There is something very special about a stone finish particularly when it is used inside a house to create character. But it isn’t always possible to build interior walls from natural stone for various reasons including the availability of materials and skilled craftsmen, as well as cost.
But there are other options including stone veneer and wallpaper with a stone design, both of which can look beautifully convincing.
Natural Stone
If you decide to build with natural stone you will need to include details of what you plant to do in your house plans. Even if you opt to include a stone wall in a completed house, chances are your local authority will require plans. Because of the nature of the materials, you will also need to include a solid concrete foundation and show how this will be incorporated.
It will probably look great, but it’s going to be hard work. So let’s looks at the other options.
Stone-Design Wallpaper
Designed using various photographic processes, wallpaper that looks like stonework is a breeze to hang and it will give you an instant result visually. But, while good quality wallpaper – especially the vinyl types – are relatively hardwearing and easy-to-clean, it won’t give you a tactile experience, and if you do touch it you might experience disappointment.
So, when weighing up the option of wallpaper you need to decide whether it will be enough to just be a realistic backdrop that will be visually pleasing.
Stone Veneer
There are several different types of stone veneer, all of which are considerably lighter and easier to lay than real stone.
The earliest stone veneer was made from cast concrete, using finely crushed stone or gravel as the coarse aggregate. Natural stone was used to make the molds, and so a huge variety of types is available, all true-to-life.
Relatively recently, Native Custom Stone produced an incredibly lightweight, realistic, and durable stone veneer for the DIY market that utilizes rubber tires for the basic material. Not only is the product environmentally friendly, reducing the rubber that goes into landfill, but it also looks incredibly realistic and is both easy to install and maintain with minimal effort.
Native Custom Stone specializes in stone veneer and offers a number of options suitable for use inside your home. Contact us for more detailed information.
