Do-it-yourself installation of flexible stone and thermal panels

Types of natural stone for finishing and their advantages

Natural stone is quite capricious to work with, but at the same time this material has a unique texture and color, is durable and stable, environmentally friendly and especially luxurious.

It is difficult to imagine many interiors without such a stylistic solution.

There are several types of natural stone popular for interior decoration:

• marble is distinguished by its variety of colors, durability and high price;
• granite is easy to maintain and resistant to mechanical damage;
• travertine is resistant to moisture and is popular for decorating bathrooms;
• limestone is available in a wide variety of colors, is easy to work, quite inexpensive, but also very fragile;
• shell rock is characterized by the presence of a porous structure, is fragile, and requires additional coating with special materials;
• tuff has high thermal insulation properties, is easy to saw, and is not resistant to moisture.

To make the interior of a room with stone harmonious, it must be diluted with softer materials. This could be decorative plaster, wallpaper, painted walls, etc.

A large number of rough surfaces in a room can create an undesirable effect and make the atmosphere cold and uncomfortable.

Rules for using stone in interior decoration

Stone decoration should have good lighting. It is advisable that the room has a lot of sunlight. You can also install artificial lighting. Insufficient light will make the room gloomy and gloomy.

The stone harmonizes well with plants. Therefore, it is worth placing indoor flowers near the stone covering. You can plant climbing plants along the walls decorated with stone.

Stone design goes well with metal and glass. Therefore, glass and metal interior items and furniture will look beautiful in rooms with this decor.

Stone also goes well with wood. Therefore, wooden furniture in a room with this decor will look perfect.

It is necessary to remember that stone decoration visually interferes with the space of the room, so this option is not advisable for small rooms. It is better to use this design for large spacious rooms. In small narrow rooms, only small individual fragments of walls and ceilings can be decorated with stone.

How to use in the interior

I want to share with you a few tips on using decorative stone for interior decoration:

• basic, unifying the entire style of an apartment or house, lining window and door openings. Here you can choose imitation brick, which fits perfectly into any style;
• An excellent backdrop for a large TV in the living room will be decorating part of the wall. If the room has a fireplace, then it can be lined with this material. This is a win-win option that carries a powerful stylistic load;
• Flemish brick imitation is suitable for decorating any room, allowing you to create a special atmosphere in the room;
• material with a rocky surface goes well with various pieces of decoration, plaster, wallpaper and painted walls;
• The kitchen apron can be lined with stone, creating a continuous space and a very stylish interior. In this case, it must be varnished to facilitate daily cleaning and emphasize the structure of the selected material.

Stone price and surface quality

Flexible stone is cheaper than regular stone, but more expensive than plastic or other budget finishing material. For 1 sq. m. you will have to pay from 700 to 5 thousand rubles. Compared to ordinary sandstone, it is expensive; with marble or granite, it is quite affordable. The price is influenced by the following factors:

• Place of production. Material mined in Russia is lower in cost than that imported from abroad. The most expensive products are usually imported.
• Cost of raw materials. The price of raw components varies from supplier to supplier, and this determines how much it costs to produce the material.
• Technology. Flexible stone is made in a quarry or in a workshop; in the second case, the price will be lower.

If you touch the product, you will feel that it is rough, like coarse sandpaper. This feature becomes a significant drawback for some.

If you do not coat the surface with a special varnish, contact with the surface can cause scratches and ruin your clothes. The treated stone becomes less rough and also acquires a pleasant shine.

The quality of the wall to be finished also matters. It may not be perfectly smooth and even, but it is desirable that there are no pronounced defects. The depressions and bulges will not disappear after finishing, but will be even more noticeable, so the wall must first be plastered and puttied.

Before tiling, you need to give the wall the same color. Since the stone is translucent , all dark and light spots will appear through it. There are products with ultraviolet protection. It does not transmit light and is more expensive.

Advantages and disadvantages of finishing stone walls inside an apartment

Finishing with decorative stone in an apartment has its pros and cons. The positive aspects include:

• resistance to mechanical stress;
• combination of price and quality;
• the ability to complete the work independently in a short period of time;
• the absence of harmful additives and reagents in the composition of artificial stone and the environmental safety of natural stones;
• resistance to humidity and water ingress.

Among the shortcomings the following points stand out:

• the material is more expensive than conventional wallpaper;
• heavy weight and complex installation of a natural product;
• the need for treatment with disinfectants;
• Some varieties are poorly susceptible to restoration.

Features and benefits

One of the most important features of this design is the low weight of the coating. The maximum load on the base plane will be only five kilograms per square meter. At the same time, both by touch and by appearance, the surface is very difficult to distinguish from one assembled from real natural sandstone or marble.

