Three methods for making artificial marble with your own hands. Artificial marble - do-it-yourself manufacturing technology Do-it-yourself cast cement marble

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

Characteristics of artificial stone

Not only marble made from concrete is called artificial stone, but also ceramic granite. The production technology of these materials is almost identical. But they are used in different ways.

Ceramic granite is considered harder and more resistant to mechanical damage, so it is more often than marble used for coatings in areas with intense pedestrian traffic: floors in shopping centers, supermarkets, subways, and transport centers. In residential premises, porcelain tiles are used to cover the walls and floors of hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms.

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

Custom 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 is in many ways inferior to its artificial counterpart. A tabletop made of natural material will weigh 3-4 times more than one of a similar 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 can even be made to glow.

Manufacturing techniques

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

Casting method

Marble using the casting method is made from quartz sand or waste from the production of natural stone - marble chips. Polyester resins give the mixture integrity, and with the help of pigment the product can be given any shade. 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 filling;
anti-adhesive composition for mold processing;
vibrating table;
equipment for polishing finished marble structures;
gelcoat

Anti-adhesive mixtures are used to treat the molds after removing the hardened stone.

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

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

To obtain a matte surface, a silicone mixture is suitable, while a wax anti-adhesive composition gives the final product a gloss, the surface becomes a little greasy.

The procedure for making cast marble is as follows:

Gelcoat is a polymer resin that is given a desired shade using 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 spray in several layers. After the topcoat has dried (for gelcoat this is approximately 2-3 hours), the product is ready for use.

Gypsum marble

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

First, plaster, glue and water are mixed, then resin is added, and everything is mixed using a mixer. Then are added components for coloring:

black color is produced by aniline dye;
a coffee shade 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 removed, treated with potassium silicate, dried and polished with felt.

Gypsum marble is the lightest type artificial stone, but also one of the most fragile. On its basis, decorative elements are usually made that are not subject to significant loads.

Concrete based

To manufacture a single product, it is not necessary to contact third-party manufacturers. If there are a number of readily available ingredients, anyone can create an artificial stone. You can make marble from 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. There are also certain requirements for such simple components.

For the production of marble from concrete they use 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 is cement and sand. The ratio of these components in the composition may vary depending on the scope of application 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 - you need to mix cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3.
If you plan to make a countertop, ceiling or staircase element, or 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 water to 2 parts of the mixture. First add 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 for 10-15 minutes, and then the remaining water is poured in and mixed again.

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

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

Special pigments for concrete are also produced. When determining their dosage, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions.

After adding the dye, the composition should not be thoroughly mixed, since marble has an uneven color distribution.

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

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

Nuances of operation

With proper finishing treatment 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 painting 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 decorative element will not change its color and will not become covered with unpleasant yellow spots within 10−15 years.

When installing the product, avoid over-tightening fasteners. A marble slab installed skewed or with strong pressure on the corners may not withstand the load and burst. When cladding rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the plumbing, prevent leaks and stone from being dug.

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

The surface should be cleaned using only liquid cleaning agents. Compositions with abrasives destroy the protective coating of artificial stone, causing micro-scratches in which food debris, dust and other contaminants accumulate. Hard brushes and metal meshes should be abandoned, giving preference to soft fabrics.

Artificial marble is a good alternative natural stone, the cost of which not every person can afford. The production of marble from concrete allows you to obtain a product that is not inferior in characteristics natural material, but at the same time having more affordable price. Organization of production does not require large amounts from the entrepreneur financial investments and special knowledge.

Our business assessment:

Starting investments – from 50,000 rubles. and higher

Market saturation is average.

The difficulty of starting a business is 5/10.

Business benefits

Producing artificial marble from concrete at home has many advantages:

Consistently high demand for products.

Low level of competition.
Low costs at the opening stage.
No rent.
You don’t need to hire employees, you can do it yourself.
Simple technological process.
The ratio of cost and selling price of the finished product.
High profitability – up to 300%.

Any person who is not related to construction can open an enterprise whose activity is the production of artificial marble from concrete.

But before making marble from concrete with your own hands, it is worth considering in detail all aspects of such production: discovery stages, risks, manufacturing technology, financial costs.

The process of making artificial stone

Many people think that it is very difficult to make a good imitation natural material.

But the technology for producing artificial marble from concrete is simple and consists of several stages:

Mixing components according to a standard recipe for preparing concrete mortar.
Adding dyes and polyester resins to the mixture, on which the basic qualities of the material depend.
Pouring the solution into prepared molds.
Compaction on a vibrating table.

