Alabaster: application and preparation of the mixture. Building alabaster, application

Alabaster is a mortar of building gypsum, which can be found on construction sites and in living conditions. Belongs to a group finishing materials. It is used for both interior and exterior decorating. He is interesting for many positive characteristics: refers to environmentally friendly safe material, has good sound insulation and water resistance.

On the market you can find alabaster of three types and under various brands: fast hardening, slow hardening and normal hardening.

The main characteristics of alabaster

Alabaster has the following positive properties:

Hardens in no time. Already after five minutes, the material sets and after 30 minutes it reaches full hardening.
Reduces the risk of cracking.
It is a non-combustible material.
Allows for even coverage.
With its help, it is possible to create fireproof coatings.

Alabaster for repair and construction work

Using alabaster is not at all difficult, but before using it, you must read the instructions and strictly adhere to the recommendations. It should be remembered that the material hardens very quickly in air. After about 5-7 minutes, the diluted solution begins to set and becomes unsuitable for further work. In order to avoid embarrassment, it is recommended to knead the solution in batches. To prolong the "working" properties of the mixture, many experts recommend adding wallpaper paste to it. In this case, there is a little more time for work.

Another secret. does not stick to rubber at all, so it can be diluted in rubber containers. If the solution is planned to be diluted in an ordinary bucket, then it must first be overlaid plastic wrap. Otherwise, such a container will be damaged.

Alabaster solution: technological features

The technology of diluting alabaster has similar features with the technology of diluting wallpaper paste. Usually the proportions are as follows: the ratio of powder and water is 1: 0.5, where 1 kg of alabaster falls on 1.5 liters of cold water.

The resulting mixture must be thoroughly and very quickly mixed to a viscous state. The consistency of the solution should resemble sour cream. After that, you can immediately start finishing work, while interruptions in the application of the material are unacceptable.

Gypsum, alabaster, lime

Soft white, sometimes with a grayish tint, building plaster- alabaster - used in different areas construction. How to breed alabaster correctly so that the resulting consistency is as useful as possible?

First, let's take a closer look at the material itself. Alabaster is based on a natural mineral, which gives confidence in environmental cleanliness and safety of use. In addition, alabaster has unique waterproof and soundproof qualities.
Before purchasing this material, make sure that it is of good quality and free from dirt. This is especially true if it is needed for walls as an equalizer for various depressions. We advise you to take with a mark on the package "Purified mixture". This means that the mixture will be easy to knead, perfectly seal cracks and hold on for a long time.
Process Nuances
What to breed
It is best to breed alabaster in a soft rubber container. A small ball cut in half would work well. From such a container, alabaster will be easily removed without leaving dried marks on the walls. There is a possibility that by spreading alabaster in a hard, for example, plastic utensils, it will deteriorate and become useless for anything. If it is not possible to get the ball, prepare a pot or bucket. Before diluting the alabaster, insert into this bucket plastic bag, which after use can be thrown away, and the container will remain clean. It is better to fix this package to the edges of the bucket with clerical clips or a tight hose.
It's better to use a plastic bag
Note! Construction alabaster sets quickly. It cannot be re-diluted with water.
Proportions
How much to pour
The process of kneading alabaster is similar to the procedure for making putty, paste and other mixtures. For effective work with this building material, you need to choose the right proportions. Building codes spelled out a rule indicating that 0.5–0.65 liters of water is required for 1 kg of dry alabaster. Lime mortar can be used instead of water.
After kneading, you need to wait half a minute for the components to react. Then get to work right away. Basically, on finished plot, where the work was done, the alabaster dries in 3 hours. But much depends on the thickness of the layer, as well as the humidity and temperature of the room.
The building mixture must be added to the container with water, and not pour water into the container with the mixture. It is best to stir with a drill with a mixer attachment. If the container is small, a small spatula will do. Lumps are not allowed!

The building material in the form of gypsum, referred to as alabaster, is of mineral origin and is considered one of the the purest materials on environmental parameters in this area, the use of which is calculated for more than one millennium, since it has unique technical specifications and is suitable for all kinds of construction applications. Today, gypsum material is often used for decoration, especially in the form of alabaster. Due to the relevance of the use of alabaster, the consumer often has a question about the difference between gypsum and alabaster.

