Production technology of artificial marble from concrete. How to make marble from concrete: the secrets of technology Concrete tiles marble from concrete

When performing construction activities, concrete is traditionally used, which is the main building material. On its basis, it is easy to independently create a composite that imitates a natural stone - marble. Naturally quarried marble is an expensive material that has been used for centuries for exclusive decoration and interior design. However, it was not widely used due to the increased price. It is not difficult to make synthetic marble from concrete by mastering a common process technology. Let's get acquainted with the features of the composite and technology.

Marble from concrete: manufacturing technology

Marble concrete - requirements for artificial material

A difficult task is to recreate natural marble, which is a textured material with a unique structure, non-standard colors and veins. Masters, making marbled concrete on their own, present a set of requirements for artificial material.

The resulting composite should have the maximum similarity with the natural mineral.:

match the color scheme;
have a similar structure
match in strength;
maintain integrity during temperature changes;
do not collapse at an increased concentration of moisture;
not have a negative impact on others.

One of the main requirements is the minimum level of cash costs associated with the production of the composite. A proven technology (do-it-yourself marble from concrete) allows you to create a composite in a private way. At the same time, it will fully comply with the requirements.

We are preparing to make marbled concrete with our own hands - materials and equipment

Production of marble from concrete

Having made a decision to make marbled concrete with your own hands, you should prepare the following tools and building materials in a timely manner:

portland cement marked M 400 or M 500;
aggregate in the form of fine gravel or marble particles;
water used to mix the ingredients;
sand, cleaned of impurities;
pigment additives, insoluble in water;
plasticizing component with the designation C-3;
rubberized plastic container used as a mold;
polyethylene film;
a trough, the capacity of which is sufficient for kneading;
an electric drill with a nozzle that allows you to thoroughly mix the components.

To increase the efficiency of compaction of molded products, a vibrating table or a vibrating platform is used. If it is not possible to use mechanical compaction, manual compaction is allowed. It is allowed to use colored pebbles as a filler.

Artificial marble production technology

The technology does not require the use of special equipment and allows you to make marble from concrete on your own. When visually inspecting the resulting composite, it is difficult to distinguish it from a natural mineral.

Equipment and technology for the manufacture of marble from concrete - "Systrom"

Perform technological operations for the manufacture of a composite material, following the given sequence of operations:

Mix two parts of fine sand with one part of Portland cement in a cleaned bath. After mixing evenly, pour in marble pieces or colored stones as a filler. These ingredients will improve the appearance of the product.
Add color pigment. The introduction of a color dye will allow to achieve the desired color range of the marble composite. To achieve a natural shade, the percentage of coloring pigment should be one hundredth of the total volume of the working mixture.
Re-mix. Using an electric drill with a mixing attachment, ensure that the components are thoroughly mixed. The natural appearance and complete identity of the natural mineral is ensured by imitation of veins, as well as spotty inclusions.
Compact the working mixture. Place the working container with the solution on the vibration platform and turn on the equipment. To completely remove air inclusions, tamp the mixture for 10-15 minutes, shaking the working composition vigorously.
Introduce a plasticizing agent and water into the dry mixture. Plasticizer in an amount of not more than 1% of the total proportion of Portland cement, dilute in 75% water at room temperature. Mix the ingredients with a nozzle until smooth, add the rest of the water and mix again.
Pour the resulting solution into polyurethane containers. Polyurethane molds should be cleaned of dust, residues of the mixture, dried thoroughly before pouring the solution. Then you need to install them on a horizontal surface and fill to the top level.
Make reinforcement. Reinforcement with steel wire is advisable to perform at a reduced height and an increased area of the molded product. The wire should be pre-cut into pieces of appropriate size and immersed in the composite mixture.

Workshop for the production of marble from concrete

After completing the pouring, it is necessary to cover the molds with polyethylene, and do not subject them to stress for 1.5–2 weeks. During this period, the cement hydration process will end, and the composite composition will gain the necessary strength margin. The use of collapsible forms with a reduced roughness of the working surface will simplify the extraction of finished products.

