How to care for a marble staircase. Do-it-yourself marble stairs for the house Manufacturing technology of artificial marble with concrete filler

The marble staircase has a truly luxurious look. It perfectly complements both the interior and exterior of a solid country house combining aesthetics and reliability. And its cost can be reduced by finishing the structure with marble elements.

The main elements of a classic marble staircase

If you already have a concrete staircase, then it can be turned into an expensive piece of furniture by decorating steps and other elements with natural marble.

Marble steps with their advantages and disadvantages

Marble is not granite and does not have such a unique hardness as the latter, but it has a sufficient margin of safety.

Marble steps can be different both in shape and in texture, and in the type of processing.

Its advantage over other materials is not only this. Marble for finishing steps - perfect solution because of:

• variety of colors and textures;
• resistance to moisture, ultraviolet, temperature extremes;
• long service life;
• ease of care;
• environmental friendliness;
• practicality;
• the absence of a creak.

The safety of marble steps is negatively affected by their excessive slipperiness, but the problem is eliminated by surface treatment. special composition. The steps do not change visually in any way, but they become rough.

When purchasing marble steps, you should know that according to appearance they are as in the photo:

Polished steps with a glossy sheen look rich

They also differ in geometry and can be either straight or radial or non-standard shape. There is also such a classification of steps:

1. Overhead. They are installed on a pre-made base of concrete, metal or brick. Consist of 2 elements: tread and riser if it is not open flight of stairs or screw design, then the second part is not needed. The size of the blanks corresponds to the dimensions of the stairs, there are no seams. The building is stable and safe. Overlays are much lighter than ready-made steps and the technology for their installation is quite simple.

The installation of overhead steps is called cladding. For their installation, a ready-made base is needed.

A marble riser is a vertical or slightly beveled strip located between two adjacent steps.

There are 3 types of this element of the ladder structure:

• solid;
• type-setting with a curly profile;
• straight dial.

Shoe cups for marble stairs can be of 3 types. This element is made both from the same material as the stairs, and in other versions.

The budget option is a type-setting plinth. You need to mount it after the steps and risers are fixed. The installation of a solid galoshnitsa is performed first, and the steps with risers are moved towards it.

The fencing system, called a balustrade, includes handrails, railings, balusters made of marble or metal. They make the stairs not only expressive, but also safe. The space between the racks is filled with glass, beautiful gratings.

There are many methods of working with marble, depending on what qualities should be given to the material. The processed surface gets its name:

1. Artificially aged or bush-hammered. The stone takes on an ancient look, the relief has drops of up to 5 mm, and looks massive.

Artificially aged stone takes on a solid appearance. Do not use strong chemicals to clean it.

Watch a video on the topic of marble processing:

The modern marble staircase is very different from the old staircase structures made of this material. In fact, only steps and some other elements are such in it. In most cases, designers use marble as a tool to give the staircase respectability, aesthetics, visual lightness.

And a marble staircase can look light and graceful. Elegant forged railing harmoniously combines with marble steps

If you decide to decorate the steps with marble yourself, then adhere to the following technology:

1. Level the surface of the structure with a grinder.
2. Remove dust and dirt carefully, apply a primer.
3. Install the floor level with the final finish under the first step.
4. Start laying marble slabs from the bottom up.
5. Glue the parts using 2-component stone glue.
6. Adjust the steps with a rubber mallet.
7. Choose the color of the grout and fill the joints.
8. Wash the marble slabs thoroughly before the glue dries.

The staircase structure, finished with marble, will be harmoniously complemented by forged elements: railings, balusters, such as our company produces. We can also offer stainless steel railings. Our company can also perform installation, it is possible to manufacture fences and railings according to your measurements.

Maybe this video will make it easier for you:

We can make such railings as in the photo according to your measurements, as well as perform installation. Cost - 9 000 rubles.
Forged baluster worth 1,248 rubles. will be a great addition to the marble staircase
Elegant forged element goes well with noble marble. Price - 1 248 rubles.

