Quite often, facing facades are used facing stones. They can be natural or artificial, each of these varieties is also used to decorate the interior walls of the premises. If you want to choose one of these materials, you should first familiarize yourself with its quality characteristics.
Varieties of Artificial Stone
Synthetic stone products are used to make artificial stone. Fillers of polyester resins and natural stone chips serve as a base. Among other things, mineral additives, clays and colored concrete can be used. Thus, the agglomerate is used for facing interior items and furniture. Other named varieties are used for decorating internal and external elements of structures and buildings. Three types of artificial stone can be distinguished, each of which differs in the method of manufacture, composition and scope of use. Facing stones of artificial origin can be made of white or gray cement, crushed stone, sand, natural gravel with the addition of coloring pigments. The latter are made on the basis of a mineral base. Using these ingredients, it is possible to achieve maximum similarity with natural material. In order to increase the bearing and strength characteristics, fiber reinforcement is used in the manufacture of the material, which is a special additive made of steel, fiberglass or synthetic fibers.
Porcelain Tiles
Facing stones of artificial origin can be represented by porcelain stoneware, which is made by technology of vibropressing under impressive pressure. After pressing is completed, the material is fired, which allows you to consolidate the effect. Porcelain tile includes feldspar, some types of clay, mineral additives and coloring pigments. Externally, the material resembles ceramic tiles or glass. Among its main qualities - resistance to temperature extremes and various kinds of influences.
The main characteristics of artificial stone
Facing stones, which are of artificial origin, are characterized by integrity and structurality. These products look as if they were carved from a single piece of natural stone. Choosing this material as a facade cladding or decoration of the interior walls of rooms, you can count on high strength. As tests show, some artificial metals have mechanical properties that are superior to those of natural analogues. These materials are moisture resistant and chemically resistant. Products do not absorb moisture and do not respond to changes in humidity, so mold or fungus does not form on their surface. Finishing materials of artificial origin are used even for the decoration of facades and socles of urban buildings, which are often exposed to aggressive environments, heavy chemicals of other elements. That is why artificial stone is so widespread.
Positive features of artificial stone
The material described above is durable, such products are not subject to erosion, which can happen with a natural counterpart of artificial stone. Such surfaces are not afraid of water and wind, which indicates a long service life. A stone made under production conditions does not burn and has low thermal conductivity, this opens up opportunities for creative ideas. With this material, fireplaces, walls, stoves and fireproof areas can be lined. The finishing materials described above are characterized by exceptional maintainability. Even if the stone was damaged before the split, it can always be returned to its original form. Of course, it should be noted that such a finish is very attractive. It can be quite difficult to achieve sophistication with the help of natural analogues, since each stone is individual in shape and size. As for artificial options, they can be arranged at will.
Another additional advantage is the possibility of self-production of material.
Why choose artificial stone
If you will be finishing with a facing stone, then it is worth considering what kind of its variety - natural or artificial, it is better to choose. Among the advantages of the latter option, it is necessary to highlight the convenience of transportation, ease of processing and less impressive weight of products, if we compare with a natural analogue. The material is fastened to a special adhesive or cement mortar, and if cracks or chips appear, then the shortcomings can be quickly eliminated. In the process of operation, special surface care is not required, however, it may be necessary to treat with compounds when the stone is not very suitable for outdoor use, which implies a long-term exposure from negative factors.
Features of natural stone
Facing natural stone is made in the form of plates that have dimensions equal to 600 x 300, 305 x 305, 400 x 400 millimeters. In this case, the thickness of the product can vary from 10 to 30 millimeters. The average cost of one square meter of granite or marble slab is $ 25, as for sandstone, it can be purchased for $ 4, stone tiles will cost $ 5, made products based on cement and quartz have a cost of $ 10.
Positive and negative aspects of use
If you decide that you will be making interior stone decoration, then it is worth considering the advantages of a natural material, among them environmental friendliness and bactericidal properties, reliability and durability. Among other things, such material can protect the house from climatic factors, for example, from overheating in the summer or from cold in winter. Laying such a stone is quite simple, the speed of the work is quite high, which is why you can carry out these manipulations yourself. However, you should remember that natural stone has its drawbacks, as one of them can be identified the impressive weight of marble and granite, however, if you use sandstone or limestone, you can count on less weight.
Recommendations for the use of natural stone
The facing stone, the price of which was presented above, can be laid in one of two ways, the first involves jointing, which will save finishing materials, while the second method is seamless, it is necessary for some varieties of stone. As with the artificial counterpart, in the case of natural stone, concrete and brick can be used as a rough foundation. Whereas if you have to work with metal or wood, then the surface must first be sheathed with a mesh.
The nuances of the work
If you decide to use a facing stone for the facade, then for better adhesion you need to clean the walls and the inner surface of the plate. The base should be primed. For facade work should use frost-resistant glue, which is intended for laying stone. After the finishing work is completed, a water-repellent can be applied to the surface. Experts recommend laying in small areas, gradually moving from top to bottom.
Granite Features
If you decide to prefer a natural facing stone, then you can buy granite, among its positive features you can highlight the lack of susceptibility to the destructive influence of time, as well as efficiency, rigor and beauty. It is important to remember only that it will be very difficult to work with the material due to its impressive weight, but if you correctly calculate, taking into account the weight and height of the building, the facade will turn out to be beautiful, durable and strong.
Limestone Characteristics
If you use this stone, the facade will gain bactericidal properties, it will purify the air from pathogenic microbes. Limestone is a marine residual rock with a high density. During operation, the material will show its environmental and decorative properties. You can buy such a finish at an affordable price, this will improve the building, the walls of which will be more thermally insulated. It is worth considering the minus, which is low frost resistance, this indicates the need for processing the facade after carrying out finishing manipulations using water-repellent compositions. You can choose for yourself natural limestone of green, white, red or brown shade.
As a variety of limestone, shellfish, which is very popular, acts as a part of shells of mollusks. The material is quite simple to process, as well as polish, which allows you to produce fairly complex architectural elements to create a facade, namely: balusters, columns, borders or railings.
Sandstone Characteristics
Among the features of this material can be identified longevity, strength and grandeur. Among other things, it costs quite inexpensively. You can purchase any color scheme, which varies from dark brown to light beige. Using the contrasts of colors, you can frame the window and doorways, as well as decorate the corners of the house and columns. It should be noted that this stone for the facade is very popular.
Conclusion
For facade work, you can choose an artificial facing stone. It is characterized by durability and strength, as well as natural. Only you can decide what kind of material to purchase, since each of them has a lot of advantages. As the only difference, different costs can be distinguished. But it is worth paying attention to the more impressive weight of natural stone compared to artificial.