When planning your own business for the manufacture of products from a composite material imitating natural stone, it is advisable to use various forms. With their help, it is easy to cast a window sill with your own hands from concrete, decorative floor tiles, original balusters with a unique pattern, as well as columns that are difficult to distinguish from products made from natural material.

What are the advantages of technology - do-it-yourself concrete marble

The technological process available for implementation at home makes it possible to produce marbled composite concrete, which has a number of advantages.

Main advantages:

In addition to these main advantages, there are the following positive aspects:

fixing individual parts in a common array like puzzles;
imitation of valuable minerals of various rocks;
harmlessness of the composite for the health of others;
affordable price of the components used;
practically waste-free technology;
resistance of products to temperature changes;
resistance of composite products to humidity fluctuations;
extended range of products, due to the geometry of the molds;
the possibility of using various pigments to create original shades.

One of the serious advantages is also the affordable price of concrete analogues, which are much cheaper than natural marble. The main advantage of the technology is the possibility of obtaining an artificial composite in private conditions, which provides a wide field of activity for home craftsmen.

Marbled concrete - scope

All about concrete marble technology

The use of a decorative composite has a positive effect on improving the external perception. The texture, which is difficult to distinguish from natural, allows the use of composite material for facade decoration of buildings and for landscape design.

Scope of use:

front finishing;
landscaping;
laying paths;
decoration of recreation areas.

The material is also in demand for interior finishing work. Main application:

decorative cladding of premises;
flooring in hallways, bathrooms, toilets and kitchens;
facing of heating furnaces;
finishing of fireplaces;
production of elements of stairs (steps, balusters, railings);
production of original window sills and countertops.

The technology allows the production of various interior items, the complexity of which is determined by their configuration. Small costs for organizing production allow you to fully satisfy your own fantasies, as well as organize a small business.

Summing up: is it important to figure out how to make marble from concrete with your own hands

Having information about the manufacture of the original concrete composite, you can make extraordinary products for interior design and landscaping, as well as improve the exterior and design of the territory on your own. The technology is becoming increasingly popular due to advanced features and minimal costs. It is easy to master both for internal needs and for setting up serial production. To ensure quality, it is important to use proven raw materials and follow the technology. This is the main key to success!

Products that imitate natural stones have high strength, resistance to chemicals, environmental friendliness, shock and heat resistance, as well as other advantages. Artificial marble is made of concrete, gypsum and polyester resin and is used not only for facing houses, but also in the manufacture of countertops, stairs, window sills, fountains and much more.

To make artificial marble with your own hands, you need to decide on the technology of its production.

Cast marble

Polyester resin and any mineral filler (marble chips, crushed white quartz and other finely dispersed components) are used as the basis for this material. The latter allow the production of slabs stylized as granite, malachite, jasper and onyx.

To make cast artificial marble at home, you will need to prepare a solution:

Polymer concrete. To do this, mix 20-25% polyester resin with 75-80% crushed neutral mineral.
Butacryl. In this case, instead of resin, AST-T and butacryl are used in equal proportions, after which 50% of quartz sand or crushed gravel is added to the mixture.

You will also need to prepare river sand, pigment, gelcoat and plasticizer. The manufacturing technology of artificial marble from resin includes the following steps:

Gel coat the matrix for the future artificial stone and let the mold dry.
Prepare the solution using one of the methods described above.
Pour the liquid solution into the matrix and remove any excess.
Cover the mold with cling film and wait 10 hours.
Remove the finished artificial stone from the mold and leave it outdoors for a while.

The hardened stone can be further polished or left without machining.

Despite the ease of manufacture of such artificial raw materials, the casting method for the production of marble is expensive, so it makes sense to consider other methods for creating stones.

