A variety of finishing materials can be used to decorate the slopes of a door or window opening. One of them is a stone door slope. This is a stylish design solution that gives the room a special mood depending on the type of artificial decorative stone.
There are several methods for designing slopes and openings themselves - this can be a strict symmetrical finish of the entire opening from the outside or partial: the edges can be torn, the masonry can extend to a fragment of the wall. In any case, the decoration of the slopes of the front door with decorative stone or window openings always looks modern and elegant.
10 reasons to choose an artificial stone
Artificial stone is a decorative finishing material that has many positive qualities, which is why it is so popular in the interiors of various styles.
Positive properties:
- To work with artificial material there is no need for thorough preliminary leveling of the surface from the outside.
- Facing work can be done on your own - for this you do not need special equipment or professional skills..
- Artificial stone goes well with other natural materials - wood and glass.
- This material creates the illusion of exterior bricking of window and doorways, while having little weight.
- Products are distinguished by the ability to create unique diverse textures, patterns and shades that mimic natural material.
- The light weight of the elements allows them to be used even for facing slopes made of drywall, which do not withstand a significant load.
- The material has fire resistance and thermal insulation qualities, which are especially relevant when decorating window and door slopes with decorative stone.
- These products are “breathable” materials due to the modified gypsum used in the manufacture. Stone cladding helps to create optimal microclimatic conditions in the house.
- The composite is easy to clean, does not absorb dirt and moisture, and therefore is not subject to rot. It is enough to wash a surface with soapy water.
- It is safe for humans and the environment, as it is environmentally friendly and hygienic.
The differences of artificial stone in the material of manufacture
The artificial masonry, with which the door slopes are finished, does not differ in appearance from natural. The composite is made on the basis of different materials, so it has three varieties.
Types of artificial stone, depending on the external design
Modern manufacturers offer the most common textures and shades of this artificial material. Below are samples of some of them.
Types of masonry
There are two types of masonry - with and without seam. The seam looks better when laying elements of a clearly marked geometric shape.
Seam preservation
When performing finishing work from artificial stone, you can apply the masonry technique, in which the seams are preserved. In order for the seams to be even, it is necessary to install plastic wedges between them. This will keep the masonry elements in the required position while the adhesive solution sets.
When decorating slopes with stone, work begins in the lower corner. An adhesive solution covers part of the wall with a comb spatula. The decorative element is applied to the wall and pressed.
If the door slopes do not have a door leaf, then the laying of decorative stone occurs with an overlap. If there is a door, the color and texture of the openings should harmoniously fit into the interior and be combined with other decorative finishing materials.
Stitching
Suturing of joints occurs after the final setting of the decorative material and the surface of the wall. Instructions from the manufacturer of artificial stone contain recommendations on the use of the type of grouting composition.
Using a syringe gun, the seam is filled to a depth not exceeding 5 mm. This will give the masonry a more pronounced relief.
When the grout begins to set, it must be leveled with a curly blade or spatula.
The remaining grout from the front surface can be brushed off.
A stone slope will look more thoroughly if the color of the grout is gray. Light grout against a background of dark decorative masonry will refresh its general perception.
Monolithic masonry
When making a door slope without seams, work takes less time. Monolithic masonry is achieved due to the most dense stacking of elements to each other. With this method, an adhesive solution is applied directly to the product.
It is important that there are no traces of glue on the outside..
When laying, it is necessary to control the vertical direction of the masonry. If the products have the correct geometric shape, then it is important to monitor their correct horizontal position.
At the final stage, the masonry is covered with a solution that increases the strength and water-repellent characteristics of the material.
Decoration corners
When making a corner, you can use one of two methods:
- to stack elements by dressing as in brickwork;
- trim the ends of the side fragments with an angle of 45 degrees.
Finishing with an artificial stone of a slope of a window opening
Stone window decoration looks no less impressive than on doorways. An important condition is the size of the elements. It is necessary to finish the window slope with a small facing stone so that the trimmed window opening does not look massive.
Slopes of windows should be leveled and grounded outside and inside. When using artificial material, reinforcing the surface of the slope, even if it is made of drywall, using a reinforced mesh is not required.
Laying the material on the windows is a monolithic method, starting from the bottom of the slope. When the lower fragments are firmly fixed, then you can continue to lay out the upper rows. Corners should be formed by cutting the end faces of the facing products at an angle of 45 degrees.