Natural stone has been used in building and interior decoration for thousands of years. However, now such material is very expensive. However, there is a way out. You can make an artificial stone with your own hands, and it will practically not differ from natural. The price of such a product will be much lower than natural.

The use of stone in interior decoration allows you to achieve completely unexpected results. You can decorate the room in style knight's castle, a fireplace framed in slate will look especially attractive, and columns trimmed with stone will look beautiful.

However, with all its richness of forms and colors, natural stone also has disadvantages. These include:

• high price;
• heavy weight, not every wall can withstand such an additional load;
• significant transportation costs.

In order to be able to use stone in interior decoration and overcome the described shortcomings, an artificial stone manufacturing technology was created.

Cladding with artificial stone

Outwardly, natural and artificial stone are practically indistinguishable, at the same time, the latter is devoid of all the shortcomings of natural stone and can be made to imitate any natural stone, and even its texture is repeated. By the type of surface, an artificial stone can be:

• chipped, as if beaten off by a hammer and having an uneven surface and edges;
• sawn, having smooth, even edges;
• rubble, resembling ordinary natural boulders;
• arbitrary, embodying the designer's fantasies in form and surface;
• decorative.

For specific design tasks, you may need a variety of different types surfaces - for finishing a fireplace, arches, columns. You may need stones with elements of a marine theme, for example, with traces of shells. So in the manufacture of artificial stone with your own hands, you can get exactly what you need according to the requirements of the plan for finishing a specific surface. One of the most popular types of stone is slate.

What is artificial stone made of?

Strange as it may seem, but for the manufacture of stone, there are several different options. According to one technology, cement, fine sand, and water are used. According to another, they are made of gypsum or alabaster. There is a manufacturing option when polymeric materials are used as a binder. Therefore, the composition of artificial stone for the manufacture on your own can be determined based on the available materials and possibilities for the manufacture of stone.
The entire manufacturing procedure is not super complicated and can be performed by anyone with a certain diligence and careful observance of technology. It doesn't even need special conditions, work can be done directly in the apartment. Therefore, the material proposed below can be perceived as a kind of instruction for the manufacture of artificial stone.

Manufacturing process

The main materials for the manufacture of stone, as noted above, are cement and gypsum, or alabaster. In any case, using gypsum or cement, the manufacture of artificial stone with your own hands begins with the selection of the initial sample and the creation of a mold in which the stone will be cast in the future.

Having several such models, it will be possible to quickly produce required amount stone. As a model stone, it will be justified to buy several stone samples that are suitable in shape and size in a store.

Although you can use commercially available ready-made silicone models. They are a ready-made kit for the manufacture of artificial stone.

How to make a model

The production of the mold begins with the choice of a sample, for the role of which a stone suitable in shape and size is selected. For the form in which the stone will be cast in the future, silicone is used. Make or use a suitable size box, few over size sample stone. This box will serve as the formwork.
It and the selected stone must be coated with a thick layer of grease or some other lubricant. The stone is placed at the bottom of the box. It is necessary to make several pieces of such formworks and forms to increase productivity.

After that, silicone is poured into the formwork. To compact it, it is rammed with an ordinary paint brush moistened with soapy water. As the latter, you can use the usual Fairy. After filling the mold with silicone, the surface is leveled with a spatula moistened with Fairy.
The filled molds dry for two to three weeks, after which the formwork is disassembled, the sample stone is removed, and ready-made silicone molds for artificial stone are obtained. If there are small defects on the surface, they are sealed with silicone.
True, here too there is an alternative option for making a mold, but it will be possible to return to this a little later, after we fully consider the started technology for manufacturing artificial stone.

Getting from cement

At this stage, the work is carried out in several passes. Initially, cement and sand for the first layer are mixed in a ratio of 3: 1, everything is mixed until a homogeneous mixture is formed. desired color obtained by adding dyes, about 2-3% of the amount of cement, but this must be established empirically. Water is added to the finished mixture and stirred until approximately thick sour cream, dyes are mixed with water.

The resulting mixture is laid out in a mold to about half and compact everything by tapping and shaking for about a minute. Then a metal mesh is placed over the finished solution to give additional strength to the stone and poured with a second layer of the solution. To save money, you can not add dye to the second portion of concrete.

On the top layer of the solution after pouring, small grooves are made with a nail or any stick for better adhesion to the wall during installation. As can be seen from the described technology, it is quite simple and allows you to do without special equipment for the manufacture of artificial stone.

After twelve hours, the stone is removed from the mold and left to dry and gain strength for two weeks. After removing the stone, the mold is washed with Fairy, this procedure must be repeated after each pouring.

Gypsum production

It should be noted that the manufacture of artificial stone from gypsum is carried out in the same sequence. There are only nuances associated with the fact that gypsum quickly hardens. Therefore, it must be prepared as much as necessary to make one stone, then it is necessary to breed a new portion. Citric acid can be added to gypsum to slow down the setting.

The holding time for solidification of the material will be different, this procedure takes several tens of minutes. Before pouring gypsum into the mold, it is necessary to lubricate it with oil to calmly remove the finished stone from the mold.

If there is a desire and opportunity, then according to the described technology, you can organize the production of artificial stone with your own hands. Moreover, a stone made of cement can be used for both interior and exterior decoration.

Coloring of artificial stone

In the manufacture of stone, we added a dye to its composition. However, you can simply paint it with paint after manufacturing. This requires special paint and a brush of any size. The painting process is as follows:

1. it is necessary to wipe the surface of the stone with a clean cloth and remove sand, dust, cement;
2. apply with a brush on the front surface with a uniform layer of paint;
3. after the paint has dried, it is possible to apply a second and third layer to achieve the desired shade.

Manufacturing alternatives and tutorials

Now you can consider the option of how to make an artificial stone without using a sample and silicone. All this is shown in the video:

As you can see from the above example, you can generally do without any expensive materials.
It should be noted that the stone can be made using ready-made sets. They include a ready-made polyurethane form. How to make such products with it, in the following video:

Artificial stone, installation

Artificial stone can be mounted on virtually any surface, up to wood and drywall. When installing a stone on a tree, you will need special training surface, it will be necessary to make additional moisture insulation and crate. At the same time, when installing stone on brick or concrete, there are no additional work not required, just leveling the surface.

Fastening the stone to the wall can be carried out using cement mortar or using special adhesive solutions or special types glue. Installation can be done with or without seams.

When installing with jointing, a gap remains between the stones, its size should not exceed 2.5 centimeters, which is then filled with grout. This option is more economical, but for some types of stone, laying with jointing is simply not suitable, they only need to be laid completely.

