Stone decorating the façade of a building is a solution that is very popular. No wonder: this way of finishing is aesthetically pleasing and durable, and at the same time does not require maintenance work for many years. However, many questions arise about the thermal insulation of the house. Can façade stone be laid on polystyrene? What should you pay attention to when deciding on such an option?
What is façade stone?
Facade stone is a finishing material with a very wide range of applications. By using it, you will create not only eye-catching facades, but also other details on the property. It owes its uniqueness to its unquestionable decorative qualities and practical advantages. Facade stone on polystyrene has favorable thermal properties, is durable and easy to clean.
Façade stone is made of fragments of natural stone of various shapes, sizes and textures joined together – most often with polyurethane resin. Thanks to this, each composition has a unique character, and the coating itself has many advantages. While other exterior walls lose their attractive appearance over time, natural stone remains the same. It is a great choice for those who are looking for solutions that will last for years.
An additional advantage of façade stones is the possibility of freely combining them with other finishing methods, especially plastering, the use of wood-like panels or natural wood.
Facade stone – application and strength
Why is it worth choosing stone for facades? We have already mentioned some of the advantages above. Above all, durability, solidity, and favorable thermal parameters should be emphasized. A huge range of colors and textures makes this material eagerly used in other roles as well.
Stone panels can be used to cover entire walls or only their fragments, using both external façade stone and interior finishing stone. A common solution is stone surfaces in kitchens or around the fireplace. It looks beautiful on foundations, fences and plinths, emphasizing the elegant appearance of the property. It is eagerly used on patios, terraces, as a decorative element of a barbecue, pizza oven, cascade.
Its key benefits include:
- easy installation,
- resistance to adverse weather conditions,
- resistance to mechanical damage,
- wide range of colors,
- versatility of use,
- favorable thermal parameters and protection of walls against moisture,
- easy to keep the surface clean.
Properly selected natural façade stone will always be an elegant decoration of the property. You can choose from many designs, often as unusual as wood-like façade stone or elements with an original color.
At what stage of construction should façade stone be laid?
Laying natural stone on the façade is part of the finishing work, which is why it is always carried out at the last stage of building the house. However, it is important not to postpone the task. Facades with decorative stone have a number of functions, including those related to insulation and ventilation, i.e. the subsequent effective operation of the building.
However, if you want to postpone finishing the façade with stone for later, even for economic reasons, make sure that the reinforcing layer is carefully applied. Then the house can wait for further processes for up to several years.
Can façade stone be laid on polystyrene?
According to the information from experts we provided above, the installation of façade stone on polystyrene is possible, but you need to remember about appropriate preparatory activities. First, get a detailed design of the façade, taking into account the arrangement of the panels. This will ensure that the whole thing will be tailored and aesthetically pleasing.
Also make sure to make a reinforcing layer embedded in the adhesive mass. It is on her that the stone will go. On the substrate prepared in this way, slabs up to 2 cm thick can be laid. Thicker and heavier ones will need a special scaffolding that will support the weight of the elements without the risk of damaging the polystyrene. Direct installation is only possible if the wall is made of high-strength materials.
How to choose the right façade stone for polystyrene?
Facade stone for polystyrene is available in many variants, prepared from various raw materials. Therefore, you can choose from elements in a wide range of colours, heavy or light façade stone, with various textures and strength parameters. An interesting alternative is also the imitation of polystyrene stone for exterior or interior use.
The following are very popular:
- Facade granite
Hard, resistant to frost, moisture and abrasion. Not susceptible to stains. Granite is available in about 2000 color versions, and due to its cleavage structure, it is easy to give it any shape. You can also choose from various types of surfaces, including raw, polished, sanded or rusticated.
- Facade limestone
Soft, porous, easy to process. Harder and more dense varieties are used for facades, which also have a more intense colour than the light greys, beiges and whites characteristic of natural limestone. Due to its lower strength, this type of stone is usually used in places less exposed to the adverse effects of weather conditions, in the form of unpolished slabs or split elements.
- Façade travertine
It is a stone similar to limestone, but with a more compact structure. It is available in a fairly wide range of colors: from white and beige, through yellows, to reds and browns. It is distinguished by a porous structure that requires impregnation.
- Facade slate
Slates are durable and frost-resistant stones with a characteristic, slightly metallic and uneven texture. They come in a wide range of colors: from white to black, often with an admixture of other rocks. Tiles or slate panels are used on the facades.
- Facade sandstone
Hard, smooth and easy to process. It is perfect for sanding, but when used on facades, it requires proper impregnation. It is available in bright colours: cream, light beige, grey and yellow, in the form of stripes or façade panels.
- Facade dolomite
Dolomites are distinguished by a homogeneous, fine-grained and dense structure. They are quite easy to process and frost-resistant, but at the same time softer and less resistant to compression than, for example, granite. They are most often found in cream and gray colors, as well as yellow and orange. They are available as cladding boards, both regular and irregular shaped.
Façade stone requires an appropriate wall structure. If you have any doubts, you can opt for façade stone imitation on polystyrene. These types of products are lighter and cheaper.
In which houses will façade stone on polystyrene work?
A façade finished with stone will perfectly fit into various architectural styles: from traditional to modern shapes.
This solution is particularly popular in rustic, Scandinavian and highlander houses. Stone goes well with wood and light surfaces, which is characteristic of these trends. On the other hand, an interesting effect is given by the combination of a stone wall with glazing and metal. That is why it is worth opting for such a treatment in modern and industrial homes.
The final visual impression is strongly influenced by the proportions of individual materials. In many projects, you can see the abandonment of stone cladding to the entire façade. Often, this material is only a fragmentary way of finishing, which adds lightness to the building.
Also Read: The Growing Impact of Modular Construction on the Construction Industry