The second important property of this material is reflected in its name - elasticity. Plates and canvas can be glued to surfaces of any shape. In order to give the coating the desired bend, you just need to warm it up a little with a hairdryer.

In addition, the sandstone coating is non-flammable and does not emit any harmful components into the atmosphere, which makes it completely safe for humans. Since sandstone is a quartz rock, a decorative layer made from it gives wallpaper and tiles fire resistance.

The uniqueness of such coatings is also that the crystalline structure of the decorative layer transmits light. This allows you to create absolutely incredible compositions using hidden lighting. The same property provides the finish with vapor permeability.

Installation of wallpaper and slabs is carried out using glue and is not difficult. At the same time, it is better to stick flexible stone in the form of wallpaper on the ceiling, and both slabs and canvas can be glued to the walls. This choice is due only to the convenience of work and, if necessary, you can use any type of similar finish on all surfaces.

If a protective varnish is applied to the decorative layer, the surface becomes much more resistant to mechanical stress. With this treatment, the finish will last up to 35 years, since it is for this period that some manufacturers provide a guarantee on their products. The protective varnish will also increase the water resistance of the coatings, allowing them to be used in bathrooms or other similar rooms.

Types of natural stone for finishing walls inside an apartment

Natural finishing material is used infrequently - it has a high price. But it also has its advantages: long service life, reliability, resistance to mechanical stress.

In addition, it retains heat well inside the apartment.

Marble

Strength and durability are two main characteristics of marble. There are many colors that are easy to match any design. It is resistant to temperature changes and tolerates moisture well. The stone can be polished, giving a beautiful appearance and shine.

The work process has its own nuances: heat treatment, grinding, polishing.

Slate

One of the most successful options for finishing work is an environmentally friendly and reliable material. You can choose different colors: green, black, red, gray tones. The use of such a stone is a sign of good taste among apartment owners.

A room decorated with slate looks elegant and unusual.

Wild

Wild stone is often used in the interior of an apartment. This is a unique material - the color and texture are not repeated, so the room looks unusual. It is used for finishing fireplaces, walls, columns.

Important! It is better to use the stone in doses, since your bedroom can turn into a primeval cave - it is characterized by natural roughness.

Granite

A good solution for any room - granite is moisture resistant, withstands sudden temperature changes, does not become dirty and does not wear off over time. There is a minus: background radiation, which is increased. To use it on a wall, it must be reinforced.

Granite is able to change colors when lighting changes; the edges shimmer in the sun.

What is flexible stone?

Flexible stone is an absolutely natural and environmentally friendly building material, which is not only easy to use, but also has a lot of positive characteristics. A strange name, but it becomes quite logical if you understand the structure of the mysterious finishing material. The technology for producing the finishing product will tell us how flexible stone is “mined.”

The production of flexible stone is based on sandstone - it is also the presentable front side of the product. Sandstone creates unique interior compositions. The shade and pattern of the sandstone used gives the unique color of the future material. Sandstone makes up only 1mm of the entire thickness, the rest is fabric, high temperature polymer and fiberglass. The sandstone is cut thinly and then sanded to obtain a perfectly smooth surface, after which it is attached to a textile backing. Then, the finished material is dried.

Flexible stone production technology

The material is made entirely by hand, so it has a fairly high price. It is produced in this way: a fabric sheet is glued to the surface of natural sandstone, as a result of which a thin layer of stone remains on the fabric. The fabric is torn off and dried. This product completely replicates the pattern and color of sandstone. Its thinnest stone layer provides the material with strength, fire safety, and resistance to mechanical stress.

The resulting sample bends, which is why it got the name - flexible stone. The production of flexible stone allows you to obtain samples of various thicknesses, from which they are made either into rolls (due to the flexibility of the base) or into tiles and sent to shops and market stalls. Features of technological processes determine the acquired advantages and disadvantages of flexible stone.

This material has a lot of positive features:

1. High resistance to moisture. 2. High resistance to temperature changes. 3. Does not burn, bends easily and is not heavy. 4. Does not emit fumes harmful to health when heated. 5. Durable and can last at least 35 years if properly installed. 6. Does not require maintenance.

Flexible stone is a new material, but from the first years after its appearance it received a lot of positive feedback not only from people who used it in their houses and apartments, but also from builders. The growing production of flexible stone is driven by popularity. Excellent quality, characteristics, appearance, as well as ease of installation, cannot but please buyers and those who lay this building material.

Essentially, when installing flexible stone on an interior wall, the same technology is used as for wallpaper. The walls are cleaned, leveled and primed, then a layer of glue is applied directly to the wall and, in fact, a flexible stone is applied. The next strip of flexible stone is glued with heated edges; this is perhaps the only significant difference from working with wallpaper. The heated edges fit together as tightly as possible and the seams are completely invisible.

