Decorative stone for exterior finishes 75 photos

Decorative stone is used for exterior finishes for quite a while. This material makes it possible to give unpretentious building aristocratic gloss or, on the contrary, make old new building, to reward his "history". Depending on the financial capacity of the owners of the house for decoration use natural and artificial decorative stone. Both materials have a set of advantages and are not without drawbacks. Let's compare the options, consider the types of textures of surfaces, their stylistic affiliation and methods of installation.

Advantages and disadvantages of decorative stone cladding facade

Under the name "decorative" usually involve artificial material. In fact, this definition applies to any type of stone, which serves as a home decoration facade. Natural also falls into this category, because it is applied only in the form of cladding, not a building material.

Let's compare the two options:

• Artificial decorative stone appearance is not very different from the natural. Modern technologies allow to exactly reproduce the smallest veins natural texture. Also simulation have a broader range of colors. Rare shades adorn the surface of natural stone, which is very expensive.
• For the price of imitation again beats the natural stone. For the original would have to pay much more.
• Natural stone will last several times longer than the artificial. Manufacturers are trying to apply the latest developments, but to equalize operating time simulation and the original has so far not succeeded.
• Artificial stone lighter than natural. It is easier to fix on the walls. The original pictures are not recommended to coat the surface height of more than 0.5 m. Natural stone in general can fall off, and creates additional load on the wall.
• Distinguish natural from artificial stone "by eye" can only be a professional. However, not all manufacturers can boast of integrity: some imitation so bad "stuff is made," that even a knife on the surface can leave scratches and dents.

For decorative stone finish sometimes include products from soft materials (plastic, plaster, foam). they are not suitable at all for the facade cladding.

By the way, and artificial and natural stone can be used for interior decorating. Material veneer walls in whole or in their individual area (around the door or window openings), decorative niches, fireplaces.

Types of decorative stones for exterior

As mentioned above, there are two large groups of stone used for outdoor applications:

• Natural;
• Artificial.

Each group consists of ten varieties which are combined only at the origin: man-made or natural prepared by. Consider the most popular varieties.

Natural

Representatives of the group of natural stones, which are constantly on the ear: granite, marble, sandstone, a shell rock, travertine, limestone and dolomite. Let's talk about each of these in more detail:

• Granite. The magnificent beauty of the natural material, which is rich in deposits of Russia, Ukraine, India and China. Granite is wear-resistant and cold-resistant. He proved to be excellent as a material for monuments. As is known, the stele are constantly on the street and are subject to constant testing weather conditions. If granite slab no cracks, the material will last more than a hundred years. If injuries were, then over time they will begin to gather water that is frozen and expand fracture fragment granite crack. Material has a wide range of colors, depending on the percentage of impurities in the stone (gray, and greenish to brown). The most popular is considered absolute black - black granite, mined in India. It is not necessary to rank as this breed gabbro diabase or gabbro. It dolerite, which is produced only in Australia, Ukraine and Russia. Igneous rock similar to granite in appearance (black with occasional patches of gray or green), but refers to another group of stones.

• Marble. Beautiful appearance, exquisite material, which is inferior to the durability of granite, but he wins, if we compare the range of colors and textures. Marble can not handle certain types of acids. Material looser than granite. Over time, the surface can cover ugly stains (from rain or wet adhering soil), which does not wash.

• Sandstone. Formed at the bottom of dried-up reservoirs of the layers of packed sand. Lightweight material, the life of which is inferior to granite or marble. sandstone surface even after careful polishing is slightly rough. Stone is quite fragile, but with the brilliance endures high humidity and frost. It provides a high level of additional sound insulation.

• Coquina. To form a breed of shellfish remains, which for hundreds of years crumbled and caking on the seabed. Material is lightweight, porous, has low thermal conductivity. Its surface even in grinding quality has a characteristic texture dented from which sometimes "peek" petrified ammonites. Of limestone often build houses. Stone sold in the form of blocks or tiles. Coquina is impossible to burn. Over the years, staying on the seabed, it is impregnated with salt water and iodine. Coquina is considered to be not only environmentally friendly, but also beneficial to human material.

• Travertine stone or tibursky. It is a lightweight, porous rock. It has the original texture and colors within the range of shades of brown, gray or white. Some types of travertine vaguely resemble the marble surface.

• Limestone. It refers to a "sea" species that are formed from caking remains living organisms, quartz, silicon, phosphate and particles of sand and clay. The material is very malleable: it is easy to saw and to shape. Limestone is easy, it is often used to furnish not only the foundation, but also the entire facade of the building. In terms of operation is slightly inferior to sandstone.

• Dolomite. Although the material is durable, it is quite flexible, and should be careful when cutting the plate into pieces as easily cracked. Dolomite is colored in shades of brown (yellowish and to coffee with milk).

Also for outdoor works sometimes use basalt, quartzite, slate. The surface of one of the varieties of the latter dotted with small shiny patches that sparkles in the sun playing.

Frightening information about that granite and marble "Radiation at" not worthy. Material before marketed, necessarily being certified. The radioactivity of the stone is indicated in this document that is attached to a quality product.

Artificial

The group of artificial stone include the following:

• Clinker and ceramic facade;
• agglomerates;
• concrete;
• Acrylic.

The clinker is prepared by sintering refractory clay. On the strength of it is not inferior to natural stone and will last more than one year. Ceramic facade stone made of feldspar, clay, sand, with the addition of pigments. For exterior facade is selected option, as it has a particularly high strength and resistance to frost. Concrete stone cast from the same material, so it can be safely used for laying garden paths or dressing of the house facade. Agglomerates (quartz composites) prepared from quartz and polyester resin by molding. The content of mineral filler in this material is the most high, so the characteristics of it is as close to natural analogues. Quartz composites exactly mimic the surface of marble and granite, but are at times below. Acrylic stone worktops and often perform surface furnishing items. Elastic and pliable material for the facades is rarely used.

