The use of decorative stone for interior decoration allows you to decorate a house or apartment in an original way. Such natural material successfully merges into various interior solutions, and becomes the highlight that the homeowners are trying to reproduce. A stone of artificial origin gives a decorative effect no worse than its wild counterpart.
Properties of decorative stone
For interior decoration, you can use both artificial stone and natural mineral, it is all about the price and the wishes of the customer. Each of these species is endowed with a number of properties that must be considered when choosing products. To better understand what happens as a decorative stone for interior decoration, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with its characteristics and study the types of this material.
Natural stone for interior decoration
The indisputable advantage of a mineral with a natural origin is its durability, especially since such wall cladding is not subject to external negative factors inside an apartment or house. It is not affected by precipitation and ultraviolet light, due to which the stone can give off its best properties - the ability to insulate and unsurpassed appearance. It so happened that the decorative elements of the walls, made with such cladding, served and continue to serve as a sign of high financial prosperity, so this also affects its popularity.
Oddly enough, but the high strength of the mineral at the same time is its advantage and disadvantage, since its processing is significantly difficult. Again, the pattern on the surface of this decor may be different, but this is not for everyone. And the most important minus, which, probably, will always be distinguished by a wild mineral - its sky-high price, affordable not for everyone.
Artificial stone for interior decoration
The price of a stone produced under artificial conditions is much lower than the previous version. The gypsum or cement component makes it much easier, which can significantly reduce the load on the structure of the house and it is easier to glue such a material. Thanks to this property, delivery and unloading becomes easier, which means that the cost of the material is lower. Artificial stone is deservedly a leader in the market of decorative building products, as it is endowed with unsurpassed qualities:
- ease of installation. It is laid on a special glue in the same way as ceramic tiles, but there is no need to carefully adjust each element, and some randomness only gives the room charm;
- a huge selection of colors and textures that mimic a natural mineral. There is a wide field for design ideas;
- the coating can be repaired and restored;
- strength and durability can compete with the same qualities of natural lining;
- optimal hydrophobic characteristics make the maintenance of the decor simple and convenient.
There are practically no negative qualities here, except that some types of artificial coatings are subject to abrasion due to mechanical stress, sometimes hydrophobic treatment can not be dispensed with and the cost may be higher than for more traditional types of finishing materials for walls (wallpapers, ceramic tiles).
Using artificial stone for interior wall cladding
There are no strict restrictions on the use of stone in the interior, but you need to be able to stop in time so as not to overload the living room of a house or apartment with this bright and textured material. Decoration of corners, arched and doorways is quite justified, since here we have not only an artistic effect, but also excellent protection of vulnerabilities from mechanical damage. Such a technique will help to highlight some interior elements and create a favorable emphasis on them. You can lay gypsum or any other decor on glue both over the entire selected area, and in the form of small inserts.
It is customary to glue artificial flexible stone or gypsum products in niches or on shelves. When decorating fireplaces, along with these types of cladding, ceramic decorative stone tiles can be used for interior decoration.
Due to the ecological cleanliness of the artificial decor, it can be glued in the bedrooms at the head, which looks very original. In the living rooms, TVs are hung on the lined surface of the walls, and the stone does not have to have a linear layout - it can be arranged randomly.
Radius cladding of niches and ceilings with the advent of a new product on the construction market, such as flexible stone, is now much easier due to the flexibility of the material. In general, a flexible artificial mineral deserves special attention, and we will certainly tell you more about it.
Facing stone: types and individual characteristics
On the construction market there are all possible varieties of decorative facing stone, which in most cases is mounted on glue. Most often, our compatriots prefer plaster products., so we’ll start our review with them, in addition, gypsum material, like a flexible stone, has several advantages over similar claddings for internal walls, which means that it deserves special attention.
Gypsum cladding
The gypsum base of the material allows it to be widely used. He has long been a reliable leader among such decor, designed for indoor work. The increased demand for gypsum is due to its low weight and aesthetic data, in addition, the price of such material is quite affordable. Plaster products have a porous structure, so they absorb moisture. To eliminate the destruction of the material due to moisture, it should be treated with special varnishes and impregnations. Incombustibility, ease of installation on glue, resistance to sharp temperature fluctuations - all this positively affects the choice of customers. In appearance, gypsum stone, like its flexible analogue, is similar to sandstone.
Concrete products
This material includes sand, hardening components, plasticizers, and coloring pigments. As additives, pumice, ceramic dust, expanded clay granules can be included here. The concrete-based stone is versatile, so it can be put on glue on any wall surface.
Porcelain Tiles
The main ingredients of porcelain stoneware allow it to withstand increased loads. Ceramic cladding with granite strength consists of several grades of clay, mineral fillers, feldspar and pigment dyes. In the process of pressing and further firing, porcelain tile acquires the ability to withstand high temperatures and moisture, as well as significant mechanical stress. In appearance, porcelain stoneware looks like stained glass or a well-polished mineral. In order not to scratch the glossy surface of this cladding, it is better to refrain from abrasive cleaning agents.
Agglomerates
This class of facing materials is characterized by excellent strength indicators, as they are based on marble and granite chips. Also, manufacturers of the agglomerates include limestone, silica sand and various pigments. They are mounted on glue on a previously prepared surface, in which they are similar to the more common gypsum products.
Acrylic material
Acrylic stone can be laid on the surface of internal walls, which has a number of advantageous properties:
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- does not absorb moisture;
- does not attract dirt and dust;
- easy to care;
- easy to glue to the surface;
- light weight;
- ecological cleanliness.
Quartzite
As well as similar products from plaster, it can be laid in rooms with any purpose. The structure of such a stone is heavy-duty, and the material itself serves for a very long time without losing its original appearance. Often it can be found in the form of window sills and countertops. Quartz stone is easily processed with diamond discs.
Flexible decorative stone
It is hard to imagine that a stone can be flexible in its structure, but modern technology does not get tired of surprising us. Such flexible material is produced at the place of extraction of sandstone, for which the natural mineral is cut with a thin layer so that its unique pattern remains. Then a thin section is ground to obtain a smooth glossy surface. The basis on which it is customary to glue the cut material is durable textile with acrylic plasticizers applied to its surface.
Over time, textiles are removed, and a slice of sandstone and acrylic glue on its back are dried in the sun under the open sky. In the manufacturing process, as you know, small particles of a natural mineral solidify and leave a constant pattern and texture. Flexible stone can be glued to any surface due to its flexibility. It is indispensable where you need to process round shapes, make a smooth transition from one element to another. This is an excellent solution for those who plan to plant material on the glue in the corners without cutting it. A new flexible facing material is not cheap, but its capabilities are not limited to anything.
Ceramic tile
It is probably difficult to find a more familiar wall cladding than stone tiles for interior decoration. Everyone who has at least a little bit of repair work knows that the products are mounted on a special tile adhesive, have an attractive appearance and have a huge selection. On sale you can find products of any price category that will give the surface of the walls both protection against moisture and a decorative effect. Such wall finishing cladding will serve its owners for many long years, provided that the glue is correctly selected and the installation work is carried out correctly.