Faux stone cladding can be an excellent choice to add the perfect touch to your home. It’s available in numerous looks including fieldstone and ledgestone along with layouts created to imitate techniques like masonry to looser stacking.
It’s also less heavy as natural stone (12 lbs for each square feet) which can reduce the cost of installation as well as foundations as well as wall tie. But there are issues with its durability and longevity which need to be considered.
Interior and Exterior Design Materials
Stone and brick weigh a lot more and are more expensive to transport as well as cut and put in as compared to high-density polyurethane. This is why fake brick and stone are often preferred over real stone.
It is also referred to as cultured or manufactured stone. It’s a type of concrete cast in molds and painted or stained to look like different types of natural stone. It’s typically used as wall coverings or ground cover in moisture-prone areas such as around pools or hot tubs. The faux stone can require sealing every 2-3 years to prevent color fade from exposure for a long time to UV radiation and humidity.
Stone veneers are quarried out of the ground and then split or cut off from rock which has formed naturally over thousands or even many millions of years. This is the case with the round New England fieldstone gathered from the remains of abandoned stone walls and farms. It may have a distinct and diverse design that is characterized by textures and tone variations that cannot be recreated in artificial materials, such as dyes or cements.
Characteristics and Advantages
Although both natural and faux stone options can create the exact look that you desire in your design, they differ in characteristics and make them better fits for certain kinds of jobs. Stone is typically an ideal choice to outdoor areas, particularly spaces with a rustic ambiance to their appearance. The faux stone on the other hand, is a good option for projects outside of a garden.
Faux stone can be molded and molded into unique shapes and sizes to mimic the look of a variety of types of stone. Additionally, it’s lighter than natural stone and is able to be used without foundations, feet, or wall tie-offs.
Because it’s not a natural product, it will need to be maintained and sealed on a regular basis. It could also be susceptible to color fade because of exposure to sunlight’s UV rays or moisture from the rain or pool. This can be cement paint prevented by applying breather-type, non-film-forming sealing agent for your masonry stone.
Choosing Between
The building sector is seeing the increasing number of homeowners want eco-friendly materials. This is affecting a variety of industries which includes the manufacturing of stone and masonry business. Numerous natural stone companies have started introducing green strategies to their businesses in recent years, and there are plenty of options for construction companies and homeowners seeking to incorporate green features in their homes.
Faux stone is manufactured by mixing aggregates with cement and particular pigments to achieve an appearance that resembles different kinds of stones. It can be made into unique and precise shapes which makes it appear like natural stone. It’s also cost-effective and durable option than natural stone.
If you intend to install manufactured stones in moist areas such as near hot tubs, be sure to seal it using silane-based, film-forming, breathing type of masonry sealer. If not, it may be susceptible to a problem called efflorescence, where water dries out from the stone and forms an ugly deposit on the surface of the wall.
Design Style and Material Selection
Remodeling your home is an investment of time and funds. Your materials should be chosen with care to guarantee that your design will endure visually and architecturally. Natural stone is an ideal option over fake stone due to the fact that it needs minimal maintenance and can withstand harsh environmental conditions.
It is less porous than natural stone and therefore prone to moisture damage. It can cause the issue of efflorescence which occurs when the lime within the stone is transferred through to the exterior. It creates a ugly fleck that resembles stained surface of water.
Fake stone will also fade in direct sunlight during a span that spans many seasons. The colors used in stones are prone to fading in the same way, and it’s hard to modify their color after they’ve faded. That’s why we suggest selecting URBANCONCRETE for any project that is in the sun or to be used around the hot tub or pool.