Marble and granite
If you think natural stone is suitable material for external and internal decor, a selection of photo finishes with granite and marble will come in handy sooner or later. There is no need to exactly repeat the proposed design, but it will not hurt to draw on an idea or a bit of inspiration for your own creativity.
For those who have not yet decided whether to stone the building or use stone inserts in the interior, here are the pros and cons. They will help make a decision.
Let's start with the advantages of marble and granite elements in the decoration:
- environmentally friendly and safe;
- natural stone is strong and durable, withstands significant mechanical stress;
- resistant to temperature extremes;
- universal - suitable for decor of floors, stairs, part of walls, columns, fireplaces inside and outside surfaces of the building;
- adds luxury to even plain interior;
- does not differ moodiness in leaving and cleaning;
- durable.
The disadvantages of natural stone are the high price of the material and the impossibility of self-assembly without special knowledge and skills. Since the laying of stone slabs and elements is best trusted by professionals, the estimate is further increased.
Marble finish
Another disadvantage of stone finish mainly affects the exterior work. Slabs made of natural stone are heavy, so the foundation is checked for strength and reliability. If necessary, reinforce the base or supporting structures in order to protect the structure before facing with natural stone. In different areas, certain types of marble are used. For example, for steps they take marble with a special anti-slip coating, while for the facade and basement this is useless.
Photos of the marble interior create a sense of luxury interior, carefully selected stone blotches transform the look of the room. But what is down below, under the plates, not everyone knows. This determines the chosen method of mounting marble slabs or elements.
- On a surface aligned with a screed, the plates are put on special glue. This method is cheaper, but requires preparation.
- Dry-attached marble is more expensive. For this, a structure for fixing is constructed. But the surface does not have to be leveled. In addition, the design is stronger.
- The latter option combines the two previous ones. In this case, there is an installation system and concrete pouring, for example, for thermal insulation.
Look at the photos of the marble decoration in the rooms to decide which room should be decorated with stone inserts. Or maybe marble has a place in each of them.
Granite finish photo
Granite is harder than marble. But such a property of the structure of this stone as porosity creates the danger of a gradual change in shade. This contributes to the absorption of dirt and chemicals that fall to the surface.
To prevent deterioration of the appearance and operational properties of granite is treated with special compounds. Impregnation increases the resistance of the stone to ultraviolet radiation, temperature changes and the effects of reagents.
Such reinsurance pays off in the bathrooms and kitchens, as well as the external decor. The kitchen and bathroom were included in this list due to the increased humidity of the rooms, specific pollution and aggressive cleaning agents used in them.
The photo shows that the cladding with granite from the outside, for example, is often done only on the base, and the surface of the walls does not cover. At the level of the basement of pollution, and in bad weather and excess moisture, more than from above. Although granite is rarely used in vain for cladding the remaining surface of the wall, it is a reliable sound and heat insulator.Most likely, such a project is uncompetitive due to the final price.
Conclusion
Many are so fascinated by the marble and granite finishes presented in the photo that practical issues are fading into the background. But this strategy is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Therefore, choosing a design, we return to the operational characteristics of the building and the estimate of the finishing work.
Before proceeding with facing with granite or marble, as in the photo in the article, we find out whether the foundation of the building and supporting structures can withstand the weight of the stone. The calculation of installation costs will help adding up the cost of decorative material, auxiliary mounting elements and mixtures, as well as hiring a proven specialist in working with natural stone. It’s cheaper to hire a professional whose services are more expensive, but on a level. Marble is easy to spoil, and buying additional slabs instead of spoiled ones will be more expensive.