Sometimes safety considerations get in the way of choosing marble steps. Many consider this slippery stone to be traumatic, but this problem has several solutions:

1. Lay the stairs red carpet.

A rich marble staircase covered with a carpet is not only beautiful, but also safe.

Among the diversity modern materials for cladding, marble will never lose its relevance. No other material does ladder structure so majestic and elegant. In addition, this option is beneficial - great-grandchildren will also be able to use such a ladder.

Our company is not engaged in the manufacture of marble steps, but we can offer many elements that successfully complement the design.

A marble staircase is an expressive element of decor, a sign of the refined taste and well-being of the owner of the house. The color richness of marble and its plasticity allows you to create unique designs. Marble stairs have proven to be durable and easy to restore.

Features of marble stairs

Marble is a durable material that is used to decorate stairs. Consider some of its advantages:

1. Marble is durable material. Its service life is over 100 years.
2. Ease of maintenance. Marble does not require special care, resistant to thermal shocks and mechanical damage. It also polishes easily and restores its original color.
3. The versatility of marble is ensured by the range of colors and ease of making pieces of various shapes.
4. Aesthetics and beauty of products from the breed. Due to the variety of shapes and colors, marble stairs fit into the interior of any home.
5. Ease of polishing.

The disadvantages of marble finishing stairs include:

• high cost of material
• slipperiness.

The first of which is justified by the durability of the stone. And, secondly, by special tricks, which we will consider in the tips section.

Types of marble

The rock marble consists of carbonate, calcite and other impurities. The latter of which determine the color and pattern of the marble after processing.

Assortment of marble physical properties can be divided into three categories. Namely:

• white,
• gray,
• colored materials.

White marble group exposed external environment, often turns yellow and becomes mottled. This material is used for internal works at home.

Gray marble is used for both exterior and interior cladding.

Colored marble is the most resistant to temperature and mechanical influences. Coloring allows you to create unique ensembles marble stairs in the interior. The most valuable is the type of blue marble.

In the decoration of the stairs, it is better to use fine-grained types of marble, which stand out for their elasticity and strength. Coarse-grained marble is used for wet rooms, swimming pools and bathrooms.

When choosing a stone, you must check the certificate of its quality. Which indicates the hardness of marble on the Mohs scale from 2.5 to 3, its density and chemical composition.

Spain, Italy and Turkey are the main marble producers. They are famous high quality home interior products.

Calculation of the dimensions of the interfloor stairs

When installing the stairs, we will initially draw up its plan. To do this, we determine its size, shape, angle of elevation, height and number of steps.

Consider the parameters for safe operation stairs:

1. The angle of steepness of the stairs is considered safe from 25 to 35 degrees of inclination.
2. The depth of the step is safe from 25 to 30 cm. In this case, the heel of the foot will rest on the stair step.
3. The step height is considered optimal in the range of 15-18 cm.
4. Determining the width of a ladder depends on the space available underneath it and future loads on it. Usually intra-apartment marches are made a meter wide or more. stairs country houses do already up to 0.8 m.
5. It is safe to make the clearance of the passage between the stairs and the ceiling from 1.9 m high.

In order to properly install the ladder, draw up its plan. To do this, we determine the height of the future marble staircase, its angle of inclination, the number of steps and the type of construction:

1. We determine the height of the stairs by summing the two parameters. The first of them is the height from the floor of one floor to the floor of the second, taking into account finish coat. To this value is added the amount of overlap between floors. For example, the height of the planned staircase is 4 m.
2. We calculate the number of marble steps for the stairs. To do this, we divide the height of the stairs by the height of the lift. Subtract one step from the result. Since half of the second floor will be this step. For example, the lift height is 16 cm. Then the number of steps of the marble staircase = 400/16-1 = 24 pcs.
3. Determine the amount of tread. Multiply the number of steps by the step depth. For example, the amount of tread = 24*30=720 cm.
4. We calculate the angle of inclination. Having calculated according to the formula 2a + c, where a is the height of the proposed riser, and b is the depth of the step. The resulting amount is divided by the number of steps. Playing with indicators a and b, we achieve the optimal angle of the stairs, according to safety indicators. In our case: tilt angle = (16*2+ 30)/24 = 25.8°.
5. We make a drawing of the stairs, based on the space allotted for it and the calculated indicators. Balusters and supporting pillars we draw stairs in the scheme conditionally.

