Every year, natural materials are becoming more and more popular in the design of interiors of premises and building facades. And this is not surprising, because they are environmentally friendly and durable, and also with their help you can realize absolutely any design decisions and ideas. One of the most common is decorative stone for exterior decoration of the house. It has a variety of forms and textures, so you can transform the structure simply beyond recognition and make it more stylish, refined and elegant.
Varieties of facing material
As such, classification does not exist, which is not surprising, because stone is a rock mined in quarries. However, today it is divided into two types:
Each type has certain pros and cons that should be considered when choosing. Natural decorative stone for outdoor decoration is more preferable, since it looks much more solid and presentable, and also gives the building a special aura and energy. However, its cost is very high, so not everyone can afford such a pleasure.
The following varieties of stone are in greatest demand:
- dolomite;
- marble;
- sandstone;
- limestone;
- granite;
- shell rock;
- travertine.
Among the above, the most expensive decorative stone for exterior decoration of the house is marble and granite. But it is these varieties that have the best decorative and operational characteristics, for which they are appreciated in construction and design. Travertine is also very popular, with the help of which the structure can be made in the majestic antique style. But this stone has a porous structure, therefore, in order to prolong its durability and protect it from negative environmental influences, the surface of the material is treated with special mastic.
The most optimal options are shell rock and sandstone. They are easy to process and have an affordable cost. Finishing the exterior walls with decorative stone using these types of materials will look quite attractive and will last quite a long time.
A good substitute for the natural will be artificial stone. In terms of their operational characteristics and appearance, they are almost identical, but the difference in cost is quite significant.
What to look for when choosing?
Having decided to use a decorative facing stone for exterior decoration, it is necessary to take his choice very seriously. The material is sold in the form of plates of various sizes, sanded on one side. The other working surface remains untouched, which preserves the natural properties of the stone.
The main problem that people face when choosing a natural stone is to choose the right color for the material. The thing is that one and the same look has different shades, which complicates the task for designers, since it is very problematic to achieve uniformity in the decoration of facades of large areas.
Determine the color
Exterior decoration with decorative stone (photos of buildings look simply amazing) can be made in a variety of colors. However, do not forget that the choice of shade is very important, since it affects not only the appearance of the house, but also the human psyche and emotional state. Professionals advise residential buildings to be done in warm colors, for example, beige, light brown, pink and yellow. They allow you to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. In addition, light-colored stones do not heat up so much under the sun, which means that a microclimate comfortable for living will be maintained in the house.
The main nuances of facade cladding
If you decide to use a decorative stone for exterior decoration, then you must follow a certain technology when working with the material. The thing is that it has a lot of weight, so it will create a big load on the facade of the building, as a result of which the house can sag over time, and the walls will crack. Therefore, pre-supporting structures should be strengthened. For gluing use special cement mixtures, which contain additives that protect them from moisture.
Wall reinforcement
If the building is old, then before it is faced with natural stone, the supporting structures must first be strengthened. This process is performed in the following sequence:
- Assessment of the technical condition of the building.
- Dismantling of old finishing material.
- Close up of all cracks and cracks.
- Facade reinforcement with metal mesh.
To increase the strength of the walls, professionals recommend pre-performing their plastering. This is nothing complicated. You will need to treat the facade with cement slurry before reinforcing, after drying of which the metal mesh is fastened with dowels. Then the facade is once again treated with cement of a thicker consistency and plastered. If you want to use decorative stone for exterior decoration of the house, then adherence to this technology is mandatory.
Material preparation
Natural stone does not have the correct shape, so before you start facing work, you must first work a little with it and adjust it to the desired size.
When choosing material, lay out individual blocks on the ground so that there is a distance of about one centimeter between them. Select only those that will create a harmonious cladding. Then it will be possible to proceed to the completion of the stone.
For facing the walls themselves, you can use material of any shape and size, but with the corners of the building it is not so simple. You will have to cut the blocks at a right angle. To do this, you need a grinder and a diamond disk. In addition, in order to improve the quality of adhesion, the back of the stone is carefully sanded.
