Alabaster is a mortar of building gypsum, which can be found on construction sites and in domestic conditions. Belongs to the group of finishing materials. It is used for both interior and exterior decorating. It is interesting for many positive characteristics: it belongs to an environmentally friendly material, has good sound insulation and water resistance.

On the market you can find alabaster of three types and under various brands: fast hardening, slow hardening and normal hardening.

The main characteristics of alabaster

Alabaster has the following positive properties:

• Hardens in no time. Already after five minutes, the material sets and after 30 minutes it reaches full hardening.
• Reduces the risk of cracking.
• It is a non-combustible material.
• Allows for even coverage.
• With its help, it is possible to create fireproof coatings.

Alabaster for repair and construction work

Using alabaster is not at all difficult, but before using it, you must read the instructions and strictly adhere to the recommendations. It should be remembered that the material hardens very quickly in air. After about 5-7 minutes, the diluted solution begins to set and becomes unsuitable for further work. In order to avoid embarrassment, it is recommended to knead the solution in batches. To prolong the "working" properties of the mixture, many experts recommend adding wallpaper paste to it. In this case, there is a little more time for work.

Another secret. does not stick to rubber at all, so it can be diluted in rubber containers. If the solution is planned to be diluted in an ordinary bucket, then it must first be covered with plastic wrap. Otherwise, such a container will be damaged.

Alabaster solution: technological features

The technology of diluting alabaster has similar features with the technology of diluting wallpaper paste. Usually the proportions are as follows: the ratio of powder and water is 1: 0.5, where 1 kg of alabaster falls on 1.5 liters of cold water.

The resulting mixture must be thoroughly and very quickly mixed to a viscous state. The consistency of the solution should resemble sour cream. After that, you can immediately start finishing work, while interruptions in the application of the material are unacceptable.

Gypsum, alabaster, lime

For more than one millennium, this unique building material has been used in the construction and repair of premises, for decoration, the manufacture of sculptures and vessels. Alabaster, which is often called building gypsum, is aesthetically pleasing and easy to process.

About the intricacies of breeding alabaster

The main feature of water mixtures with alabaster is their rapid solidification. This circumstance should be taken into account before proceeding with its breeding. In addition, the setting speed leads to the formation of hardened residues of the mixture in containers from under it. Therefore, sometimes it is not easy to remove them from metal buckets and tanks.

To save yourself from mistakes when breeding alabaster, you must:

• prepare the mixture in small portions to prevent it from setting before five minutes
• for breeding, it is better to use containers made of rubber or silicone, which are easy to clean
• put a plastic bag inside the container, the upper edge of which is securely fixed before stirring
• strictly observe the ratio of alabaster and water for the preparation of a specific solution
• pour dry alabaster into water gradually, stirring constantly until a mass is obtained without lumps and bubbles

At what proportions is building gypsum obtained

Building gypsum can be prepared for various finishing operations. For each of them, the regulatory documentation provides for certain requirements for the preparation of an asbestos solution. So, if it is supposed to be used to fill the strobes when performing work related to the laying of electrical wiring, one kilogram of alabaster should be diluted in half a liter of water.

In the case of preparing a plaster mortar based on alabaster and lime, a kilogram of dry powder is diluted in 650 grams of lime mortar or water. A liquid putty mortar, with which uneven walls are leveled, a kilogram of dry building gypsum is poured into a liter of water.

The main thing when breeding alabaster is pouring the dry mixture into water. If this is done in small portions while stirring, the formation of lumps is minimized.

However, a quality solution is also provided:

• using mechanical tools in the form of a drill with nozzles for stirring
• moistening the alabaster while stirring by hand, after which it is intensively stirred with a spatula
• the inadmissibility of diluting the mixture that has seized with a liquid due to loss of quality

The main property of alabaster is the ability to quickly harden, mixing with water. This creates a hard, stone-like surface. Thanks to these properties, he finds wide application in various industries construction, industrial production, art. With its help close up seams in surfaces, openings and roughnesses.

When conducting electrical wiring with alabaster, wires and cables are fixed in specially prepared grooves. They putty walls and other surfaces of premises, various building structures.

However, ordinary alabaster quickly sets and hardens, after which it is not recommended to re-mix it with water. The quality of such a mixture deteriorates sharply.