Gypsum artificial marble is a gypsum mass, mixed with a mixture of water and glue, which is polished to a mirror finish. This "toning" allows you to imitate natural minerals such as malachite and lapis lazuli.

The production of this artificial marble does not require expensive materials. You can prepare it as follows:

Knead dry gypsum and wood glue in water.
Pour the melted resin into the mixture.
Stir the composition and add pigment to it.
Stir the mixture again until natural inclusions and streaks appear in it.

Healthy! If you want to get a product of natural color, then you need to mix 200 g of white humilax, 1 kg of alcohol (technical) and 50 g of gypsum. To get a coffee shade, use orange humilax, and to create a black stone, add aniline dye.

Pour the liquid mass into the plastic matrix.
Remove excess mixture. To do this, sprinkle the solution with dry gypsum.
Wait about 10 hours and pull the finished product out of the mold.
Treat the surface of the product with potassium silicate to make the finished stone water resistant.
Dry the marble and polish it with soft felt (you can also use specialized abrasives that give the finished product a more saturated shade).
When the surface of the stone becomes almost mirror-like, the artificial marble will be ready.

Such production of artificial marble and mosaics is considered the most simple and affordable. Thanks to gypsum, the stones are very light and durable. Such products are successfully used in residential premises.

Artificial marble with concrete filler

The technology of marble production using concrete is also very popular due to the use of environmentally friendly material and the ease of manufacture of products.

To create such a stone yourself, follow these steps:

Coat the dry matrix with a smooth surface with a moisture-resistant gelcoat and wait for the mold to dry completely.
Prepare the concrete mixture and add clay or slaked lime to it.
Prepare your filler. To do this, mix 2 parts of river sand, 1 part of cement, 80% of water and add pebbles to the composition. It is also necessary to add pigment to the resulting solution (1% by weight of the mixture) and knead the composition for artificial marble for 30-40 seconds. It is recommended to mix all components in a special mixer.
Add pigment to the finished filler (you need to add it unevenly to make the finished product more realistic). After that, carefully move the liquid composition.
Set the matrix in a horizontal position and pour the prepared mass into it in small portions. This should fill all the voids in the form.
Remove excess mixture with a spatula.
Cover the surface with polyethylene and wait for the composition to completely harden at positive temperatures (depending on the thickness of the stone, it will dry from 24 hours to several days).
Remove the finished artificial slab from the matrix and process it with a grinder and a special transparent polish.

If you decide how to make artificial marble yourself, then you should give preference to gypsum or concrete. However, you can purchase ready-made material:

Ground marble (microcalcite). This raw material is made from crushed marble. This powdery substance of mineral origin is characterized by high strength and low chemical activity. In addition, the material is resistant to sunlight and does not absorb moisture.
Liquid marble. In addition to marble chips, this material contains acrylic polymers, which makes such a stone light and flexible. Such marble can be easily cut with a knife and pasted over the walls with it. It is most popular when decorating irregularly shaped rooms.

In custody

The manufacture of artificial marble differs based on the material used (more on the video). However, no matter what raw materials you choose, the stone must be properly cared for. For example, to preserve the shine of a marble surface, use a soapy solution (add 1 cap of any detergent to 3 liters of water).

Concrete marble is a versatile material that can be easily made with your own hands. Why make such an imitation of real marble? Marble has been used for a long time, for many centuries, to decorate rooms or entire buildings. He is incredibly beautiful, looks very noble. Its price is justified by the fact that it is quite difficult to obtain this mineral (therefore, it is quite expensive). Deposits are located in rare places, the availability of which is low. In addition, the entire process of extraction, material processing, and delivery only adds to the price, because they are quite complex.

Where is it used?

Concrete marble is used for the same purposes as ordinary marble - for finishing the facades of buildings, interiors, furniture surfaces, as tiles, other floor coverings, sinks, fireplaces and much more. If you correctly make marble out of concrete with your own hands, you will remain in the black, since it is more affordable in terms of price, outwardly it is in no way inferior to the original.

