Some consider the artificial stone to be fake. However, this is true, however, it has high quality characteristics, is cheaper than its natural counterpart, and working with it is much simpler. This material is characterized by excellent performance, attractive appearance, and near looks flawless and very realistic.
Main types
Artificial stone for the facade has gained great popularity today. It is made from synthetic products based on fillers from natural stone chips and polyester resins, from mineral additives and clay, as well as colored concrete. One of the options is called sinter, it is used for cladding various objects, but materials based on colored concrete and porcelain stoneware can be used to decorate not only internal but also external elements of structures and buildings. Thus, today there are three main types of artificial stone, which differ from each other in their characteristics, scope of use and method of production. Artificial stone for the facade can be made of white or gray cement, natural gravel and sand, as well as crumbs of stone with the addition of coloring pigments. The latter are made on a mineral basis and allow to achieve maximum similarity with natural material. The strength of artificial stone is quite high. Often during the manufacturing process, a special additive is used from steel, synthetic fibers and fiberglass. This allows you to ensure that the material takes the form of metal.
Porcelain Overview
Artificial stone for the facade can be represented by porcelain stoneware, which is made from coloring pigments, several grades of clay and additives based on minerals. In the manufacturing process, feldspar is also used . The resulting mixture is pressed on a vibrating machine under impressive pressure, after which the material undergoes a firing process. Porcelain tiles are characterized by resistance to physical stress and temperature changes, however, there is only one substance that can destroy this stone, it is represented by hydrofluoric acid, which enters into a chemical reaction with the ingredients of the material.
Porcelain tile reviews
If you decide to choose an artificial stone for the facade, you must consider that each of its varieties has certain features. For example, according to users, porcelain tiles are characterized by problems in processing. For this reason, it cannot be restored. However, consumers choose this material for the reason that the textured palette is very diverse. The surface can be either glossy or matte. In the manufacturing process, it can be made and embossed. You can find porcelain stoneware with notches that give the surface a certain texture.
Overview of agglomerate characteristics
Choosing an artificial stone for decorating facades, you can pay attention to the agglomerates, which are sometimes called conglomerates. The composition contains granite or marble chips, coloring pigments, limestone and quartz sand. Polyester resin is used as a binder . Agglomerate is durable, as well as frost resistance. This material is very attractive, with its help you can create a surface that mimics the refined rocks of stone. If there are quartzites in the composition, then the strength of the conglomerate is comparable to porcelain stoneware. This kind of artificial stone can be attributed to acrylic and quartz material.
Reviews of agglomerates
Before you buy artificial stone for decorating facades, it should be noted that each of them will exhibit different quality characteristics during operation. According to users, agglomerates are not resistant to abrasion and do not tolerate exposure to chemicals. As buyers emphasize, strength will depend on the filler.
Quartz Stone Quality Overview
Facing the facade with artificial stone can be done by you yourself. To do this, you can choose a quartz material that surpasses the best varieties of natural stone in mechanical properties and durability. This material is characterized by heat resistance, it is able to endure temperatures up to two hundred eighty degrees. The hardness of the stone is second only to topaz, corundum and diamond. The material is easy to process, you can cut it with diamond discs, but polishing it is permissible only in a factory, while there is a need to use diamond tools.
Overview of Acrylic Stone Features
If you will be facing the facade of the house with artificial stone, then you can choose its acrylic variety, which does not absorb moisture and has a uniform structure. The surface is resistant to various chemicals, easy to clean and lightweight. Acrylic stone products are easy to process, they are completely safe and can be restored if damaged. Having visited the store, you can choose a specific color from a wide color palette. Houses, faced with this stone, gain excellent protection against fire.
Features of the facade decoration with artificial stone
When the artificial stone for the facade of the house has been selected, you can start decorating. Without preliminary preparation of the surface, it will be possible to do only in those cases when the base is sufficiently strong and even. We can talk about plaster and concrete substrates. In other cases, it will be simply necessary to prepare the surface. If you decide to finish the wooden walls, you will have to strengthen the plaster grid, on top of which the adhesive mortar is laid. The grid should be in those places where there are embedded metal parts, as well as fasteners.
Artificial stone for decorating the facade of the house can be laid in a seamless way or by the method of seams. In the latter case, free space should be left between the stones, which is filled with a solution.
It is not recommended to start work in the cold season, which is characterized by changes in temperature and humidity. Such conditions can adversely affect the quality of the adhesive. If the weather is hot, then the walls and stone should be moistened before applying the solution. It is necessary to start installation from below, initially the horizontal of the first row is marked, and after that several control marks are applied. During installation, the master must control the height of the rows. After several rows, check the horizontal with a level.
Conclusion
The solution should be applied to the wall with a spatula or trowel, while the composition must be distributed in three rows in height. Laying begins with a corner element, the stone is applied and well pressed. In this case, the element must be moved from side to side by tapping with a rubber mallet.