Nothing provides a sense of sturdiness and heritage in a home like stone, which is frequently found in the shape of fireplace surrounds and walls. At the same time, few house parts are as costly and difficult to manufacture as natural stone. As a result, many homeowners are looking for alternatives, such as faux stone panels and polyurethane balustrade system for their homes. Faux stone panels may be used to replace both natural stone and manufactured veneer stone.
What are faux stone panels?
Faux stone panels differ substantially from actual stone and even produced veneer stone. Lightweight foam is used to create these panels. Faux stone panels, while simple to cut and put, are not impact-resistant. Natural stone and manufactured stone are heavier, mineral-based items that last longer. A collection of faux stone panels designed to give your home a stone effect. These panels are easy to install and make a great addition to any interior design. Tiny, thin, thin panels that are easily hung on walls. They come in many colors and shapes, and you can choose your pattern, size, and how you want to mount them. They’re easy to install and durable.
The major advantage of faux stone panels is that they are simple to install, requiring no mortar or grout. Glue is used to apply the faux stone. The disadvantage of imitation stone is that it is temporary, especially in high-traffic areas.
Things To Know Before Buying A Fox Stone Panels
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Natural Stone
Natural stone is the real deal: it is made entirely of stone dug from the soil. Few homeowners have the masonry skills required to work with stone, and even prior experience with ceramic tile is insufficient.
Furthermore, the actual stone is incredibly heavy, with limestone weighing more than 170 pounds per cubic foot. Interior stonework frequently necessitates additional bracing beneath.
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Manufactured Veneer Stone
Manufactured stone, such as Cultured Stone, El Dorado, and Coronado Stone, has a similar feel to natural stone. The heft and feel of produced stone are provided by cement and aggregates, while the appearance is provided by iron oxides and other colors.
Manufactured stone is typically sold in individual stones that fit together with mortar, though panels are occasionally available. While not as hefty as natural stone, artificial stone is approximately 30% lighter. Finally, thickness is a vital consideration when putting any veneer, with thinner being better. Manufactured stone can be many inches thick or as thin as 3/4 inch.
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Faux Stone Veneer Panels
Outdoor faux stone panels are constructed of low-density foam with an impact-resistant plastic layer on top. Minerals are never present in faux stone.
Faux stone veneer panels are frequently as large as 2-foot by 4-foot and in rare cases as large as 4-foot by 8 feet. Large format panels expedite installation.
These panels are only a few pounds each because they are constructed entirely of foam. In contrast to the multiple inches of thickness of the manufactured stone, imitation stone panels are always thin, sometimes as thin as 3/4-inch.
Most panels are applied with construction glue, making installation simple. Some imitation veneer panels can be utilized on the outside.
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Faux Stone Panel Pros and Cons
Pros
- Large format panels then produced veneer stone.
- Simple to cut with a standard handsaw
- From a distance, it resembles artificial veneer stone.
- Lightweight
- Does not decay
- Simple assembly with construction glue
Cons
- Inadequate durability, particularly against impact
- Not all fireplace panels can be placed.
- On closer inspection, it does not resemble stone.
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Faux Stone Panel Appearance
One of the best things about faux stone veneer panels is that they can often pass for actual stone from a distance. At the very least, the simulated stone appears to be no less natural than manufactured veneer stone.
Cheap faux veneer panels might look very phony at times. As a result, it is prudent to take advantage of any free sample offers made by manufacturers and retailers. You’ll know straight away if this product is a good fit for your home.
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Faux Stone Panel Durability
Because faux stone veneer isn’t an actual stone or even artificial stone, durability is crucial. Because the exterior plastic shell of faux stone veneer is too thin to absorb impact, manufacturers rarely claim that their product will withstand severe abuse.
Abuse, such as swinging a chair in the wrong direction, will cut through the outer shell and scrape into the foam core. If you have rowdy youngsters and the imitation stone veneer is prominently displayed, this product may not be suitable for you.
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Faux Stone Panel Fire Rating
Because the product is made of foam, certain faux stone veneer panels are fire-rated, which may surprise some customers. However, because not all faux stone is fire-rated, you must explicitly look for a fire-rated product.
Texture Plus, for example, touts their fire-rated panels as adhering to ASTM E84 Class-A, which indicates they can withstand a controlled surface flame dispersed uniformly across their area and a smoke density test for more than five minutes. Even Texture Plus’ non-fire-certified panels are rated up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, which is significantly hotter than what you’d anticipate in a fireplace. Nonetheless, the business recommends using fire-rated panels on fireplaces.
Why is a faux stone so expensive?
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Stone is natural or artificial
Nowadays, energy efficiency and electricity savings are highly valued. Air conditioning is one of the most expensive aspects of power. Installing stone cladding is one way to save money and make your home more energy efficient. Here are some of the benefits.
The external walls are the second largest point of heat loss in a property, after the roof. As a result, insulating the exterior of our facade with faux stone cladding is an excellent answer to this issue.
If we can insulate the facade with this coating, the temperature inside the building will be more constant, and we won’t have to spend as much energy on air conditioning, resulting in lower electricity and gas bills.
Furthermore, it is a material that may be utilized for more than only facades. It is currently utilized in columns, wall coverings, and walls… As a result, if we want to insulate specific rooms, we can use this type of stone in the walls of that area of the house to provide more insulation.
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How resistant is the stone?
Resistance: The stone must be robust and long-lasting in order to withstand the eroding action of time. In practice, the resistance to compression of the building stones oscillates between 60 and 200 N/m2. Weight is a measure of porosity and density.
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What is the price of a square meter of wall stone?
This stone typically costs between 150 and 250 pesos per m2. Although it is possible to find stores that sell smaller quantities. It is best to check for different providers and request quotes in order to choose the one that best meets your needs.
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What does the stone offer us?
Aesthetic diversity. Natural stone comes in a wide range of textures and hues, making it suitable for any atmosphere or place. It also has a sense of exclusivity because no two stones are the same. Each stone is distinct and timeless, lending a noble and distinct appearance to projects.
Conclusion
If you want to use the faux stone to improve the curb appeal of your current home, read more about frequent difficulties with flashing, water retention, and joint sealants around windows, doors, and vents so you can discuss them with your contractor.