Distinctive features of gypsum from one alabaster

In the field of construction, quite a lot of types of building materials are used, among which you can find materials from both gypsum and alabaster. Often and professional builders cannot explain the difference between these materials. They believe that alabaster mortar is nothing more than one of the varieties of gypsum, which means that it is gypsum. In some ways, this statement is true, but the difference still exists, and it lies in the properties of materials, but it is practically impossible to determine it visually.

Unlike alabaster, gypsum is used not only in construction, but also in medicine, which means that the range of its application is wider.
Being a material that dries very quickly, alabaster is able to deliver a lot of problematic inconvenience to builders in the process of work. In order to eliminate such a drawback, one cannot do without special additives, which should be added to the alabaster before starting to work with it.
The use of gypsum compared to alabaster is safer for humans, as evidenced once again by the fact that its use is permissible in the medical field. Alabaster is intended exclusively for construction.
Gypsum is more flexible.

Benefits of alabaster

However, with all those properties in which alabaster loses to gypsum, it also has a number of advantages, thanks to which builders give preference to it when certain construction operations are necessary. It is also willingly used by craftsmen who are engaged in the manufacture of various crafts with their own hands, because the material is practically safe for health.

Rapid drying of the material allows you to significantly increase productivity and the pace of work: the hardening time of the material is no more than two hours. For example, when leveling the surface of the walls with alabaster, you can start plastering them after fifteen minutes, since the material will already begin to set.

Alabaster has a high degree of fire resistance.
It is the owner of binding characteristics of excellent quality.
Quite environmentally friendly.
It has the ability to regulate indoor humidity.

Preparation of alabaster solution

It is known that alabaster material is a type of powder obtained by firing and further grinding to the state of a fine-grained mixture of gypsum in stone.

A solution of alabaster can be prepared independently, using two parts of powder and one part of water. Water is poured into the container for its cultivation and gradually, with constant stirring, add required amount powder. Since the solution is quick drying, it should not be prepared in in large numbers. Its density also varies by adjusting the amount of liquid, which depends on what work is planned to be carried out.

Ready hardened alabaster mortar cannot be re-diluted with water. In this form, it will no longer retain its original properties. So that the material does not lose its qualities for as long as possible during manufacture, it is necessary to add wallpaper glue to it and cover the bowl with a solution of polyethylene.

The use of alabaster in construction

The area where alabaster mortar is used is quite diverse:

It is often used to repair and eliminate irregularities on any surface, any crack, seam or hole is rubbed with a solution.
The ability to dry quickly has made alabaster popular in the electrical industry. Alabaster is used to close up recesses for electrical wiring in walls and ceilings. It is also used to secure socket boxes.
Alabaster is also popular in interior decoration. With its help, gypsum stucco is fixed, which, as a rule, is heavy, and alabaster mortar is able to securely fix it.
Making crafts by hand experienced craftsmen gives another popular direction in the use of alabaster and contributes to the creation of unique countertops, vases, inkwells and other items that can be made in a similar way.

Often, when making various crafts, the instructions in the instructions are not entirely complete. For example, when making a tree from beads, it is recommended to use alabaster for the base, ground, and trunk of a tree. And how alabaster is bred, the instructions for the master class do not say.

In order to correct this injustice, we will create a separate instruction that tells about this process.

What is alabaster and how is it different from alabaster

Don't think there is a mistake here. Indeed, there are two materials, with completely different properties, called by the same word - "alabaster". There is a mineral, calcium carbonate, from which vases, funerary vessels, and sculpture were made in antiquity. He might be different colors- from white to black - and has some transparency for light, which, however, was quite enough to fill window openings in churches in the Middle Ages.

The translucent material is also called alabaster onyx. Today, calcite alabaster is also used to make various decorative items. This material relatively hard (3 on the mineralogical hardness scale) and processed with tools - cut, polished. Naturally, we are not talking about diluting calcite alabaster with water.