Experienced craftsmen have their own methods for extending the action of the finished solution. According to one of them, a small amount of wallpaper glue is added to a container with such a solution.

After that, it is tightly closed with a piece of plastic wrap. Masters claim that this allows, without losing the quality of the alabaster mixture, to increase its setting time.

Types of alabaster

Different types of alabaster, as a natural mineral for the manufacture of building gypsum, are mined in many countries.

So calcite alabaster is formed by flows of calcareous waters and sediments. It can have various, mostly greenish hues. Breaks down on impact of hydrochloric acid unlike gypsum alabaster.

Gypsum alabaster is the main raw material for the manufacture of gypsum. As a result of its processing at high temperature in special devices, a powder-like binder gypsum for construction is obtained. If it is subjected to finer grinding, the resulting powder can be used for molding operations. Specially purified raw materials are used for the production of gypsum for medical purposes.

There are rare forms of alabaster. In Italy, China and the USA, in addition to white, pink and black alabaster is also mined. There is a reddish and brown alabaster.

The setting time varies:

• fast-hardening, which begins to harden after a couple of minutes and finally sets in a quarter of an hour
• normally hardening with the onset of setting no earlier than six minutes later and the final hardening in half an hour
• hardening slowly, which begins to set no earlier than twenty minutes

For the most part, the powder of modern building gypsum is white color. The most applicable in the construction of such gypsum, which is marked G-5, G-6.

This alabaster is widely used for:

• plastering work in dry rooms
• preparation of putty and plaster mixtures according to special recipes
• production of partition panels based on gypsum
• dry plaster sheet
• various types of drywall sheets
• gypsum fiber boards and gypsum boards

Like building plaster used where high strength characteristics of the material are not required. Due to the presence of a coarse-grained component, it has lower strength and greater porosity.

To meet the needs of industries that need high-strength molds for casting parts for various purposes, performing special work, it is necessary to opt for alabaster, which is highly durable, marked from G-13 to G-25. Such material complies with modern safety and construction standards.

The cost of quality alabaster

Ordinary building plaster is considered a relatively inexpensive building material, making it extremely popular in the market. It is sold mainly in strong paper multi-layer bags, designed for 5-50 kg. One kilogram of ordinary building gypsum grade G-5 can cost an average of 5-15 rubles.

Alabaster, characterized by high strength, is significantly superior to ordinary building gypsum. They are produced from gypsum stone, both using traditional technologies and complex chemical-technological processes.

Therefore, such materials are indispensable for:

• completion of drilled wells in the oil and gas industry
• production of ceramic products and sculptural works
• manufacturing elements decorative design building objects
• in medicine for the manufacture of orthopedic and dental prostheses
• molding castings in the manufacture of jewelry
• high-strength molds for the needs of some industries

The material for construction in the form of gypsum, referred to as alabaster, is of mineral origin and is considered one of the purest materials in terms of environmental parameters in this area, the use of which has been calculated for more than one millennium, since it has unique technical specifications and is suitable for all kinds of construction applications. Today, gypsum material is often used for decoration, especially in the form of alabaster. Due to the relevance of the use of alabaster, the consumer often has a question about the difference between gypsum and alabaster.

Distinctive features of gypsum from one alabaster

In the field of construction, quite a lot of types of building materials are used, among which you can find materials from both gypsum and alabaster. Often, even professional builders cannot explain the difference between these materials. They believe that alabaster mortar is nothing more than one of the varieties of gypsum, which means that it is gypsum. In some ways, this statement is true, but the difference still exists, and it lies in the properties of materials, but it is practically impossible to determine it visually.

• Unlike alabaster, gypsum is used not only in construction, but also in medicine, which means that the range of its application is wider.
• Being a material that dries very quickly, alabaster is able to deliver a lot of problematic inconvenience to builders in the process of work. In order to eliminate such a drawback, one cannot do without special additives, which should be added to the alabaster before starting to work with it.
• The use of gypsum compared to alabaster is safer for humans, as evidenced once again by the fact that its use is permissible in the medical field. Alabaster is intended exclusively for construction.
• Gypsum is more flexible.

Benefits of alabaster

However, with all those properties in which alabaster loses to gypsum, it also has a number of advantages, thanks to which builders give preference to it when certain construction operations are necessary. It is also willingly used by craftsmen who are engaged in the manufacture of various crafts with their own hands, because the material is practically safe for health.