Advantages

This material has many advantages. Firstly, artificial marble is environmentally friendly, just like natural marble. For many, the fact that its price differs significantly from the price of natural rock is important, and at times. A huge advantage: the production is virtually waste-free, and this is important for nature. In addition, this material perfectly retains heat, does not allow moisture to pass through. And for creative individuals, it is simply indispensable - they can choose any color, shape and easily make marble at home.

Materials and tools

In order to make marble, you will need special materials, tools. Prepare water, plastic wrap, fine sand, oil paint in whatever color you want the concrete to be. As a filler, you will need to choose small pebbles or gravel. Also, do not forget about cement (needed with the M400 / M500 marking) and any container, drill (it is important that there is a nozzle with a mixer) for mixing. You will also need forms that will be filled with artificial marble. They can be purchased at the store or do it yourself if you have chosen an unusual configuration. In principle, these components are not difficult to get - they are sold in any hardware stores.

If the technology is performed correctly, then the material that will be the result will be in no way inferior to real marble in appearance. At first glance, it will be difficult to determine how the interior was finished.

Types of concrete mix for production

Concrete mixture is a mixture of water, binder and aggregate. All components are mixed in a special device - a concrete mixer. As a result of a special technology of mixing all the necessary components, we get a material of artificial production - concrete.

Given different criteria, different ones can be distinguished. For example, for these types:

heavy (grades M100-M600);
very heavy (grades M100-M200);
lungs (brands M35-M400);
very light (grades M25-M200).

To prepare marble, we use M400 or M500 markings. This is due to the fact that marble concrete must have strength, like a real one. The density of the concrete mixture used should be between 1800 and 2500 kilograms per square meter, depending on the marking you choose.

Manufacturing technology

Recently, many different techniques for producing concrete marble have appeared. They are often found under the names "artificial marble", "systrom", "decorative/colored concrete" and others. But these are just different variations of names that are united by one technology.

It combines all the advantages of the semi-dry forming technique by combining it with the so-called vibrocasting technique. This allows you to make a material that is identical to real marble with your own hands, using the usual components that were listed above, and quite standard equipment (such as a concrete mixer).

- this is the same ordinary concrete, but with the addition of white shades of cement, which gives it a noble look. Sometimes special fillers are used in production, for example, marble chips, which can be of completely different shades and colors. Such a technique with the addition of marble chips should also combine subsequent processing. The created surface must be polished to obtain the effect of real marble. Also, after polishing, the structure of the aggregate will appear beautifully.

Preparing the mixture

After you have found all the necessary tools and components, you can safely start preparing the mixture for making artificial marble slabs. First of all, prepare a clean bowl for this process. The solution has the usual proportions, that is, 1:3 parts. Take dry cement of the desired marking, then add fine-grained sand to it. Remember to sift the sand beforehand to get rid of unnecessary debris that may be present in it. To do this, you need a fine mesh, because the sand is fine. All this must be done to achieve a homogeneous solution.

After thorough mixing, add the filler. As mentioned earlier, small pebbles can be used as a filler. Thus, a ready-made solution is obtained.

Further, following the technology, it is worth adding a coloring pigment to give color to the artificial marble. The peculiarity is that the solution does not need to be thoroughly mixed: this creates the effect of heterogeneity, which we are trying to give the solution in order to achieve a greater external similarity with the rock. You can add paints of different shades to get an unusual effect. Here you can completely succumb to fantasy and boldly experiment. As a result, various bends, divorces, spots of original forms appear. But you should not be too zealous either: the amount of pigment in the solution should not exceed one or two percent of the dry mass. It is also worth remembering: it is better to inject the dye in portions into different parts of the form that you fill out.

After the dye has been added to the solution, it must be shaken, but it should not be thoroughly mixed. Some builders use a vibrating table for such a shake. But if you do not have this device, you can simply shake the mixture with your hands. It won't be difficult.

