The use of decorative bark beetle plaster has grown in popularity among people who want to give their walls some personality and texture. Its distinctive pattern, which is similar to the wood-boring bark beetle trails, can turn an ordinary surface into a visually arresting element.
Although applying this kind of plaster might seem difficult, anyone can produce results that look professional with the right technique. This post will walk you through each step of the procedure and demonstrate how to apply this eye-catching finish to your own walls.
We’ve included a video tutorial that walks through each step of the application to make it even simpler. This video will teach you the ins and outs of applying decorative bark beetle plaster, regardless of your experience level as a decorator or do-it-yourselfer.
This article provides a step-by-step video tutorial on applying decorative bark beetle plaster. We’ll simplify the procedure and provide clear, understandable instructions to help you attain the distinctive, textured finish that gives any wall personality. This tutorial will enable you to confidently master the technique, regardless of your level of experience with do-it-yourself projects.
- Material selection
- How to apply decorative plaster Bark beetle: stages of work
- Surface preparation
- Mixing the solution
- Tinting
- Working with the Bark beetle mixture: applying plaster to the surface
- Creating a texture
- Finishing
- Useful recommendations
- Video on the topic
- How to Apply Bark Beetle, Decorative Plaster, Bark Beetle Plaster, learn to apply it yourself
- I teach the customer"s workers how to properly apply decorative plaster of the Bark Beetle texture, Rain grout
- Decorative bark beetle plaster. DIY bark beetle. 3 ways to make a bark beetle.
Material selection
There are numerous brands that produce bark beetle, and decorative plaster is available in a wide variety of stores. The following businesses’ goods are in high demand from customers:
- Bolars;
- BaumitSilikonTop;
- Ceresit;
- Osnovit;
- Starateli;
- CaparolFassadenputz;
- Unis;
- Knauf;
- Volma.
Cement-polymer, gypsum, and acrylic plaster are supplied to the market by manufacturers. The material’s cost is determined by the number of components, volume of packaging, and product form.
You must be familiar with the relief patterning principle in order to apply Koroed plaster correctly. Acrylic-based compositions are ready for application; gypsum plaster is a dry mix that can be used to self-prepare the mixture. Granules of solid mineral ranging in size from one to three and a half millimeters are responsible for the relief pattern of the coating. The finishing layer’s textured grooves are deeper the more marble or stone chips there are in the plaster.
The final coating’s texture is determined by the kind and composition of the plaster mass. As such, when selecting the material, it is imperative to consider the final surface design and color as well as identify the best kind of plaster for the job at hand.
How to apply decorative plaster Bark beetle: stages of work
Surface preparation
The video shows how to apply decorative plaster Bark beetle and how to thoroughly clean the surface to remove grease, dust, and dirt stains. Additional surface preparation consists of:
- treatment of areas with fungal mold with a special antiseptic;
- sealing cracks, chips and potholes with cement mortar;
- leveling the surface with deviations of more than 2 mm;
- primer.
The two-meter rule is used to check the plane’s level. Cracks are sealed with a putty mixture. The plaster manufacturer’s recommendation—which is stated on the packaging—is the basis for choosing the primer composition.
Plasting is permitted on brick, concrete, and cinder block walls for the Bark Beetle mixture. The base needs to be dense, smooth, and free of shrinkage. This kind of material isn’t appropriate for siding a house made of wood.
Mixing the solution
If you decide to buy not ready-made plaster, but a dry mixture, you will need a 10-liter plastic bucket and water at a temperature of about 20 degrees. Before applying decorative plaster Bark beetle on a gypsum base, study the instructions for preparing the solution on the package. Precise adherence to the proportions of the mixture and water is the main condition for obtaining a working consistency of the mass. Measure out the specified amount of water, pour it into the bucket and pour the powder there in small portions. Kneading is carried out with a drill with a nozzle for 3 minutes until a homogeneous paste is obtained. Then the mixture is left to stand for 5 minutes, and the mixing procedure is repeated.