The structure of natural stone gives the flexible stone quite durable properties. Leaving behind such characteristics as: heavy weight and fragile structure. This makes it easy to use. And under the influence of hot air, it quickly takes the required shape, thanks to its unique plasticity.

The undoubted positive qualities of flexible stone also include an attractive appearance, which goes well with various types of interior design and other building materials.

Flexible stone is a unique finishing material made from natural ingredients. As we have already noted, during production the thinnest section of natural sandstone is created, which is glued to the fabric. This is a very flexible product suitable for gluing a wide variety of surfaces and structures.

Due to its very small thickness, flexible stone is lightweight, which makes it possible to use it to finish surfaces made of plasterboard, wood, fiberboards and other materials with low strength.

Scope of application of flexible stone

There are special varieties of flexible stone designed for exterior decoration. Such products have a thicker layer of stone and very high resistance to external influences. The areas of application of flexible stone are quite diverse. Most often it is chosen for cladding external and internal walls, but it is also used for finishing bathrooms, saunas, baths, kitchens, swimming pools, and sometimes corridors and living rooms, depending on the design.

Since flexible stone is made from natural sandstone, it has all its advantages - attractive color and texture, intricate patterns, resistance to high and low temperatures. Unlike monolithic sandstone, flexible stone can be laid on surfaces of complex shapes with roundings and numerous bends. When laid on curved surfaces, the structure of the stone is not damaged.

This material can be used to cover fireplaces, columns, arched structures, window and door openings. Thanks to its excellent decorative characteristics, flexible sandstone stone has become very popular among designers.

There are more than 200 varieties of similar products on sale, differing in color and texture. When using such material, it is impossible to create two identical interiors, so each room will have individual features.

A prudent buyer, before buying a flexible stone, wants to know all the pros and cons of the product. This is probably the case when the pros prevail so much that the cons are almost impossible to find.

Let us emphasize the main advantages of flexible stone:

– long service life. This product is not afraid of moisture, temperature changes and other negative factors that reduce the durability of finishing materials. Typically, manufacturers claim a 35-year warranty on their products;

– flexibility, plasticity. The product can be rolled into rolls and cut like regular fabric. The flexible structure is perhaps the most remarkable property of the material. The canvas can be glued to columns, arches and other structures with a curved surface. Due to its flexibility, the material eliminates small defects in the base;

– wear resistance. The product is difficult to scratch, but if such damage occurs, it can be easily restored. The stone can withstand extremely low and high temperatures without being damaged by temperature fluctuations. Its surface does not wear out or wear out due to frequent mechanical impacts.

– wide scope of application. Flexible stone is reliably glued to any structures, suitable for exterior and interior decoration (cladding swimming pools, building walls, reception desks, small architectural forms);

– the material is non-flammable , resistant to frost and sudden heating;

– light weight. Products made from flexible stone do not overload the surfaces being coated at all and do not require additional strengthening or reinforcement. A sheet of flexible stone with an area of ​​1 sq. m weighs about 5 kg, which practically does not require strengthening the surfaces to be coated;

– environmentally friendly material. Sandstone does not contain radioactive components, decomposing compounds and toxic impurities. Another plus is its low maintenance requirements. The flexible stone does not become dirty, and if stains form, it can be easily cleaned using household cleaning products.

– ease of installation. Working with flexible stone is as easy as with regular wallpaper. It is cut with a knife, easily cut and glued to wood, stone, brick and concrete surfaces. The flexible stone can be cut with simple scissors, producing fragments of any shape. The laid material adheres tightly to the surface and exactly follows all its curves, while it evens out small defects in the form of unevenness, cracks, and chips.

– ability to transmit light . This property of flexible stone allows the use of lamps hidden under the cladding, which, when illuminated, create an incredible effect. The surface seems to glow from within, striking with the beauty of the veins and natural inclusions characteristic of natural stone.

Additional advantages of flexible stone

Working with flexible stone does not require the same level of professionalism that is required when laying regular stone. Anyone can handle the finishing on their own using the simplest tools - pencil, glue, knife, tape measure.

Despite its small thickness, flexible stone allows you to give the surfaces being tiled the appearance of being made entirely of stone blocks. At the same time, the joints are not visible on them, so they appear monolithic.

An interesting property of flexible stone is its ability to transmit light. By installing lighting fixtures under the cladding, you can illuminate the walls. Interior designers especially appreciate this feature. Illumination creates a unique effect: the stone itself seems to glow from within, all its veins and natural inclusions are visible.

Flexible stone - a natural material in interior design

Do you want to create a unique interior with luxurious sophistication? Most likely you will need flexible stone - an innovative type of decorative saturation. Along with various types of natural stone and their artificial analogues, there is a unique finishing material made from natural sandstone on sale.

