Bark beetle facade

A common option for people wishing to give their external walls some texture and personality is the "Bark beetle" facade. This type of plaster finish is named for the way it resembles the intricate patterns that bark beetles leave on wood. It has an eye-catching appearance.

The adaptability of the Bark beetle facade is one of its main draws. It is appropriate for a variety of building types since it can be applied to surfaces like plasterboard, concrete, and brick. In addition to providing visual interest, the rough, grooved texture also serves to conceal small surface flaws.

The Bark Beetle finish is renowned for its weather resistance and longevity in addition to its visual appeal. Its ability to provide a durable, weather-resistant layer makes it a great option for both new construction and renovations.

Aspect	Description
Appearance	Distinctive, textured finish resembling tree bark.
Material	Made from a mixture of cement, lime, sand, and marble chips.
Application	Applied to exterior walls using a trowel, then textured with a plastic float.
Durability	Resistant to weather, UV rays, and impacts.
Maintenance	Easy to clean and maintain with regular washing.
Color Options	Available in a wide range of colors to match any design.

A popular plastering technique known as "Bark beetle" facades gives exterior walls a unique textured finish that mimics the natural grooves in wood created by bark beetles. In addition to adding to a building’s aesthetic appeal, this decorative technique offers enduring weather protection. To ensure a uniform, long-lasting finish, proper application necessitates close attention to detail, particularly in the selection of materials and application technique.

Features of bark beetle plaster

There are currently two types of plaster available in the construction market:

1. Based on gypsum.
2. Based on acrylic.

The gypsum composition is ready prior to work commencing. Water and extra dyes are the only ingredients you’ll need to prepare the working mixture. The package’s exterior has the recipe and the expiration date printed on it.

When completing the work area, bark beetle facade plaster blends in seamlessly with foam concrete blocks and bricks.

The mixture’s acrylic composition is offered ready for use. The paste-like mass is supplied in a unique container, frequently made of plastic. Acrylic, silicone, natural stone particle additives, and color additives make up the mixture.

The mixture turns plastic thanks to silicone. The size of the stone fractions determines the thickness of the grooves that show up on the facade’s working surface.

Take note! Upon finishing a private home’s facade with bark beetle plaster, make sure to measure the depth of the grooves. It must not be more than 1.5 to 3.5 mm.

You can be certain that the facade won’t develop cracks over time if you use this specific type of plaster. Fungi and/or mold won’t grow there.

One more crucial point. Verify that the products are from the same batch if you intend to purchase a sizable quantity of material; pay close attention to the label.

Technology of applying decorative bark beetle plaster to the facade

A metal spatula is one of the construction tools used in the process of applying bark beetle plaster to the facade. The layer’s thickness is one of the primary requirements for excellent processing of the exterior. Plastering the facade is a technique that is comparable to putty technology.

Feature: The solution is stretched over the wall until minute grooves appear.

A plastic float is used to create circular motions that give the mixture a spiral texture. You only need to lightly press; you don’t need to use much force. When the solution dries, the facade’s bark beetle plaster pattern will fully open up.

The working area of the facade needs to be polished next, using a plastic float. Keep an eye on the pattern’s consistency, take your time, and don’t rush. Process control is therefore essential; the solution shouldn’t adhere to the operational instrument. Rubbing the joints is required once the facade finishing work is completed.

Preparing the surface for application

You must exercise caution when making preparations. First, gypsum mortar or cement are used to seal the facade. Professionals advise focusing on beacons. The distance is between 100 and 150 millimeters.

A float or a half-float can be used to fix screed flaws. It is then necessary to wait for the mixture to solidify. It may require four hours to complete. The next step is to finish the facade with bark beetle by rubbing the surface in circular motions. In case of evident defects or unsatisfactory quality, the process can be carried out again after a 24-hour period.

It is important to consider that the mixture sets quickly when working in the summer. The plaster needs to be regularly moistened with water to prevent cracking.

You can use a variety of insulating materials in the work, including:

In this instance, the material mentioned above is coated with an adhesive solution. strengthened and covered in a facade mesh. Finally, bark beetle is applied.

Note: Regardless of the method chosen, the completed mixture applied to the work surface needs to dry for at least three weeks.