Next, you need to wait until the mixture has completely hardened, and then remove the finished stone from the molds. The resulting product, subject to production standards and requirements, will meet established standards and have high quality characteristics.

Equipment for the production of artificial material

Vibrating table for production

Buying equipment for the production of artificial marble is not difficult: setting up a workshop will not require large expenses. The machines used in the manufacturing process are cheap and easy to operate.

Rotary concrete mixer

The technology for making marble from concrete involves the use of the following devices:

special molds for the production of artificial marble - from 1000 rubles. a piece;
vibrating table – from RUB 30,000;
mixer for mixing the solution (minimum volume 250 l) - from RUB 25,000.

The minimum number of molds required to create an assortment is 10 pieces. The total price of equipment for making marble from concrete is 65,000 rubles.

Nuances of artificial stone production

If you don’t have enough money, you can refuse to buy a concrete mixer. The solution can be mixed by hand. Vibrating table and molds are the main equipment, without which it is impossible to start the production of artificial stone. At the first stage, you can do all the work yourself. With an increase in the customer base and an increase in the volume of manufactured products, it will be necessary to hire one or two partners.

Before making marbled concrete, you need to decide on the type of product to be produced. It is best to immediately buy molds for making tiles, borders, paving stones, balusters and other things. It should be remembered that the larger the assortment offered to the buyer, the higher the profitability of the enterprise. Moreover, it is very convenient to buy tiles, paving stones, and borders in one place.

Examples of finished products

You can try to make exclusive forms yourself, because their cost is much higher than conventional devices: from 23,000 rubles. for 1 piece. But you can accept orders for the production of original products, and buy molds only after prepayment.

By the way, the best option will be the purchase of polyurethane molds. Their advantages are high quality, affordable cost and durability.

The raw materials for making marble from concrete are the following materials: sand, M400 cement, dye (pigment), polyester resins (plasticizer).

Calculation of profits from the production of artificial material

Every month you can produce about 1000 m2 of artificial marble, which costs on the market from 370 rubles. per m2 and above. The price depends on the thickness of the product, its appearance and quality of execution. That is, the minimum revenue will be about 370,000 rubles. The costs will be about 100,000 rubles. per month. An entrepreneur can earn more than 250,000 rubles. per month. All investments will pay off within 30-50 days after the start of production.

The payback and profitability of an enterprise depends on competent sales organization finished products. You can sell marble through specialized retail outlets or online stores. Advertising in the media will allow you to work to order. But the main point of attracting buyers and expanding the client base is the high quality of the products offered and attractive prices.

Despite the obvious advantages of natural materials, they are expensive pleasure, for this reason, many people pay attention to artificial marble. Exist various ways, how to make it with your own hands, the simplest technology available at home is casting in molds.

A tabletop made of cast marble is durable, moisture-proof and perfectly imitates real stone. The only difficulty is the correct selection of parameters, since a thin product will have increased fragility, and a thick product, despite its modest size of one meter, will have heavy weight. Any color can be selected for the material - snow-white, blue, gray, black with piercing veins, giving it a granular-crystalline structure.

What are the characteristics of the material?

High-quality cast marble is obtained by mixing polyester resin with pigment mineral dyes and hardeners. A simpler manufacturing method involves the use of cement-based concrete mixture with the addition of large or small quartz crushed stone, pebbles, and tinted sand. To master the mixing technique and obtain the desired color, texture with stains and stains, you will first need to practice and try to prepare cast marble in small volumes.

Artificial stone not only perfectly reproduces the appearance of natural material, but also has such positive characteristics as:

resistance to heat and open fire;
high dielectric properties, since it is not a conductor of electric current;
resistance to processing by any detergents, except those containing abrasive substances;
high hygienic and environmental characteristics.

This is largely facilitated by the homogeneous structure, which does not delaminate over a long period of operation, and the outer surface treated with gelcoat has good decorative and protective functions.

Manufacturing technology using concrete filler

The method is very simple, affordable and requires minimal investment, so it is widely popular. Tabletops and cutting boards made using this technology have high strength and environmental characteristics.

To make them, you will need a mold made of plastic, polyurethane, gypsum, or other suitable material. If there are no special complaints about the matrix, then you can make it yourself from any metal corners, wooden blocks, using a glass blank as the bottom. The basic requirements for the design are that the surface must be perfectly smooth, dry, and, for ease of removal of the finished product, also detachable.

Having prepared the mold, the inside is coated with gelcoat - a special gel-like substance that differs in color, as well as in the medium of use, so you should choose a moisture-resistant option. When it is completely dry, the matrix can be filled with a solution made from concrete or gypsum. If necessary, to increase fluidity and normalize hydration processes, slaked lime and clay are used as a plasticizer.