Concrete, traditionally used in construction, is the main building material, which is the basis of the foundations of buildings, interfloor ceilings, supporting structures, beams. But not everyone knows that you can independently create an original pattern that distinguishes marble from concrete.

Natural marble has been used for centuries for interior decoration and building decoration. Unfortunately, the financial capabilities of developers make it difficult to use a rare and expensive material on a massive scale.

At present, the technology for the production of artificial marble has become widespread, which makes it possible to produce concrete under marble, the appearance of which is close to natural stone, without the use of special equipment.

After the marble obtained from concrete hardens, it is removed from the molds and the surface is polished with an angle grinder with diamond discs.

The appearance can be imitated by making your own marble concrete, which gives sophistication to the facades of buildings. The material is in demand for the manufacture of cladding, interior elements, landscape design. Consider how to make marble from concrete on your own, ensuring complete similarity with natural stone.

Requirements

Serious requirements are imposed on a self-made composite. Marble concrete made at home must:

repeat the color and structure of the original;
have high strength;
not require increased financial costs associated with its manufacture;
do not emit harmful substances during operation;
comply with fire safety requirements;
maintain the structure during operation in conditions of high humidity;
be resistant to temperature changes.

Concrete marble withstands temperature changes and retains its strength

The technology of production of artificial marble allows you to create products that fully comply with the entire range of these requirements.

Necessary materials

To create marble from concrete with your own hands, you will need the following materials, fixtures and tools:

Having prepared these materials, start making artificial marble with your own hands.

Method of making artificial stone

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The given technology of marble from concrete will allow you to get an appearance close to the original stone. The sequence of operations for the manufacture of artificial stone includes the following steps:

dry mixing. Using a clean container, mix Portland cement with sifted fine sand in a 1:2 mixing ratio. After mixing, add multi-colored pebbles, marble chips, which is a filler, to the resulting mixture. The introduction of a multi-colored filler will provide an original look for the concrete product;
dye introduction. Add a pigment to the prepared dry mixture, the concentration of which should not exceed 1% of the total mass of the mixture;
re-mixing. Using an electric drill with a special attachment, re-mix all the ingredients thoroughly. The main condition for the natural appearance of the future product is its uneven coloring, which ensures the identity of a natural stone with veins and spotty inclusions;

If artificial marble will be produced in solid quantities, then you will have to purchase or rent a vibrating table

composition compaction. Using a vibrating table or manually (by vigorous shaking), ensure that air is removed from the dry mix;
addition of plasticizer and water. Using heated water, dilute the plasticizer in a container in an amount equal to 1% of the total volume of cement and 80% of warm water. Stir the mixture with a mixer until a plastic composition is obtained. Add the remaining water to the volume and re-mix the mixture;
fill. Pour the resulting mass into pre-dried, clean polyurethane molds. Pay attention to the horizontal position of the form before pouring;
reinforcement. With an increased area and the need to strengthen the product, reinforce the array using pre-prepared steel wire. Perform the strengthening operation after pouring the mixture into molds by immersing the wire into the concrete array.

Cover the filled products with plastic wrap. Keep the array immobile for ten days. During this period, the concrete mass will acquire operational strength. The use of collapsible molds with a smooth surface of the walls will facilitate the process of extracting finished products.

Using the original forms of appropriate sizes and configurations, you can easily make a marbled window sill with your own hands, as well as facing tiles, balusters, columns and other products.

The main advantage of marble, for the production of which concrete is used, is the absence of the need for additional processing.

Advantages of artificial stone

Self-made marble concrete has a number of positive properties, the main of which are:

Areas of use

The use of decorative material significantly improves the exterior, causes admiring glances. The original texture of the material allows it to be used for finishing and decorating from the outside of the premises:

execution of external cladding;
implementation of decisions on the design of the territory;
laying sidewalks in recreation areas.