More common and habitually associated with the word "alabaster" is another material - gypsum alabaster, or simply gypsum. It is well known to those who, one way or another, faced repairs or broke some limb. The material from which the surgeon makes a splint to immobilize a limb or part of the body in case of fractures, sprains or other types of injuries, and the electrician uses to fix the cable in the strobe, is all alabaster. Both of them choose this material because of the property of the gypsum solution to harden in an extremely short time - from 2 to 20 minutes, with the final set of strength within an hour.

Gypsum is made from gypsum stone (alabaster), a mineral from the sulfate class. Natural raw materials are fired and crushed, resulting in a material called β-gypsum. The coarser fraction is used as a binder in mortars, and has the common name alabaster or building plaster. A finer grinding material is used for making casts and castings, for example, in the manufacture of gypsum moldings, this is molding gypsum. From raw materials of high purity and fine grinding, they make material for the needs of medicine. With additional processing of ground gypsum stone, α-gypsum is obtained, which has a greater strength compared to β-gypsum.

Which is better: building alabaster or building plaster

From the foregoing, it is clear that alabaster and gypsum are the same thing, and do not be fooled by “experienced advice” that explains to you the advantages of gypsum over alabaster or vice versa, and also proves that alabaster hardens more slowly than gypsum. The life time of the gypsum mortar depends on the additives added by the manufacturer to the dry mix. And the manufacturer does this in accordance with GOST 125-79, which describes specifications production of gypsum binders. By named guest gypsum mixes can be of various grades - depending on the strength and three degrees of hardening:

A - fast-hardening, solution life from 2 to 15 minutes;
B - normally hardening (6-30 minutes);
B - slow-hardening (the beginning of hardening - from 20 minutes, the end is not standardized).

Manufacturers can write both “gypsum” and “alabaster” on the packaging, and sometimes even both terms at the same time. Therefore, choose the material for your tasks not by name, but by technical qualities marked with a label. If you need to quickly fix something, for example, plaster beacons or a cable in a strobe, quick-hardening gypsum is suitable for you, and if you want to make something, then better fit normally hardening mix. Molding plaster is more expensive, but if your casting has fine details, then it will be preferable to construction, which has a large grain. Medical is also more expensive than construction, but, apart from the price and the inscription, there are no other differences on the packaging for making crafts from molding.

How to breed alabaster

Well, finally, having understood the nuances of the differences between alabaster and gypsum, let's move on to the procedure for mixing the solution. In fact, if you plan to do something from gypsum and have already bought a bag with a dry mix, then this instruction is useless to you: any manufacturer on the package indicates how and in what proportions the solution is made. In general, this instruction advises to make a solution, taking one part of water and two parts of alabaster.

Do not forget that gypsum hardens in a few minutes, and the main rule when diluting is to make as much mortar as you can work out during the lower hardening time limit, characteristic of the brand of gypsum that you bought. That is, if the package says “from 6 to 30 minutes”, then you need to count on six minutes.

That is why you should not try to plaster or putty with alabaster, they can only fill in small bumps or chips. IN gypsum putties and prefabricated plasters, in addition to gypsum, there are additives that slow down the setting process, making the work comfortable.

When working with plaster, there are several secrets:

usage warm water for mortar accelerates the curing time;
attempts to add water to the hardening solution will not lead to anything good;
at home, wallpaper glue can serve as an additive that slows down the hardening of gypsum;

Marl, travertine, calcite, gypsum. The names of these stones are grouped under the name alabaster. Separately, calcite rock metamorphic plan, that is, formed under pressure from existing ones.

The formula of calcite is CaCO 3 . The composition of gypsum also includes sulfur and water. By marl, geologists understand a clay-like sedimentary rock with silicon in the formula. Travertine, on the other hand, is a calcareous tufa, similar to marble, but containing hydrogen. It remains to find out what alabaster means and how it is associated with the listed stones.

Description and features of alabaster

Alabaster - building material. The confusion in concepts is connected with the antiquity of the material. A city called Alabaster was in Ancient Egypt. The rock mined nearby was named after the settlement. According to Pliny's description, it was white, translucent.

It fits the description of gypsum, and calcite, some types of marl and travertine. However, there was plaster near Alabaster. His traces are in the area to this day, and the artifacts speak for themselves.