Before starting the installation, the stones are laid out on the floor and their best location is selected, if necessary, adjusting to each other.

Laying stone begins with corner elements, then around window and door openings. And only after that are the installation of horizontal rows.

The process of stone installation can be viewed on the video:

It should be noted that additional care for the surface lined with artificial stone is not required. As a protective measure, you can protect the wall from excessive moisture. This is done with the help of special compounds. After application, they make the stone water-repellent.

Do-it-yourself artificial stone is a great opportunity to get very impressive results in interior decoration through the use of such an extraordinary material. And all this can be done by yourself without significant costs and the use of special equipment.

Beautiful appearance, environmental friendliness, excellent sound-absorbing and heat-insulating characteristics, as well as resistance to high and low temperatures - all these qualities are inherent in artificial stone, which is modern market building materials became widespread.

This is easily explained by the affordable cost of products, ease of implementation finishing works, as well as the possibility of implementing any design solutions. Artificial stone can be given any color and desired texture, besides, it blends perfectly with almost all types of interior decoration.

Why is the production of decorative stone a highly profitable and sought-after type of business? The low level of competition in this niche, the demand for the product on the market, the low purchase price of raw materials, the minimum energy costs and the simplicity of organizing the work of the enterprise make this type of activity attractive for every person who wants to open a profitable business.

What is an artificial stone?

It is very convenient to work with artificial stone when performing finishing work, so it is popular among craftsmen and customers. This material is used for decorating the interior and exterior of buildings. It is a special tile for cladding various surfaces, the texture of which completely imitates brick or natural stone.

The manufacture of artificial stone is carried out by casting, for which various mixtures are used, which are placed in special shapes. The composition of the solutions can be prepared on the basis of porcelain stoneware, gypsum, acrylic, quartz agglomerate, concrete and other compounds.

Important: for interior decoration rooms use a decorative stone made on the basis of gypsum, agglomerate or porcelain stoneware. For external wall cladding, concrete products are the best choice, since this material is highly resistant to external aggressive environments and retains an attractive appearance for a long time.

There are various methods for manufacturing artificial stone, which allow the production of facing products that are in no way inferior to natural materials in terms of their characteristics, moreover, the decor is much cheaper and lighter in weight.

To get an artificial stone High Quality, manufacturers use dyes exclusively on a natural basis. During production, they give the products the desired color, which does not fade under the influence of sunlight for many years. Artificial products for cladding have not only different composition, but also the shape, while the stone can be made in the form of a decorative cobblestone, brick or tile, which allows you to perform a beautiful original masonry.

Kinds

Depending on the type of cladding, natural stone chips, hardeners and polymer resins can be used to prepare mixtures. Consider the types of artificial decor that received wide application in the construction and decoration of premises, which are usually distinguished by the methods of manufacture and the materials used:

• Agglomerates. This type artificial stone is made from quartz sand, granite or marble chips, natural pigments and limestone. Polyester resins are used to bond these components. The main advantage of conglomerates (as this type of cladding is also called) is the high strength of products and increased resistance to temperature extremes. Such material has found wide application in decorating various surfaces; tabletops, bathtubs and other products that require increased impact resistance are made from it. It should be noted that agglomerates are not recommended for use in the arrangement of "warm floor" systems, since resins, stone binders and other additives, are deformed during heating.

• Acrylic artificial stone. This material considered to be conglomerates. It has high strength, elasticity and allows you to get a product of any shape and size. Acrylic is used for the manufacture of countertops, window sills and kitchen aprons. The material has high moisture resistance, is safe for human health, easy to clean and easily restored in case of mechanical damage.

• Concrete mould. The material for the production of concrete stone is a cement-sand mixture. With the addition of natural pigments, an attractive appearance is maintained for a long time. Concrete stones are not afraid of frost and are used for walls and plinth outside buildings.

• Concrete monumental. Such a stone is made by free molding with mandatory reinforcement of the product. As a rule, this method is used directly at the place of application of the artificial decor. From reinforced concrete, cobblestones, boulders and stone slabs are produced piece by piece, which have a natural look.

• Gypsum cast. Finishing cast stone from gypsum is produced at minimal cost. It is made only for decorating the interior of buildings, since it is afraid of moisture and is not resistant to low temperatures. The mold method is ideal for the production of artificial stone at home.

• Porcelain tile. The production of this type of artificial stone has certain difficulties, since it requires the use of specific equipment, large areas Moreover, a significant amount of electricity is consumed for its manufacture. The composition of porcelain stoneware includes some varieties of clay, natural dyes, feldspar and all kinds of mineral additives. All components are thoroughly mixed, after which the composition is rammed on a vibropress and fired. Ceramic artificial stone has high strength, and its texture can be very diverse. It is used for finishing various surfaces, making steps, floor coverings, sinks and other products.

• Hot cured polyester stone. The decor is made using fillers that have a mineral nature. For this reason, the compound will only harden under conditions high temperatures for which vacuum furnaces are used. This method of making stone is not suitable at home due to the complexity of the technological process and financial costs. Polyester products in terms of strength and decorative qualities are in no way inferior to natural counterparts.

Products made of liquid granite are also widely used. Its preparation is carried out on the basis of a binding gel component, which is called a gel coat, and mineral fillers. This technology allows you to give the finished product complex shapes. You can use liquid stone for countertops, sinks, decorative elements or window sills, which are durable and original. In addition, do-it-yourself liquid stone allows you to make various products by casting, for which special forms are used. The finished composition is poured into them, then the “stone” solidifies, after which it is removed from the matrix and subjected to mechanical processing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Above, we have listed the advantages that an artificial stone has. The excellent thermal conductivity of this material should also be added here. If you decorate a room with such decor, it will be warm in it even in winter.

Artificial stone is resistant to mechanical stress, so products made from it do not break and chips are rarely formed on them. This material does not have pores and microcracks, which completely eliminates the development of pathogenic microorganisms on its surface. The benefits should also include:

• ease of installation of products and transportation;
• the possibility of carrying out repair and construction work of any complexity;
• production of decorative elements and furniture of any configuration;
• ease of repair of damaged products.

Important: Please note that damaged surfaces are repaired on site, so there is no need to take them to specialized workshops.

But like every material, artificial stone has some disadvantages:

• Products from it have a much shorter service life in comparison with natural originals.
• If the customer wishes to make furniture elements from artificial stone, the cost of sets will increase significantly. For example, a porcelain stoneware countertop costs more than the same element made of laminated board or plywood.
• Acrylic "stone" surfaces look very nice, however, they are prone to scratches and are afraid of exposure to high temperatures. Therefore, countertops made of this material are less in demand among buyers, since hot dishes cannot be placed on them and they quickly lose their attractiveness. For these purposes, it is better to use an artificial agglomerated stone.

