all the depressions are filled and the surface is smoothed. Excess is removed with a damp sponge, and the surface is smoothed again with a trowel. This type of finish can be varied in various ways, for example, you can apply a little paint of a different tone with a sponge.

Technology for modeling wood texture on plaster

Before modeling the texture of wood on plaster, you need to wait half an hour until the surface of the mixture dries. You need to prepare your tools in advance, maybe a spatula, to display the pattern of natural wood on the relief.

After the plaster has dried, you need to apply the solution to the matrix in the ratio specified in the requirements for the mixture, and distribute the lubricant evenly over the surface of the wall. Carefully roll over the layer with a rubber roller to imprint the wood pattern. From time to time the matrix needs to be changed sides, this is done in order to create a realistic look of the wood pattern, thus the pattern does not repeat itself, but changes the structure.

After the façade plaster has dried, sharp edges are removed using paper. You need to thoroughly clean the surface from any imperfections and dust; this action is done before impregnating the colored solution, which will add volume to the pattern on the wall. The colored solution is applied only after three days, after all the plaster has dried. The mixture must be applied with a brush; painting occurs in a double layer with a break of a day between applications.

Coloring

Of course, creating texture is the most labor-intensive task in wood finishing. However, painting the plaster is the final stage of finishing. Therefore it must also be of high quality.

Before painting, a primer is applied to the surface with a brush along the wood lines, colored in the desired tone. The dye used is water-soluble.

The best way to convey the richness and depth of the natural color of wood is with translucent compounds, applying layer after layer of compounds of different shades. To obtain a budget coloring composition, you need to mix sequentially (with stirring after adding each next component) the following components:

a little primer
color scheme of the desired tone,
white water-based paint,
some dry wallpaper glue.

The mixture is applied with a brush, following along the fibers. Excess mixture is removed with a rubber spatula. After this base layer has dried, you can apply a composition with a different shade. The paint for subsequent layers is made without wallpaper glue and primer - only water-based emulsion with dye.

There are many options for coloring and coloring compositions. Here, as they say, dare and create. Just try it first on “experienced plots”.

How to make decorative plaster “like wood” with your own hands?

Simple technology for applying decorative plasters

allows you to make a wet facade with your own hands. To ensure a long service life of the decorative protective coating, carry out work at an air temperature of +5 to +30 ºС and a relative humidity of no more than 80%.

Before applying decorative plaster to the wall, carefully treat the base with an adhesive primer. It improves adhesion and reduces the absorbency of the base plaster layer. The primer is applied to the base with a wide brush. You can begin applying decorative plaster to the primed base layer no earlier than 3 hours after its treatment.

Mix the plaster mixture with the required amount of water according to the instructions on the package. Mix the mixture thoroughly until the required consistency is obtained.
Apply a thin layer of plaster to the base and form a comb structure using a 10-12 mm toothed trowel.
Level the plaster with a smooth trowel so that the thickness of the plaster layer is approximately 4 mm.

Spatulas

You may find a variety of spatulas useful: from the simplest and smallest to the largest and most sophisticated, for example, try rubber spatulas. Spatulas can be of different hardness and design. It’s difficult to say what exactly will be useful to you, since it all depends on personal convenience and the desired effect. To create a wooden effect, so-called Japanese spatulas are well suited.

Advice from the experts

Beginners are not always able to create a professional and attractive decorative layer of plaster. The reasons are reluctance to follow manufacturers' recommendations, take into account the unique properties of a particular composition, impatience and carelessness.

The following expert tips will help you avoid basic mistakes:

Proper storage of material. If you place the plaster in a cold, damp place, it will quickly deteriorate. The frozen mixture is very difficult to apply.
During storage, avoid drafts and high temperatures. The plaster will lose its ductility and strength.
Use only high-quality tools and clean containers, rollers, and brushes. Otherwise, foreign particles will get into the general composition and become fixed on the surface.
Strict adherence to the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure to observe proportions when diluting, drying time, and additional nuances of use. A competent approach will affect the quality of processing and extend the service life of the finished surface.
Before applying the plaster layer, you should do several test paints. This will determine the accuracy of the shade, application conditions and drying time.
After finishing the work, the new plaster layer can be washed with various detergents and plain water.
Advice
If a high-quality mixture was purchased, then cleaning will not harm the layer in any way.
Use colors from the same manufacturer as the plaster. There is a possibility of damaging the base material with dangerous dyes.

Decorative plaster is a modern and beautiful material that exists in several varieties. It is difficult to apply, but patience and a competent approach will turn the work into an exciting process. Taking recommendations and advice into account will affect the quality, strength, durability and attractiveness of the final result.

How to create an imitation tree: 5 ways

Here are 5 ideas where to get an “artificial tree”: read to the end!

Instead of a tree... a tree

Yes, that's so obvious. After all, it is really easier to use common larch or inexpensive pine for furniture and construction than expensive, rare wood. Overseas and endangered species can be imitated by trees growing throughout the country. And to “fake” pine to look like ebony, simply use coloring glazes and impregnations.

Veneer and lamination

Gone are the days when surface lamination and veneer were second-class materials: today designers actively use them in interiors of a wide variety of styles. Yes, veneer is also natural wood, but it uses a minimal amount of wood, often sheets as thin as paper, and the products themselves are made from other materials, often recycled. It looks just as beautiful, and, most importantly, it harms nature minimally.

Artistic painting

Aerobatics. Painting any surface to look like wood is not difficult for a decorative artist. In fact, this is no longer painting a wall or furniture, but real painting; this painting simply depicts the structure of wood with all the beautiful veins and chips. The only problem is that not everyone has a professional art education, which means you will have to look for a decorator with skills in such work.

Wallpaper, tiles and more

Or maybe there is no need to create a bicycle: there are already many materials on the market that recreate the look of wood. For example, you can choose plastic panels that ideally replace treated boards of expensive species in the interior, but they cost less and look no worse. Modern wallpaper is so realistic that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish it from walls covered with wood, and tiles “like wooden parquet” in the kitchen and bathroom have long become a favorite solution for practical and somewhat lazy people.