Applying plaster

One crucial consideration that needs to be made when applying bark beetle to the facade is the temperature range. Are there any specific guidelines for applying bark beetle at a certain temperature? In this regard, experts generally agree to advise operating at t 0 + 5 0 and higher. The following is the action algorithm. Applying a small amount of pressure to the tool, the mixture is spread out in circular motions across the working surface using a metal float. At this point, the mixture’s small-fraction pebbles will leave behind oblong marks. The direction of motion can be independently chosen by the master.

You should be aware that for every square meter, 2.5–4.0 kg of the prepared solution are needed. There are no breaks or downtime allowed for this work.

Processing the surface all at once is required. To prevent the mixture from drying out too quickly, it is applied to the wall in measured portions.

Ignoring this condition could lead to undesired defects at the intersection of areas with varying humidity levels. A plastic float is used to polish the solution once it has slightly dried.

Consumption per m2

Calculating the quantity of plaster needed and the components that go into its composition is necessary to finish the house’s facade with bark beetle. They are the ones who decide how much of the final solution is consumed.

Characteristics with a layer thickness of 2.5-3 mm
Fraction	2.5-3 mm
Dry mix consumption per 1 m2	2.5-3 kg
Creation of a reinforcing layer, consumption per 1 m2	2.5-3 kg
Work at temperatures	From -5 to +25 degrees Celsius
Shelf life of the finished solution	2 hours
Bending strength after complete drying	From 2 MPa
Vapor permeability	From 0.1 mg / (m * h * Pa)
Complete drying time	28 days

The thickness of the layer applied to the wall increases with the filler stone’s diameter.

Type of plaster	Fraction size, mm	Base surface	Price for 25 kg, rub	Average consumption, kg/m2
CT 35	2-2.5	Mineral	300	2.8-5
CT 63	3	Wood, gypsum	1200	4.5
ST 64	2	Wood, gypsum	1200	3
CT 73	2-3	Mineral + polystyrene	1600	3-4.5
CT 75	2-3	Suitable for all	1800	3-4.5
CT 175	1-3	Suitable for all	1500	3

In the event that bark beetles with large fractions of 3 mm or more are applied to the facade, 3.5 to 4 kg of material will be consumed per square meter. With a fraction of 2 mm, the consumption per 1 m 2 will be reduced to 2.5 kg when fractions smaller than 3 mm are used.

Finishing of the coating

Using specialized tools is the last step in processing the bark beetle facade plaster:

1. Metal spatula.
2. Float or half-grater.

The grooves’ direction is something you can control. The grooves will look in the direction that the float is pointed, producing a particular pattern.

The final finishing coat of bark beetle facade plaster is applied after a 10-to 15-minute break. Increasing productivity and working speed will draw in more employees.

In this instance, the first person applies the solution’s base layer, while the second person works on the texture.

Painting the plastered surface

Facade paints containing silicone dyes can be used to paint the applied solution. Applying two layers of bark beetle paint will make the facade look more appealing.

• It is desirable that the first color of the plaster that is applied to the facade is dark. Attention is paid to depressions. The second layer can be lighter. Here it is important not to tighten the dents and the bottom of the grooves.
• The work is carried out using a tool – a paint roller with a smooth surface. One more thing: the owner of the house can choose the paint for the facade at his own discretion.

Advantages of finishing the facade of a building with bark beetle

Using bark beetles to finish a house’s facade suggests a high level of mechanical strength. There are no questions regarding ecology.

1. Bark beetle has high vapor permeability.
2. It is resistant to the harmful effects of an external aggressive environment.
3. Equally suitable for external and internal work.
4. Does not crack when drying.
5. Applies well to foam concrete.

Its resistance to fire and its capacity to fend off mold and mildew on the facade are positive attributes.

Because it provides a distinctive combination of durability and beauty, the Bark beetle facade is a popular option for both residential and commercial buildings. Its unique texture serves to shield the underlying structure from the weather in addition to adding visual interest.

This type of finish’s adaptability is one of its main benefits. It can be tailored to fit various design tastes and applied to a range of surfaces thanks to the abundance of colors and textures available. Also, the facade will continue to be both aesthetically pleasing and useful for many years to come thanks to its weather-resistant qualities.

The Bark beetle facade is a useful and fashionable choice for updating the exterior of an older building or improving the appearance of a new one. It can give your property a unique character and long-lasting protection with the right application and upkeep.

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