Undoubtedly, marble concrete is used not only for decorative finishing of buildings from the street side and landscape design. It is also popular inside apartments, where it is used for:

Decorative finishing of premises.
Applications instead of ceramic tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, bathroom.
Fireplace covers.
Formation of floor coverings.
Manufacture of countertops, window sills, railings, balusters, stairs, various interior items.

The affordable price of concrete products imitating marble allows consumers to realize their fantasies of finishing the building and improving the interior of the room.

Conclusion

Affordable and simple technology for the production of artificial marble allows you to independently produce various exclusive products for finishing and decoration at minimal cost. The popularity of decorative marble is growing.

Knowing how to make marble from concrete on your own, you can set up mass production that does not require serious capital investments. The key to success is the use of high-quality materials, properly made molds for pouring, as well as compliance with the requirements of the technology described in the material of the article.

Marble for decoration of premises and external walls of buildings began to be used in ancient times. But this material is far from being accessible to everyone. The price of natural marble starts from 20 thousand rubles per square meter. As a more economical replacement, it is artificial marble - made of concrete and other materials. Artificial stone is 4 times cheaper than natural stone if you buy it in stores. But with certain skills, you can make it yourself.

Characteristics of artificial stone

Artificial stone is called not only marble made from concrete, but also ceramic granite. The production technology of these materials is almost identical. But they are used differently.

Porcelain stoneware is considered to be harder and more resistant to mechanical damage, therefore it is more often than marble used for coatings in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic: floors in shopping centers, supermarkets, subways, transport centers. In residential premises, walls and floors of halls and kitchens, bathrooms are faced with porcelain stoneware.

Marble is less durable, but thanks to dyes it has a beautiful pattern. Its scope is countertops and bar counters, railings of fences and stairs, decorative elements, details of plumbing units, window sills and artificial columns.

Custom-made concrete marble can come in almost any shape, color, and pattern. These parameters depend solely on the imagination and solvency of the buyer.

Natural marble in many ways loses to its artificial counterpart. A countertop made of natural material will weigh 3-4 times more than a similar in shape and size - made of synthetic material.

The color palette of natural stone is limited, while artificial marble can be painted in any shade and even made to glow.

Manufacturing techniques

On an industrial scale, several technologies for the production of marble are used. The composition of the mixtures depends on the chosen method. The most popular are casting and gypsum methods and the manufacture of marble from concrete. Technologies for the production of artificial marble in both cases have much in common.

injection method

Casting marble is made from quartz sand or natural stone production waste - marble chips. The integrity of the mixture is given by polyester resins, and with the help of a pigment, any shade can be given to the product. Cast marble has the following characteristics:

In addition to the main components of the mixture, a number of tools, preparations and special equipment are used in the production of cast marble. These include:

molds for pouring;
anti-adhesive composition for mold processing;
vibrating table;
equipment for polishing the finished marble structure;
gelcoat.

Forms are treated with anti-adhesive mixtures after excavation of the frozen stone.

The composition of such preparations includes paraffin or silicone dissolved in kerosene, white spirit or gasoline.

It is necessary to choose the composition, focusing on the desired appearance of the stone.

A silicone mixture is suitable for a matte finish, while a wax release compound gives the finished product a glossy finish, the surface becomes a little greasy.

The procedure for making cast marble is as follows:

Gelcoat is a polymer resin, which is given a given shade with the help of dyes. He performs several functions: protects the surface from damage, “closes” the pores of the product and colors it. The gelcoat is applied with a brush or sprayer in several layers. After the finish coat has dried (for a gel coat, this is about 2-3 hours), the product is ready for use.

Gypsum marble

An alternative to stone made from natural chips is gypsum marble. Production according to this recipe is much cheaper. Base Blend contains the following components:

First of all, gypsum, glue and water are mixed, then resin is added, and everything is mixed with a mixer. Then added coloring ingredients:

black color gives aniline paint;
a shade of coffee can be obtained by using orange humilax (200 g) and 1 liter of technical alcohol per 50 kg of gypsum;
for snow-white marble, white humilax is used.

