Cut and attach polystyrene trim correctly - DIY tips

• Styrofoam strips - decorative elements for every purpose
• Cost of polystyrene strips and accessories
• Instructions: Cutting and gluing
  • 1. Measuring and planning
  • 2. Cut strips
  • 3. Glue strips together
  • 4. Brush strips of styrofoam

Stuck is always very modern and in demand at any time. Even the currently very popular vintage look fits perfectly with a stucco wall or ceiling decoration. Of course, hardly anyone uses stucco today, because the material is expensive and heavy. Finally, there are polystyrene moldings that look at least as good. In the instructions we show how to handle it.

Styrofoam strips are a perfect substitute for real stucco. The strips and elements made of styrofoam can even be attached to lightweight walls made of plasterboard. Real stucco would hardly hold it. It is also possible to glue the counterfeit Styrofoam stucco onto a wallpaper. However, the absolute advantage of polystyrene strips is their price . It is so minimal that the mention is almost not worth it. An entire room can be easily equipped with material costs of less than 20 euros with Styrofoam stucco. Here we show you how to cut and attach the strips correctly.

You need this:

• fine saw
• miter
• Cuttermesser
• spatula
• notched trowel
• spirit level
• ruler
• pencil
• Chalk line
• ladder
• caulking gun
• bevel
• Styrofoam strips
• Styrofoam glue
• plaster
• Acrylic sealant
• acrylic paint

Styrofoam strips - decorative elements for every purpose

With the lightweight styrofoam strips you can do so much more than just a corner strip on the ceiling. If you still want to practice or want to get an idea of ​​what the bars look like later, you can start with a frame around a mirror that you simply stick to the wall. This way you can create exciting decorative elements with wallpaper or precious wrapping paper. The paper is simply glued to the wall and provided with a frame made of styrofoam.

Possible applications:

• Ceilings edge
• Mirror elements ceiling
• Frame around mirror or picture
• Wall break half-height
• Hiding place for curtain rod
• Inguinal wreath around lamps
• Recording for indirect lighting
• Upgrading shelves and cabinets

Cost of polystyrene strips and accessories

In contrast to real plaster or stucco strips cost polystyrene strips only a fraction. Even the tools needed remain within manageable limits. You do not even have to have a jigsaw. Sawing is much better even with a very fine foxtail. Even the miter box does not even cost ten euros if you choose a simple model.

Cost overview:

• Flat profile strip Styrofoam 2 meters - thickness 8 mm - about 1.50 Euro
• Styrofoam corner strip 50 meters - 25 x 22 millimeters - about 30.00 euros
• Segments for the corner profile decor strongly verschnörkelt - 4 pieces - about 7, 00 Euro
• Cartridge acrylic mass from 2, 00 Euro
• Cartridge pistol from about 5, 00 Euro
• Styrofoam liver 4 kilos about 13, 00 Euro
• Styrofoam liver 14 kilos about 25, 00 Euro
• Styrofoam adhesive 300 ml in cartridge from 1.60 euros

Instructions: Cutting and gluing

Attaching strips is really easy with the lightweight polystyrene material. If you choose angles or corners made of styrofoam matching the decor of your strips, even the miter cuts are omitted. This is the ideal solution for beginners who do not dare to perform complicated miter cuts.

1. Measuring and planning

Although the bars visually do not reach to the corners, as they disappear at first glance, you have to measure each wall completely to the corner. In addition, you should plan a little blending for the angles. With the low prices of Styrofoam strips, it is finally easy to get over, if you have to buy a bar too much.

Do you want to attach only narrow corner strips around the ceiling, you do not need a large bucket of glue. You can use a styrofoam adhesive in the cartridge, which is also cleaner and easier to apply. Even if you need more cartridges, the cost remains manageable. You would need to dispose of a larger bucket of glue later, if you do not need everything. The glue usually only has a limited storage period of a few months when it has been opened.

Think carefully about what type of styrofoam you want to use. Highly ornate patterns need a suitable environment for their effect. To a straightforward Bauhaus furnishing curvy strips do not fit. If you want to attach a bar both at the top of the wall and at about half height, they should not have the same width. Between the wall and ceiling, a cornice is better suited, which picks up the decor of the bar at half height.