First stage: preparatory work

The marble stairs are monolithic structures lined with marble slabs. Therefore, the manufacture of marble stairs begins with the installation of the base under it. Consider the option of creating a concrete structure for a marble staircase.

We will collect the formwork under concrete structure. That is, temporary flooring to give the concrete a certain shape.

For formwork, we need the following material:

• waterproof plywood 18-20 mm wide,
• board 25-30 mm wide,
• building timber 10 by 10 cm for joining the formwork,
• wood screws with a diameter of 3.5 mm,
• steel angles for formwork assembly,
• fittings with a diameter of 12 mm.

To assemble the formwork for a marble staircase, you will need the proper tools:

• screwdrivers and screwdriver,
• plumb and level,
• hacksaw and jigsaw,
• hammer,
• welding machine.

Consider the order of formwork design:

1. Using an electric jigsaw, we cut the materials for formwork required sizes. Required Items marble stairs, photo will present below:

• bars for attaching the formwork to each other and to the walls (1),
• segments wooden beam for fastening boards that form steps (2),
• formwork 3 cm thick for the formation of steps (3),
• end formwork made of plywood 2.5-3 cm (4) in size and shape of steps.

2. To assemble the formwork, we use wood screws. Screw them in with a screwdriver.

3. We fasten the formwork with inside using steel corners with a thickness of 2-2.5 mm. After collecting the formwork, we reinforce it to give it greater strength.

4. We fasten the reinforcement with a diameter of 12 mm along the bearing edges. For strength, we connect it into a grid with a welding machine.

5. We fix the reinforcement into the wall along the entire length of the stairs. To do this, we drill holes in it and hammer the pins from the grid with a hammer. This will provide additional strength to the marble staircase.

After that, we proceed to the concreting of the structure. To do this, you will need the following tools and materials:

• cement 10 parts,
• crushed stone with a particle size of 10-20 mm 30 parts,
• sand mass 20 parts,
• water 7 parts,
• trowel for leveling the concrete surface,
• shovel for mixing concrete ingredients,
• polyethylene film to cover the concrete after the completion of concreting,
• mixing container and bucket,
• protective clothing, footwear and gloves.

To mix concrete, it is good to use a special concrete mixer. Its rent is not high. The rental of such a mechanism will save time and allow you to maintain a mixture of concrete in a viscous state.

Also, the process of preparing a mixture of concrete can be done independently. Let's consider the second method step by step:

1. Pour 9 parts of water into a container.
2. Pour 12 parts of cement into the water.
3. Stir with a shovel until a uniform solution is obtained.
4. Evenly add 20 parts of sand to the mixture. Mix the consistency well.
5. Pour 30 parts of crushed stone into buckets and mix until a homogeneous concrete composition is obtained. The proportions of the material should be changed until a uniform viscous mixture is obtained.
6. We pour concrete into the formwork, starting from the top.
7. We ram and level the concrete with a special trowel.
8. We cover the concrete with polyethylene and leave to dry. The average drying time of concrete is 3-4 weeks. After that, you can proceed to the decoration of the stairs with marble.

marble staircase cladding

We start facing the stairs with marble from the bottom of the stairs. With this method, laying errors are not so noticeable.