In the photo, alabaster rock

First, the Egyptians carved lamps and jugs from alabaster. Then, the stone dust remaining from the production went into use. Mixed with water, it turned into a viscous substance.

She was smeared on the cracks in the walls,. The mixture quickly solidified, turning into a kind of solid rock. This decoration can be seen in the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete. The building is ancient Greek.

Accordingly, from the Egyptians alabaster, as construction material passed on to other nations. Not everyone had gypsum on hand. In different areas, the stone was replaced with similar ones in color, hardness, and properties.

The main parameter of assorted alabasters is moisture capacity. Particles of crushed stones are porous. Moisture enters these pores. The powder increases in volume, becomes plastic, similar to dough.

Combine alabaster and other parameters:

Fire resistance. At first glance, it is typical for stones. But, remember anthracite. Coal burns without residue, serves as one of the main sources of energy.

Hardness on the Mohs scale in the region of 3-4 points. There are 10 marks in total. At the top is a diamond, and at the first step is talc. The latter is used in baby powder. This gives an understanding of the softness and pliability of the stone. 3-4 points - an indicator of hardness below average. Selected breeds that are easy to grind.

Environmental friendliness. Mineral composition building mixtures ensures their safety for health. Again, there are also radioactive stones, for example, strontium sulfate with the name celestine. But, in gypsum, calcite, travertine and marl, there are no dangerous components.

Quick set of strength. Any alabaster freezes rapidly, transforming from doughy mass into stone in a matter of hours.

Before entering the shelves, the alabaster is crushed to a finely dispersed state and fired at a temperature of about 200 degrees. However, here the types of mixtures begin to differ.

Only water-containing stones are fired, and this is gypsum and marl. So, about particulars different types alabaster is a separate conversation. In the meantime, let's get acquainted with the areas of application of powders.

The use of alabaster

Gypsum alabaster- the basis of drywall panels. The stone powder in them is enclosed between two layers of paper. The sheets are easy to cut, yet strong enough for ceiling structures, zoning partitions, cabinet niches and wall lining.

Alabaster is the basis of drywall panels

alabaster solution useful in the role of plaster. However, there is also sheet plaster. They call it dry. Drywall nominally can be categorized. But more often under sheet plaster they understand in which gypsum and paper fiber are mixed.

Application of alabaster found in stucco. Unthinkable without her classic interiors in the spirit of the 18th and 19th centuries. As a rule, stucco is made from gypsum powder. In silicone molds, its mass acquires any, the most ornate outlines.

The disadvantages of products include stringent requirements for evenness of base surfaces. Gypsum stucco moldings do not bend, they can only be mounted on walls without distortions. Another drawback common to all alabasters is moisture capacity.

Alabaster can be used to make figurines for home and garden decor, and stucco

It makes powders plastic. It also exposes alabaster products to deformation and swelling. In general, building materials and their products are not used in damp rooms. Coatings crack and peel off.

If we talk about alabaster, like gypsum, then its use goes beyond the construction industry. In particular, the material is used by physicians. Many had to deal with the fixation of fractures with plaster powder. Even in some cases of flat feet, a splint is needed.

In ancient times, alabaster was treated at the junction with magic. It was believed that wearing a stone on the body blocks the development of diseases of the thyroid gland, kidneys, and liver. Alabaster was also put into drugs.

The healers of the past assured that the pebbles in drinks enhance their properties. However, knowledge of the different geological nature of alabaster casts doubt on the claims of healers.

Stones of different origin and with different chemical formula and the body should act differently. Hence the doubts magical properties alabaster. They say that the breed protects from anger higher powers and influential people. Belief is associated with a legend saying that alabaster was sent to people by the Gods.

Let's return to the building alabaster. Its properties are proven and unambiguous. The scheme of application has also been verified. Dilute the powder in small portions. Rapid solidification of the compositions eliminates long work with them.

Accordingly, the finishers should have a full hand. Professionals know that powders are diluted cold water, pouring into it, and not vice versa. Stir immediately without waiting to get wet. For mixing, it is convenient to use a nozzle on a drill. Her components are combined until a homogeneous mass. Lumps should not remain, even small ones.