Tinting
When mixing the solution, choose a color in advance and add it little by little until the desired shade is achieved. Verify that the plaster has no uneven streaks and that all inclusions have been fully dissolved. When plastering a building’s facade, the plaster mass is applied to the wall uncolored, and once it dries, facade paint is applied over the plaster. Gypsum should not be tinted; only silicone and acrylic compounds should be tinted.
Working with the Bark beetle mixture: applying plaster to the surface
Two tools are required for plastering: a half-trowel measuring thirty centimeters and a metal spatula with a blade width of ten centimeters. We advise you to watch the Bark Beetle Plaster application video carefully and make note of the tool handling technique before beginning any finishing.
It is convenient to apply a portion of the solution to the half-trowel using a narrow spatula. Carefully place the filled half-trowel against the wall (at an angle of 30 degrees) and move it from top to bottom along the plane of the wall. The pressure force at all points should be the same, and the layer thickness should not be less than the size of the mineral granules. Vertical application of stripes is performed by overlapping the edge of the previous strip by 7 mm. All joint areas must maintain uniform moisture, otherwise after drying the transitions will become visually noticeable. Mix the solution in the bucket after applying each portion, raise the siege of filler from the bottom.
Work rationally in pairs with a helper, acting concurrently: the first prepares a solution, the second applies it to the wall. Thus, you won’t have localized plaster drying out.
Creating a texture
10 to 15 minutes after decorative stucco bark beetle is applied to a wall, the pattern forms (the video clearly shows the technique of creating different textured drawings). They move uniformly in a single direction with the aid of a plastic grater in accordance with wet plaster. By the time the visible shine’s texture forms, it shouldn’t be on the surface. Second, pieces are processed in sections no wider than 1.5 meters at a time rather than all at once using a grater. Water is used to moisten the docking edges.
Alternatives for plaster patterns:
- rain (vertical movements from top to bottom);
- diagonal raindrops (movements from top left from corner down to right);
- carpet texture (alternating vertical and horizontal movements);
- karakul (circular strokes);
- cork texture (circular unidirectional movements with a foam float).
There is no work done with the plaster for two days while it dries. This is the last step in the acrylic composition with tinting process. For the other kinds, finishing is done.
Finishing
A fine-grained abrasive is used to sand the surface, unsightly protrusions are leveled, and any remaining crumbs are taken out of the solution. Cement-polymer plaster is sanded, primed, allowed to dry, and then painted with silicone or acrylic paint. Paint layers are applied using a long-haired roller or brush, moving vertically at first, then horizontally.
Useful recommendations
- Choose primers, putties, plasters and paints of the same brand.
- Start finishing from an inconspicuous part of the wall.
- Finish external walls in dry weather at temperatures from 5 to 30 degrees Celsius and humidity no higher than 60%.
- In hot weather, spray the plaster with water daily for uniform drying.
- Apply strips of masking tape to the perimeter of the finished area when you start working with the next section.
- Watch the training video below.
Video Title | Description |
How to Apply Bark Beetle Plaster | A step-by-step guide on applying bark beetle plaster to walls. |
DIY Bark Beetle Plaster Application | Learn how to achieve a professional finish with this simple method. |
Bark Beetle Plaster Tips and Tricks | Expert tips to ensure a smooth application of decorative plaster. |
Observing the application of ornamental bark beetle plaster can be educational and motivating. It provides you with a comprehensive grasp of the procedures and methods required to produce a distinctive textured finish. The film also makes it easier to see how plaster gives any wall surface personality and depth.
Seeing someone else do it can give you more confidence, even if you’re not very skilled at doing things yourself and are just interested in the process. It demonstrates that producing a finish that looks professional is achievable with the correct resources and direction.
You can avoid common blunders and guarantee a more successful project by taking the time to watch and comprehend the application process. Your walls can become a work of art with the decorative bark beetle plaster if you have the patience and detail to make it happen.