natural stone/Buy the best price natural stone
Which stone do you prefer natural or manmade? These practical materials are very useful in everyday life for all of us.
natural stone resources
Designing of the walls in the interior spaces
Although fashions come and go seasonally, one thing that never goes out of style is Mother Nature’s ability to create one-of-a-kind patterns in natural stone that are both historically forward-thinking and always fashionable.
Because of this, the natural stone continues to be a classic and adaptable material choice for a wide variety of interior applications, including flooring and countertops.
The variety of natural stones that is available is not only beautiful but also long-lasting and adaptable; as a result, interior design can take on virtually any form.
The qualities and characteristics of natural materials are frequently imitated or replicated in manufactured materials.
In order to select the material that is best suited for the application at hand, it is essential to have an understanding of how natural stone compares to some of the manmade materials that are also used for the same purposes.
In addition to this, it is essential to have a solid understanding of how the material that will be used for an interior design project will fare in a myriad of different contexts, conditions, and applications. At the same time, being aware of the way in which the material interacts with the surrounding ecosystem will allow you to select the most environmentally friendly component for the application.
It is important to perform
The optimal performance of a material is determined by a combination of factors, including the characteristics of the material itself, the manner in which the material is installed, and the conditions to which it is subjected.
When it comes to interior applications, there are many different factors to take into consideration:
What happens to the substance when it is subjected to heat and other conditions that raise the temperature? If the material is heated too quickly or unevenly, it can cause some materials to scorch, while other materials may crack.
Is the material able to withstand contact with chemicals without suffering any discernible performance or aesthetic deterioration? Etching is a potential result of prolonged contact with acids or alkalis, both of which are frequently found in kitchens.
What kind of resistance does the material have to stains? It is essential that the material is not easily discolored and that any discoloration that does occur is simple to remove.
Materials that have lower rates of absorption are typically more resistant to staining. Sealing more porous materials can reduce the amount of liquid that they take in, which in turn makes them more stain-resistant and improves their overall performance.
Is the material safe to use in wet conditions? The necessary amount of traction for a walking surface to ensure the users' continued safety is referred to as the surface's slip resistance.
natural stone tiles
The slip resistance of the material can be affected by a number of factors, including its texture, porosity, surface treatments, and environmental factors such as water, dust, and a buildup of residue from cleaning products.
The slip resistance of a material is affected not only by its texture and porosity but also by any surface treatments that are applied to it and the environmental factors that it is subjected to.
It does not matter what kind of project you are working on or what kind of material you are contemplating using; you should always talk about performance attributes.
These elements have an even more vital role in sustainability and in the performance of the material over the long term. Let's take a look at how natural stone stacks up against certain man-made materials in terms of these performance goals and compare it to natural stone.
Natural stone is more often used for interior applications than man-made materials.
Countertops
The use of natural stone as a countertop material opens up a wide variety of design choices. When it comes to these important components in a kitchen or bathroom, there are a wide variety of materials from which to choose, including granite, quartzite, marble, and soapstone.
Every single block of natural stone has its own unique history that can be traced back to the earth itself. These stones are adaptable in the sense that they may be cut and finished into a variety of shapes and patterns and given a number of different finishes, all of which contribute to the creation of a unified aesthetic.
Natural stone often offers a greater variety of choices, both in terms of edging and surface textures, than surfaces that have been manufactured.
The majority of stone is generated in nature through the application of tremendous heat and pressure; hence, natural stone is naturally resistant to heat.
Granite and quartzite are two examples of stones that are extremely scratch resistant and durable. Marble is highly valued due to the exquisite veining that it often possesses, despite the fact that it can be easily etched. Even though it's easy to scratch, soapstone is also simple to repair if it gets damaged.
The porosity of some stones makes it possible for the material to get discolored over time.
The majority of applications could benefit from using sealers.
Natural stone may have an initial cost that is more than that of man-made materials in some circumstances; nevertheless, due to its longevity, natural stone is frequently the option that is the most cost-effective.
This is especially true when one considers the fact that natural stone may be polished, mended, restored, or repurposed.
Stone also contains a low amount of energy that is "embodied," which is an essential factor to take into account when thinking about sustainability needs.
This is due to the fact that the earth itself formed natural stone, and relatively little additional energy or resources are required for its quarrying, fabrication, and finishing processes.
There are a variety of options available for interior countertops, some of which are cultured marble, engineered quartz, porcelain, sintered surface, acrylic/solid surface, and solid acrylic.
natural stone ledger
Sealing is typically not necessary for these types of materials. Within a given dye lot, the patterns and colors of manmade materials tend to remain consistent from one instance to the next. Acrylic and solid surfaces are repairable, although the costs associated with doing so are typically high.