Manufacturing technology of artificial stone

To make an artificial stone yourself, no long training is required. For the production of decorative products, it is necessary to prepare a cement mortar, as well as natural pigments of various colors, hardeners and plasticizers.

The technology for manufacturing artificial stone is quite simple, for this reason, every novice entrepreneur can organize production. The most commonly used methods are vibrocasting or vibrocompression. If you use vibrocasting technology, you will not need to purchase expensive equipment to organize a business. This method allows you to get a wide variety of products, different color scheme, as well as excellent surface quality of finished tiles. The preparation of the compound using a vibropress is characterized by a low cost of artificial stone, in addition, the entire production process is fully automated.

Important: available online a large number of video material dedicated to the manufacture of artificial stone. It is necessary to first assess the conditions in which the production processes of the future enterprise will take place, which will make it possible to determine the choice of technology.

The production of artificial stone deserves special attention, for the manufacture of which gypsum and polyurethane molds are required. This type of activity is considered highly profitable, since a 30-kilogram bag of raw materials costs about 340 rubles, while the price of the finished “stone” on the market fluctuates around 600-700 rubles per 1 m². From it you can make 8-10 "squares" of decorative cladding, which in monetary terms is about 6 thousand rubles. The benefit is obvious. The technological process is characterized by high speed and simplicity. A tank is filled with a dry gypsum mixture, after which it is diluted with water to such a state that the resulting solution itself spreads over the forms. Please note that liquid gypsum fills even the smallest recesses of the matrix, so no special equipment is required to prepare the mortar. After a quarter of an hour, you can get the “stone” out of the mold, after which it should dry completely. After that, coloring of the finished product is allowed.

Gypsum "stone" is good because it can be given color at the customer's site, so there is no need to spend money on buying pigments. You can sell both unpainted gypsum blanks and sell decorative elements, giving them a certain shade.

How to start the production of decorative stone?

Consider the main stages of the beginning of the production of artificial stone.

Business registration

Entrepreneurs need to officially register their activities with the Federal Tax Service, for which they will have to issue an IP (best of all). The following documents must be submitted to the tax office at the place of residence:

• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (copy);
• birth certificate (copy);
• application for opening an IP;
• receipt for payment of state duty.

Important: if it is planned to organize a large production with the involvement of hired employees, it is recommended to form an LLC. To start activities, you will need to obtain permits from the fire inspection and the sanitary and epidemiological station.

Since the production of artificial stone does not require businessmen to have certificates and licenses, this can significantly save on obtaining permits. As for the choice of taxation system, entrepreneurs can opt for UTII or USN.

Room search

Before starting production, you will need to find the appropriate premises. They will contain equipment. As practice shows, outside the city limits, production areas can be rented much cheaper.

It is necessary to find a building for the enterprise, which will have premises for production, a warehouse for finished products, drying products, as well as a living room for workers. total area must be at least 100 m². It is desirable to provide production with a good lighting and ventilation system.

Purchase of equipment

For obvious reasons, most of the costs are the purchase of production equipment. For equipment you will need:

• vibrating table;
• vibrating sieve;
• polyurethane molds;
• drying chamber;
• concrete mixer.

In addition, you will have to purchase shovels, an electric drill, buckets, spatulas. The purchase of a concrete mixer and a vibrating table will take about 70 thousand rubles. As for the matrices, for 1 unit you need to pay about 8 thousand rubles. On the initial stage their production will require 5-6 pieces. Matrices can be made independently, which will save. It will also provide an opportunity to come up with new models of facing material and expand the range of finished products.

Purchase of materials

Depending on the type of technology chosen, raw materials for the production of artificial stone should be purchased. If you plan to produce gypsum products, you will need gypsum in bags, powder citric acid(0.3% of the total mass), which slows down the hardening of the composition, and the pigment. It needs about 5-6% of the total volume of the prepared mixture.

An artificial stone made of concrete requires the preparation of a cement-sand base. This requires cement and sand in a ratio of 3: 1 (not to be confused with the preparation of a building mixture!). The dye will need the same amount as in the case of the manufacture of gypsum mortar.

If you plan to produce cast acrylic decorative stone, you need a hardener and resin. To prepare the compound, mineral filler should be added. Its share, taking into account the dye, is 3 parts of the finished mixture. The pigment in the mixture should not exceed 6% (standard ratio: 71% filler, 20% acrylic resin; 5% hardener, 4% natural dye).

Recruitment of working personnel

To start production, you will need to hire two people, one of whom will be a handyman. This employee submits the right materials, prepares solutions, and also loads the finished stone. The other employee must be fully proficient in the technology production process, maintain equipment, as well as monitor the quality characteristics of the finished stone. If a large production is planned, in this case it will be necessary to invite a technologist to work, who will be able to develop a unique recipe for the preparation of decorative stone, establish a production technology and control all the processes of the enterprise.

Conducting an advertising campaign

An advertising campaign should be carried out when the exact range of finished products has been determined, selling prices have been established and possible production volumes have been determined. Initially, you need to create a business card site, where you should place high-quality photographs of images of the finished stone, price list, delivery terms and contact information.

It does not hurt to make business cards that you need to distribute to all potential buyers. It is recommended to make and show samples of finished stones to customers, which will allow them to evaluate the quality of products. It is important to know the range of your company and specifications all types of offered stone.

You must declare the work of your enterprise in the funds mass media(print, television, radio). Also, to promote a business, it is worth creating thematic communities on social networks, which will quickly attract the target audience (people interested in purchasing artificial stone). As an option, you can offer wholesalers individual terms of cooperation, which include some discount, short production and delivery times.

Search for sales channels for finished products

How and to whom to sell the finished artificial stone? First of all, it is a specific product that is aimed at construction and repair organizations, as well as retail outlets for finishing materials.

Despite the demand for decorative stone in the construction market, many entrepreneurs do not know how to properly present their products and set up distribution channels. The main task of each businessman is to establish relationships with the leaders of the above organizations, personal communication with them about future cooperation and the presentation of favorable partnership conditions.

AT without fail it is necessary to take part in various events and exhibitions that are dedicated to the popularization of the construction business. This will allow a large number of potential customers to learn about the work and products of your enterprise. Collaborations should also be established with design firms, companies that offer architecture services, and building materials markets.

