Plastering a brick stove: how to plaster a stove without cracking, mortar, what to plaster with, a mixture of clay and sand, how to plaster it yourself correctly

Many owners of private houses are increasingly giving preference to such types of heating as gas or steam, and if there is central heating in the locality, some find it easier to connect to the heating network. However, in many houses the stove heating method is retained - both as the main source of heat and as an auxiliary one. Often the choice in favor of a conventional stove is associated with economic considerations - the best brick stove will cost less than laying a distribution pipeline to connect to central heating.

The stove is a fairly voluminous structure, making it invisible is almost impossible. Most often, red brick is used for masonry, which does not always look harmonious in the room. Therefore, the owners make efforts to ensure that the stove fits into the interior and looks neat. Furnace finishing is often done using plaster.

However, many are faced with this problem - after a few years, the plaster from a brick kiln begins to crumble. In fact, this can be avoided, the main thing is to do the plastering work correctly.

Why plaster the stove?

The answer to the question of when and why it is necessary to plaster a stove is very important. Having understood it, you can accurately decide whether this process is really necessary or whether decorative finishing from ceramic or fireclay tiles is sufficient.

There are several reasons that necessarily require plastering of surfaces:

The stove was built a long time ago, and the old plaster was partially cracked and began to peel off. As a result, bare areas look unattractive.
There is a risk of carbon monoxide leaking into the cracking masonry joints of an old stove.
During the renovation process, it is necessary to change the style of the overall interior, as a result of which the stove needs to be given a more neat appearance or completely transformed.
There was a need to treat the seams between the rows of bricks, in which settlements of various insects were found. This happens when solutions based on natural materials are used for laying the stove. Plastering the stove prevents the appearance and reproduction of insects.
The masonry of the stove is not done carefully, which spoils the appearance of both the structure and the entire room. With the help of plaster you can completely solve a problem of this kind.

If we compare plaster with other types of finishing materials, we can note several advantageous points:

Plastering is the simplest and most affordable way to put the stove in order.
The mixture for plastering the surface is much cheaper compared to ceramic tiles or stove tiles. This allows you to significantly save material resources.
The plaster mixture can be used to finish a newly built stove or to reconstruct an old building element.
The applied layer of plaster makes the walls of the furnace thicker, therefore, the heat capacity coefficient of the structure increases. As a result, the furnace takes longer to cool down, resulting in reduced fuel costs.
A plastered stove becomes less fire hazardous, and the risk of carbon monoxide entering the room is also reduced.
After the plaster mixture has dried, you can use various materials to finish the oven. This can be water-based paint, lime mortar or decorative plaster.

Mantel

If facing work is planned after masonry, it is necessary to wait until the structure has completely dried, and only then begin to transform it.

Final work - finishing the erected fireplace

The first thing they do when starting this process is to apply a special plaster to the masonry, perfectly leveling the walls. When they dry, mark them and only then begin cladding.
Surface finishing starts from the corners. If possible, it is better to purchase special corner tiles for these areas, which will make the work easier and faster. In addition to marking on the planes of the fireplace walls, for the evenness of the rows and maintaining the thickness of the seams between brick-shaped tiles, special calibration devices are used in the form of crosses or tubes of the required thickness.
A special adhesive is used to lay the tiles. It is applied in such a way that after pressing the tile it does not protrude on the sides.
When the glue dries, the seams are sealed with a special mixture intended for this (heat-resistant fugue). This must be done very carefully, trying not to get the solution on the surface of the tile. If this happens, it should be wiped off immediately with a soft cloth.

For greater clarity, a video about building a fireplace with your own hands

This is not to say that folding a fireplace is completely simple, and a beginner will not encounter difficulties during the process. But with a strong desire and a detailed ordering scheme, this can be done. Cladding a structure is a more creative work, after which the building will be transformed and acquire its own “face.” This is what makes it interesting - after finishing laying the tiles, you can admire your work of art.

Tools - how to plaster a stove in the house

The service life of a plastered surface largely depends on the adhesion of materials, and for this it is necessary to correctly apply the plaster and distribute it evenly on the surface of the stove.