The mixture is prepared in a mixer from sand and cement in a 2:1 ratio, using crushed stone and pebbles as filler. When a homogeneous mass is obtained, pigment dye begins to be added to the container in different portions and continues mixing until veins and spots form.

After this, the prepared mixture is poured in small portions into a mold placed in a horizontal plane. At this stage, it is important that the mass evenly fills all the voids, so it is added slightly more than the required volume. Wait a little until it spreads and remove the excess with a spatula.

Finally, the filling is covered with plastic wrap and left to dry in natural conditions at above-zero temperatures for at least 24 hours. In some cases, depending on the thickness of the workpiece, the time increases. After removing the dried slab from the mold, it is processed grinder, then with a transparent polish, which forms a durable and elastic film on the surface.

Polymer-based cast marble

In terms of money, this option will cost a little more, but the finished product is durable, lightweight, resistant to physical and chemical influences, and its texture perfectly imitates natural material.

The production of polymer concrete for pouring into molds can be carried out in several ways:

Made from polyester resin, one part of which is mixed with 4-5 parts of filler. Quartz sand, another neutral colored mineral, crushed into fine crumbs, is well suited for these purposes.
Using a two-component mixture of AST-T with butacryl (self-hardening plastic). The powder and liquid included in its composition are diluted in a 1:1 ratio and, depending on the volume obtained, the same amount of crushed stone and quartz sand is added. Painting in the desired color is done with acrylic-based pigments.

Having prepared the solution, fill the mold with it, and level the surface with a spatula. Then, applying force, they are compacted using a special blank. It can be cut from a chipboard board, the dimensions of which should be smaller than the contour of the matrix. The product is left to dry. Next, it is removed from the mold and subjected to further processing - cut, ground, polished, the necessary holes are prepared, or other types of work are carried out.

Gypsum based material

Gypsum is an affordable, easy-to-work material, so making artificial marble from it at home will not require much expense or effort. First, prepare a container and pour water into it, in which dry plaster with wood glue and resin dissolved in a heated turpentine bath are mixed. All components are thoroughly mixed and, without stopping the process, they begin to gradually add acrylic dyes and pigment, trying to obtain stains and veins.

To give artificial marble a milky color, white gumax, rubber-based glue and latex are added. But if brown shades or a coffee tone are needed, then orange humilax is added. A pronounced black polish can be obtained using aniline dye.

The prepared mass is poured into a mold made of plastic or polyurethane. To speed up the setting process and remove excess water from the mixture, additionally sprinkle dry plaster on top. Usually after 8–10 hours the product is removed and left to dry completely.

You can give the front surface waterproof characteristics by treating it with potassium silicate, for which the workpiece is lightly immersed in a bath of solution or applied with a brush. When the base is dry, they pass over it with soft felt, then add polish of the desired shade, and polish until the ideal result is obtained.

How to care for artificial marble?

Although the artificial material created by one’s own hands is highly durable and resistant to various influences, it needs special care. By following the tips of specialists, you can significantly extend its service life. According to them:

Do not use cleaning products that contain drying oil or silicone;
sponges, brushes, and other coarse-bristled products are not suitable for cleaning as they can damage the top protective layer of marble;
the surface should be wiped with a soft cloth, using only gel-based products instead of abrasives, and for regular cleaning - regular soap;
To maintain the original glossy shine of the product, it must be wiped with a composition made from liquid soap, dissolved in water, and then with a clean towel.

Artificial marble is a wonderful and affordable decoration for your home – kitchen, bathroom and other rooms. By approaching its manufacture with all responsibility, and then properly caring for it and protecting it from adverse influences, it will be possible, while maintaining an attractive appearance, to extend its service life.

Marble finishing adds sophistication and prestige to both the facades of buildings and the interior of the premises. In this case, they talk about the high status of the company or the owner of the apartment. Concrete even sounds a bit rough. It’s hard to imagine that the most ordinary mixture of sand, cement and water would look chic. Nevertheless, marble can be made from it. Here's how - read on.

This technology is available to everyone, but it is necessary to have at least a little knowledge on this issue. After all, we have all seen concrete and we all know what marble looks like. At first glance, there is nothing in common between them. But it's time to dispel such thoughts.

What do you need to know?

Firstly, it is important what kind of sand to use for the solution. What forms will be needed, is it possible to make them yourself? How to pour the solution there, how to dry it all and then take it out? It would seem that, simple questions with obvious answers, but, alas, not everything is so simple.

Without additional materials You can’t make beautiful artificial marble yourself. Therefore, it is worth buying white cement, marble chips, etc. in advance. Then the stone will really look elegant and expensive. An ordinary passerby is unlikely to guess whether the fence is made of real marble or not.