Tips for choosing a stone

Decorative stone (and artificial and natural) for outdoor use must meet certain requirements: to be frost-resistant, moisture-and heat-resistant. Desirably, the material further and still possessed refractoriness. This will significantly reduce the risk of fire building. In natural stone should be free of cracks, through holes and other defects.

If any fragment sooner or later crack. When it comes to granite or marble, the rock surface must be perfectly smooth. Artificial stone conscientious producers necessarily carefully paint over not only outside but also inside. The second nuance can be checked by looking at the side section of a tile or panel. Be sure to ask the manufacturer's certificates of conformity of the goods. If there is no, then you can leave the store immediately. Traditionally stone thickness for finishing works does not exceed 4 cm.

Selecting the color of the stone

Natural stone does not have a homogeneous color. On its surface is required to be present minor inclusions. The more uniform color and fewer impurities, the more expensive material. The main colors of natural stone - gray-brown and white. Of course, marble or granite can be greenish, reddish or pink hue in general, be black with silvery streaks. Slate, for example, has a dark gray "asphalt" color. Artificial stone restrictions in the colors there. Some manufacturers are experimenting with shades and offer consumers even unexpected orange, deep blue, purple or green tones.

Every style has its own stone

Slate is suitable to houses, the facades of which are decorated in high-tech style. The same trend is combined with good granite and marble certain colors. However, these materials have been used for quite some time, so the fit and to classicism. English mansion traditionally built of stone. To stylize country house under British ethnics, use a ragged clutch of sandstone or shale. By the ancient and colonial style suitable exterior finish or coquina limestone. Facades of dolomite might look nice in the style of Provence, and some ethnic areas. Sandstone harmonizes with modern potpourri-areas: fusion and eclecticism.

Features a natural stone facade cladding

Natural stone due to the large weight puts additional strain on the walls. This was already mentioned above. All tiling process is conventionally divided into several stages:

• Surface preparation;
• Laying stone fragments;
• Finish grouting.

Let's talk about each of the steps in more detail.

Preparing walls

To begin walls purified from the old layer of decorative material (if any), and dirt. If the surface is smooth, it can not do without reinforcing mesh. For walls made of bricks, the edges of which provide additional coupling, can not resort to an additional enhancement. In other cases, reinforcing mesh is still necessary. It is fixed to the surface using dowels across the area to be decorated. Consumption of fasteners would be approximately 10 units. for each square meter.

Preparation of material and stacking stone wall

To begin, measure the starting level. Laying the first stones to be on the corners. Between the two elements tensioned thread. It will become a reference point for the correct positioning of the fragments. This rule applies only to rovnenko series. If laying chaotic, these subtleties are not needed. Then begin to spread the ranks. The reverse side of each stone is required to coat with cement mortar, as part of the wall on which it is fixed. Top fragment of rap with a hammer to secure better.

Plinth trim is usually the same type of stone as the rest of the facade, but a few shades darker. This will allow to hide stains that leave the ground during the rainy season.

Grouting

grouted performed after drying the cement slurry. It is carried out with a special composition which is diluted before use in a clean container. At joints grout is applied with a rubber spatula or a special "bag", which is similar to a confectionery syringe. Grout is desirable to carry out during the warmer months. Frost on the street is not posodeystvuet consolidation composition.

Features facade cladding artificial stone

With artificial stone is much easier to operate than natural. It is less heavy, simpler and more amenable to cutting malleable, which allows to coat even complex configuration elements. Surface preparation for work with the imitation is different from a similar phase when laying natural stone. To work with the material only during the warm season, when the temperature does not fall below 5 degrees. But then the fun begins - choice of the type of installation:

• With jointer;
• seamless;
• Without jointing.

We consider the specifics of each method.

Masonry seamless manner

When laying a seamless artificial stone fragments are fitted as close to each other. It turns whole surface, which is almost devoid of joints between pieces. To achieve this effect, the gain elements, the edges of which have not chamfer (chamfer). Fluid lubricates only downsides stones. Excess composition is removed immediately from the surface. During the work pieces customize to each other. To do this, use a grinder to cut away the excess. Work start with the corners of the conventional scheme.

Laying without jointing

Artificial stone is represented by the same fragments as building blocks. Pre-lay them is not required. The main thing that was carried out "polecat": each subsequent number is the offset from the previous one. It may be half or a quarter of the length of the fragment edge. In this case, transverse seams are not formed, and therefore does not need grouting. If you use the clutch without the "dressing", there is construction risks. Fancy seams allows to cover an additional protective layer of solidified cement that can still begin to crumble with time. Laying without jointing is used in cases where it is necessary to obtain a slightly rough appearance of the facade, if it is caused by a stylistic decision. For example, such an option would be justified for the country.

conclusion

The facade really transform their own hands. To work with the stone does not necessarily involve an entire team of workers and, accordingly, to pay for the repairs. Only a couple of volunteers who will give valuable advice and moral support novice. Although natural stone - an environmentally friendly material and durable, more and more consumers prefer imitation in recent years. Their relatively short service life plays into the hands, as the finish may be overexposed after five years is replaced by a new, fresh, meets fashion trends in the design of the exterior. There are conservatives who adhere to the traditional options to expensive luxury granite or marble. These materials are able to make a "candy" even from the shack.