You can solve the question of how to plaster a stove without cracking using special tools, which include the following:

Putty knife. Several types of spatulas are used; with the help of some tools the solution is collected from a container, while with others it is applied to the surface.
Plastering hammer. This tool is used to drive plaster nails.
Trowel. Using this tool, the solution is evenly distributed on the stove wall.
A hammer-cam is necessary for working with a chisel or a trojan.

Scissors are ordinary and for cutting metal. If you use fiberglass mesh in the process, you will need ordinary scissors; you need to cut the chain-link mesh with metal scissors.
A grater is necessary for leveling and smoothing a plastered stove wall.
Using a smoother, the surface is brought to perfect smoothness.
A chisel is used to make notches on the surface of the stove, this promotes better adhesion of the plaster and the working surface.
Brushes. It is necessary to purchase several types of this tool, since some are used to apply primer, while others can be used to apply textured plaster.
Using a building level, check the vertical and horizontal level of the working surface.
Using a plumb line, the evenness of the walls and the applied plaster solution is controlled.
As a rule, the mixture is distributed between beacons, which are installed on the walls for even plastering of the surface.

Useful tips

If previously shingles were used for plastering wooden walls, now an alternative to it is chain-link mesh, which has proven itself over time. It is also actively used for finishing walls with insulation.

Fiberglass fabric for reinforcement comes in different densities; it is convenient because it is produced in compact rolls, applicable for walls, ceilings, and self-leveling floors. It is moisture resistant, which allows it to be used for plastering bathrooms, swimming pools, and reinforcing roofs with a water-repellent layer. The elasticity and strength of the material make it possible to use it for sealing gaps between slabs and sealing cracks in the plaster layer; in this case, serpyanka, a self-adhesive tape of different widths, would be a good solution. Fiberglass canvas, due to its heat and frost resistance, is also used as a facade mesh for plaster.

Reinforcement is required if the width of the slopes is more than 150 mm; with a plaster thickness of up to 30 mm, fiberglass is used; a thicker layer is applied to metal gratings.

For plastering fireplaces and stoves, metal reinforcement is often used; it is nailed between the joints of the masonry. Recently, these works have often used a fiberglass sheet glued to the surface with a liquid solution. The choice depends on the thickness of the finish.

For a thick layer of screed it is better to use a metal grid

Types of mortar for plastering stove walls

The stove is one of the building elements that regularly heats up and cools down, so the chosen plaster composition must be resistant to this phenomenon.

Mixtures for preparing plaster mortar are divided into two types:

Simple compositions that include only two components, sand and clay.
Complex formulations contain more than two ingredients.

Plastering a stove with clay and sand requires preliminary preparation and cleaning of the materials from various impurities. In particular, sand must be sifted through a fine sieve, clay should be rubbed through a fine mesh to remove roots and small stones.

It is recommended to make the plaster mixture using fatty types of clay, this promotes better adhesion of the solution to the surface. If the clay is too oily, the amount of sand used can be increased.

You need to know how to dilute clay for plastering a stove. To begin with, it should be soaked in a small amount of water and left for several hours, adding liquid in small portions if necessary. The process is repeated until a 10-15 cm layer of water remains above the clay. After mixing the finished clay mixture, the consistency of thick sour cream should be obtained.

In some cases, asbestos, finely chopped straw or fiberglass are added to the mixture for plastering the stove. These reinforcing components make it possible to obtain more durable materials.

When preparing plaster mixtures, special attention must be paid to the environmental side. During the heating process, the materials used should not emit substances that pose a danger to human health and life.

Separately, it should be said about salt; it is also sometimes added to the solution for plastering the stove. It should be noted that the opinion that salt makes it stronger can be considered erroneous. In fact, salt increases the hygroscopicity of clay, making it more flexible and resistant to cracking. Also, a plastering solution, to which a certain amount of salt is added, prevents the proliferation of various insects in masonry joints. For owners of private houses, this fact is of great importance.