To cover the stairs with marble, we need:

• marble in the form of steps and risers,
• grinder for preparing the concrete surface for cladding,
• broom, rags for cleaning concrete,
• primer for marble and gypsum,
• 2-component adhesive for stone and sand concrete,
• rubber mallet for fitting marble.

Let's take a look at the step-by-step process of facing the stairs with marble:

1. We remove the stair formwork with a screwdriver and a hammer.
2. Leveling the concrete surface with a grinder.
3. We clean the steps from dirt and dust.
4. We prime the steps of the future marble staircase.
5. We put the level of the finishing floor under the first step so that in the future the floor can be adjusted under the stairs.
6. We lay the marble tightly to each other, starting from the bottom up. We alternately put the riser and the marble step for the stairs. If the material has a pattern, save it during assembly.
7. We glue the fitted parts of the marble together with a two-component stone adhesive.
8. Next, we fix the marble with gypsum, and fill the free space with a solution of sand concrete and glue in a ratio of 4 to 1.

A correctly laid riser will be 10 millimeters higher than the concrete base. Properly laid steps of a marble staircase equally hang over the step. And have minimum slope towards the riser so that water flows from them, which is especially important with an external staircase.

1. We adjust the steps with a rubber mallet.
2. We rub the joints of marble slabs with plaster of a suitable color.

The marble cladding of the stairs is finished.

Decorating a marble staircase

The marble staircase is beautifully complemented by marble balusters and railings. A more economical option is to choose metal analogues.

Diversity architectural elements allow you to combine beauty and practicality. Their durability is the same as that of marble stairs.

Columns and cabinets, railings and balusters are made to order in all regions of our country.

You can complete the ensemble of marble stairs with its illumination. The light will give warmth and comfort to the room, and will play advantageously on a flat marble surface. As an option, light bulbs can be mounted in the railing. Or build lamps into the wall, repeating the curves of the marble staircase.

Tips for installing and operating marble stairs:

1. When facing the stairs with marble, it is desirable to pre-treat the concrete with concrete contact.

2. Optimal Thickness adhesive layer between marble and concrete 10 mm. If irregularities remain on the concrete base, the adhesive layer can be increased to 40 mm.

3. There are several ways to solve the problem of increased slipperiness of marble:

• lay a carpet on the marble steps for stairs;
• glue the aluminum profile into the steps of the marble staircase;
• purchase marble with a relief shape. The convex shape of the steps provides safety due to friction;
• attaching dot pads and silicone stickers. But such elements are dangerous by clinging to them with a heel.

4. Yellowing of marble can be avoided by using stainless elements for its fasteners.
5. When caring for a marble staircase, wipe the surface of its steps with a soft velvet cloth. From detergents both special pastes for stone and neutral ones are suitable. Do not use acidic products when caring for marble. Before using a cleaning agent, read the instructions for it.

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Finishing work using natural stone- a very expensive pleasure. Finding natural marble of the appropriate tone is quite problematic. Mastering the production of artificial marble with your own hands is not very difficult. Important point in the manufacture of artificial marble - a correctly made mold for casting.

In fact, artificial marble, the manufacturing technology of which is described in this article, is an alloy of acrylic resins and mineral fillers. Such material has sufficient strength, and when making artificial marble with your own hands, you can give it the necessary shape. It can be a countertop for the kitchen or for a bar counter, steps, a sink, a sink or an original garden vase.

The composition and special properties of artificial marble

main component cast marble is a polyester resin and pigment mineral dyes and hardeners. Having mastered the mixing technique, you can get stains and stains that are practically indistinguishable from stains and veins on natural marble.

1. The material is non-combustible and dielectric, i.e. does not conduct electricity, so it can be used for any finishing works no limits. Resistance to alkaline preparations and chemical solvents contributes to its hygiene and allows it to be used as countertops and kitchen sinks.
2. The composition of cast marble has a homogeneous structure, does not delaminate, is resistant to corrosion and is an environmentally friendly material. The outer surface of the cast marble is gelcoat, it has a decorative protective functions. Polyester resin mixed with multi-colored mineral chips and pigment dyes are used as a filler. To obtain a durable mass, a hardener is added.
3. More simple methods the manufacture of artificial marble involves the use of cement as a filler - concrete mixtures and rubble. Pebbles, quartz fine gravel and tinted sand are often used.