Production of artificial stone - financial plan

Before starting the enterprise, it is necessary to calculate the expenditure part and possible income in the future. It's easy to do. For example, let's take the calculation of the profitability of products from a cement-sand mixture.

To prepare 1 m² of artificial stone, you need 6 kg of cement (35 rubles), 19 kg of sand (15 rubles) and 60 g of plasticizer (2.5 rubles). You will also need to take into account:

• electricity costs;
• fare;
• depreciation of used matrices.

It turns out that the cost of 1 "square" of stone tiles is about 73 rubles, and its market value can exceed 700 rubles. Without fail, as production capacity increases, you should have your own team of builders and finishers and offer their services to your customers. This will allow you to earn additional income.

As for production costs, we note that the most expensive purchase will be the purchase of a vibrating table, which will cost 50-70 thousand rubles. You will also need to consider the cost of:

• lease of production space - up to 20 thousand rubles per month;
• desktop - 10 thousand rubles;
• inventory and an electric drill - 15 thousand rubles.

To open a medium-sized manufacturing enterprise, at the initial stage, about 350 thousand rubles will be required. As practice shows, the business pays off by the end of the first year of operation.

Save the article in 2 clicks:

Summing up, we note that the manufacture of artificial decorative stone is a highly profitable and low-cost type of entrepreneurial activity. It is worth considering combined production options, where, along with facing material, countertops, sinks and other decorative elements for interior decoration will be made. Only the production of high quality products guarantees the success of the enterprise.

In contact with

Artificial stone has been known since time immemorial: ordinary brick and hardened lime mortar are also artificial stones. But only today artificial stone is recognized as the No. 1 material for
interior decoration and amateur landscape design. Reason is using modern materials and technology, you can make an artificial stone with your own hands. By at least, some of its varieties, because There are many types of artificial stone.

What for?

Natural stone is an expensive and, oddly enough, capricious material. Take a look at the drawing. The traditional Japanese tobiishi garden and the equally traditional European rock garden cost more than the villa shown on the left. For tobiishi, blocks must be selected in accordance with the sacred requirements of Zen, and slate slabs for rock gardens must be selected according to design conditions. And the stone is suitable only from certain deposits, already according to the requirements of strength and durability. And you need to bring it so that on the way it does not turn into rubble.

Sawn or chipped finishing stone is cheaper, although still very expensive. And the work on it is expensive: not tiles, each one needs to be tried on and selected in place. And heavily loads the wall or ceiling - heavy. You can’t prick and file with thin layers - it will crack, brittle.

Artificial stone in terms of mechanical properties and durability can surpass wild natural stone and certainly is not inferior to it even made at home. In addition, it has important advantages:

• It can be made with thin tiles, which reduces the weight of the object several times without loss of strength.
• With the richness or uniqueness of colors and surface textures, it can be made in a standard shape and size in plan or shaped exactly in place.
• Can be produced on site, eliminating shipping waste.
• Can be produced immediately smooth to a high gloss, eliminating the cost of sawing, sanding and polishing.
• Can be crafted irregular shape, completely imitating a rubble stone, but of a predetermined size and configuration.

Additionally: imitation of stone with the help of polymer binders (see below) gives thermoplastic products, which, after manufacturing, can be bent, molded, and connected to each other without seams.

What is he good for?

There are countless types of artificial stone products. They are lined with walls, internal and external, decorative elements for interior and furniture, kitchen sinks, window sills, countertops and entire furniture are made from it, see fig. AT last case thermoplastic polymer artificial stone is used.

In addition, figurines, trinkets, souvenirs can be made from it at home. There are technologies that allow you to get the effects of a tiger, cat and snake eye. There are craftsmen who make netsuke from artificial stone, which Japanese experts do not immediately distinguish from real ones. But all this already belongs to the field of jewelry, but you can get the hang of making an artificial decorative stone with your own hands, unusually similar to labradorite, pink eagle or serpentinite. Danila, the master of the 21st century, seems to have not yet reached charoite with malachite, but, bearing in mind the possibilities of the material, this will come with time.

Types of decorative artificial stone

According to the source materials and manufacturing methods, artificial stone is divided into the following types:

1. Ceramic - during the manufacturing process, it is fired in a certain temperature regime. Production requires large areas, trained personnel and significant energy consumption.
2. Gypsum molded (cast) - production is possible at home at minimal cost, but is suitable only for interior decoration, because not cold hardy. Minimum temperature in the production room +18 degrees Celsius.
3. Concrete (cement-sand) molded , on the left in Fig. - at cost, it is somewhat more expensive than gypsum, because the resource of the mold for concrete is less, but it is also suitable for production at home or in a small utility room. It is frost-resistant, production is possible at +12 Celsius and above.
4. Concrete reinforced freeform (monumental) - is made piece by piece, most often at the place of use. The method of free molding makes artificial boulders, cobblestones, natural-looking slabs.
5. Hot cured mineral-filled polyester (in the center in the figure) - in terms of decorative and mechanical qualities, it can surpass natural analogues, but the hardening of the compound takes place at elevated temperature in a vacuum, therefore unsuitable for home or small-scale production.
6. Cast acrylic cold curing - suitable for home-made under the same conditions as gypsum. If hardening is carried out on a vibrating stand (see below), in terms of the combination of qualities it approaches a hot curing stone. Thermoplastic at 175-210 degrees, allows additional molding after casting without loss of quality of the finished product.
7. Liquid artificial stone prepared on a gel acrylic binder - gelcoat (gel coat, gel coating). In terms of mechanical properties, it is somewhat inferior to cast, because. a smaller proportion of mineral filler can be introduced into the gel, but at home, spatial products of complex configuration can be formed on the gelcoat.

About acrylic stone

The main advantages of acrylic stone are the complete absence of pores and chemical resistance. In everyday life, this provides excellent sanitation and hygiene: the moisture absorption of acrylic stone is about 0.02% by weight; for comparison, granite - 0.33% and marble - 0.55%. Acrylic stone can be washed with any household detergent.

The second, already decorative advantage is the combination of toughness with strength, which is more characteristic of plastics than of mineral materials, which makes it possible to make stone wallpapers. Industrially manufactured acrylic stone slabs are 6, 9 and 12 mm thick, but this is due to its subsequent transportation. For on-site use, acrylic stone can be made into sheets 3-4 mm thick. Of course, such sheets require very careful handling, but if a suitable shape is available, they can be made to the full height of the wall.

And, finally, decorative artificial stone on an acrylic binder has a low thermal conductivity combined with a high heat capacity. This gives a feeling of living warmth when touched, to the point that you can sit naked in an unheated empty bath of liquid stone without feeling discomfort.