The mixture is poured into a mold and dried for 10 hours at room temperature. After complete hardening, the artificial "gypsum" marble is taken out, treated with potassium silicate, dried and polished with felt.

Gypsum marble is the lightest type of artificial stone, but also one of the most fragile. On its basis, decorative elements are usually made, on which a significant load does not refuse.

Based on concrete

For the manufacture of a single product, it is not necessary to contact third-party manufacturers. If there are a number of quite affordable ingredients, anyone can create an artificial stone. You can make marble out of concrete with your own hands. In addition to cement, marble contains sand, plasticizer and water. This greatly reduces the cost of artificial stone compared to the casting method. Such simple components also have certain requirements.

For the production of marble from concrete, the following materials and equipment:

Production begins with careful sifting of sand. This will help get rid of excess impurities. The first to mix the basic components - cement and sand. The ratio of these components in the composition may vary depending on the scope of the final product.

For parts that will be subject to a large amount of mechanical damage in the future - curbs, external cladding, paving slabs - it is required to mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1: 3.
If it is planned to make a countertop, an element of ceiling or stairs, a window sill from artificial marble, then the proportions should be 1:2.
For decorative elements, cement and sand are mixed in a 1: 1 ratio.

The mixture is then diluted with water. The volume of water is calculated based on the volume of the dry mixture: the recommended proportion is 1 part of water to 2 parts of the mixture. First pour in about three quarters of the water and mix. Then a plasticizer is added to the mixture at the rate of 1–2% by weight of cement and mixed.

For the best distribution of the plasticizer, the mixture is left to stand for 10-15 minutes, and then the remaining water is poured in and mixed again.

The last ingredient is dye. One or more pigments can be added to achieve the desired shade. It is generally recommended to use the pigment at the rate of 1% of the weight of the cement (rather than the entire mixture), but the effectiveness of the dyes is not the same, so this ratio may not give the desired result. The most popular dyes and their recommended dosages are as follows:

titanium oxide gives the mixture a white color (or white stains and streaks), the recommended dosage is from 2 to 4%;
minium - red-orange pigment - 5%;
chromium oxide colors the composition green, is added in a volume of 3-5% by weight of cement;
the recommended amount for ocher is 5%, as a result, marble is painted in shades from light yellow to brown.

There are also special pigments for concrete. When determining their dosage, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

After adding the dye, the composition should not be thoroughly mixed, since marble is characterized by an uneven distribution of color.

The finished mixture is poured in parts into a mold treated with anti-adhesion preparations, paying special attention to the recesses. If the planned product is large, a part of the composition is poured into the mold, a mesh or wire is laid, and only then the rest of the liquid base is added. Usually, countertops and massive slabs, borders, and volumetric decorative elements require reinforcement. After pouring, the mold is covered with a film and left until completely hardened.

Artificial marble hardens for a long time, it will take at least 7-12 days. The finished stone is removed from the mold, if necessary, polished and covered with a final protective layer of resin (gelcoat).

Nuances of operation

With proper finishing of artificial marble of any origin, products made from it will last for years. One of the ways to increase the durability of the stone is surface staining and coating with water-acrylic varnish.

This is especially true for stone used in exterior decoration, since water-acrylic varnish is not affected by sunlight.

As a result, the marble decor element will not change its color and will not be covered with unpleasant yellow spots for 10-15 years.

When installing the product, avoid overtightening the fasteners. A marble slab installed at an angle or with strong pressure on the corners may not withstand the load and burst. When facing rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the plumbing, to prevent the occurrence of leaks and the ingress of stone under digging.

Dropping heavy objects with sharp corners can damage the marble. Do not cut food directly on the countertop, use cutting boards.

The surface must be cleaned using only liquid cleaners. Compositions with abrasives destroy the protective coating of artificial stone, cause micro-scratches in which food debris, dust and other contaminants accumulate. Hard brushes and metal meshes should be discarded in favor of soft fabrics.