Another component that can be added to the plaster mixture is gypsum powder. This material is used as a fixative. However, plaster must be used very carefully, as it hardens very quickly. The initial setting of the solution with the addition of gypsum powder occurs immediately after application, and after 10-15 minutes the surface hardens completely.

Adding lime along with gypsum makes the solution more durable and able to dry in a short time. But when choosing such mixtures, you should remember the properties of gypsum, so it is better to prepare a small portion immediately before plastering the stove. It is very important to understand that it is impossible to dilute the gypsum mixture with water.

How to plaster a brick stove with your own hands

You can finish the stove using plaster mortar yourself; you need to know how to properly plaster the stove and follow the sequence of actions.

Preparatory stage

The quality of plastering in most cases depends on how correctly the preparatory work on the surface is done. Good preparation of the stove walls is the key to better adhesion of the plaster mortar to the surface.

The preparation process involves performing the following actions:

To reconstruct a stove or fireplace, it is necessary to remove old plaster from the surface using a chisel and hammer. Then the wall is cleaned of dust using a regular or iron brush.
The newly built stove is cleaned of any remaining masonry mortar. Neglecting this step may cause poor adhesion of the plaster to the working surface. As a result, after some time the plaster will begin to lag behind the walls of the oven.
After cleaning the surface, it is necessary to deepen the masonry joints. Moreover, this step is necessary both for the structure being restored and for a new stove. It is also recommended to remove dust from the seams.
The next step is to apply a primer to the stove walls. It is best to work with a thin brush so that the buried seams are not left untreated.
The process of plastering uneven walls should always be accompanied by surface reinforcement. To strengthen the furnace walls, a metal or fiberglass mesh with cells of 1.5 * 1.5 or 2 * 2 mm is used. Reinforcement helps strengthen the plaster on the surface, making it more resistant to temperature changes. The use of reinforcing materials makes it possible to apply a thick layer of plaster, thereby increasing the heat capacity of the furnace. To fix the metal mesh, use nails with a wide head. When using fiberglass mesh, you need to apply a thin layer of plaster to the wall, embed the mesh in it, apply additional mortar and level it. It is recommended to use fiberglass on walls with slight unevenness.
To preserve or restore corners, it is recommended to use steel or perforated aluminum corners, which are attached to an adhesive solution.
For large differences, surface evenness is achieved by installing beacons. They are fixed to a gypsum mortar, which allows you to carry out work almost without stopping. If you have enough free time, you can attach the beacons to the clay solution, but it is better to do this with the reinforcing mesh in close contact with the wall.
The preparatory layer of plaster can be perfectly smooth or rough. The first option is used for whitewashing or painting, the second – for decorative relief plaster. It should be remembered that ceramic tiles and decorative plaster do not require a very thick preparatory layer.

Tile installation:

Surface preparation is standard - if the stove has old plaster or finishing, it is knocked down with a chisel and cleaned with metal brushes, and then dusted.
Then the joints are grouted - if it is decided to install the tiles on a grid with grouting
Prepare the adhesive composition according to the instructions. Pour the dry mixtures into the water, portionwise, with constant stirring. The speed of the drill or mixer is adjusted so that the glue does not foam; air is not needed in the structure. Leave the glue for as many minutes as indicated in the preparation instructions - usually up to 15 minutes.
Start facing from the bottom. Apply glue or primer (if cladding is done using jointing) for four tiles horizontally. Fix the reinforcing mesh. Along cut seams - on wire staples, without cutting - on dowels.
The adhesive is applied with a notched trowel, the first tile is pressed and slightly rotated to secure it tightly. Crosses are used to calibrate seams, but not all craftsmen recommend crosses, and some designs involve the illusion of unevenness of the seams - to imitate ancient masonry.
Verify the horizontality of the tiles using a level, then the vertical. The first row is the most responsible. Deviations are corrected carefully by moving the tiles with light blows with a rubber hammer. Seams for different types of tiles can be from 8 to 12 mm, except for clinker ones, the thermal expansion of which is so insignificant that a neat seam of only 3 mm is possible. All tiles of the first grip are verified with a level and plumb line.
The first three rows of tiles after laying should be left until the adhesive composition sets. Plastic adhesive may not hold heavy tiles, and the trim will slide off from its own weight. Furnace linings do not require high speeds. Pauses between grips are about three hours, depending on the properties of the glue or solution used.
For fitting and trimming, use tile cutters or a grinder. They usually try to hide the cut tiles adjacent to the wall or in other inconspicuous areas.
After the glue has completely set - after 24 hours, remove the crosses and clean the seams from glue deposits.