Flexible stone - this product can rightfully be considered natural, since it is the thinnest cut of natural stone. This material is suitable for cladding walls indoors and even the facade of a building, for decorating columns, bar counters, tabletops, window sills, doorways and any other structures.

About 20 years ago, flexible stone production began in Germany. The material is so to the taste of the consumer that it now confidently competes with traditional offers of tile products made from natural stone. Despite its elastic structure, flexible stone combines high strength and resistance to negative external influences.

Flexible stone - disadvantages, disadvantages and prices

Indeed, we spent so much text describing the positive properties that we completely forgot to mention the disadvantages. You and I understand that no matter how good a material a flexible stone is, it is certainly possible to find shortcomings. The biggest disadvantage encountered already in the store is the high price of flexible stone. The price range is of course different, but for a high-quality and beautiful product the price jumps to 7,000 rubles per 1 sq. m. meter.

Manufacturers explain such an impressive price by using high-precision industrial equipment. The technology for making flexible stone involves cutting the thinnest layers of sandstone. Expensive cutters and electricity costs, all this and much more are included in the price of the finished product.

“Extraction” of flexible stone is accompanied by a large number of processes, which ultimately results in a big disadvantage, in the form of a price tag on the counter of a hardware store. Multiple coatings of protective layers, in addition to the advantages of preserving the product, also determine its price disadvantages.

How to lay flexible stone

Anyone can work with this material. It is necessary to prepare the finishing wall in advance on which the flexible stone will be glued. It will be necessary to eliminate significant irregularities, seal cracks, apply putty and a layer of primer. The surface should be as smooth as possible.

The antipode of positive qualities can be considered small thickness, as the main disadvantage of flexible stone. It is these shortcomings of flexible stone that will not make it possible to hide the flaws of a crooked wall. Potholes and bulges will be quite noticeable.

Glue is applied to the prepared surface, since the glue resembles a solution, an ordinary notched trowel will help to distribute it evenly over the surface. For large volumes of work, the adhesive solution is first distributed with a regular spatula, then the excess is removed with a serrated tool.

Flexible stone sheets are glued in different ways: overlapping or end-to-end. When gluing end-to-end, large gaps do not form between the panels. The joints are covered with a primer and pasted over with thin strips of stone. In these places you can install strips or moldings.

If you need to get an ideal surface without visible seams, you can use a hair dryer to heat the edges of the canvas. Due to the similarity of the coating, the material is often searched for in stores under names such as stone wallpaper or stone veneer, which should not be confused with decorative plaster.

If during the gluing process uneven edges are obtained at the joints or the canvas cracks, then acrylic resin is used to seal such defects. After gluing the flexible stone, treatment with water repellents helps increase its moisture-repellent ability.

In addition to sheets of flexible stone, material in the form of conventional tiles is available for sale. When gluing it, tile joints are formed, which are sealed with grout. After laying the tiles and grouting the joints, the protective film is removed from the surface.

The possibilities for using flexible stone are endless - it can be installed in the living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. The material with a moisture-repellent surface is not afraid of high humidity, does not absorb dirt and does not lose its shape when in contact with water. It is more durable compared to traditional wallpaper (vinyl and paper).

Over the course of twenty years of service, the flexible stone will not lose its original appearance and will not need to be restored, which will allow the owner to save an impressive amount on repairs.

Types of artificial stone for decorating walls inside an apartment

This type of stone creates the appearance of natural stone, which is why designers often use it. It is cheaper and easier to mount on the surface.

Concrete

This is a budget-friendly and simple finishing method that can be easily done with your own hands. The weight is light, which allows you to quickly finish the job. It can be made using sand, strength additives, dyes, and plasticizers.

This is a universal option that can be easily mounted on any surface.

Advice! Additives or plasticizers must be used - they increase structural strength and quality characteristics.

Acrylic

Decorating with acrylic stone has its advantages:

• light weight;
• no toxins;
• ease of installation - can be glued with special compounds;
• is not exposed to moisture, temperature, or mechanical damage.

This is a great option for any room.

Ceramic

This stone consists of red clay and granite chips, which are mixed and pressed under high temperatures. Thus, the finishing surface becomes shiny and glossy. This is a minus - the product can be easily scratched, it is practically not subject to restoration.

Disadvantages include heavy weight and difficulty of installation.

Most often it is used to decorate the walls of a building from the outside, rarely from the inside. Second option: stone-look ceramic tiles. This is a common material that can be purchased at any hardware store.

Plaster

It is made in this way: a liquid gypsum solution is poured into shaped molds and removed after complete drying. It is easy to work with and cut, its weight is almost 2 times less compared to concrete. Beautiful appearance and low cost are two factors for which gypsum stone has become a leader in the construction market.

Gypsum stone for interior decoration of an apartment is an excellent solution if it needs to be mounted on a plasterboard wall.