Rapid drying of the material allows you to significantly increase productivity and the pace of work: the hardening time of the material is no more than two hours. For example, when leveling the surface of the walls with alabaster, you can start plastering them after fifteen minutes, since the material will already begin to set.

• Alabaster has a high degree of fire resistance.
• It is the owner of binding characteristics of excellent quality.
• Quite environmentally friendly.
• It has the ability to regulate indoor humidity.

Preparation of alabaster solution

It is known that alabaster material is a type of powder obtained by firing and further grinding to the state of a fine-grained mixture of gypsum in stone.

A solution of alabaster can be prepared independently, using two parts of powder and one part of water. Water is poured into the container for its dilution and the required amount of powder is gradually added with constant stirring. Since the solution is quick-drying, it should not be prepared in large quantities. Its density also varies by adjusting the amount of liquid, which depends on what work is planned to be carried out.

Ready hardened alabaster mortar cannot be re-diluted with water. In this form, it will no longer retain its original properties. In order for the material not to lose its qualities for as long as possible during manufacture, it is necessary to add wallpaper glue to it and cover the bowl with a solution of polyethylene.

The use of alabaster in construction

The area where alabaster mortar is used is quite diverse:

• It is often used to repair and eliminate irregularities on any surface, any crack, seam or hole is rubbed with a solution.
• The ability to dry quickly has made alabaster popular in the electrical industry. Alabaster is used to close up recesses for electrical wiring in walls and ceilings. It is also used to secure socket boxes.
• Alabaster is also popular in interior decoration. With its help fasten plaster molding, which, as a rule, is heavy, and the alabaster solution is able to securely fix it.
• Making crafts by the hands of experienced craftsmen gives another popular direction in the use of alabaster and contributes to the creation of unique countertops, vases, inkwells and other items that can be made in a similar way.

Due to its positive qualities, alabaster is widely used in the construction industry. However, when using it, it is important to be careful, because after the dry powder comes into contact with water, it hardens very quickly. It is this property of alabaster that made it so popular. Therefore, it is used in cases where it is necessary to carry out work quickly and without loss of quality, for example, when laying wires. In this article, we invite you to learn how to breed alabaster.

This material has the following properties:

• durability;
• when applying the mixture, a flat surface is formed;
• strength;
• water resistance;
• crack resistance;
• high degree of sound insulation.

Among the positive aspects of alabaster, the following can be distinguished:

1. Grab speed. For some jobs, this is very important.
2. Fire resistance.
3. When solidified, it does not shrink.
4. Not dangerous to the human body.
5. The ability to withstand loads.

Given the fact that alabaster absorbs moisture, it is not recommended to use it in a room with high humidity.

Among the minuses, one can single out poor resistance to dry and humid air. In the absence of moisture, alabaster loses its technical properties and simply crumbles.

As for the proportions, they are prescribed by building codes and regulations. For example, according to SNIP, they are expressed as follows: 650 ml of water or lime mortar should be consumed per 1 kg of dry mix. For fastening the wire during electrical work, 1 kg accounts for 500 ml of water. If it is necessary to obtain a liquid mixture of alabaster, then the proportion is 1: 1.

Unlike other solutions, such as putty, alabaster dries very quickly. For this reason, it is necessary to take seriously the choice of dishes for kneading alabaster dough. It is not recommended to use a metal bowl or bucket. In this case, it will be difficult for you to remove residues from their surface. Therefore, it is best to dilute the solution in a rubber or plastic container. Dried alabaster is removed by compressing the dishes.

If it is necessary to knead in a small portion and once, then lay a plastic bag in any convenient container. Fix the film securely around the edges. When finished, the film is removed.

Alternatively, you can knead in an old rubber ball. To do this, cut it and knead it in the inside. Also can be cut plastic bottle(1.5 or 2 l) lengthwise.

Building alabaster is prepared in different proportions, in relation to water, based on the purpose of its use. So, if it is necessary to align walls or partitions, then the mixture is kneaded 1: 1. to install junction boxes a viscous mass is required - 2: 1.

If during the work the alabaster began to harden, then do not try to add water to it. It should be thrown away immediately.

The kneading process itself boils down to the fact that you add the dry mixture to water, but not vice versa. The process of adding powder should be gradual. Otherwise, there is a risk that the entire mass will be taken in a lump that cannot be broken. As an option for stirring, you can use a drill with a mixer attachment. In this case, you will be able to make a batch without a single lump.

