Moisture-resistant decorative plaster in the bathroom – types and features

A bathroom can be made fashionable and useful with decorative plaster, but picking the right kind is important, particularly in a moist environment. Decorative plaster that is resistant to moisture is made to withstand the problems caused by high humidity and exposure to water, all the while enhancing the aesthetics of your bathroom.

This article examines the characteristics of several kinds of decorative plaster that resists moisture. Making an informed decision for your bathroom renovation will be made easier if you are aware of these factors, which range from their strength and resistance to mold to their visual appeal.

Is it possible to use decorative plaster in the bathroom

Experts in technology, hygiene, and plastering/finishing respond positively when asked if plaster mixtures can be used for finishing in spaces where the walls are subjected to high levels of moisture. A healthy microclimate is created and maintained in the restroom and bathroom by decorative plaster. Splashes of water are prevented by the water-resistant finish. The bathroom’s distinctive design attracts the eye.

Basics of decorative plaster

We should briefly discuss the current foundations for ornamental plasters used in bathrooms at this point.

The primary ingredient in plaster mortars is a binder, which, when solidified, binds the filler’s grains or fibers firmly and consistently to create a monolithic coating. Plaster mixtures are typically named after the primary base binding material, such as silicone or acrylic.

Filler, either natural or synthetic, makes up the second part of the mixtures. It provides the primary volume and confers specific properties upon the plaster composition. The kind and caliber of the filler have a direct impact on the solution’s aesthetic properties. In this case, the type of material, size, shape, and color of the fibers or grains matter.

To provide the composition with functional properties, modifying additives are added. This includes a slower setting time, more pliability, less cracking, better fire resistance, resistance to mold, and the capacity to withstand UV light without fading.

Silicone plaster

This kind of mixture uses emulsified silicone resins as the binder. Stone chips are consistently held within the body of a highly durable superelastic film that forms as a result of polymerization during the drying process. Because silicone plaster is hydrophobic, it lets air circulate without getting wet on the walls.

Additional benefits consist of:

• reliable adhesion to any wall materials (except metal);
• resistance to aggressive chemical compounds;
• resistance to "hot conditions" (does not soften under the influence of high temperatures);
• no accumulation of static;
• durability;
• resistance to UV radiation;
• resistance to biodeterioration.

Cons: pleasure, perfect for bathrooms, pricey. This drawback is quickly outweighed by the advantage of having a dependable, long-lasting coating that prevents cracks from forming even when the building shrinks.

• acrylic-silicone;
• siloxane;
• silicate-silicone.

Premade mixes are offered for sale in various-sized plastic pails.

Mineral plaster

Mineral compositions include clay and lime mixtures (which are seldom used in bathrooms), cement, and gypsum. The most common methods for finishing bathrooms are cement-based compositions or gypsum bases.

The most common decorative compositions are made of cement, whose density prevents water from penetrating.

Benefits of cement compositions:

• abundance of SS (dry mixes) with various qualities;
• availability of the initial components separately;
• cheapness;
• strength;
• easiness of preparing the solution yourself.

Gray or white decorative SS are available (with white Portland cement). Packing: Kraft paper bags.

• cement-lime (lime increases plasticity);
• cement-polymer.

Determining whether a gypsum finishing coating is appropriate for a bathroom can be difficult at times. Experts in technology from well-known businesses, like Knauf, have created several gypsum products especially for spaces where humidity levels frequently rise (below 75%). They work well in areas with adequate ventilation as well. Special modifiers added to the mixtures increase gypsum’s resistance to moisture.

• champions in ease of application and texture formation;
• form a snow-white coating;
• create less load on the walls (specific gravity of about 1500 kg/m3);
• allow you to make the finest patterns;
• have a finer texture;
• allow the application of a layer up to 60 mm thick;
• quickly gain strength.

Changes: combinations of gypsum polymers.

• cheaper than others,
• environmentally friendly,
• fireproof.

A drawback of the mineral base is that it allows the plaster materials to fracture when shrinking and vibration loads are applied.

Polymer plaster

The following compositions are included in polymer materials:

• water-soluble (PVacetate, styrene-acrylic, butadiene-styrene),
• organo-soluble (on epoxy or polyurethane resins).

• polymer-cement;
• acrylic (used in bathrooms with good ventilation);
• siloxane;
• epoxy;
• silicone.

