DIY artificial decorative stones for landscape design

Content

1. Stone Benefits
2. Necessary materials
3. stone mold
4. Video: artificial stone, master class
5. Preparation and application of cement mortar on the frame

Those who have a summer cottage or personal plot always want to create comfort and originality of their own, albeit small, piece of land, but without the maximum approximation to natural naturalness, this is very difficult to achieve.

In an ornamental garden, no matter what size it is, stones and boulders of various sizes will look very impressive and harmonious. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to buy or look for natural stones somewhere, but you still need to organize the delivery of this heavy load to the site and installation at the designated place. Is there any alternative solution to this problem? Undoubtedly, there is!

It is quite possible to make an artificial stone, boulder, block or even a whole rock with your own hands.

The advantages in artificial decorative stone are obvious:

1. Special equipment is not required for the delivery and installation of natural stones;
2. All materials for manufacturing are brought in the trunk of a car;
3. The strength and durability of the finished product is equal to the properties of natural stone;

The ability to give an artificial stone absolutely any necessary shape, size, texture and color.

Necessary materials:

• Cement brand not lower than M500;
• Sand of any required fraction and color;
• Superplasticizer for concrete;
• Metal soft wire (its thickness depends on the size of the future object);
• Metal fittings (if the object being manufactured is large);
• Fine-mesh galvanized metal mesh (with a cell of no more than 0.5 cm);
• Dyes for concrete (colors are selected at will);
• Wire knitting.
• Tools:
• Trowels and spatulas of different sizes;
• Paint brushes and rollers;
• Nippers and pliers;
• Knives, chisel and hammer;
• Perforator with a nozzle for mixing concrete or a concrete mixer (if the object being made is monumental);
• Mixing container;
• Angle grinder (Bulgarian);
• Welding machine.

No matter what size the decorative artificial stone is made, the production technology remains the same.

stone mold

First stage — making a base that will hold the shape of the future stone.

First, a skeleton (frame) is made of wire 5 — 8 mm thick, if the stone is not very large, or from reinforcement, if the object is bulky. For small sizes, it is enough to connect the frame wire with a soft knitting wire, and when working with fittings, welding work is performed.

When the frame is ready and all its elements (wire and reinforcement) are securely fixed into a single whole, then it is covered with a metal mesh and fixed to the frame with a knitting wire. After the end of knitting and welding, the next stage begins.

Preparation and application of cement mortar on the frame

The recommended ratio in the mortar of M600 cement and sand is 1×2, and so much water is added so that the mortar has the consistency of thick sour cream. Superplasticizer is added as much as it should be in the attached instructions, the dye can also be added at this stage if you need to give a certain shade to the whole stone.

The first layer, on the finished frame, is applied so that the solution penetrates into the frame, but does not fall out at all, it is necessary to achieve the effect of reinforcement.

Video: artificial stone, master class

Special texture at this stage should not be achieved. Depending on the temperature regime and air humidity, the application of the second layer should be started after about 12 hours, and it is already applied taking into account the desired appearance of the stone surface.

It is permissible to apply a third layer of the solution, but this is done only in exceptional cases, when the shape of the object is quite complex. Also, do not forget to give the desired color to the last top layer, for this you need to add a special dye for concrete in the right amount while mixing the solution.

In the wild, only sea stones can be round and smooth, otherwise they have a chaotic, but very beautiful textured pattern: there may be chips, abrasions, and deep cuts. For this work you will need knives, brushes and paint rollers. Even an ordinary bath sponge can give an interesting pattern to the surface of the stone, if you do not press it hard against the still elastic, but no longer flowing solution.

After the final touches have been applied to the surface, it must be allowed to dry, petrify, and only after that you can move the object to a permanent place (if it was a small stone). If it is a whole rock, then it is made permanently in its place.

Making artificial decorative stones is a creative process and it is easy for anyone to master it. In combination with living trees and shrubs, artificial stones will help to create unique compositions.

Surrounding yourself with works of your creativity, relaxing in such an ornamental garden becomes doubly pleasant and this contributes to peace, good rest and health promotion.