Vandal-proof plastering of walls – reliable protection from troubles

When someone enters a building, they frequently notice the walls first. Even though most of us are more concerned with appearances, walls’ durability and strength are equally vital. In high-traffic or vandalism-prone areas, standard plastering may not be sufficient to maintain long-lasting and attractive walls.

Vandal-proof plastering can help with that. This kind of plastering provides a durable, dependable way to safeguard your walls against graffiti, impacts, and other types of vandalism. It’s not just about keeping surfaces spotless; it’s also about making sure the walls hold up against intentional damage.

This post will discuss the advantages of vandal-proof plastering, its operation, and the reasons it might be the best option for your home. Vandal-proof plastering provides long-lasting protection and peace of mind, whether you’re looking to safeguard your own home, a commercial property, or a public building.

Feature	Description
Durability	Vandal-proof plaster is designed to withstand impacts, making it a tough barrier against damage.
Application	It"s applied in layers to ensure a strong bond with the wall, adding extra protection.
Resistance	It resists scratches, graffiti, and other forms of tampering, maintaining the wall"s appearance.
Maintenance	Easy to clean and maintain, reducing the need for frequent repairs.
Usage	Ideal for public spaces, schools, and areas prone to vandalism.

Purpose

The impact of ultraviolet radiation, precipitation, temperature changes, the potential for unauthorized painting, leaflet stickers, and a high probability of mechanical damage place requirements on the material’s strength and wear resistance. It is also important to take into account the owners’ desire to have an aesthetically pleasing exterior or interior.

When decorating public buildings’ halls and corridors, stairwells, hallways, and bathrooms—areas with significant cross-country traffic or constricted spaces where individuals may bump into walls or metal store baskets, wipe them down with wheels, or scratch them with umbrellas or canes—anti-vandal plaster is used.

The walls’ surface is completely covered, or it is only covered in the areas that need regular, intense wet cleaning because they are frequently exposed to contaminants.

The following plaster mixtures are particularly long-lasting and resistant to wear on building facades:

• to protect walls from external mechanical damage (scratches, impacts, etc.). n.);
• for protection against burnout;
• to prevent the destruction of finishes and walls under the influence of temperature fluctuations and precipitation;
• in case of possible contamination with paint and adhesives: the compositions can be easily washed without losing the attractive appearance of the coating or compromising its integrity;
• the finishing layer, like a shell, protects the wall from the ingress and absorption of water, as well as the effects of acids, alkalis, and salts.

Types of high-strength plaster

Due to their composition, all decorative plasters are very durable wall finishing materials, but two are known to be anti-vandal:

• mosaic with mineral fillers;
• structural “bark beetles”, focused primarily on facade work.

Mosaic plasters

Mineral chips are mixed together and placed on a clear binder base to create mosaic plasters.

As filler, colored quartz sand or marble chips are typically utilized; coatings with onyx, malachite, lapis lazuli, and other decorative stone grains are less frequently used. On the market, there are also a variety of options. Purchasing material with a reserve to avoid different colors is advised because the proportions of different colored particles in a batch may vary from batch to batch.

As a binder, the following are utilized:

• acrylic dispersion;
• latex;
• silicates.

The first two varieties are appropriate for facade and interior work. The silicate base’s use for interior walls is restricted because, when dried, it may release harmful substances (especially in residential areas).

Dried plaster appears on the wall surface as a dispersion of polished pebbles. This material can be used to create basic silhouette drawings.

The stone filler in this type of plaster mixture determines its strength and other performance attributes. All that the binder composition does is bind the particles to the surface that is being finished and to each other.

Structural plasters

These kinds of mixtures consist of a binder with different etymologies and a dense mineral filler, such as stone chips or sand. In contrast to mosaic plasters, the chosen binder has a greater influence on the coating’s characteristics in this case. In this instance, solid particles give the layer its thickness (10–15 mm), slightly raise its hardness, and produce a distinctive relief. Coatings with "bark beetle" relief—veins whose direction is set while rubbing the composition on the surface—and "decorative fur coat plaster"—small droplets, bubbles, or denticles—are more common.

Although acrylic compounds can fade, they are elastic, reasonably priced, and unafraid of shocks, vibrations, moisture, frost, and large, under-construction buildings—all of which are important considerations.

The properties of latex binder and acrylic are comparable.

• it gives the mixture elasticity, which is maintained even after drying;
• is not afraid of mild mechanical influences (it is impossible to accidentally scratch, but deliberately picking with a nail will be possible with proper determination);
• tolerant to temperature changes, precipitation.

The use of materials based on latex for outdoor work is made possible by its resistance to ultraviolet radiation; however, the cost of these compositions is higher.

Silicate mixtures are more resilient and unaffected by heavy blows, but because of their inelasticity, they are ruined by powerful vibrations. Owing to their toxicity, these compositions should only be used outside, where they work best:

• not afraid of exposure to water;
• inert to acidic and alkaline compounds;
• do not oxidize;
• do not fade.

There are hard plasters and cement or lime on a mineral binder. They are inexpensive, vapor-permeable, resistant to harsh environments, and environmentally benign.

Protecting walls with plaster from pets

Anybody who owns a pet with four legs or feathers has at some point had to deal with the issue of getting rid of the sharp edges on their teeth, claws, or beaks. Following this pet-related research, the question of what kind of coating will withstand animal attacks frequently comes up during the next repair stage. Wall plaster that is resistant to vandalism is among the best options.