Grout the seams only after the glue has completely cured, according to the instructions for the composition, otherwise you may end up with microcracks in the grout or the tiles peeling off. Mineral grouting is done manually - with a spatula, or with a mounting gun if the seam is made convex. Grouting with silicone compounds is very sticky and is only possible with the use of mounting guns.

The first fire is possible only after the glue has completely cured, from a week to a month, depending on the composition used.

Applying plaster to the walls of the oven to prevent cracking

Before plastering the stove in the house, you need to familiarize yourself with the methods used.

Method No. 1 is most often used to level walls that have large distortions. In other words, when a layer thickness of 5-8 cm is required, the process proceeds as follows:

They set up beacons that allow you to maximally level the surface with large differences. During the installation process, a building level is used, with its help you can achieve perfect evenness.
Next, the stove is heated so that its walls are warm.
Using a roller or wide brush, moisten the furnace wall with water to hammer fine dust and dry mortar into the masonry joints.
The entire surface is covered with a primer and left until completely dry. Priming promotes good adhesion of the working solution to the surface.
The first layer of plaster is applied using the sketch method; its thickness should not exceed 4-5 mm. In this case, the solution should not be very thick. Throwing the mortar must be accentuated in order to ensure that it gets into the seam between the bricks. After sketching the entire surface, leave the solution for plastering the stove until it dries.
After this, they begin to apply the next layer; it should protrude 1 cm above the beacons. Work begins in the lower part of the oven, throwing the solution between the beacons to a height of 40-50 cm. By pressing the rule against the beacons, the applied mixture is leveled. After this, move on to the next section and repeat the entire process. Without waiting for the plaster to dry completely, grind the work surface using grout.

To prevent cracks from forming on the surface of the plaster layer during the drying process, stove makers with many years of experience advise covering the stove walls with damp burlap after applying the mixture for plastering the stove. If the fabric dries quickly, you can moisten it.

The burlap is removed from the dried surface, and the surface is rubbed and smoothed using a trowel with a rubber surface.

For the third layer, it is necessary to prepare a more liquid solution for plastering the stove; its thickness should be 1.5-2 mm, since it is used to smooth the plastered surface. The third layer is applied only before painting or whitewashing.
Making corners, even those reinforced with a metal corner, is considered a rather complicated process even for experienced craftsmen. To simplify the work, use an angled spatula. With this tool, the solution is easily applied and leveled well. If it is impossible to purchase such a spatula, use a wooden strip. It is fixed on one side of the corner and the solution is applied. After drying, the lath is removed and moved to the other side, and the solution is applied to the other side of the stove corner.
In some cases, the edge of the corner is rounded. This makes it safer for small children and avoids chipping.

Method No. 2 of solving the question of how to plaster a stove with your own hands involves putting it in order using a metal mesh netting. This material is intended to reinforce the surface and give the required thickness to the plaster layer.

The surface is leveled as follows: pieces of wire no more than 25 mm thick are placed under the fixed metal mesh in the right places, hooking it onto the mesh or pre-installed metal slats.

The plaster is applied in several layers, similar to the first method, but the mesh must be completely covered with a plaster layer.

When applying the first layer, you should make sure that the solution passes through the oven plaster mesh and adheres to the wall. After spraying, the surface is left to dry. When the plaster dries, the mesh becomes motionless, so subsequent leveling layers are applied more easily and easily.

The last layer is leveled, allowed to dry, and the cracks that appear on the surface are covered and rubbed (read also: “How to cover up cracks on a stove - options for solving the problem”).