About quartz artificial stone

Among the liquid stone of hot curing, quartz artificial stone stands out (on the right in the figure with stone samples) - ground veined quartz (filler) with a binder of polyester resin PMMM (polymethyl methacrylate). Its thermal strength is limited to 140 degrees, but in terms of mechanical properties and durability, it surpasses the best of natural stones. Let's give some data for comparison; in brackets through a fraction are the values ​​​​for rapakivi granite and marble:

• Impact resistance DIN, cm - 135 (63/29).
• Bending strength, kg / sq. cm - 515 (134/60).
• Compressive strength, kg / sq. cm - 2200 (1930/2161).
• The same, after 25 cycles of "thermal swings" from -50 to +50 Celsius - 2082 (1912/2082).

Note: rapakivi granite or eyed granite is a particularly high-quality variety from the deposits of Fennoscandia. Rapakivi finished off some metro stations in St. Petersburg.

Equipment and materials

For the manufacture of cast artificial stone, in addition to free-molding stones (liquid and monumental), specific materials and equipment are required:

1. Vibration stand.
2. Models for making casting molds (if no ready-made molds are used).
3. Separating composition - they cover both the model during the manufacture of the mold and the mold before casting the product so that they do not stick to each other.
4. foundry molds.
5. Casting mixtures - compounds.
6. Pigments.
7. Sand tray-cushion for homemade silicone molds.
8. Thermal gun - for final molding and welding of acrylic stone parts.

Note: products made of liquid stone are not subject to vibration treatment during curing, even if they are placed on a vibrating stand, they will spread.

vibrostand

The vibrating stand is the heart of the entire process of making decorative stone and a guarantee of the quality of the final product. Its design, which ensures curing with proper homogeneity (homogeneity) of the mixture, is shown in the figure. Such a stand is easy to make yourself. The main principle is that vibrations of the stand platform should occur mainly in horizontal plane. Under the condition of vibration processing, it is possible to independently manufacture artificial stone, comparable in quality to industrial stone.

Note: advice to carry out vibration curing by shaking, moving or twitching the mold manually comes from people who have no idea about the physical chemistry of hardening compounds for artificial stone.

Any low-power electric motors are used as vibrators; their total power is 30-50 W per 1 sq. m of stand platform area. It is advisable to put at least two motors at the corners of the platform, and preferably 4. If one is used, then it is better to place it in the center of the platform, and put pallets with molds on the sides. The motors are powered through a rheostat or a thyristor regulator; this is necessary to adjust the vibration strength, see below.

Eccentrics are mounted on the motor shafts. It is not necessary to make turned ones, U-shaped bent pieces of a bar or strips tightened with screws are quite suitable. The speed of rotation of the motors is 600-3000 rpm. A lower speed will cause stratification of the mixture, and a higher speed will not give vibration necessary strength. Vibrators are tightly, without any gaskets, attracted to the platform with steel bands and screws or self-tapping screws.

The platform is made of dense layered material 8-20 mm thick: good plywood, fiberglass, getinaks. Its layering is important: mechanical vibrations in the platform should more or less freely propagate in the horizontal direction and quickly decay vertically. The pallet with forms is fixed on the platform with brackets on screws or self-tapping screws.

The springs must be the same and sufficiently rigid: under the weight of the platform in full load, they must be compressed by no more than 1/5 of their length. In addition, the springs must be wide so that they do not noticeably flex in the vertical plane under the weight of a fully loaded platform.

The mechanical characteristic of the springs is linear, i.e. they must be cylindrical from a wire of uniform cross section. Any progressive springs, in particular furniture springs, are unsuitable. The spring installation step is 300-600 mm along the length and width of the platform, i.e. 9 springs are needed for a 1x1 m platform. Holes or annular grooves must be selected in the platform and chassis (base) of the stand for the ends of the springs, otherwise the platform will slip.

It is better to make the stand chassis wooden, in order to absorb the same overtones; metal can ring. It is installed on the support (table) on the adjusting screws - the horizontalness of the platform must be maintained exactly.

Stand adjustment

For adjustment, the stand with the vibrators turned off is fully loaded: a pallet with filled forms is placed on it and fixed. In order not to waste the working mixture in vain, the models according to which they were made are placed in the weight molds.

Then, with a bubble level, the levelness of the platform is adjusted and set with the adjusting screws of the chassis. After that, an ordinary faience saucer with a ball from a bearing with a diameter of 5-6 mm is placed directly on the molds, the vibrator regulator is brought to a minimum and turned on.

By smoothly adding power, they make the ball start bouncing on the saucer, and then carefully slow it down until it starts again just running around the saucer and ringing from time to time. This completes the setup of the stand.

Notes:

1. When switching to another type of product, the stand must be adjusted again, both in horizontal and in vibration strength.
2. The orientation of the eccentrics on the motor shafts does not matter much; vibrators only bring the platform-spring-dampers system into resonance. To facilitate adjustments, you can turn on the vibrators at full power with an empty platform, turn them off, notice in what position the eccentrics have stopped, and rearrange them uniformly, but this is for those who like to tinker with trifles.

Video: making decorative stone from cement using a vibrating stand

Models

As models for casting molds, ready-made decorative stones of industrial production or suitable natural ones are usually used. In both cases, the set of sizes, shapes and reliefs of the final product is limited. Meanwhile, almost everywhere, literally under your feet, there is an excellent material for making your own unique models: simple ravine clay. No permission is required for its use in moderation; ravine clay is not considered a mineral, tk. not suitable for pottery and construction. But it's good for models.

Analyzes for fat content, adhesion, organic impurities, etc. also not needed, just kneaded and molded. For three-dimensional models, the clay is kneaded thickly, to the consistency of plasticine. So that the model does not crack during drying, it is fashioned on a dummy from waste wood, polystyrene, packaging cardboard, pieces plastic bottles etc. The block is brought down with plasticine to such an extent that the clay layer is no thicker than 6-12 mm.

For the manufacture of models of facing tiles of a certain size, a lattice is made of strips of thin, smooth plastic. It is undesirable to use metal: it can rust or catch on a burr. What should be the height of the grid? Two cases are possible here:

• 6-12 mm for gypsum and concrete stone and from 3 mm for acrylic - under liquid clay without modeling.
• 20-40 mm for thick clay with stucco.

In both cases, an even shield is covered with plastic wrap, a grate is placed on it and its cells are filled with clay. The shield must be placed in advance in a place protected from direct sunlight, otherwise the models will crack during drying. Next to the grate, a lump of clay mortar is “blurted” to control drying.