Mineral particles in the composition will compete with teeth and beaks in hardness, and it is uncomfortable to sharpen claws on a relief surface because it scratches the paw pads. Because a robust protective film forms on the surface and the components of the finishing material do not react with it, the corners selected to demarcate the territory can be easily cleaned off and the caustic liquid with its distinct odor will not seep into the walls.

Protecting walls from children"s pranks

Families with young children have an even greater concern about the finish’s durability. Safe for both people and the environment, a dense aggregate of dried anti-vandal plaster can withstand attempts at unannounced dismantling.

During the drying process, highly durable plaster coatings not only resist mechanical damage but also form a moisture-impermeable film. As a memento, a full-length gouache portrait of dad will be removed from the most noticeable spot and completely erased using soapy or clean water.

Don’t be afraid to use this sturdy material for the nursery’s walls; the composition’s pebbles have rounded edges. You can also use mixtures that contain round synthetic granules. Although their degree of elasticity somewhat lessens the coating’s strength characteristics when compared to the sand-stone analog, the end result is a surface that is more pleasing to the touch. Since there is less chance of encountering actual vandals when decorating an interior, this option is appropriate.

Plastering that is resistant to vandalism provides a strong defense against scratches, graffiti, and other types of damage to walls. This long-lasting coating not only makes the wall’s surface last longer, but it also lowers maintenance costs because it’s simpler to clean and less likely to be vandalized. This kind of plastering is appropriate for both public and private areas, and it’s a wise investment to keep things safe and tidy.

Tools

Applying structural plaster by hand is fairly simple, though you will need to practice before working with mosaic materials.

First, make sure you have enough of the required tools:

• a metal spatula;
• a trowel;
• a construction mixer or a drill with a similar attachment;
• it is also recommended to keep a bucket of water and a rag at hand during the work – to clean the tool from the stuck material.

Surface preparation

Peeling bits of the previous finish are removed first when preparing the surface. Before applying anti-vandal plaster, the walls do not need to be perfectly aligned. The only areas filled are wide cracks and large cavities. Dusting and degreasing the work area are also essential.

To enhance adhesion and prevent the lower layers from showing through, a deep penetration primer or dense covering primer is then applied to the surface. This primer is tinted to match the plaster used. Apply the plaster mixture right away once it has dried.

Features of application

The preparatory work that comes before applying anti-vandal plasters is comparable to that which comes before applying other kinds of decorative plaster.

The actual finishing procedure is comparable:

• work is carried out from corner to corner in one go to eliminate visible joints;
• the finished, thoroughly mixed mixture is applied from a bucket with a spatula to the wall and rubbed;
• the level is pulled out with a long rule;
• for a "fur coat" – a sponge with large pores.

Nonetheless, there are some subtleties that need to be considered with the pebble composition.

The layer of mosaic plaster is rubbed to the filler granule thickness without rubbing. This forms a fine-relief coating on a single level.

Two steps are involved in the application of structural plaster. The mixture is first pulled along the wall in the direction of the future pattern to form the general shape. If material fragments adhere to the trowel, wipe them off with a moist cloth. Rubbing is done for five to thirty minutes after the surface has grown windy and the wet sheen has vanished. This is when the distinctive "bark beetle" pattern is formed. As they move beneath the tool’s surface, the composition’s pebbles start to cut grooves.

If you selected the "fur coat" option, press a dry or wet sponge loosely against the coating’s surface right away after the first stage, without waiting for it to dry. A portion of the mixture is drawn behind the sponge during removal owing to surface tension, which results in bumps. The relief and tips will be sharper if the sponge is dry.

The coating must then be allowed to dry fully.

Finishing

The plaster layer can be further covered with paint and specialty compounds once it has fully dried. This is more relevant to structural plaster because, even without these procedures, mosaic plaster is already incredibly durable.

Paints that dissolve in water, such as acrylic or latex, are applied to the surface to achieve the desired color. Selecting an anti-vandal option is advised for increased strength.

Depending on the desired effects, waxes or varnishes are applied to the plaster after painting. This last fixing layer is intended to give the coating even more protection.

Plaster can be applied over any finishing material with universal anti-vandal coatings that are sold. Their characteristics are comparable to those of paints: they are liquid, odorless in a container, brush or roller application is possible, and they become elastic after drying. They are transparent and do not change the color of the base material at the same time. If a flyer or some graffiti manages to stick to the wall, it can be easily removed with clean water because they lessen the adhesion of paints and adhesives to the treated surface.

Another video featuring a finishing finish and an additional anti-fouling coating.

Plaster that is resistant to vandalism serves as more than just a barrier; it is a useful way to prevent damage to walls. This kind of plastering ensures that walls stay intact and look good over time, giving peace of mind in both private and public areas.

It is possible to lower the likelihood of expensive repairs considerably by selecting the appropriate materials and applying the plaster properly. For anyone who is worried about the longevity and aesthetics of their walls, it’s a wise purchase.

In the end, vandal-proof plastering provides a dependable means of safeguarding your property and preserving its worth. By using this method, you can take advantage of the long-term advantages of a well-protected wall without having to deal with the hassles of regular maintenance.

Video on the topic

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