The consistency of alabaster should resemble thick sour cream. For all components of the mixture to react, it is enough to wait half a minute. After that, you can cover up the cracks or perform other actions. All work must be carried out quickly and at the same time accurately.

After finishing work, it is important to thoroughly rinse all tools; it is recommended to wash in warm water.

When mixing, use only cold water room temperature. Hot water speeds up the setting process several times.

So, we examined with you the features of alabaster for walls, as well as the technique of kneading it. By following all the above recommendations, we hope that you will be able to make the correct kneading of alabaster.

Video

How to make alabaster more plastic will be discussed in the video:

About how to breed alabaster, each builder has his own opinion. Most mixing techniques are based on personal experience and brand of material. However, there is a so-called standard kneading method, which is used by many specialists in the construction industry.

Alabaster - areas of its use in construction

Alabaster is a dry, fine-grained mixture that can be used for a wide range of construction work. In most cases, the material is used to perform various construction tasks, and to create many decorative objects. Alabaster also performs other functions:

• serves for sealing seams, cracks, holes and chips;
• used to fix cables in grooves when performing electrical work;
• used for the manufacture of beacons and slopes;
• used for puttying building envelopes.

In the case of the last two tasks, it is worth diluting the alabaster along with the cement mortar. Its use in pure form for puttying and the manufacture of structures is impractical, since this material hardens very quickly.

Pros and cons of the mixture - distinctive features of the material

Before working with a mixture, novice builders should study the properties of this material. The powder is not in vain in high demand among buyers, because it has good technological characteristics. First of all, they should include the almost instantaneous solidification of the building material upon contact with water. Because of this, the mixture has practically no substitutes in cases where it is required to make a high-quality and quick finish of a given surface.

In addition to the high setting speed, the material also has a low density, which makes it possible to use it not only in construction, but also for repair work. The mixture has excellent refractory properties, it is difficult to set fire to it. Another big plus of the material is good sound insulation. It is also worth noting that alabaster for construction work is finishing material with a small mass, so it does not shrink during its solidification. In addition, it is absolutely safe for human health.

Despite the fact that alabaster diluted in water hardens rather quickly, it is not very durable. It is not able to withstand heavy loads, so it is not recommended to use it when finishing load-bearing walls. In addition, even a solid material tends to absorb a large amount of water vapor. Because of this, alabaster is not used when decorating rooms with high humidity. Solid alabaster is very quickly destroyed by dry and hot air. Under such conditions, the material crumbles rather quickly.

Alabaster types - different mixtures for specific jobs

Depending on the rate of hardening of alabaster, there are fast-hardening, medium-hardening and slow-hardening materials. The first type of mixture begins to harden within a few minutes after kneading and finally seizes 15 minutes after preparation. The material of the second type hardens 7 minutes after preparation and becomes as hard as possible after 35 minutes. The last type of alabaster begins to set 20 minutes after kneading and finally hardens after 40 minutes.

In most cases, a white mixture with markings is used for construction purposes. G-5 and G-6. It is used as plaster in sheet form, in the production of different types drywall, gypsum fiber and. Also among the areas of application of the mixture, it is worth highlighting the manufacture of panels for partitions and the preparation of putty mixtures according to specific recipes.

To meet the needs of various manufacturing industries where there is a need for high-strength elements, it is worth using alabaster with marking G-13–G-25. Such mixtures fully comply with all construction and safety standards.

Preparing the container and diluting the mixture - all the subtleties for beginners

Having dealt with what alabaster is and what types it is, we will consider the principles of mixing it in water. They are slightly different from the preparation of others building materials due to the high rate of hardening of alabaster.

Before diluting the mixture, it is necessary to choose a vessel suitable for work. Using a plastic bowl or bucket is not recommended, as the diluted material will dry out and you will need to scrape it off the sides of the container all the time. Because of this, most specialists prefer to work with alabaster in rubber vessels, kneading a small amount of powder each time. Thus, the remains of the finished mixture can be completely removed by slightly squeezing the container. You can make a container for working with alabaster yourself using an unnecessary tire from a car or an old ball.