Clay is poured into a low grate to the top and left to dry as is. Upon drying, each tile itself will acquire a natural, unique relief. In a high lattice, thick clay is applied with a layer of thickness under the final material (see above) and formed desired relief manually. You can make inscriptions, bas-reliefs, hieroglyphs, magic signs, etc.

Dry the models under a canopy in the shade in a light draft. Drying takes 2-5 days depending on the weather. It can be accelerated by hanging at least 2 m above the models an infrared lamp of 100-200 W or an electric fireplace (not oil convection!), Turned on through a powerful diode to work at half power. Drying is followed by a control lump: if its underside is dry and does not wrinkle under the fingers, you can make forms.

Forms

Molds for artificial stone are mainly used in the following types:

1. One-time clay on lost wax model - for sculpting and artistic casting.
2. Polyurethane industrial production (in the figure on the left) - for small-scale production; cost money but are durable.
3. Silicone homemade (on the right in the figure) - for home craftsmanship or piece production. Resource - up to several dozen castings.

To make a silicone mold, a model, or a set of models for tiles, is laid out on a flat, stable surface covered with polyethylene and surrounded by a rim 10-20 mm above the tops of the models. Models and the inside of the side are lubricated with grease: grease, cyatim, shaktol. The shield with the molds is set horizontally in level so that the top surface of the silicone (which will then be the bottom of the mold) is also horizontal.

You need acidic silicone, the cheap one, which smells like vinegar with might and main. Silicone from the tube is squeezed out onto the model in a spiral from the center to the edges and to the side until the cell is filled. To avoid bubbles, silicone is dispersed with a flute brush, each time dipping it into a foamy solution of any liquid detergent for dishes. Soap solution is not suitable, it has an alkaline reaction, which can ruin acidic silicone. After filling the cell with the model, the silicone surface is smoothed with a spatula, also wetting it in detergent.

Dry the form in the same way as clay, but without infrared illumination, otherwise bubbles will go. But airing significantly speeds up drying. The drying rate of silicone is about 2 mm/day. To control drying, you can put a ring (a piece of pipe) next to the molds and fill it with silicone. You need to dry until completely dry.

Video: homemade molds for artificial stone

foundry mixtures

gypsum stone

The mixture for gypsum stone is prepared in small portions for one or several products; its survivability is up to 10 minutes. It is desirable to pour the mixture into the mold within 3-4 minutes from the start of the batch. Compound:

• Gypsum;
• Citric acid - 0.3% by weight of gypsum, to slow down hardening;
• Water - 0.8-0.9 by volume from gypsum for the starting layer and 0.6 from the volume of gypsum for the bulk;
• Pigment - 2-6% by weight of gypsum, depending on the color, selected on test samples.

concrete stone

The base is a cement-sand mortar, but the ratio of the components is the opposite of the building one: for 3 parts of cement, 1 part of sand. The proportion of the pigment is the same as for gypsum. Polymer additives are allowed. Read more about making concrete with your own hands.

cast acrylic stone

Acrylic stone is made on the basis of acrylic resin with a hardener. Permissible proportion of mineral filler, including pigment - 3:1 based on the finished mixture; the proportion of pigment (the same 2-6%) is calculated by weight from the filler.

For example, according to the instructions, the resin with the hardener must be mixed 5:1; this will give 25% of the weight of the compound. 75% remains on the filler with pigment. Let's say the pigment according to the results of the test requires 4%. Then the final composition will be as follows: resin - 20%; hardener - 5%; filler - 71% and pigment - 4%.

That is, we calculate the composition of the compound from the binder - resin with a hardener. Reducing the proportion of filler improves the thermoplasticity of the product and its elasticity, but reduces the mechanical strength. As a filler, stone chips, gravel, screenings are taken. The filler must be washed with dishwashing detergent, ignited and rinsed again with clean water.

First, the pigment is introduced into the filler, then the resin is mixed with the hardener, the filler is introduced with the pigment and mixed. The viability of the mixture from the introduction of the hardener into the resin is 15-20 minutes; setting time - 30-40 minutes; time of readiness for use - days.

liquid stone

Materials for liquid stone are quite expensive, so two compositions are used: front and primer. They differ in the composition and proportion of the filler. Priming composition, in the order of introduction of the components:

• Gelcoat - 20%.
• Microcalcite - 73%.
• Hardener - 1%.
• Accelerator - 6%.

The front composition is 40% gelcoat, hardener with an accelerator as for the primer; the rest is filler with pigment. Pot life, setting and readiness times are the same as for acrylic stone.

Pigments

Pigments for artificial stone are used dry powder, paste and liquid, mineral and synthetic. Pigment powder is introduced into dry filler or gypsum; liquid pigment is introduced into the batch. With the help of a pigment paste, you can achieve a spotty or striped color of the stone. To do this, it is injected with a syringe into the batch just before the very end of the kneading.

Separators

Release agents for different types artificial stone are used various:

• For gypsum - a solution of wax in turpentine 1: 7. Wax shavings are added in small portions with stirring to turpentine, heated in a water bath to 50-60 degrees.
• For concrete - greases, as for clay forms.
• For acrylic cast - a solution of stearin in styrene 1:10; in extreme cases - high-quality grease (cyatim, fiol).
• For liquid stone - stearin in styrene in the specified proportion.

sand cushion

A voluminous silicone mold can be torn apart by vibration and heating of a hardening gypsum or acrylic compound, so before casting it is deepened into clean, dry fine sand poured on a pallet by 2/3 or 3/4. The horizontality of the mouth of the form is checked with a level.

Thermal gun

A thermal gun is something like a miniature building hair dryer that gives a thin strong jet of hot air. In addition to welding finished acrylic stone parts, it is convenient to assemble plastic frames when making silicone molds.

Casting

The complete technology of casting liquid stone involves the starting and basic stages. Accordingly, for the sake of economy and quality, a starting (front) and base mixture is prepared. If small flat forms are filled without relief on the surface, then facial mixtures are used immediately.

The starting mixture is liquid, well enveloping the surface of the mold, with decorative filler and pigment. It is applied with a brush. Gypsum and cement with sand for starting are diluted liquidly; in the acrylic mixture, the proportion of filler with pigment is reduced to 60-50%, respectively, increasing the proportion of resin with hardener.

The base composition is added to the form after setting the starting one. Filler for acrylic take microcalcite without pigment; it will give a good background against which the decorative virtues of the facial filler will appear. The base gypsum is kneaded until the density of sour cream.