Facing work
Many people today use decorative stone for exterior decoration of the basement and the main part of the facade of the building. However, not everyone knows that for fixing the material you need to use special adhesive mixtures, which include water-insoluble polymers. The following are considered the best:
- "Hercules";
- WEISBAU;
- "BASIS MAXIPLIX T-16";
- "Craps";
- Ceresit CM 17;
- "Rock grab";
- Litokol LITOFLEX K80.
Before starting the finishing work, the surface is pre-primed with such mixtures as Concrete Contact or Founder. Decorative stone for exterior decoration of the house is glued according to the following algorithm:
- Wet the back side of the blocks and leave them for about a minute.
- Apply an adhesive mixture to them in an even layer, a thickness of about one and a half centimeters, after which several stripes are made in it along the entire length.
- Press the stone against the wall and hold for 10 seconds to grab the mixture.
Similarly, all blocks are glued. Excess mortar is removed with a spatula.
Facade cladding with artificial stone
This option is more common due to the cheapness of the material. Many people think that decorative artificial stone for outdoor decoration is inferior to natural in all respects, but this is far from the case. They are almost completely identical in their operational characteristics and decorativeness, so it is very difficult to distinguish them.
Today, a large assortment of artificial stone is on sale, however, all varieties have the same composition. The basis is cement and sand, and various additives and coloring agents act as additional components. For the production of decorative stones , gypsum or acrylic resins are used. They can be used not only for outdoor, but also for interior decoration. If you decide to use decorative stone panels for outdoor decoration, it is very important to choose the right material.
To date, the following types are presented in the assortment of artificial materials:
- clinker stone;
- quartz agglomerates;
- porcelain tile;
- artificial marble.
Each of the materials listed above has certain advantages and disadvantages, therefore, to make it easier for you to make a choice, we will consider each of them in detail.
Clinker stone
It is made in the form of bricks or slabs of small size. The composition of the material contains special components, which endow it with high resistance to moisture and severe frosts, due to which they well increase the thermal insulation of the building. In addition, clinker decorative stone tiles for outdoor decoration are not susceptible to ultraviolet rays, so it does not fade under the sun and for a long period of time retains its attractive appearance. The product range is presented in various forms, color schemes and textures, which allows you to implement any design ideas.
Porcelain tile and artificial marble
Both materials are made from a cement-sand mixture to which polyester resins and additives are added. By their properties, they are practically indistinguishable from natural stone. Due to the special composition, the plates are very heavy, so manufacturers try to make them as thin as possible in order to reduce the load created on the facade. The surface of the blocks can be any - glossy, matte and rough, so that with their help you can give the facade a unique appearance.
However, porcelain stoneware has one significant drawback - low strength. Even a slight blow with a sharp object or a fall from a small height is enough to damage the material. Also, very often chips and cracks form on the plates during trimming. Therefore, you must be extremely careful when processing them.
Quartz agglomerates
As it is not difficult to guess from the name, quartz sand, stone chips and coloring materials are used to produce this finishing material. This variety is the most expensive on the artificial stone market, because due to its special composition and production technology it is as close as possible to natural materials.
The texture and appearance of the agglomerates may vary and depends on the fraction of the components used. The main advantage is high strength and durability, but you have to pay for the quality accordingly.
Technologists masonry artificial stone
If you use gypsum decorative stone for exterior decoration (it can be any other modern material), then it is important to consider that the gluing technology is different from that described for natural stone. Masonry can be with or without seams, but the first option is more popular because it allows you to make the facade of the house more stylish and realistic.
The process of performing the work is as follows:
- Preparation of the work surface.
- Padding.
- Preparation of adhesive in accordance with the instructions.
- Wetting the back side of the artificial stone and bearing a masonry mortar on it with a layer about 4 millimeters thick.
- The plate is pressed well and adheres for several seconds. Excess solution is removed.
- When the facade cladding is completed, grouting is done.
That's the whole process of exterior decoration of the walls of residential buildings. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in it, so you can cope with everything yourself without attracting professionals. Clearly follow the instructions described in this article, and you will certainly succeed.