Quartz

This material is considered half artificial - the finished product contains almost 90% natural mineral. An ethereal synthetic resin acts as a binding base. Due to its excellent performance characteristics, quartz is used in the manufacture of countertops and sanitary ware.

Its cost is higher than that of acrylic analogues.

The main advantages of decorating a room with stone

Finishing a room with stone has the following advantages:

• Stone coating is durable and can last for decades
• The stone is not afraid of fire, so it is often used to decorate fireplaces and stoves
• This coating is not afraid of water, and mold does not form on it.
• Stone decor is not exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Even with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, it does not lose its presentation
• The coating can withstand temperature changes
• You can clean it with any detergent without abrasive particles
• The range of decorative stone is quite wide, which allows it to be used in almost any interior of the room.
• The material is environmentally friendly and does not emit harmful substances.

Features of interior design with decorative tiles

Decorating interiors with decorative stone is a frequently used technique among designers. The materials have a number of advantages:

• aesthetic appeal;
• wide range of textures and colors;
• versatility, suitable for decorating different rooms;
• durability;
• ease of care;
• low cost.

Decorative stone in the interior is a stylish, practical, reliable decor.

Features of living room decoration

The texture of natural stone creates comfort zones and brings the aura of the presence of a natural landscape into the interior. A designer's work with stone requires a balanced approach to the selection of textures and the amount of decor used.

Decorative stone in the interior of the living room is used:

• for decorating individual walls;
• highlighting transition zones in studio rooms;
• as accents for individual structural elements (shelves, niches);
• room zoning;
• flooring;
• for the fireplace and the area around it;
• as a frame for decorative panels and frescoes.

Most often, the central wall in the living room is highlighted with a decorative stone slab. Such a design solution not only serves as a method of aesthetic design, but also visually transforms the space.

Focus attention on the main element in the room where audio and video equipment and the fireplace area are located.

If the room has niches or plasterboard structures, then highlighting the texture of the stone will make them more expressive due to the aesthetic appeal and volume of the texture. Illumination will add additional color to such details.

Using stone decors with different textures is a good way to zoning a room.

For example, the flooring of the kitchen and dining area is laid with porcelain tiles of different shades. On the walls, the border part of the room is highlighted with a sandstone texture. Duplicate it on the central wall in the living room.

It is traditionally believed that the textures of marble, granite, and aventurine are more suitable for interiors in a classical style. But this is not entirely true. Glossy and matte smooth porcelain stoneware is an excellent decor in a minimalist interpretation of the living room.

A wall decorated with a marble slab will add a touch of stylish elegance to the interior.

Organic styles, country, Provence and others are primarily a combination of stone decor and wood.

Decorating the fireplace area with decorative stone is not only an aesthetic technique, but also a practical one. The slabs can withstand high temperatures, are easily cleaned of soot and deposits, and are not afraid of mechanical stress. The fireplace in the living room is one of the main compositional elements.

Flame, hearth and stone are the optimal solution for installing a fireplace area.

An artistic panel or fresco framed by decorative stones makes up a single ensemble. The decor is like a natural continuation of the natural landscape in the image.

Do-it-yourself installation of flexible stone and thermal panels

Before finishing work, carefully prepare the surface, as it must be smooth, even and strictly vertical. In rooms with high humidity, it is necessary to level the walls using cement-sand mortar. Also do not forget that in addition to leveling the surface of the walls, it is necessary to level the corners.

If the walls are covered with wallpaper, be sure to remove them before starting leveling. Before proceeding with installation, be sure to prime all surfaces that will participate in the cladding.

After the primer has dried, proceed to cladding.

The procedure for facing with flexible stone:

1. Do not damage the edges of the material; carefully remove it from the packaging.
2. Be sure to remove all dirt and marble chips (if any) from the back side of the material.
3. If you have flexible stone in rolls, apply the adhesive directly to the walls. And if in slabs, then it’s best to use slabs. Use a notched trowel to distribute the glue evenly over the entire surface.
4. Covering a flat surface is not difficult - apply a flexible stone to a surface coated with glue and press it with a rubber roller over the entire surface area. For cladding large objects, such as columns, so that the glue has time to set, the flexible stone is installed in small sections and held for several minutes to fix the finishing material. When tiling corners, use a heat gun to heat the flexible stone so that it does not crack or break when bent.
5. Do not forget to remove all excess glue from the surface of the finishing material using a damp rag, without applying much force, so as not to damage the surface of the material.
6. Methods for covering surfaces, such as walls: seamless, with seams (like ceramic tiles). To get rid of seams when covering the surface, use scraps of finishing material that appeared during the work process. We dip the cut piece with the front side into the primer and grout the joints. In this case, the seams will be filled with the same material texture as the main one, so the seams will be completely invisible against the general background.
7. After finishing work is completed, the entire surface is treated with a special hydrophobic primer, which will create a film to protect against aggressive environmental influences. The primer is applied in two steps. The next coat of primer must be applied to the previous one at intervals of at least 2 hours. In addition to primer, a protective layer can be obtained by applying varnish.