When pouring concrete, the basic pouring is done in two steps: having filled the mold to half, a plastic reinforcing mesh is applied that does not reach the edge of the mold, then it is topped up to the edge. The base fill is smoothed flush with the edge of the mold with a spatula. When pouring with acrylic, the spatula must be clean, grease-free, polished metal.

At the beginning of setting, grooves are drawn along the surface of the casting (which will be the bottom of the product) for better adhesion to the binder at. For the duration of all operations with the casting, the vibrating stand is turned off. Gypsum cast stone is treated with vegetable oil heated in a water bath to increase durability after being removed from the mold.

Video: simple production of artificial stone - from mixture to finished material

Part 1

Part 2

Molding liquid stone

Liquid stone products are made by spraying or enveloping, direct or reverse. When applied directly, the base of wood, fiberboard, chipboard, MDF is first covered with a primer with a layer of 3-4 mm, and then a decorative layer is applied. It's simple, but the surface of the product comes out rough due to protruding filler granules, which requires laborious grinding and polishing.

The reverse method is more technologically advanced: with a bowl for washing, it can be made by him independently in 2-4 hours, and if ready-made matrices are available, mass production is possible. At reverse way the matrix, the reverse of the product, is covered with a separator, a compound is applied, a wood base board is applied and pressed down with weights. If the inner surface of the matrix is ​​\u200b\u200bmirror-smooth, then the tabletop will also be the same without additional processing.

monumental molding

Boulders, blocks, flagstone are molded from a concrete composition on a block covered with pieces of a thin flexible reinforcing mesh on wire clips. First cooked very dry, with the minimum amount water, solution without pigment. Cakes from it are wrapped around a blockhead so that their edges touch. After the base has set, but while it is still wet, a working solution of normal consistency is prepared with pigment, and the product is brought to shape with it. From rain for a period of complete solidification (40 days) they are covered with a canopy of film.

Stonehenge in the garden

Landscape artificial stone must have ancient view, for this, after a day or two after setting, they age it:

• Rub all over sunny side, ocher with an admixture of gas soot; soot as a pigment is commercially available. This will give the appearance of a weathering crust.

For several millennia, natural stones have been used to decorate buildings and structures. Today it is a rather expensive material, but it has an alternative - making an artificial stone with your own hands at home. With the correct execution of all actions, it will look attractive, and its cost will be much lower.

With the use of stone in interior decoration, you can achieve an unexpected result. It is perfect for decorating the entire room or its individual elements, such as columns. It is not difficult to make an artificial stone with your own hands, but you need to correctly follow the entire sequence of procedures.

In terms of mechanical resistance or other qualities, artificial stone is in no way inferior to natural stone. In addition, it has several important advantages:

• At home, artificial products can be made with thin tiles. This will reduce the weight of objects, but at the same time maintain strength;
• With independent work, it becomes possible to make a stone of the required shape for a specific place;
• Its production can take place at the place of use, therefore transport waste is excluded;
• It is possible to obtain a smooth stone. This eliminates the cost of polishing;
• An artificial stone at home can be created in an irregular shape. This allows you to imitate a household stone variety.

Making molds for artificial stone

Forms for making artificial stone can be purchased at a specialized store, but it is recommended to make them yourself. You need to start by choosing one of the samples. As it is selected a stone that corresponds not only to its size, but also to its shape.

Silicone is used for the base material. To make a mold, you will need to take a box that has suitable dimensions. In shape, it should exceed the stone taken as a sample. The box will act as a formwork.

After that, it is required to apply a thick layer of grease to both the box and the selected sample. Then carefully place the stone at the bottom of the formwork. In order to increase the level of productivity, it is recommended to create several boxes at once along with the forms.

Next step consists in pouring silicone into the formwork. For subsequent compaction, it is required to use a simple paint brush, previously moistened with soapy water. After the final filling of the form, it is recommended to carefully level the entire surface with a spatula. It is also best to moisten it in soapy water.

The filled form will dry for 15 days, and only at the end of this period can the box be disassembled and the sample stone removed.

As a result, ready-made silicone molds are obtained, which are necessary for the independent manufacture of artificial stone. If small cracks or defects are found on the surface, it is recommended to additionally fill them with silicone.

Advice: Instead of soap, a few drops of Fairy detergent can be used to make a solution.

Form making, video:

Creating an artificial stone from gypsum

materials

The technology for making artificial stone from gypsum is the most popular. At the preliminary stage, to create it, you need to prepare the following materials with tools:

• gypsum in white;
• anhydride;
• warm water;
• river sand;
• a plastic container necessary for mixing all the elements together;
• pallet;
• matrix;
• electric drill;
• corrugated glass;
• water-based dyes.

To produce an artificial stone from gypsum does not require a large area. A few squares will be considered quite sufficient. To begin with, you should carefully consider the arrangement of the workplace, all racks and the necessary shelves should be at hand. The next step in the work is the preparation of a gypsum mortar.

Manufacturing technology

After preparing the workplace and creating silicone molds, you can start creating it. Here are the instructions for this:

• To save money, you need to prepare an amount of solution that equals the number of forms. Gypsum dough cannot be left for use next time, as it quickly hardens and becomes unusable.
• The proportions of water with gypsum must be determined independently.
• After adding water, gypsum must be poured into a container specially prepared for this. You need to add it in small portions. This will allow you to get a gypsum dough with a normal density. The solution should be thick in consistency. The liquid mixture dries longer and has a low strength.
• It will be possible to get a harder material with the addition of 10% sand to the mixture.
• The next step is to lubricate the working forms and their surfaces. In this case, wax and turpentine are used. Such a procedure is necessary, without it it is difficult to remove the frozen stone from the mold.
• The preparation of this mixture is carried out in a water bath. It allows the wax to dissolve. After the substance is applied in a thin layer on the surface of the mold.
• When dried, shells may form on the stone. To protect against them, it is recommended to apply on workplace gypsum in liquid form. It is best to lay stones on a pallet.
• To obtain a stone of a certain color, you need to mix the paint with plaster. It is recommended to do this at the stage of kneading the gypsum dough. To accomplish the goal, it is best to use separate containers.
• After that, it is required to fill the main part of the stone in a special form. Using a spatula, gently smooth out the mixture.
• Forms are covered with long corrugated glass, then vibration is carried out. This is a necessary stage of work for uniform styling. This process will take approximately two minutes.
• The curing of plaster takes about twenty minutes. Glass is easily separated from the mold, so there will be no difficulties with this activity. We take out the resulting product and dry it until completely dry in the open air. Heat treatment is not recommended, as it greatly spoils the performance of gypsum.
• At the end of the process, the stone needs to be painted. It is necessary to prepare a brush, coupled with a special paint. For painting, it is required to remove dust and similar dirt from the surface of the stone, then evenly distribute the coloring composition. After the final drying, it is recommended to apply a few more layers, this will allow you to get the desired shade.

