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

Features of natural and artificial stones

The stone at any time was considered to be actual material. His strength and decorative components do not cause any doubts. However, the problem of choice between natural and artificial coating always appears. Many mistakenly believe that natural stone is the best option for all known parameters. Perhaps once it was possible, but now everything has changed. The inner walls of the dwelling are better facing with artificial stone. In this case, we can count not only on the high quality finishes, but also on some other important features of this coating. There are many factors that indicate that the artificial stone is much better and more practical than natural:

1. Artificial stone crumbs less, and also has a small weight. Due to this, the material is easily attached to the surface.
2. It 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 the unfulfilled material has a special processing that allows it to be easily attached to any basis.
4. Thanks to the special technology for the production of artificial stone, it practically does not fade with the direct sunlight.
5. The unique thermal insulation properties of such a coating are also an order of magnitude higher than its closest competitor.
6. Choosing a natural stone, unfortunately, not too big. Artificial material is available in hundreds of variants of colors and reliefs.
7. The smooth surface of the unnatural facing makes it easy for it to care for it.
8. Standardization of the dimensions of artificial material makes it possible to maximally make stacking.

In addition to the above factors, artificial stone has high strength and durability. In addition to the huge number of positive parties, this type of coating has a small cost. Particularly seriously, the price of the question is when choosing a material for the facing of large areas.

Features of the use of decorative stone

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

To create a unique atmosphere at home, which would definitely liked everything, it is necessary to approach the finish process as serious as possible. The wall covering is a responsible process, during which the employee must take many serious solutions. Immediately it is worth saying that to bind the entire surface of the wall with a stone - a bad idea, because then the dwelling will be more like a cave than a modest apartment. Many experts advise decoration only in certain places. It can be door and window openings, areas above the surface of the plinths, places for shoes, racks and other objects. You can also be separated by stone viewed corners of the dwelling and zone where furniture is located.

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

Selection of stone facing

Fortunately, choose an excellent finish material is quite simple. The most important thing is that it is most combined with other design elements. If the room is small, experts are advised to buy a stone of small and medium sizes so that everything in the housing is harmonious. Often, the owners prefer bright facing. In addition to a pleasant appearance, such a material also visually expands the space.

The choice of the structure of the stone surface is very important. The main thing is that the ultimate composition looks as natural as possible. If you prefer facing the walls of natural stone, it is necessary to seriously analyze how the appearance of the premises will ultimately be. A variety of dimensions of such a coating create an ambiguous structure and relief that not everyone may like.

Preparation of the surface to facing

Obviously, the tile is immediately not put on the "naked" wall. Before you, with your own hands, fower the walls with a stone, you will need to apply several layers of other materials to create a basis. Such a technology is similar to that which is necessary for facing the surface with tiles. However, it is important to remember that in the case of a stone, a certain curvature of the surface is allowed. This will only have a positive effect on the appearance of the composition.

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

To prepare the walls, their plastering should be made. At the same time, experts advise the use of a reinforced grid, which will only add strength. Often, when finishing the room, plasterboard also use, but there is no particular need for this.

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

For reliable fixation of the decorative stone, liquid nails, tiled or silicone glue are used. Any of these options are quite reliable. Also relatively recently, there is adhesive for a stone, which allows you to no longer firmly fix the material on the wall surface.

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

Often, people prefer classic composition for tiles. To cook it, it is enough to fill in a bucket of a little water and gradually add a dry mixture. This solution is required to thoroughly mix to a homogeneous state.

Features Facing Surface Stone

If you have at your disposal elements of various sizes and shapes, you need to make a sketch on which it would be depicted how everything will look after cladding. This will allow preventing problems in advance that appear due to the inconsistency of the size of the material. It is also important to take into account the seams arising from the use of artificial stone. Often their width can be up to 8 mm.

The process of wall cladding:

1. To begin with, you will need to apply a solution on the wall surface with a spatula. Do not immediately cover the entire surface, because the wall facing is a stone - a rather long process. When using an artificial material, which strongly resembles a tile, a masonry should be made along the ranks starting from the bottom. It is also desirable to apply plastic crosses that will not allow to make uneven cladding.
2. If during the facing of the walls under the stone it turned out that the dimensions of some particular 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 rows of stone are laid, and the solution is dry (often everything leaves about two days), you can remove all auxiliary elements. Special retaining devices and the above plastic crosses can relate here. Next, excessive solutions are cleaned.
4. Now we will need putting up to fill the seams. Due to the specifics of the material, here we rarely get perfectly smooth layers of grouts, so it is best to apply a wet cloth or a sponge for applying the composition.
5. If you apply a natural stone for facing the surface, you will also need to apply special primers that protect the walls from the formation of moss and fungus.