Facing with flexible stone to resemble “wild stone” and more

When creating an original interior indoors and outdoors using flexible stone, stick small irregularly shaped fragments onto the surface. Thus, on a surface lined with flexible stone, the effect of finishing with slate or marble slabs is created.

• on the back side of the flexible stone, make marks with a marker so that you get lines delimiting irregularly shaped fragments;
• take a paint knife and cut the flexible stone along these lines;
• Glue the resulting fragments onto the prepared surface and rub the seams as described above in “Procedure for facing with flexible stone”, point 6.
• After completing the facing work, do not forget to cover the flexible stone with a protective film of a hydrophobic composition or varnish.

Caring for a lined surface Flexible stone will serve you for decades if you follow simple rules for caring for it. Remove dust and various contaminants in a timely manner (using a vacuum cleaner and damp rags). Restore the protective film from a hydrophobic composition or varnish (every 5 - 7 years).

Installation of thermal panels

Stone decor in the interior of the hallway

The hallway is a functional unit in an apartment or house. From it there are passages to other rooms, and at the same time it serves as a place for storing outerwear. The layout of the room is subordinated to functionality.

It is quite common to find long or rectangular small rooms with several doors.

The main goal of the hallway design is to transform the space of the room and visually expand it. The specialist is faced with the task of turning the hallway into part of the overall stylistic ensemble of the entire house or apartment.

Decorative stone in the hallway performs a double function, aesthetic and practical. On the one hand, this is a design decoration technique, on the other hand, stone tiles are a reliable protective coating that is easy to care for.

Design solutions for decorating the hallway:

Transformation of space with the help of mirrors and a three-dimensional stone slab. This solution is suitable for narrow, long rooms. For example, a wardrobe with mirrored doors is placed opposite a wall with stone decor.

Stone tile decor in combination with wall frescoes, photo wallpaper or perspective images visually expands the room. To enhance the effect, you can hang a mirror on the opposite side.

A combined option is most often used for hallway lighting. For example, a stained glass window or a chandelier is in the main part of the hallway. Wall sconces are installed in the corridor leading to other rooms. Thanks to the voluminous texture and color palette of the stone decor, a visual transformation of the wall of a narrow passage room occurs.

To make the hallway aesthetically attractive, small niches and false columns are made on the wall. Decorative tiles and lighting will give them expressiveness.

Doorways are framed with stone decor for greater expressiveness.

However, after admiration comes irritation - offhand it seems that such a luxury is unlikely to be available to many.

However, this is not so, because neither granite nor marble was used to create these interiors. The secret of all this beauty is the use of a relatively new finishing material known as “flexible stone”. Even a budget acrylic bathtub in combination with it will look royally luxurious. So we decided to figure out what this innovative material is, and at the same time evaluate the complexity of the work involved in its installation.

The main component for the manufacture of flexible stone is either sandstone or fine marble sand. Particles of these natural materials are processed in a special way and applied to a textile base. Flexible stone comes on sale in the form of rolls or slabs, and for finishing work it can be used anywhere.

It is generally ideal for bathrooms because it is not afraid of dampness and moisture. In addition, this facing material is incredibly pliable and can be laid onto any shape using hot air. You feel it - the initially creepy sewer riser can now become an independent art object!

Due to its youth, flexible stone has not yet had time to stand the test of time, but manufacturers provide a 25-year guarantee, so durability can also be mentioned among the valuable properties of this material.

With environmental safety, everything is also in order - it does not contain formaldehydes that are harmful to health. It remains to add that you don’t need to look for special craftsmen to install it - if you have ever glued wallpaper, then you can easily apply flexible stone.

How to create such beauty

The technology of work is ridiculously simple, but first you need to stock up on the necessary tools. You will need: a mounting knife, a ruler with a pencil, a wooden hammer, a roller or brush and a notched trowel.

The requirements for the treated surface are approximately the same as in the case of wallpaper finishing. The area where the flexible stone is applied must be clean, dry and level, and the base can be anything - metal, glass, drywall or OSB. The flexible stone is mounted on a special glue that has increased thickness and viscosity. The adhesive must be applied directly to the wall using a notched trowel. If you use a flexible stone in a roll, then press it against the wall and roll it with a roller. The tiles are simply pressed tightly against the wall and beaten with a wooden hammer.

The seamless installation method is more labor-intensive, but it is worth it - as a result, the wall will look as if it was decorated with a piece of solid stone. To ensure that the joints are not visible, a hair dryer is used. The joints of the tiles are heated and sand is rubbed between them from the edges of the material.