Artificial stone from cement

Artificial stone from cement, video:

Manufacturing process

After the preparation of the form is completed, the following several stages of work are carried out.

• The first step is to mix sand with cement. This is necessary for the first layer. It needs to be applied to a silicone mold. The ratio of cement to sand will be as follows 1:3.
• Next, you need to add a certain amount of water. The mass should be similar to the consistency of thick sour cream.
• If you intend to color an already finished artificial stone, you will not need to add any components. If it is already necessary to give a shade to the future product, then it is recommended to add dyes at this stage in an amount of 2.5% of the total volume of the solution. The amount of dye should vary depending on the desired color and its brightness.
• As a result, the resulting mixture should be laid out in the finished form. but only half.
• Next, the mesh is cut from the outer mold.. It is necessary to harden the stone. The mesh must be placed on the mixture, then topped up with silicone.
• At the end of the pouring process, you need to draw a sharp element on the top layer to form a groove. This will give you excellent grip on the surface.

It can be seen that the technology is simple and does not require the use of additional equipment. It is recommended to remove the stone from the mold only after 12 hours, and then leave it to dry again for two weeks. During this period, the material will finally gain the necessary strength. After completion of work, the form must be thoroughly rinsed.

If coloring components were not added to the composition during the manufacturing process, then coloring can be completed already during the manufacture of the stone. To do this, you need to clean its surface from dust and dirt. Using a brush, apply paint evenly. To create shades, it is recommended to use paint with a darker base.

Artificial stone can be used for many purposes. This is an interior decoration, giving it a special zest and expressiveness. Creating it at home will not bring difficulties, but in the end you will be able to get an excellent facing material.

An artificial stone is a material that was obtained not naturally, but artificially, and consists of non-natural substances.

Such material does not carry any value and is a simple element of decor. The main advantages of such a stone will be beauty, light weight, cheap cost, as well as ease of manufacture and, accordingly, inexpensive production. The technology of such production is carried out using the simplest equipment, but at the same time, the strength that such an artificial stone gives is in no way inferior, and may even exceed the strength of products made from natural stones.

Advantages of the stone

Decorative stone is very popular. The main advantage of manufacturing are simple and cheap materials that are used in the production of simple concrete. It turns out that raw materials for cooking can always be easily and quickly found, and this will not be a big problem.

When using decorative stone, you can get any colors you want, you can make any shape and make any dream come true. Another great advantage is that the base of the decorative stone will never fade under the influence of sunlight, so this material is often chosen for finishing the facade of a house. The house not only becomes beautiful, but it is also much better protected from moisture and other weather conditions as well as minor damage. A huge plus is that such work can be carried out at any time of the year, since the stone is unpretentious in construction.

The technology for the production of decorative stone makes it possible to obtain such products that cannot be distinguished from natural ones, and at the same time, simple materials such as sand, cement and chemical additives can be used for manufacturing, from which any color and any pattern can be made. For this reason, designers and decorators are very fond of working with this material.

The production of such material as artificial stone is based on cement, to which fine or coarse filler, sand or crushed stone are added, respectively, and chemical additives are added, thanks to which all elements bind together and form a strong connection. A mineral pigment is responsible for obtaining the color, due to which it is precisely the resistance to fading and moisture that appears.

Back to index

Production Methods

You can make artificial stones using a silicone mold on your own.

The manufacturing technology of decorative stone is based on two methods, such as vibrocasting and vibrocompression. These two methods have their own advantages. For example, the vibrocasting method requires less expensive equipment, the setup and use of such equipment is much easier. There is no steaming in production and more products can be made per shift. And another plus is that the surface of the product is of better quality and the color of the product is more saturated, since less water is needed to make concrete.

The advantages of vibrocompression will be to obtain products that will be slightly cheaper in cost, and there will also be more mechanization in production than manual labor.

In general, the technology for the production of artificial stone has its advantages. This is lightness, unlike natural stone, it can be used for finishing the outside of the building and inside, it does not require special processing, the stone is very easy to install and no additional protection is needed for it.

If you need a production with an average number of products, then it is better to use vibrocasting technology, and if you want to get much more products, then vibrocompression technology is worth choosing.

Back to index

Vibrocasting technology for the production of decorative stone

Let's talk about manufacturing technology using vibrocasting, during which a stone is obtained. To begin with, it is worth deciding what equipment will be needed for production.

Of course, you will need a vibrating table in order to process concrete products. It is used by both large and small companies. Types of vibrating table can be different, it will depend on what products will be manufactured.

You will definitely need a mixer with which you can get a high quality solution.

The next piece of equipment is a vibrating sieve, since it is very important to use a well-sifted filler for decorative stone.

And the last mandatory equipment will be mold equipment for the manufacture of good and beautiful forms of products.

There is also another optional equipment, but we do not consider it, since it is used in vibrocompression technology on a large scale of production.

We have decided on the equipment and now we will directly consider the process of production of decorative stone. The procedure will be as follows. First you need to prepare the concrete mixture. To do this, the necessary components are taken, such as cement, dye, filler and additives, and mixed in a concrete mixer.

Then, on a vibrating table, the concrete is placed into molds and compacted in them.

Then the products are aged for two days in natural conditions, that is, no complex actions do not need to be produced. Temperature, humidity and breathability should be normal.

The next step is to separate the products from the molds on a special table.

Well, then the finished products are sorted, selected the right quality, without chips and scratches and stacked on pallets, which are taken to the warehouse.

Separately, it is worth talking about the forms for the production of products. Molds for cast products must be of high quality. Previously, when artificial stone was not so popular, hard forms of concrete, plaster, wood and metal were mainly used. Now there are many new technologies, new equipment, improved materials, so mold casting can now be of any texture, any size and any geometry.

It becomes clear that with good equipment and with skillful hands, it is not difficult to establish the manufacture of such products from decorative stone. The main thing is to follow the procedure and have quality materials, and of course, a decent workforce.

By choosing the idea of ​​producing such a stone for business, you will not lose, because it will pay for itself very quickly due to the high demand. But, of course, if you just need to use a stone for yourself, for example, lay a path in a summer cottage with paving stones or make a staircase in a house, then it is best to hire professionals and buy finished products, since it will be possible to make a stone without equipment alone and at home. problematic. Therefore, to save your time, money and nerves, it is better to entrust this work to specialists. They will do everything quickly and efficiently short term, since such work usually does not cause any difficulties.