Finally, the decorative coating is installed.

Plastering stove walls in this way allows you to obtain a durable finish that is securely attached to the surface.

Method No. 3 is used for smooth stove walls that require minor cosmetic repairs, so the solution is applied once or twice, maintaining a total thickness of no more than 5-6 mm.

Surface preparation is carried out by analogy with the first methods, always applying a layer of primer for a brick oven.

It is allowed to use metal slats-beacons, which allow you to control the thickness of the plaster layer. However, when plastering smooth walls, guides do not need to be used.

The plaster mixture for cosmetic repairs of the furnace must contain fireclay clay and crushed asbestos. In this case, you can get a more durable solution and, accordingly, a high-quality finish.

It is best to apply the mixture for plastering stoves from the bottom up, using a wide spatula. It is best to level the plaster using a rule, pressing it against the metal slats. If they are absent, the solution is evenly distributed over the surface, checking the evenness using a building level.

It is also recommended to use a corner spatula to remove corners.

After applying the plaster mortar to the entire surface of the stove wall, carefully level it with grout.

This finish can serve as the basis for ceramic or fireclay tiles, as well as decorative relief plaster.

Decorative finishing

The decorative design of the stove walls is carried out in accordance with the taste preferences of the owner. An evenly plastered surface can simply be whitewashed; by the way, whitewashing is a traditional finishing method that has been used since ancient times. The whitewashed surface was often painted with imported paints, giving the room originality and emphasizing national traditions. In most cases, the ornament was selected according to local traditions.

Modern technologies and materials make it possible to create an imitation of natural stone or a uniform relief structure on the surface of the stove wall.

Quite often, craftsmen with a wide imagination decorate stoves with elements of three-dimensional designs, using various available means for this purpose. In particular, we are talking about plastic film, brushes, brushes and other materials and objects.

Creative people create relief compositions from decorative plaster, allowing them to protrude slightly beyond the stove walls. Subsequently, all this is covered with paints. Moreover, applying the coloring composition to wet decorative plaster promotes deeper penetration and increases the service life of the decorative finish.

In some cases, the dried surface is additionally painted, which allows for a brighter design.

Terracotta or ceramic tiles can be used as decorative finishing for stove walls. The additional purchase of corner finishing elements makes the installation of tiles and decoration simpler and more convenient, allowing you to obtain neat and aesthetic corners. The tiles are installed using a special cement-based adhesive composition, which is resistant to temperature changes.

Surface preparation

Before starting plastering work, be sure to prepare the surface of the oven. This will make it easier to apply the solution, and the resulting finish will look better and last longer.

If we are talking about an old stove, then you will need to prepare the surface according to the following scheme:

Cleaning the stove surface from old plaster. This can be done using a spatula or chisel.
The surface is rubbed with sandpaper - this will help eliminate minor irregularities.
Use a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth to remove any debris and dust that has formed.

In the case where a freshly laid stove needs to be plastered, such work should begin approximately a month after the completion of the brickwork. This period is enough for the mortar used for masonry to dry, harden and gain strength. Before starting work, you need to clear the seams between the bricks that make up the stove to a depth of about 0.5 cm - this will help the plaster mortar adhere better to the masonry.

Some subtleties of plastering a stove with a mixture of sand and clay

When plastering stoves with your own hands, it is important to take into account several main points, on which the quality of the work largely depends:

It is not recommended to plaster a newly erected stove. The structure must go through the drying and shrinking stage. For this purpose, the stove must be heated regularly for 2-3 months, after which finishing work can begin.
It is best to paint plastered stove walls with water-based paints. The use of other formulations may cause the release of harmful substances and unpleasant odors.
All materials used to decorate stove walls must have a natural base so as not to pose a danger to human health.

All the methods described for plastering a stove cannot be called simple for independent use. Therefore, in the absence of initial knowledge and experience, it is better to entrust the plastering of a brick stove to professional craftsmen. In this case, you can get a high-quality result and avoid unnecessary consumption of materials.