When the glue dries, the surface of the flexible stone must be treated with a hydrophobic compound - it is sold in the same place as the stone itself. After such finishing treatment, the coating is not afraid of either water or dirt.

Stone in the interior of a balcony and loggia

The stone decor fits organically into the design of the balcony loggia. From a practical point of view, it is suitable for small areas. The walls do not get dirty and are easy to clean.

The slabs are not susceptible to changes in humidity.

To visually expand and transform the space, the same techniques are used as for hallways.

Relaxation areas and a mini-office are equipped on the loggias. If the area allows, you can make a dining area. In the case where a balcony or loggia is combined with a children's room, it is advisable to equip there a play area and a place for activities. The decor allows you to beautifully decorate a small space.

The panoramic view that opens from the loggia goes perfectly with the texture of the stonework.

Frequently used design solutions:

• framing an opening, passage;
• “torn” masonry;
• decor of one of the walls;
• decoration of structural elements with decorative stone.

A small room decorated with decorative stone with different textures, for example, brick and cobblestone, looks interesting.

Stone tiles in the nursery

Decorative stone in a nursery can become not only decoration, but also have a practical purpose. It is easily cleaned from contamination and is not afraid of rough mechanical impact. Stone tiles are laid on active impact zones: play areas, places for educational activities, sports areas.

For children's rooms, decorative slabs painted in bright, “cheerful” colors are used.

Teenagers gravitate towards urban, techno-style. These trends of minimalism attract textures such as brick.

Stone in the bedroom

The techniques for using stone decor in the bedroom are similar to those used in the living room. The difference is that the wall at the head of the bed or opposite it is used as a focal point. The frame of the bed can be highlighted by columns, an arched opening, or a niche in a frame of decorative stones.

Additional lighting with a switch near the bed will decorate the design and make it functional.

In the case where the bedroom is connected to a loggia, the stonework can be repeated on the balcony.

The type of decorative stone and color palette are selected according to the style, size of the room, and design concept.

Decorative stone-look tiles in the bathroom

The use of decorative stone in the bathroom has become popular recently. This is partly due to the popularization of eco-style. Designers are actively using the newfangled trend.

A bathroom lined with decorative stone looks natural.

In such an interior it is pleasant to take water treatments. A bathroom lined with marble and granite slabs acquires additional charm. Such design solutions are suitable for open showers with a drain instead of a tray. Free-standing bathrooms look impressive in an interior with a natural stone texture.

Non-standard use of decorative stone

For those who think that buying decorative stone for interior decoration and mounting it on the wall is too simple, we offer several non-standard solutions for its use.

Decorative finishing stone on the ceiling. And indeed, why is it that this wonderful material is used to cover mainly only interior walls? Many famous designers use it to decorate the entire ceiling or a separate part of it. Usually in this way they try to achieve the effect of antiquity. You may not recognize your house or apartment at all if you see, for example, decorative brick on the ceiling. The right combination with interior items, decorative elements and lighting can create the absolute feeling of a medieval castle or an old rich house. Spot lighting looks advantageous, imitating rays breaking through a wall of centuries-old stones.

Fully finished with artificial stone. The price for such a finish will, of course, be higher, but the result will be much more impressive. Brick tiles take up undeservedly little space in our apartments. We strongly recommend considering interior designs with full stone wall decoration. By arranging furniture in a minimalist style, hanging a couple of modest photos or paintings, or in combination with modern technical products, the room will sparkle in a new way! And how luxurious the stone looks in the bathroom! We are also sure that owners of good restaurants or other public institutions with excellent taste will truly appreciate this decision. You can admire a decorative finishing stone for a long time, but it’s better to see it once.

Door under decorative stone. In a very unusual way, you can use decorative facing stone, the size and shape of which allows your imagination to express itself. If you need to disguise the entrance to an office or any other room, then artificial stone is the best solution. In this way, it is possible to store valuable things in a “stash” without worrying that intruders will be able to find them. As a result, we get a beautifully decorated wall with artificial stone and additional protection for important rooms.

4. Niche made of decorative stone. Recently, filling niches with textured materials has become increasingly popular. Interior decorative gypsum stone can be purchased specifically for these purposes. It looks especially impressive in niches located in the bedroom. Having a texture identical to natural stone, it gives the feeling that you are falling asleep in a natural environment; the stone also makes the room warmer and more comfortable, and therefore, sleep becomes better quality. A niche made of such material cannot but please; it will also decorate the living room. It is important to improve it, because this is where pleasant evenings are spent with friends and relatives, to whom you want to give the warmest possible welcome.

