Decorative plaster under the tree: imitation of bark and other types of wood, detailed technology

Without the cost and maintenance of real wood, decorative plaster that looks like wood is a great way to add the warmth and natural beauty of timber to your home. This kind of plaster can be made to look like different kinds of wood, such as hardwood with its polished, smooth appearance or tree bark with its rough texture. It’s a flexible choice that gives any area personality and elegance.

Bark-like plaster, which produces a rustic, textured look that feels close to nature, is one of the most popular options. This method can be customized to fit your style, whether you want to add a hint of organic texture to a modern space or give your walls a warm, cabin-like feel. Plaster can also be used to mimic other wood finishes, such as walnut or oak, providing a multitude of aesthetically pleasing options.

Although it takes some skill and attention to detail to create these effects, with a little instruction, anyone can learn how to do it. This post will guide you through the intricate technology underlying the ornamental plaster beneath the tree, from material selection to plaster application and finishing touches. This guide will assist you in using plaster to add the classic beauty of wood to your interior spaces, whether you’re a professional or a do-it-yourself enthusiast looking to improve your skills.

Type of Decorative Plaster	Description
Bark Imitation	Gives walls the appearance of tree bark. Apply base layer, then use tools to create texture resembling rough bark.
Wood Grain	Mimics the look of wood grain. Apply a plaster mix and use a comb tool to drag across the surface for a realistic wood texture.

Types and application

You can achieve a variety of texture-related effects with decorative plaster, including:

• tree bark,
• surface eaten by woodworms,
• boards laid tightly,
• wood panels,
• cross-cut.

Large inclusions and fiber-free compositions are needed for the textured plaster beneath the tree. These are essentially smooth mixtures. Decorative plaster is created by mixing fine filler into mixtures that resemble tree bark. The structural plaster bark beetle with granules starting at 2 mm was the exception.

In interior design, plaster finishing beneath trees is utilized to create wooden panels for hallways, corridors, and other rooms. These coatings look fantastic on fences, pathways, gazebos, walls, and other small architectural forms; they also look great on loggias and balconies. Wood-cut or bark-like surfaces work well with a variety of interior design themes.

Before working on the wall, practice on pieces of plasterboard, fiberboard, or plywood.

Professionally produced imitation wood has a texture that is very similar to that of real wood. In actuality, even individuals who are just learning how to plaster can create attractive plaster beneath a tree. It all comes down to having the drive to study, practice, and produce work of a high caliber.

What is good about this type of finishing

When compared to natural wood, the primary benefits of this type of finishing are its increased durability and reduced cost. Plaster under a tree for decoration:

1. does not rot,
2. withstands temperature fluctuations,
3. resistant to precipitation,
4. does not burn,
5. can be renewed by painting,
6. hides minor flaws,
7. "breathes",
8. ecologically friendly.

Main and auxiliary tool

The primary instruments and apparatuses utilized for solution preparation and layer application are:

• Trowel,
• spatulas,
• construction mixer,
• containers,
• masking tape,
• ruler,
• level.

Devices for the selected imitation method are also required:

• spatulas with a serrated edge,
• decorative wood-look roller for processing plaster,
• rubber stamp,
• silicone stamp for a wooden board,
• hard brush,
• flat brush,
• clean rag,
• sponge.

Materials used and preparation for application

Acrylic, mineral, and silicone compositions can all be used to create a textured wood-look plaster. These are essentially smooth mixtures or mixtures with finely grained filler, like the plaster made from decorative Marmorino tree bark. Using structural compositions, the bark beetle effect is achieved. Decorative plaster beneath a tree is frequently created by the home’s owners using only their own tools and materials. They can mimic wood, for instance, even with regular putty.

Since the coatings are painted and sealed with wax or varnish after the texture is formed, you don’t need any colored mixtures for the task. Decorative plaster is therefore created to resemble priceless or antique wood, as required in a specific interior.

A finish of this kind can cover up small faults and imperfections in the foundation surface. All other things being equal, it necessitates the same base preparation as other coating kinds. You can only attain a lengthy, multi-year service life under these circumstances.

The base that is getting ready:

• is cleaned of the remains of the previous finish,
• is leveled and repaired if necessary,
• is cleaned of stains and traces of grease,
• is primed,
• is thoroughly dried.

If the base surface is not holding the coating (such as paint or penoplex) well enough, be sure to install a reinforcing mesh.

An inventive way to introduce the warmth and texture of real wood into your home is through decorative plaster that looks like wood. With this method, you can create a distinctive, rustic finish on your walls without using actual wood by simulating the appearance of bark or other wood grains. To achieve the desired wood effect, a special plaster mix is applied and then various techniques such as stamping, carving, and staining are applied. With the correct supplies and some advice, you can update your area with the classic charm of wood and the strength and adaptability of plaster.

Technology and application methods + video

Tree bark

We’ll use the finish created with the least expensive materials as an example of how to create decorative plaster that has the appearance of tree bark.

1. The working solution is prepared from gypsum plaster. The purchased dry mixture is diluted in water.
2. The solution is applied to the prepared base with a trowel in an even layer of 2-3 mm.
3. Immediately with a roller moistened with water, the initial relief is applied.
4. When (after 20-30 minutes) the surface of the plaster dries a little and does not sag under light pressure, it is moistened with a spray bottle and they begin to smooth out the protrusions. This is done with a spatula so that after its passage between the smooth areas there are ruts – deepenings of cracks in the bark. After each long smoothing movement of the spatula, it is wiped with a damp cloth so that the lumps of solution remaining on it do not spoil the surface.
5. Allow the surfaces to dry completely (usually a day). After drying, small defects that can scratch are removed with a spatula.