Stone outlives almost all of these other materials by a significant margin. The cost of purchasing porcelain and the cost of fabricating porcelain products are both higher than those associated with natural stone. Because the patterns are not full-bodied, it is also challenging to make repairs. Because these materials are often produced in smaller forms, the number of possible edge configurations is likewise reduced.
As a direct consequence of this, the edges do not possess the same texture and pattern as the surface.
When engineered quartz is subjected to uv light, the synthetic components that make up the material can degrade.
The materials acrylic, manufactured quartz, and cultured marble are not resistant to heat or ultraviolet light.
Problems with installation or providing customer service could be brought on by variations in the batches of manufacturing materials.
The majority of these materials also have a high embodied energy, which is due to the fact that in order to make them, a wide variety of additional materials and procedures that are very energy intensive are required.
Flooring
Granite, travertine, limestone, marble, and slate are some examples of natural stones that make excellent flooring materials.
Using natural stone in this way allows you to take advantage of its incredibly long-lasting properties, which is one of the most important performance features.
There is a wide variety of design alternatives available, with more surface textures, edge treatments, and colors than the majority of man-made materials.
The majority of surfaces are non-slip, and the majority of natural stones are also resistant to uv rays.
Additionally, natural stone is available in a range of thicknesses, and it is simple to maintain after it has been adequately sealed. They will also keep their color and patina beautifully over time if they are cared for properly and let to age.
There are circumstances in which the cost of natural stone will be lower than that of porcelain or concrete imitations.
There are a few other things that should be taken into consideration. To improve the surface's slide resistance, a topical treatment could be necessary for polished finishes.
natural stone travertine
When acidic substances come into contact with marble, limestone, or travertine, the stone may become pitted. Stones that have higher rates of absorption will need to have a seal applied to them.
Natural stone is an excellent choice for achieving sustainability objectives because it has a minimal amount of energy already embedded within it. Because it has such a long life cycle, natural stone is an extremely cost-effective option.
This was discussed earlier.
The most widely used synthetic materials for flooring include porcelain, ceramic, concrete, terrazzo, and plastic-based materials such as laminate and vinyl. Other popular synthetic flooring options include terrazzo.
The longevity of ceramic and porcelain is one of the many benefits that may be gained from employing these materials.
Additionally, vinyl, ceramic, and porcelain are low-maintenance materials to use. Because there are ratings for individual applications' usage, it is now much simpler to choose the best alternative for the application that you are contemplating using it for.
Terrazzo is a creative material because the production process allows for a variety of different customization options.
In general, laminates are more affordable than other popular flooring materials such as ceramic and porcelain, which also come with a higher price tag.
Using these materials comes with a variety of drawbacks that should be considered. Because porcelain is such a dense and brittle material, specialist tools are required in order to successfully cut it.
Because of its high density, porcelain frequently necessitates the utilization of subfloors and supports that are robust enough to resist the additional weight. These concerns may also result in an increase in the total cost of the installation.
The majority of man-made materials can only be produced in thinner forms, and their edges do not have the same pattern or texture as the surface of the material.
They normally cannot be refinished, and their patterns and fitting options are very restricted. Ceramic and porcelain are prone to chipping, whilst laminates and vinyl are easily scuffed and damaged. Laminate and vinyl both require adhesives that let off the gas, and laminates are not resistant to moisture.
Laminates are also expensive. There will be variations in color from one batch or a lot of the materials to the next.
Many of the materials that are derived from petroleum contain chemicals that are harmful, including some of the substances that are on the red list.
natural stone traders
These goods also have a high embodied energy, which has a negative effect on the surrounding environment and contributes to its degradation.
Stone of natural origin and environmental responsibility
Natural stone has been shown to have a significant amount of endurance in a variety of local and regional applications and settings. These have, in many instances, persisted for hundreds of years, and in some cases even millennia.
The majority of man-made materials have not been around for a sufficient amount of time to establish that degree of performance.
Natural stone has been shown to be an excellent alternative for not only achieving longevity but also green building goals thanks to its properties of resilience and longevity.
The extended life expectancy of the product and the low maintenance requirements more than makeup for the initial material and installation costs. Natural stone can also be polished, repaired, restored, or recycled, as was previously indicated.
The amount of cleaning or the use of chemicals that is required to maintain the material is minimal at best.
Natural stone is 100% natural stone. The production of engineered quartz, concrete, and porcelain requires the use of a wide variety of ingredients, some of which are chemicals; however, many of these components are not recyclable.
If you choose natural stone, you will be adding to the long tradition of remarkable, high-performing, and environmentally friendly projects that have been built around the world.
If you have any questions you can ask our expert.
How useful is this article to you?
Average Score
5
/
Number of votes:
1