Advantages of artificial marble

1. Eco-friendly material.
2. Excellent physical and mechanical properties.
3. Much cheaper than natural marble stone. Amazingly, the prices differ by approximately 10 times.
4. Waste-free production of marble from concrete is also important.
5. Minimum complexity in processing and restoration.
6. Good heat and moisture resistance.
7. There are no restrictions when choosing color and shape.

How to make marble from concrete - technology as it is

First, let's prepare the essential materials:

sand with cement;
pigment;
plasticizer (a substance that, when added to concrete, significantly increases its characteristics).

About forms and more...

To make concrete marble with your own hands, you need molds. The solution will be laid out there. A special polymer mold is ideal for this task. If you can’t find one on the farm, use any other plastic one. Pay attention to grade 500 cement. High-quality oil paint is suitable as a pigment. A wide variety of colors will give free rein to your imagination.

Marble made from ordinary concrete - step-by-step instructions

If all required material is already standing and waiting in the wings, it’s time to take care of the vibrating table. It is not at all necessary to buy it specifically, but if you have the opportunity to borrow it, then this is a necessary thing. During vibration, air evaporates from the solution. This can be done manually - no one has canceled shaking with your own hands. This is how cheap and cheerful it is to do without a vibrating table.

It’s time to add paint to the solution (1 part cement and 2 parts sand). There is no need to stir the mixture vigorously until smooth. Do it casually, leaving streaks, feel like an artist. Don't be afraid to experiment and add a few drops of different colors at once.

After adding paints, shake the molds or place the container with the solution on a vibrating table. By the way, you can do it yourself. Then you will become a beloved neighbor and relative. In the future, such a table will be useful in the manufacture of, for example, paving slabs. After all, buying a ready-made instrument is not a cheap pleasure.

The last stage is the most labor-intensive. And its name is grinding. After all, after the molds have dried, the marble cubes will need to be polished. Any here mechanical processing will not be superfluous. The efforts made will inevitably affect fatigue, but it is important to pay attention to another important fact - dust. Yes, it does happen, there will be a lot of it. Therefore, take care of a couple of buckets of water in advance or connect a hose with good pressure.

Other technologies for manufacturing artificial marble

Of course, alternatives to the above-described technology for making marble from concrete exist. Some of them are even more efficient and less labor intensive. Most exclude the grinding step, which in itself is very tempting. But it is almost impossible to implement them at home. Companies involved in this can provide photos of concrete marble and offer good conditions for cooperation. Still, any deal will cost you a pretty penny.

Artificial marble in the interior

It would seem that marbled concrete is mainly used outside the living space. Indeed, fences made of such material look majestic. Nevertheless, artificial marble has found its application inside apartments.

Where you can see it:

decoration of walls of residential premises;
in the bathroom - an excellent alternative to standard tiles;

countertops and other interior items in the kitchen (and in the most unexpected places, but they look unusual and rich);

fireplace is not just a hearth home comfort, but also a luxury item (especially if it is made of marble, albeit artificial);
floor coverings.

If you are still thinking about how to make marble from concrete at home, watch a video on this topic and get to work quickly. The result, if not surprising, will definitely please you, rest assured.

The question of why marble is made from concrete could probably only be asked by some ancient ruler, for whom this luxurious building material was mined and brought by slaves, and completely free of charge. In modern times, real marble, given the cost of its difficult extraction and delivery from the deposit, is not affordable for everyone. Meanwhile, today, as in ancient times, external or interior decoration The marble building gives it a magnificent, noble, even regal appearance. Therefore, it is not surprising that our practical contemporaries, armed with new technologies, have learned to make artificial marble from concrete. And, as it turned out, this does not require large industrial capacities and indeed no serious production at all. It is quite possible to make such building material at home and with your own hands.

It should be noted that “concrete marble” is made using different techniques, as a result of which the resulting material is called differently: decorative (or colored) concrete, systrom, artificial marble, etc. When making decorative concrete, for example, marble is sometimes added crumbs of a certain shade, which allows you to give the material a unique “marble” pattern. However, this does not change the principle and essence of production technology: despite different names, it's the same material.

