The implementation of some design solutions in the interior design of the house requires the installation of stone window sills. In this situation, the owner of the house is faced with a rather difficult problem: which window sill is better to choose - from natural or artificial stone. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of each material, since the installation of stone window sills is a very laborious task, and it will be very problematic to dismantle them without damaging the finish of the room.
Sills made of artificial stone
Artificial stone is a relatively inexpensive material that is very similar to natural stone in its properties. Window sills made of this material have become quite widespread due to their excellent durability, high strength and affordability, but before installing them in your home, you should get a more detailed understanding of all the properties of artificial stone.
Composition and production
An artificial stone stone window sill is made by casting and consists of three components:
- mineral filler;
- pigment acting as a dye;
- acrylic resin, which is the binder for the filler.
After the product has completely solidified, it is polished to give it a perfectly smooth shape and as close as possible to natural stone.
Advantages of acrylic window sills
Artificial stone products have an affordable cost and a rather impressive number of advantages, among which the most important are:
- high strength and durability;
- resistance to sunlight and negative environmental factors;
- light weight;
- excellent thermal conductivity - acrylic stone window sill heats up very quickly and retains heat for a very long time, therefore it acts as a passive source of heating in the room;
- due to the properties of the material, in case of mechanical damage to an artificial stone product, any defect is very easy to eliminate;
- unpretentiousness in care and operation.
An important advantage of artificial stone window sills is that the manufacturing technology and the use of pigments make it possible to create products of absolutely any shape and color. The only drawback that acrylic stone window sill has is that it does not tolerate very high temperatures, so it is not recommended to install it near heating equipment.
Window sillsnatural stone: general information
Natural stone is a material with excellent strength and durability. However, you have to pay a rather high price for high performance, so before you buy a stone window sill, which will be almost impossible to install with your own hands, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons, and also take into account their advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed later.
Natural stone window sills: pros and cons
Stone window sills can give any room a more noble and elegant look. In addition, the stone is not affected by any negative factors, so it is an eternal material that will last more than one generation. Nevertheless, they also have certain disadvantages, namely, a very large weight, as well as high sensitivity to mechanical damage.
All stone window sills that look great in photos are made of marble or travertine. Both materials are very brittle and can crack if dropped even from a small height. In addition, natural stone absorbs dirt very easily, so it is very difficult to care for it.
A few words about sizes
If you decide to install a window sill made of natural stone in your house, then you should immediately think about what size it should be, since the subsequent installation depends on it. When ordering a finished product, the dimensions of the window opening should beadd 4 cm - two on each side, which are necessary in order to be able to cut the window sill into the wall.
The optimal solution for most modern houses and apartments will be a stone window sill made of solid stone slabs of great length, which in some cases can reach 3.5 meters. It is not recommended to purchase a window sill connected from two parts, because in this case it loses all its attractive appearance and will spoil the aesthetics of the interior. As for the thickness, it can be from two to four centimeters. At the same time, do not forget that with an increase in the thickness of the product, its cost also increases in direct proportion.
Installing a natural stone window sill: general tips and tricks
Mounting a stone window sill is a rather troublesome, time-consuming task, and also requires certain knowledge and experience. In order not to spoil the appearance of the product, it is best to start its installation only after the interior decoration of the room has been completed. In addition, if you want to place heating radiators under the window sill, then it is better to install them before hanging the window sill.
If all the minor nuances are resolved, then you can proceed directly to the process of installing a window sill made of natural stone. This is done in a certain sequence:
- On the sides of the window, two recesses are made approximately 4 centimeters each. In this case, it is recommended to provide a small gap so that subsequentlyit was possible to level the window sill without any problems.
- If any defects are found after installation, they will need to be cleaned.
- If your house has very crooked walls and there is no way to align them, then in order for the stone window sill in the interior to look even, you must use a pre-prepared template.
- If it is necessary to cut the window sill to mount it, then it is best to do it at the factory, since cutting at home without a special saw will be impossible.
- Before you install a stone window sill, you should clean the landing site from dust and foreign objects, and degrease it. If during the installation process you find that the slab is crooked, then it must be leveled with cement mortar.
- All joints should be well foamed to prevent drafts.
- To fix stone window sills, a special construction adhesive is used, designed for marble, which is evenly applied in a thin layer, both on the window sill itself and on the window opening.
It is worth noting that if you do not have any construction experience, then when installing natural stone window sills, it is recommended to seek help from professionals so as not to damage anything.
Conclusion
Window sills made of natural and artificial stone allow you to implement any design projects and create a truly original interior that makes the room expensiveand nobility. However, no matter how expensive a stone product is, great attention should be paid to its installation, since not only aesthetics, but also the stability, reliability and durability of the window sill depend on it.
