The most popular solution for facade decoration today is stone. It can be natural or artificial. However, in order to make a choice, you first need to familiarize yourself with the main varieties of this finish, as well as study its characteristics.
Main varieties of natural plinth stone
Natural plinth stone is presented to the attention of consumers in several varieties, among which it should be noted:
- granite;
- shell rock;
- sandstone;
- wild stone.
The latter are slate and quartzite. The most popular today is granite. It has an original external design, and the sizes of the stone are very diverse. It can be in the form of tiles, the thickness of which starts from 1 cm.
The next most popular is sandstone. It differs from granite in less strength, and its color scheme is expressed in sandy colors. The sizes of sandstone can be very different, these are stones and tiles. Shell rock is a stone that is quite often used inplinth lining. It is more reliable and stronger than sandstone, and it can be purchased in the form of thick slabs. Sometimes manufacturers offer solid blocks for sale. The shade of this stone is close to yellow. The structure consists of pores, so leaving such a base unfinished for a long time is not recommended.
Shell rock is a stone that must be covered with a protective layer after laying. For this, a simple varnish or primer is usually used. To carry out the described work, you can also use a wild stone. It is sold in the form of plates of different thicknesses and sizes. The most common are quartzite and slate, which have a fairly dense structure, due to which the material exhibits low susceptibility to climatic and weather conditions.
Such a basement natural stone is quite diverse in color, you can find light and dark shades, and veins are visible on the surface. Quite often, marble slabs are used for decoration. But in some regions, they may be subject to deformation, so the external design in this case will be damaged.
Characteristics of natural agglomerate
Facing the plinth with natural stone has one important advantage, which is expressed in naturalness and environmental friendliness. Such materials will not harm human he alth and the environment. Natural stone is reliable and durable. On the surface, it can withstand almost any load. This is provided by a dense structure.
Of the main advantages of the stone, it should be noted the absencefire hazard and long service life. The only drawback is the high cost compared to other types of finishing materials. If you will be using natural stone to finish the plinth, then you can clean it with a rag and plain water. Cleaning chemicals are not recommended for this, as they can damage the surface and start the process of destruction of the structure.
Description of granite
Natural granite stone is also quite often used in plinth finishing. If we compare it with marble, then the strength in the first case will be 2 times higher. The presence of quartz provides hardness. The stone is ground and cut with a diamond.
Over time, granite products do not lose their performance and appearance, this is true even when the stone is used in conditions of temperature differences. Such a finish is able to withstand severe frosts, as well as heat up to +50 ° C, which acts as a rather important factor when it comes to using the material in the Russian climate.
Why else choose granite
Granite stone has excellent performance. It looks impeccable and retains its original strength throughout the entire period of use. It is less than marble, subject to fungal infections. Fire safety is another plus. melt materialstarts only at +700 °C.
The strength of the material depends on the level of moisture absorption. According to this indicator, granite is far ahead of the rest. Granite perfectly undergoes the effects of the external environment, various acids and precipitation. Freeze and thaw cycles do not affect its performance in any way. Their number can reach several hundred times.
Granite Stone Specifications
If you decide to use granite as a material for finishing the plinth, then you should familiarize yourself with its main technical characteristics, among them you should definitely highlight the density. It is 3.17g/cm3. As for the compressive strength, this parameter is 550 kg/cm2. The bulk density is equivalent to 2.7g/cm3. But moisture absorption is 0.2%. You may also be interested in frost resistance - it is 25. Abrasion is 1.4 g/cm2.
Varieties of artificial stone: cement-based material
The most common type of artificial stone is a cement-based material. For production, silicone, rubber or plastic molds are used, into which a solution made of sand, cement, plasticizers and dyes is poured. Sometimes other ingredients are added to the ingredients that can improve the properties of products. Depending on which form and dye is used, the outerthe type of stone and its texture can imitate natural materials.
Polymer sand artificial stone
If you want to buy a plinth, you should pay attention to the composite finishing material, it is made from sand, plasticizers and polymers. In the end, it is possible to get tiles that are interconnected by a lock. On the surface of the base, the fixing of products is carried out using self-tapping screws and a frame. This material is durable and lightweight, and its installation can be combined with insulation.
Flexible stone and clinker tiles
The plinth stone can be in the form of a flexible artificial material. It is a multilayer composite, which can be in the form of solid canvases or individual tiles. With the help of glue, a thin section of rock is applied to the fabric base. From the inside there is another layer - adhesive, which is necessary to fix the tiles or canvas on the surface.
In order to protect such products from premature drying, the material is covered with paper. If we compare flexible artificial stone with other varieties of similar materials, then the first ones have the smallest mass, but they are universal and have excellent resistance to temperature changes.
The basement stone is also made in the form of clinker tiles. According to the method of manufacture and appearance, it resembles a cement-based stone. However, clay is used in the production of clinker products. In its class, the described tile has the most outstanding performancecharacteristics, as well as high cost.
Conclusion
If you still decide not to save on home decoration and choose natural stone, you should know that it is also classified according to the type of surface. It can be chipped, ground, polished or rough. A chipped surface will look more natural, but with some roughness there will be a polished base. If you want to make the plinth shiny, then you should choose a polished natural stone.