Characteristics of compositions made of epoxy:

• do not apply to a concrete base;
• mixer mixing only;
• lower application temperature threshold +10°C;
• high humidity is unacceptable during application, tools cannot be wetted.

Epoxy and polyurethane mixtures generally don’t work well indoors because of their strong odor and lack of resistance to extreme heat. Water-soluble compositions are therefore most frequently utilized.

Since every polymer composition is resistant to moisture, it can be used to finish a bathroom in a decorative manner.

Silicate decorative plaster

Walls and ceilings are assured to be protected by a silicate mixture based on liquid glass.

• hardens quickly;
• resistant to aggressive substances;
• easy to clean;
• forms a durable coating.

The drawbacks include the need for a silicate substrate (primer) and coating (paints).

Accessible in buckets of ready-made paste and SS form.

What type of decorative plaster for bathrooms to choose

The size of the space and the owner’s preferences determine how the bathroom is decorated. The use of a small-fraction filler and a fine-textured pattern is determined by the size. Mosaic, pebble, and flock compositions are not the best choices for completing a bathroom.

Avoiding the bark beetle effect is preferable because the grooves foster "black-green" vegetation.

Toilets and bathrooms benefit from thin-layer, textured structural compositions that are less voluminous, easier to clean, and require less space.

Textured

Fine-grained filler, a delicate consistency, and easier placement are the characteristics of textured plaster. In the bathroom, textured plaster is utilized for thin-layer Moroccan and Venetian finishes.

The finish looks good with embossed surfaces, sand bottom, and raw stone. You can add a touch of Mediterranean or oriental luxury to the bathroom by adding metal and mother-of-pearl dust.

Venetian

Bathroom-made Venetian plaster is particularly powerful. A thin multilayer coating adds visual depth to the room without eliminating geometric space. Light yellow polished onyx imitations have a particularly cozy appearance.

Structural

It is preferable to avoid using particularly voluminous decorative plaster in bathrooms with this kind of composition. In the bathroom, a "wet silk" coating will look great. A thin layer of silk composition is also applied. An interior of a large bathroom with cabinets housing antique furniture and copper faucets would look good with imitation patina on travertine masonry.

Moroccan plaster

Nonetheless, an uncommon variety of ornamental plaster originated in the East. Moroccan was meant to be used for the palace grounds’ interior design. Surfaces that came into contact with water were covered with it. It works wonderfully for completing restrooms. Traditional methods are costly and labor-intensive. Exotic design and distinctive luxury come at a cost. Locate those who possess the ability.

The main advantages of decorative plaster for bathrooms

The room is unable to get natural light from the ceiling and walls due to tile cladding and plastic panels. Every kind of plaster composition mentioned above is permeable to vapor. One exception is acrylic.

Other admirable attributes are:

• the possibility of creative individual execution of various imitations;
• easy care, cleaning, washing with soap solutions;
• long period of operation without repair;
• protection of walls from sources of bio-damage;
• durability;
• environmental friendliness;
• the possibility of doing it yourself.

Moisture resistance is important to consider when selecting decorative plaster for your bathroom. This article examines several varieties of moisture-resistant plaster, emphasizing the advantages and special qualities of each. You can improve your bathroom’s durability and aesthetics by choosing wisely if you are aware of your options.

Tool

You’ll need the following to adorn the bathroom walls:

• trowel;
• spatulas (metal, plastic, rubber – the choice depends on the equipment used);
• graters;
• mixer;
• brushes;
• containers;
• masking tape;
• rollers (for embossing, applying varnish, paint or putty);
• handy tools for making relief.

How to properly apply decorative plaster

The accurate application of the material’s instructions and the proper base preparation have a direct impact on the quality of decorative plaster in bathrooms.

Take note of the following details:

• temperature conditions – the minimum temperatures for plastering are + 5 ° C, the maximum are + 35 ° C;
• humidity – up to 60%;
• no drafts;
• all wiring is de-energized.

The period of time from mixing to the start of setting is known as the shelf life of ready-made solutions. Mix as much solution as is required for full use during this time to prevent material waste.

Preparation

The base is thoroughly cleaned and ready for the plaster layer to be applied before plastering.

