Despite the fact that for many years the construction market has been filled with many diverse goods for every taste and color, natural and artificial stone can not be replaced by anything. This material is able to create an amazing atmosphere in the home. At the same time, the main feature of such a coating can be called its durability. Unlike plastic panels and wallpaper, any stone wall cladding in the apartment is unusually durable. Applying it to decorate the external walls, we get a dwelling that is not subject to aging and gradual deterioration of the appearance.

Features of natural and artificial stones

The stone at any time was considered to be relevant material. Its strength and decorative components are not in doubt. However, the problem of choosing between natural and artificial coating always appears. Many mistakenly believe that natural stone is the best option in all known parameters. Perhaps it was once a long time ago, but now everything has changed. The internal walls of the dwelling are better to facing with an artificial stone. In this case, we can rely not only on the high quality of the finish, but also on some other important features of such a coating. There are many factors that indicate that artificial stone is much better and more practical than natural:

1. The artificial stone crumbles less, and also has a low weight. Thanks to this, the material is easily attached to the surface.
2. He is practically not threatened by temperature differences. In this case, the appearance of cracks is almost impossible, which is very important when facing the fireplace.
3. The back surface of non -natural material has special processing, which allows it to easily be attached to any basis.
4. Thanks to the special technology for the production of artificial stone, it practically does not burn out in direct sunlight.
5. The unique thermal insulation properties of such a coating are also an order of magnitude higher than its closest competitor.
6. The choice of natural stone, unfortunately, is not too large. Artificial material is available in hundreds of options for colors and reliefs.
7. The smooth surface of the unnatural cladding allows you to easily care for it.
8. The standardization of the dimensions of artificial material makes it possible to make styling as easy as possible.

In addition to the above factors, artificial stone has high strength and durability. In addition to a huge number of positive aspects, this type of coating has a low cost. The price of the issue is especially serious when choosing a material for facing large areas.

Features of the use of decorative stone

It should be said that the use of stone creates a certain protection of space. If it is used with taste, the home will look just gorgeous.

To create a unique atmosphere of a house that everyone would definitely like, it is necessary to approach the decoration process as seriously as possible. Stone coverage of walls is a responsible process during which the employee must make many serious decisions. It is worth saying right away that lining the entire surface of the wall with a stone is a bad idea, because then the dwelling will be more like a cave than a modest apartment. Many experts advise decorating only in certain places. It can be door and window openings, areas above the surface of skirting boards, places for shoes, racks and other objects. You can also finish the viewed corners of the dwelling and the zone where furniture is located with a stone.

The most optimal option is a partial finish. In this case, we do not lose the feeling that we are in a small living room, and the stone gives the interior a certain solidity and feeling that we are in a kind of fortress.

Choosing stone for cladding

Fortunately, choosing excellent material for finishing is quite simple. The most important thing is that it is maximally combined with other design elements. If the room is small, experts advise buying a stone of small and medium sizes so that everything in the home looks harmonious. Often the hosts give preference to light cladding. In addition to a pleasant appearance, such material will also visually expand the space.

The choice of the surface structure of the stone is very important. The main thing is that the final composition looks as natural as possible. If you prefer the walls of the walls with a natural stone, you should seriously analyze what the appearance of the room will ultimately be. A variety of dimensions of such a coating create an ambiguous structure and relief, which can not be liked by everyone.

Preparation of the surface for cladding

Obviously, the tile is not immediately put on a “naked” wall. Before lining the walls with a stone with your own hands, you will need to apply several layers of other materials to create the base. Such a technology is similar to the one that is necessary for facing the surface with tiles. However, it is important to remember that in the case of a stone, some surface curvature is allowed. This will only positively affect the appearance of the composition.

The basis should be really high -quality, strong and reliable, because the stone has a large weight, which means it creates a serious load.

To prepare walls, they should be plastered. At the same time, experts advise using a reinforced net, which will only add strength. Often, drywall is also used when decorating the room, but there is no particular need for this.

For those who prefer a natural stone having a large weight, a metal grid should be used as a reinforcement of the wall. Artificial material, as already noted, weighs little, so only a layer of plaster is enough.

For reliable fixation of decorative stone, liquid nails, tile or silicone glue are often used. Any of these options is quite reliable. Also, relatively recently, a stone glue appeared on sale, which allows you to easily fix the material on the surface of the wall no less firmly.

In certain cases, a regular cement solution is used. For the optimal result, various plasticizers and PVA glue are added to it, which will significantly enhance the reliability of the mounting.

Often people prefer the classic composition for tiles. To cook it, it is enough to pour a little water into a bucket and gradually add a dry mixture. This solution needs to be thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous state.

Features of surface cladding

If you have at your disposal elements of various sizes and shapes, you need to make a sketch on which it would be shown how everything will look after facing. This will prevent the problems that appear due to the inconsistency of the dimensions of the material. It is also important to take into account the seams that occur when using artificial stone. Often their width can be up to 8 mm.

Wall cladding process:

1. To begin with, you will need to apply the solution to the wall surface with a spatula. Do not immediately cover the entire surface, because the wall cladding with a stone is a rather long process. When using artificial material, which greatly resembles the tile, masonry should be made in rows, starting from the lower. It is also advisable to use plastic crosses that will not allow you to make uneven cladding.
2. If during the walls of the walls under the stone it turned out that the sizes of some specific fragments are too large, you can apply a grinder and cut them into parts. However, it is important that such an action does not spoil the appearance of the composition.
3. Already after all the rows of the stone are laid, and the solution has dried (often it all takes about two days), you can remove all auxiliary elements. Special retaining devices and the above plastic crosses may include this. Next, excess solutions are cleaned.
4. Now we will need a grout to fill the seams. Due to the specifics of the material, here we rarely get perfectly even layers of grout, so it is best to use a wet rag or sponge for applying the composition.
5. If you use a natural stone to facing the surface, you will also need to apply special primers that protect the walls from the formation of moss and fungus.