Apart from the question how to breed alabaster, the question of the nuances of its application is also important. So, when leveling the walls with a mixture, you need a composition with the longest possible hardening period.

Plastered walls know that after applying the base layer, corrections and greases are required. The quick setting of alabaster eliminates the possibility of working on mistakes. Compositions with the addition of plasticizers help out.

The difficulties of working with alabaster mixtures are inferior to the advantages of coatings. Their porosity provides excellent sound and thermal insulation properties. High adhesion of alabaster maximally strengthens the base, for example, walls. The fluid mixture fills the smallest cracks in them, penetrates to a depth of up to 1 centimeter.

Alabaster is applied with two spatulas. The smaller mixture is superimposed on the larger one. With a large spatula, alabaster is distributed along the walls from the bottom up. The mechanism is identical to puttying. With alabaster, however, you need to work faster.

Alabaster seizes very quickly, so working with it requires a certain skill.

Types of alabaster

The main division of alabasters is presented in the table of contents. It is promised to pay attention to differences in the properties of mixtures. Let's start with chemical activity. Let's analyze calcite and gypsum alabaster. Marl and travertine are not used in modern times.

Calcite refers to carbonate rocks, that is, it contains a carbon bond CO. Accordingly, the solution buy alabaster from calcium is fraught with a violent reaction of the mixture with hydrochloric acid.

So, the latter should be kept away from the powder and its solution. After the reaction, calcite alabaster loses valuable properties. Gypsum does not belong to carbonates, it is more resistant to acids.

In the photo, a rock of calcite alabaster

Being unstable to acids, calcite is harder than gypsum. If carbonate powder is used correctly, products from it are obtained better, stronger. Outwardly, products and coatings resemble marble, also related to carbonate rocks.

Gypsum and calcite alabaster are also distinguished by their colors. A variety of marble is greenish and pink. So building calcite alabaster is found in color, and without synthetic pigment additives. Gypsum alabaster is colorful only with third-party additives.

The inhabitants of the Ancient East began to use calcite as alabaster. This is proved by the lines of the Bible. In it, calcite is called oriental alabaster, in accordance with the ways of importation to other parts of the world.

They continue to produce calcite alabaster also only in the East. European and Russian building mix standards are related to gypsum. Objectively, in the Western market it is the only alabaster. Proportions it to the world market - almost 90%. Other types of alabaster account for 10%. So, let's talk about price tags in the "framework" of gypsum mixtures.

alabaster price

On the alabaster price depends on the packaging, the name of the manufacturer and the location of its factories. Powder Russian production in domestic open spaces the cheapest. In second place are Chinese products.

American alabaster and from the EU countries are the most expensive. However, the price tag is justified by the quality of the powder. It should be free of foreign impurities and as finely dispersed as possible.

With regards to packaging, alabaster is sold in retail both in kilograms and in 45 kilograms. The powder is enclosed in paper bags. A kilogram package can be bought for 15 rubles. The maximum price tag is 110 rubles.

For this price, 5 and 8 kg bags are successfully purchased. For 600 rubles you can buy 40 kilograms of gypsum alabaster. On average, the cost of bags is comparable to the price tag for the same amount of cement. It is also available in bags.

Price tags for products made of alabaster are more diverse. Artifacts are worth thousands of dollars. Firstly, the antiquity of objects plays a role, and secondly, their rarity. The latter is largely associated with the softness of the stones of the alabaster group. Most of the handicrafts, vases, lamps of them have long crumbled into dust, split into pieces.

The cost of modern alabaster products depends on the complexity of execution and scope. The same stucco can be thin and unpretentious, or massive and ornate.

The latter, of course, is more expensive, especially with the manual method of manufacture. The craftsman takes a gypsum base, and for many hours puts patterns of gypsum cords and ribbons on it.

Hand-made from alabaster and modern crafts like salt shakers, ashtrays. There are copies for 10,000-15,000 rubles. The cost of the material is low, but the work of craftsmen is highly valued.

Alabaster rarely goes on jewelry, it is too soft. Having paid for the decoration, you will have to put up with multiple scratches on it. Damage blocks the silky sheen of the stone, which is its beauty.