One of the simplest methods of making your home more likeable, graceful, and enduring is stone veneer cladding. You are planning to renovate your outside or make your living room rustic: To combine an appearance and a long-term effect, it is important to select the proper stone veneer. The choice can be daunting with the many available varieties, styles and finishes, but it becomes far simpler to make the decision when it is broken down.
The type of stone veneer is the first thing that should be taken into account. Veneers of natural stones are sliced off the material of the actual stone, and each work is provided with its own seal, its specific color and monotony. They are very robust and will have an unparalleled timeless quality; however, they are heavier and tend to be more expensive. Artificial stone veneers, in their turn, are created by using concrete and pigmenting. They are much lighter, simple to install and in most cases they have a very wide range of colors and patterns that resembles natural stone very much. This is the only option that can lead the rest of your decision depending on your priorities because of authenticity and convenience or cost.
Then consider where you are to have the veneer. External walls require elements that can manage the weather and humidity, water, and sunlight. Picking the proper stone veneer cladding for exterior walls helps keep your home both attractive and secure though you can spend more money on style and appearance when using the interior walls. One such application is a lightweight machine-made stone veneer panel may be ideally suited to an interior accent panel, but a thicker piece of natural stone should be used on an exterior to a fireplace or a front. The process of matching the stone to the environment makes it not only appear great, but also enjoy a long life.
A color palette and uniformity of pattern is another important factor to take into consideration when working with stone veneer. Natural stone usually will have a range of color and feel within the same batch, and this can give a dynamical and organic appearance although it might need to be well planned to have a balance of appearance. Stone that is manufactured, however, might imply a greater uniformity and predictable patterns, which is just perfect when you desire smoothness and regularity of the outcome. Allowing some time between mixing and matching the samples or to view the final layout will remove the possibility of finding yourself caught unawares and have your walls blend with the rest of the design of your home perfectly.
It is also important to be durable to various environmental conditions. There are certain stones, which can survive the freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rain, or extreme sunlight without breaking or losing their own color. Knowing what exactly is special about the stone you are using, be it a natural one, or manmade one can help you to avoid having to make expensive repairs in the future. Some stones are also less mossy, mildew or stained, and this is of special concern on the outdoor application. The correctness of stone used will ensure that your walls are both impressive and strong even after a long time.
The style of your house also should be a factor in your choice. A rustic cabin is well matched with rough-cut natural stones or stacked stone veneers, and are equally well suited to the smooth, uniform manufactured stone panels, used in modern or minimalist houses. The designs that are Mediterranean and Tuscan are inclined towards warm colored stones which can add richness and depth to the space. Basically, you should not have a stone veneer which feels like an appendage of your home.
The other significant factor is maintenance. Different natural stones are porous and their maintenance is done by sealing periodically to avoid staining as compared to manufactured ones which are normally low maintenance and do not easily wear out or suffer any common damages. How much you are ready to dedicate to maintenance can also be taken into account to reduce your options.
Weight and installation logistics is the other issue that is forgotten but is very important. Natural stone is dense and has to be reinforced by the structures, whereas manufactured stone is less heavy and is easier to handle thus is more appropriate in DIY projects or walls that have no excess weight to support.
Naturally, aesthetics is a crucial point. Stone veneer are available in an infinite number of textures, colors, and designs and there would be no better time to look at the samples that would be displayed in your place than to spend time doing so. what you see in a showroom might not look as good in natural light or on your wall painting so have a look or two before you make your mind up.
Naturally, budget is a determining factor. Natural stone is said to be more costly because it involves material costs, installation costs and manufactured stone offers a cheaper alternative without much losses in terms of looks. Choose the discretion of cost, longevity and beauty that suit your house.
Conclusion
The selection of the proper stone veneer does not need to be a nightmare. With the use of type, location, style, maintenance, weight, aesthetics, and budgets, you should be assured of a material that increases the beauty of your home and also through which you have to live many more years. The right decision will see your walls saying something, not merely something, but something.