If the situation requires the dilution of a large amount of powder, then the usual polyethylene film and securely fix it inside the container. In the process, make sure that the container is not accidentally damaged, otherwise the water will quickly flow out of it, and you will ruin the powder. In order to work with the material to give a good result, in the process of mixing the powder, it is worth strictly adhering to certain proportions. Many builders ignore this need, resulting in the mixture either hardening very quickly or not drying at all.

To prevent such situations from happening to you, the first few times the mixture should be prepared according to a proven recipe. To begin with, you will need to pour half a liter of water into a rubber vessel. Next, we take a bag with alabaster and pour 1 kg of powder into the water. Do not pour out the desired portion immediately. It is best to do this gradually, with the other hand stirring the mixture. The finished solution should be homogeneous, without lumps of sticky powder. During kneading, you need to pay attention to the walls of the container - they should not have powder residues on them.

Experienced experts advise not to overdo it with mixing alabaster. If you mix the substance for too long, the final material may lose its strength.

About five minutes after kneading, the mixture will begin to thicken. Depending on the brand of powder, the complete hardening of the mixture will occur in 20–35 minutes. Given this algorithm and the rate of solidification of the mixture, we can conclude that in one batch you need to prepare as much material as you can use during 5-7 minutes of work. A solution prepared according to this algorithm will be the best option for repairing cracks in walls, fixing communications and other simple construction work.

Preparation of material for plastering

Mixing alabaster for wall plaster is slightly different from the first method of preparing the mixture. First you need to decide on the type of work to be done and, accordingly, the brand of powder used. If the material is needed to level the walls outside the building, then a mixture based on cement mortar is best suited for this. For the same work inside the house, a mixture based on lime will be optimal. As for alabaster specifically, a solution based on this powder and lime is ideal for eliminating various cracks and other errors.

Before direct mixing, it is best to prepare a dry mixture, which will later be filled with water with the addition of alabaster powder. Can be used as a container old tire or another container with a flat bottom. The walls of the container should not be lower than 10 cm.

The kneading process begins with pouring sand into a vessel. After that, lime "dough" is poured into the same container at the rate of 1 part of sand to 5 parts of lime. Take a spatula and mix the ingredients thoroughly until a homogeneous mass appears. After that, you can gradually pour the liquid, not forgetting to mix the mixture. As a result, the substance should resemble fatty sour cream.

Next, we proceed to the preparation of the "dough" of alabaster. In this case, it should be borne in mind that the amount of finished material must correspond to the lime mixture in a ratio of 1: 4. After that, we shift the gypsum "dough" into a vessel with lime and carefully, but not too long, knead. Immediately after you have prepared the substance, you must proceed to the plastering work. If you plan to work alone, then you should familiarize yourself with the intricacies of the procedure before it starts.

The first stage is the so-called "spraying" of the coating. To do this, the mixture is taken with the help of a trowel - a construction blade with a curved handle. In order to correctly perform the first stage, it is necessary to scoop up a small amount of the mixture with a trowel and, with a sharp movement of the hand, throw the solution onto the wall covering. In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise you will simply spray the material on the wall.

During the second stage, you need to apply the primer with a wide spatula. If you are plastering on lighthouses, then the layer of the mixture must be leveled strictly along the mounted rails. Immediately after this, you will need to apply another thin layer of material. It is very important to apply the last coat before the previous mixture dries. If you did not have time to do this, then the previous material must be sprayed with water.

When the top layer of the material is completely dry, it should be treated with a plastic construction grater. This is done with circular movements of the hand. In this case, you should try to press the tool as tightly as possible to the surface to be treated and move counterclockwise. Preparing, kneading and applying the alabaster mixture is not difficult. The main thing to remember is the small margin of time that will be at your disposal.

Gypsum and alabaster powder - what are the differences?

Often, novice builders are faced with a situation where a consultant in a store asks to clarify what exactly is required for the work - alabaster or gypsum powder. Many believe that both these terms have the same meaning, although in fact they do not. There are several factors in which these two materials differ from each other.

Firstly, alabaster is one of the varieties of building gypsum powder. The first can be used exclusively in construction, while the second has found application in medicine.

The second difference is that the alabaster "dough" is harder than the gypsum mixture. Therefore, the first material is often not used where the second is used.

The applied and dried gypsum mixture is much safer for humans. It does not emit fumes that alabaster can produce. In addition, gypsum coatings are less likely to develop fungus.