Tip: To many polystyrene moldings there are matching ceiling elements that you can stick around the ceiling lamp. This can also cover the holes of old ceiling lamps, which are often incurred during a renovation. In addition, the decorative element completes the look with imitation stucco visually perfect.

2. Cut strips

The most important tool for the corners is the miter box when cutting the polystyrene moldings. Use a clamp to gently clamp the bar onto the drawer. When cutting miter polystyrene, it is important to consider whether you are actually cutting in the right direction. The normal corners in the room must always be cut to 45 degrees. The part of the strip that is after sticking to the wall should be the longer part. This rule of thumb must be kept in mind when cutting the miter.

If you want to attach ledges in an old building or in an unusually cut room, an angle fitting will help you. This allows the angles of the corners to be transferred exactly to the strips and you achieve perfect cuts. Flat strips that have a certain height, you can cut better with the cutter. Place the strips upright in the miter box and mark the section there on both sides exactly. Then place the strip on a smooth surface and carefully cut off the marked angle with the cutter.

For example, if you want to decorate a mirror on the wall or a picture with styrofoam strips, you should also miter them. Simply lay the later frame flat on a smooth surface. So you can see perfectly how the miter cut of the corners must look later. Also for these cuts the cutter is the better choice.

Tip: After cutting, hold the strips in the desired corners and check if the miter cut fits perfectly. If this is not the case, it is very easy for the strips made of styrofoam to rework the cut slightly with a cutter or a utility knife.

In an outer corner, so a room lead in the room, the rear part of the bar must be shorter. Always try to visualize these blanks. If you fear too many cuts, you should cut a piece of cardboard and keep it in the corner. So you have a stencil, at least if the cut was correct.

3. Glue strips together

Mark the position of the strip exactly on the wall if you want to attach a strip of styrofoam at half height. A chalk line is a practical work aid. If you have a laser level, you can use it to throw a straight line against the wall. In both cases, as a precaution, you should check with the good old spirit level if the line has been set correctly.

If you want to stick a lot of Styrofoam, you can buy the glue in large containers bucketful. However, some of these products consist of two components that must be mixed before use. Pay close attention to the manufacturer's instructions regarding the mixing ratios. Generally, however, such products are not necessarily recommended for the interior of the house, as they also emit solvent. In the bathroom or outdoors, this adhesive can be just right, because he usually tolerates the moisture better.

Apply some glue in snaking lines to the back of the bar and press it firmly against the wall for a moment. For wider strips, you should spread the adhesive slightly with a notched spatula on the back. Make sure that there are no big gaps in the adhesive bed. Nevertheless, the adhesive should be applied evenly and not too thick, so that later as possible nothing from the adhesive swells out. If you should press something out of the glue, remove the remains as quickly as possible with a spatula and an old cloth from the wall and the groin.

Tip: Most of the walls are of course longer than the polystyrene bar. Therefore, you have to put the strips on the wall. To prevent the bars from being slightly spaced, simply insert a nail or toothpick into one bar and then attach the second bar to this toothpick.

4. Brush strips of styrofoam

Normal wall paint does not last on Styrofoam. Therefore, you need to use certain paints, such as acrylic paint, if you want to paint the bar in color. Some varnishes do not cover styrofoam but even as brilliant or strong as you might want. Therefore, you should first test on a remnant of the styrofoam, how the color behaves. Always brush Styrofoam with a brush, as a roll does not get into the fine pores.

Tips for quick readers

• Measure and plan polystyrene moldings
• Remove angle and transfer to bar
• Cut the miter bar
• normal angle is 45 degrees
• If necessary, cut the angle with a cutter
• Mark the half wall height with the chalk line
• Check position with spirit level
• Apply polystyrene adhesive and press the strip briefly
• Apply glue to wider strips with a toothed spatula
• Glue ceiling element around ceiling light
• Do not paint styrofoam with wall paint
• Perform color test on remaining piece of styrofoam