Manufacturing technology of artificial marble with concrete filler

This method is very simple and affordable, both in terms of manufacturing technology and costs. Because of this, this method is very popular. Countertops and kitchen boards are highly durable, and environmentally friendly materials are used in the manufacture.

1. First of all, you will need a form (matrix) made of polyurethane, plastic, plaster or other suitable material. You can make a frame from a corner or wood, and make the bottom glass. It is important that the surface of the casting mold is perfectly smooth and dry, and the frame is detachable for easy removal. finished product. The form can be ordered in the workshop, but it is quite expensive.
2. The inner surface of the mold is coated with gelcoat. Gelcoats vary in color and usage environment. Choose a moisture resistant gelcoat and only after its final drying, you can fill the form with concrete or gypsum mortar- filler. Hydrated lime or clay is used as a plasticizer, filler.
3. Prepare the filler for the bulk of the product. To do this, mix sand and cement in a ratio of 2: 1, add crushed stone or pebbles and a plasticizer as a filler. Mix thoroughly, preferably in a mixer, until a homogeneous mass is obtained. In different sectors of the container with filler, pigment dye is added in uneven portions and mixed until veins and spots are created.
4. The form is set in a strictly horizontal position and a mass of artificial liquid marble is poured into it in small portions. Make sure that all the voids in the matrix are filled. Excess mortar is removed with a spatula, cover the filling from above plastic wrap. Depending on the thickness, artificial marble dries from 24 hours in natural conditions and at positive temperatures. The dried slab is removed from the mold, processed grinder and transparent polish.

Cast marble based on polyester resins

This method is somewhat more expensive, but the result is a beautiful texture of the outer coating. The material is very durable and lightweight, resistant to external mechanical and chemical influences.

1. The first option is preparing polymer concrete. Take 20-25% polyester resin and 80-75% filler. In this capacity, you can use quartz sand or another neutral colored mineral, finely crushed into crumbs.
2. In the second case, instead of polyester resin, you can use a mixture of butacryl with AST-T in a ratio of 50x50 and add 50% crushed stone or quartz sand. Coloring is done with acrylic-based pigments.
3. The form is filled and leveled with a spatula on the surface of the matrix. As a filler, you can use a chipboard board cut 5 cm less than the shape outline. It is pressed into the mass, and the excess that comes out is leveled on the back of the casting.
4. The dried and hardened product is removed from the mold and can be easily processed. It lends itself to grinding, drilling and other machining.

Production of artificial marble from gypsum

Making artificial marble from gypsum at home is an affordable process and does not require special costs.

1. To begin with, water is prepared, dry gypsum, wood glue and resin dissolved in a turpentine hot bath are added to it. Acrylic dyes or pigment are added to the thoroughly mixed mixture and stirred until streaks and streaks are obtained.
2. For getting milky artificial marble, for 200 grams of white humilax, add 1000 technical alcohol and 50 dry gypsum. For brown or coffee tone orange humilax is taken. Aniline paint is used to obtain black varnish.
3. The liquid mass is poured into a plastic or polyurethane mold. To remove excess water and set faster, the mass is sprinkled on top with dry gypsum. After 8-10 hours, the product can be removed from the mold. To create a waterproof front surface, it is treated with potassium silicate.
4. Can be immersed in a bath or brushed liberally on both sides. After drying, the surface is polished with a soft felt or similar abrasive agent with the addition of polish of the desired shade. The surface is processed to obtain a perfectly smooth mirror surface.