Wax is usually used for the protective layer of decorative plasters. In this case, it can be replaced with non-woven glue mixed with water-soluble acrylic varnish. The glue is diluted, brought to readiness, mixed with varnish in a ratio of 1:0.5. Then the selected color is added and after mixing, the “budget wax” can be used. It is applied with a trowel. With this application, all the recesses are filled and the surface is smoothed. With a damp sponge, excess is removed, and the surface is smoothed again with a trowel. This type of finishing can be diversified in various ways, for example, you can apply a little paint of a different tone with a sponge.

See also: How to decorate interior walls with decorative plaster made from brick?

Using a stamp

The steps to imitate a wood surface with a rubberized stamp are as follows:

1. A trowel is used to apply a layer of the mixture, which has the consistency of sour cream, 2-2.5 mm thick.
2. The stamp is “dragged” without pressing along the top of the layer in a horizontal or vertical direction (depending on which direction of the main lines of the wood pattern is chosen). In this case, the stamp itself is slightly rocked from one wide edge to another (for this reason it is made convex), as a result of which the lines of the wood texture on the surface of the layer are variable, close to the natural pattern.
3. After the layer dries, it is treated with fine-grain sandpaper – 240-320.
4. Paint.
5. Coat with varnish or wax.

Using a brush

The bristles of the brush are drawn along the primary direction of the wood lines to create the textured pattern. The solution that has adhered to the bristles needs to be routinely removed, but pressure is not necessary. Using a spatula, gently smooth the slightly dried surface until all sharp protrusions are gone.

Using a shaped spatula

With a spatula with a serrated blade, DIY wood-like plastering is a simple task. You can create your own DIY spatula by using a knife to cut out teeth on a wooden or plastic spatula. Use half of a nylon jar lid in its place. By drawing a spatula sinuously and rotating the working edge line slightly with respect to the tool’s movement line, one can achieve a wide range of lines.

Using a silicone matrix

Matrixes for imprinting wood texture are available for purchase. Silicone matrix tape can simulate a lengthy board (collaborative work is preferable). Bark imprints are obtained by using a brief matrix. In the first scenario, rolling the silicone tape to the surface will require the use of a standard roller.

1. After applying the plaster mortar, a matrix tape moistened with water is applied to the surface of the layer,
2. The tape is rolled with a roller to obtain a clear imprint.
3. Using a wooden stick or other convenient device, grooves are drawn along the tape, simulating joints between boards.
4. The tape is carefully removed, moistened and the cycle is repeated.
5. The seams between the "boards" are smoothed with a damp, hard, narrow brush.
6. After drying, the layer is processed with sandpaper.

Such wood-like plaster can be used to adorn the room’s hall, facade, and loggia walls.

Making wooden panels

There are large interior spaces that can be covered in wood-like plaster. Additionally, it is advisable to diversify them at the same time. One method is to create a sort of typesetting panel by sectioning the space and arranging the boards in different directions. Masking tape strips are used to mimic the seams between the boards. For them, half a centimeter is the ideal width. The order is as follows:

1. before applying the solution, the wall is lined,
2. the strips are glued to the wall so that there are ends by which they can be removed after processing the panel.
3. A layer of solution (up to 0.5 cm) is applied to the wall.
4. The surface of the boards is given the appropriate texture with a rubber stamp, brush or shaped spatula.
5. After the layer dries a little, the tape strips are removed, and the edges of the resulting seams are trimmed and smoothed with a semi-dry brush.

Execution of the bark beetle effect

Using a trowel, an even layer of structural composition is applied to the wall surface. After letting the layer partially dry, the bark beetle design is created by rolling the granules on a grater. Use a clean trowel or spatula to smooth any uneven protrusions. Dust is removed and the finish’s surface is cleaned with sandpaper once it has dried.

Painting

Of course, the most important and labor-intensive part of wood finishing is creating a texture. Painting the plaster, however, completes the finishing process. It must therefore also be of the highest caliber.

Prior to painting, the surface is brushed along the wood lines with a primer that has been painted with a colorant in the desired tone. The colour is soluble in water.

The best way to portray the depth and richness of wood’s natural color is to use translucent compositions and apply layers upon layers of variously shaded compositions. You must combine the following ingredients in a specific order, stirring after each addition, to create a low-cost paint composition:

• a little primer,
• colorant of the desired tone,
• white water-based paint,
• a little dry wallpaper glue.

Using a brush, the mixture is applied along the grain. Using a rubber spatula, remove any excess composition mass. Following the drying of this base layer, you can apply a composition in a different shade. Only water-based paint with dye is used for subsequent layers; wallpaper glue and primer are not needed.

Painting and paint compositions come in a wide variety. Dare to create here, as they say. Simply test it out on "experimental plots" first.

Imitating the texture of wood with decorative plaster is a flexible and aesthetically pleasing way to improve both indoor and outdoor areas. This technique is both practical and durable, allowing you to recreate the rough appearance of tree bark or the smooth grain of different types of wood. It also allows for creative freedom.

There are lots of options when it comes to creating a wood-like effect with plaster. Any room can benefit from the warmth and inherent beauty of wood without having to worry about the maintenance that real wood demands. Although there are a lot of intricate steps involved in the process, with careful application, you can get amazing results that feel and look real.

Anyone can turn boring walls into eye-catching accents that mimic the beauty of real wood by becoming proficient in the techniques outlined here. This method offers a durable and affordable substitute for real wood paneling or cladding, while also giving your house more character. Your walls can tell a story of both natural history and skillful craftsmanship if you put in a little time and attention to detail.

Video on the topic

Imitation of wood with an applicator. Spatula for imitation wood. Instructions for use

wood-like plaster

Making tree bark

TREE BARK! How to make a roller!

imitation wood using a spatula wood texture