There are phases to the preparation process:

1. In the room being renovated, remove old coatings that do not meet the requirements for adhesion strength with the applied solutions (paint, whitewash, peeling plaster finish).
2. In a new building, brick walls are cleaned with metal brushes (scratched bricks adhere more strongly to the solution), the seams are cleaned to a depth of 10 mm. Concrete walls are covered with notches.
3. Remove dust from the surface with a vacuum cleaner, brush or damp cloth.
4. Scrape off fungal foci, mold growths, then treat with disinfectants.
5. Stains from fats, oils, grease, rust are treated with special solutions until completely cleaned. Where this is not possible, the oiled top layer of the wall material is cut off. Efflorescence is removed.
6. Excess metal parts (old fasteners, nails) are pulled out and removed. Remaining metal parts are covered with oil paint or other insulating compounds.
7. Bumps and protrusions are ground down. Pockets and cracks are filled with a cement-based solution. If necessary (large cracks, brittle surfaces of the wall material), a reinforcing mesh is applied to strengthen the area.
8. Coat with a primer (deep penetration type) twice with intermediate drying.
9. If necessary, a waterproofing layer is applied.
10. Spackle the dried primed surface. If leveling plastering work was previously performed, only a primer is applied under compounds with a different base .

Application

The amount of layers used to apply textured plaster in a bathroom depends on the desired decorative outcome. For Venetian, travertine, and several other finishes, for instance, create a base layer that is roughly the same thickness as the filler fraction. Apply one layer, but make it thicker, to apply a pattern with figured rollers.

The solution can be transferred to the base in a few different ways:

• spraying (throwing with a ladle or trowel);
• spreading (with a spatula or trowel), several ways;
• trimming (“pecking movements of the end of the hand);
• sticking by hand (for example, clay mixture);
• rolling with a roller (similar to applying paint).

Techniques for creating relief:

• imprint – performed by rolling a figured roller, stamps or matrix;
• pressing by end-graining with a tool (trowel, brush end) or auxiliary means (nets, crumpled bags, whatever is at hand);
• application of grooves by moving the tool in linear or circular motions (notched trowel, comb, hard brush);
• gluing with lifting the top layer to the tool and partial displacement of the raised mass (Versailles finish);
• use of various brushstroke techniques;
• use of stencils;
• cutting or cut-out patterns (sgraffito, masonry seams);
• special rolling of large grains of filler (bark beetle).

Several techniques can be combined to produce a distinctive bathroom design.

Grinding the surface and smoothing out parts that protrude are common after-operations. For Venetian plaster, ironing is utilized. The relevant articles on the website contain more information about the methods used to create decorative effects.

More videos about the application of regular paper plaster and ornamental brick plaster in bathrooms.

Final stage of finishing

The decorative plasters that are used are waterproof, but they are coated with paints or varnishes that withstand moisture. Waterproof paints with an acrylic or silicone resin base work best for painting wet sanitary rooms. Only after the decorative plaster layer has dried are paints and varnishes applied. Paint can be applied in a variety of ways (in one or two multicolored layers).

Type	Features
Epoxy Plaster	Highly resistant to moisture and stains, easy to clean, durable, and ideal for high-humidity areas.
Polymer-based Plaster	Flexible, resistant to water damage, and offers a variety of finishes. Great for areas with fluctuating moisture levels.
Silicone Plaster	Water-repellent, breathable, and resistant to mold and mildew. Provides a long-lasting finish and is easy to maintain.
Mineral Plaster	Natural materials, breathable, and provides good moisture resistance. Ideal for maintaining indoor air quality.

The look and feel of your bathroom can be greatly impacted by the decorative plaster you choose, especially if it is moisture-resistant. With so many varieties to choose from, it’s critical to take durability, maintenance ease, and aesthetic appeal into account to make the best choice for your requirements.

Making an educated choice will be made easier if you are aware of the unique characteristics of each type of plaster, whether you choose one with a waterproof base or one that provides improved resistance to mold and mildew. In addition to extending the plaster’s lifespan, this will make the bathroom appear more fashionable and cozy.

A well-chosen decorative plaster that withstands moisture is a wise investment if you want your bathroom to look good and work well despite heavy traffic and high humidity. Long-lasting beauty and functionality in your space can be ensured by carefully choosing and applying the appropriate plaster.

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