Great, the main thing is that everything is cut to size.
We will assume that all products are made correctly.
Usually the stairs are assembled when there is already a clean floor. If you want to lay the steps to the floors, you will need "clean floor zeros". Next, we expose the first riser, from the height of the clean floor, so that later this clean floor can be brought under the riser.
Your first riser will be a compound one because it's a radius step. How it's done. The blank for the riser is cut into rectangles, where the height is equal to the height of the riser, and the length is calculated by the selection method (according to the principle of minimum seams, maximum approach the step radius).
The sides of the composite riser are cut "under the mustache" so that no gaps are visible during assembly.
If the marble has a pattern, then it is desirable to keep it when assembling the parts.
To fix the parts of the riser, you will need gypsum and 2-component stone glue (it happens different colors, plus you can additionally tint to get in color). 1. We glue the pre-fitted parts of the riser with 2-component glue (it becomes fast in 10-15 minutes). 2. We freeze the correctly exposed riser with gypsum. 3. fill with a mortar (4 parts of M300 sand concrete, 1 part of Eunice granite glue (or similar). A correctly set riser has the following features: 1. It must be approximately 10 mm higher than the concrete base. length.

Next, we lay the 1st stage on the mortar, for better adhesion of the marble to the mortar, the stage with back side can be stretched with a thin layer of tile adhesive.
Signs of a correctly laid step: 1. The step must be with the same overhang relative to the riser. 2. There should be a minimum (approximately 0.5 - 1 degree) slope towards the riser so that water does not stand on the steps.

All other risers and steps are stacked similarly to the first.
To adjust the steps when laying, you will need a rubber mallet.
The consistency of the solution should be thick.

If the steps and risers are calculated and cut correctly, and concrete base has the same step, you will succeed.

About white glues and marbles. It is very rare to make steps from white marble, because it is not practical, but if you have white marble, I recommend using white glue, otherwise after a while the marble will start to darken.

Not every marble is suitable for making steps. Grainy marbles behave badly (they crumble), clay marbles (such as Bidasar).

I would probably beat the column that adjoins the stairs with marble too.

Compared to other construction and finishing materials, marble in the cladding process has many advantages. Among them, durability, strength, a unique pattern and a wide choice of colors stand out.
Facing stairs, fireplaces, walls outside and inside with marble will create a stunning ensemble that will present your home in a completely different light.

Due to its high resistance to water, marble can be used in almost any room, and not only inside, but also outside.
Due to the fact that marble is represented by a huge amount of color, it can be used in almost all elements of the room:

• Such material can be effectively used for arranging walls, and for decorating countertops, and even in the process of finishing stairs in a house.
• Marble cladding is a must calling card rich house and evidence that its owners have good taste.
• Using marble finishes in the house, people are guided not only by its aesthetic appeal, but also by the strength and durability of the material.
• Marble cladding stairs allows you to create the most beautiful scene, which will be combined with other interior elements made of other materials. building materials. Therefore, such a staircase will harmoniously fit into general style premises.

Note. Stairs made of marble fill the house with natural forces and energy, and the nobility of such a material as stone once again emphasizes style and individuality.

Laying plates on the stairs can be done in various ways:

• Decoration with plates of different sizes.
• Laying seamless tiles.
• Laying mosaic panels and more.

Feature of marble tiles:

• The technical description of marble tiles for stair cladding suggests that they can be used both outdoors and indoors.
• After all, correctly and carefully selected marble tiles resistant to not very favorable influences, including climatic factors, and even strong mechanical damage.

In addition to the fact that such stairs are very functional, they are also presented in completely different ways. color characteristics, a huge variety of natural textures and patterns, which allows you to use these finishing elements in almost any interior of any style.

Concrete and stone stairs lined with marble slabs

Cladding can be made from natural materials, for example, from stone (marble, granite) or from ceramic tiles (see Finishing stairs with tiles: doing it right). In some cases, the surface of the stairs is decorated with various mosaic coverings.
The steps themselves and the stairwells are covered with mosaics.