Solid advantages

If a person is not a snob, for whom natural marble is preferable only because it is a sign of luxury and wealth (that is, a reason for superiority over others), then he will definitely appreciate all the advantages of concrete marble. And this wonderful material has quite a lot of them. In short, the advantages of “concrete marble” are as follows:

accessibility - as we have already said, artificial marble does not need to be transported from distant marble quarries, where it is not so easy to obtain, and therefore this material is many times cheaper and more accessible than natural material;
environmental friendliness - not only of the material itself, which is as safe for others as natural stone, but of its production: the production of marble from concrete is practically waste-free;
low thermal conductivity - thanks to this, artificial marble can not only perform finishing and aesthetic functions, but also serve as a good additional insulation;
moisture resistance - allows the material to maintain its quality for a long time and perform certain protective functions;
strength - thanks to the use of “heavy” grades of cement and special plasticizers, this characteristic of an artificial building material is in no way inferior to the strength of natural stone, especially since the strength of “concrete marble” can be further increased by using metal mesh reinforcement;
ample opportunities for creativity - unlike natural marble, the color, size and shape of which are largely determined by nature, artificial marble has those properties that are set by the manufacturer during the manufacturing process (using filler, additives, including colored ones, molding, etc.).

In other words, marble made from concrete is practically not inferior in its quality characteristics to natural stone, and in some ways it even surpasses its “prototype”. Finishing with such modern building materials looks no less noble and aesthetically pleasing than finishing with natural stone, and sometimes gives the designer more opportunities for his creativity. And at the same time, it is distinguished by strength and durability, and also, importantly, a very reasonable cost.

Preparation for production

Any technology involves a preparatory stage of production, namely the selection of materials and tools. It should be emphasized that the availability of artificial marble production is ensured, first of all, by the simplicity and low cost of the materials necessary for this. Each of them can be purchased at any hardware store. The following materials will be needed:

water – of course, clean, this is the only requirement for the natural solvent that will be used for the production of “pseudo-marble”;
plastic film - needed only at the end of the manufacturing process building material, however, it should be at hand so that at the most crucial moment you don’t have to look for it;
fine sand - the finer and cleaner it is, the better; It is advisable to initially take the finest sand and without foreign impurities, so as not to waste time on additional cleaning;
filler – gravel or small pebbles can serve this role, and the filler, like sand, must be sufficiently clean and uniform so as not to spoil the noble “marble” texture;
paint - it should be oil-based and of very high quality; with its help you can give artificial marble the desired color, and experts often use several shades, but here you need to maintain a sense of proportion;
plasticizer - a special additive to increase strength and other quality characteristics concrete;
cement is perhaps one of the main components of the manufactured building material, the basis of the future concrete mixture, for which in this case cement labeled M500 or M400 is most suitable.

Please note that thoroughness and accuracy are preparatory stage will help you avoid disappointment in the end.

Tool preparation

It is clear that all of the listed materials will need to be mixed somewhere, so in order to make marble from concrete with your own hands, you will need a suitable container. This can be a special concrete mixer, or any other container in which the mixture can be made using a conventional drill with a mixer attachment. You will also need special forms for concrete “castings”. You can buy them ready-made, polymer, but in the case of a non-standard “order” you can actually make them yourself, using suitable clean plastic containers or designs.

Manufacturing stages

So, the materials and tools are in combat readiness, the “marble from concrete” technology has been studied - it’s time to get down to business. The production of “concrete marble” involves several stages.

Preparation of concrete mixture. It is initially prepared in the most traditional way, based on a 1:3 ratio, only the highest quality cement is used (as already mentioned, it is better to take the M400 or M500 markings), and the sand is very fine and clean. If necessary, it can be pre-sifted through a fine mesh, like through a sieve. All this should be mixed very well and only then add filler (small pebbles, crushed stone, marble chips, etc.).
Coloring. The color of the future product is given by the addition of pigment - oil paint. At this stage, when adding colors to the dry mixture, it is important not to overdo it with mixing - in this case, heterogeneity and stains only improve the quality of the material, since they are the ones who create the unique “marble” effect.
Adding water. It should be taken at a ratio of 1:2 to the dry mixture, but not poured in immediately. First, about 80% of the total water is added, and this is where thorough mixing is necessary. After this, a plasticizer is added to the solution (about 1% of the total volume of the mixture), everything is thoroughly mixed again and left for a few minutes so that the solution thickens a little. And only after that the remaining water is added.
Molding. To give the final appearance to future “concrete-marble” products, forms must be prepared in advance. You can even make them yourself (for example, fasten them together plastic panels to obtain a simple slab of artificial marble), however, it is better to purchase polymer forms at the construction market. The prepared solution is poured into them, which must be covered in time with plastic wrap - before it completely hardens. If for some reason the finished material must be particularly strong, after filling the molds, you can immerse a metal mesh in the solution, which will become a kind of frame for the artificial marble.

After complete hardening and drying, the finished parts can be used immediately or subjected to grinding and polishing with a special tool to give them the shine and beauty of the marble “prototype”.