5. Winter garden. Lovers of flora in a house or apartment have the opportunity to competently decorate their favorite corner. The ideal material for its creation is undoubtedly decorative stone for interior decoration. Yes, it is used not only for facade cladding, although it is strong (it surpasses even clinker products in terms of characteristics). Indeed, there is no better combination of trees and flowers with stone. The Intercam collection offers a wide selection of decorative stone, so you can easily choose the material that suits exactly the variety of your colors. It should also be noted that artificial facing stone is easy to care for and is not afraid of moisture, so you can freely water and spray the flowers that are located near the stone.

6. Frames made of decorative stone. Just hanging a mirror in the hallway would be too easy. What if you frame it? Decorative stone, the colors of which vary from white to dark chocolate, will fit into any interior and turn the simplest mirror into a work of art. The hallway will shine in a new way, admiring your reflection will be twice as pleasant, and guests will be amazed at the creative approach to decorating the apartment. The same can be done, for example, with an aquarium, TV, painting or sconce. Give free rein to your imagination when creating original design options for individual interior elements of your home.

7. Panel. Decorative stone in the living room, bedroom, hallway or any other area can become a real decoration if you make a panel out of it. Discover artificial stone from a new side, use your imagination, combine colors, shapes and textures of stone, create your own exceptional design. It can be a plain panel of simple shapes or an unusual pattern made from different types of stones. How about a beautiful Japanese bonsai tree with a decorative stone right on the wall? All in your hands!

We are confident that you will be able to implement any interior design idea. A is definitely the correct answer to the question: “Where can I buy decorative stone at the manufacturer’s price?”

All works performed using Intercam stone can be viewed in the GALLERY.

Stone catalog HERE.

You can purchase stone at a good price in the company store and from official dealers of Intercam, a plant producing the best facade stone.

Decorative stone-effect tiles in the kitchen

Stone tiles with natural textures are used to decorate the apron of the work area, and porcelain stoneware is used as a floor covering. You can highlight the work and dining areas in different colors.

They are used as decoration on walls, including in combination with photo wallpapers and artistic panels.

What rooms can be decorated with stone?

Stone is often used to decorate hallways. The hallway is the first room in the apartment that we access from the street. Therefore, it is important that it looks cozy, but at the same time its decoration should be practical. Decorating the hallway with stone will solve both problems.

Stone will add coziness to the room, and decorating the walls in places where they come into contact with shoes, outerwear and wet umbrellas will protect them from dirt and ensure their durability.

The stone is easy to clean. It is possible to decorate the floor in the hallway with this material, especially if the floor is heated. If the hallway is small and narrow, it is better to decorate only some parts of the walls and use light-colored stones.

Stone is also often used to decorate the kitchen, because this material is moisture-resistant, non-flammable and easy to clean. They are often decorated with the following zones:

• Kitchen work area apron
• Floor covering
• Bar counter
• Tabletops
• Window sills

This type of finishing material will add sophistication and aristocracy to the style of the kitchen.

Often the walls are lined with stone in the bedroom. If the room is large, you can decorate the wall above the head of the bed with this material. In a small room, stonework can be used as a frieze or plinth. Or finish a small fragment of the wall near the head of the bed, on which the light falls. Decorating the door and window openings with this material will add originality to the bedroom design. When designing these areas, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• The stone must be placed around the door or window symmetrically on both sides so that there is no feeling of unfinished design
• Solid wood doors will harmonize well with stone
• It is advisable to use only one type of stone, maximum two

The most popular stone finishing is fireplaces, which are usually located in living rooms. To give a special coziness to the room, it is better to decorate the fireplace with light-colored stones. If it is stylized as antique, then large-textured elements will look more harmonious on it.

It’s quite rare, but it is still possible to decorate the ceiling with decorative stone. This method of decorating the ceiling area is used to add creativity to the room. However, when decorating the ceiling with this decorative element, you should be careful, because the wrong choice of material can make the room gloomy. It is better to use light-colored stones with a weak texture for the ceiling. It is advisable to use stone ceiling decoration in a well-lit room.

Stone masonry finishing is used not only indoors, it is also used to decorate homes and exteriors. For decoration, a cement material that is not afraid of moisture is used.

How to choose a facing stone

When choosing between natural and artificial stone, I would like to say a few words in defense of the latter, whose reputation is hampered by the presence of the word “artificial” in the name.

Meanwhile, artificial stone:

• Cheaper than natural.
• It is lighter in weight, much easier to install and, if necessary, replace.
• Does not crack due to temperature changes and does not fade in the sun.
• Easier and easier to maintain.

In addition, it is impossible to overestimate the wide variability of artificial stone: a huge range of models, textures, shapes, sizes and color shades will allow you to ideally realize any designer’s ideas, and thanks to the standardization of sizes, it is easy to accurately calculate the masonry and, if necessary, replace damaged elements.

With natural stone everything is much more complicated.

The main quality of a facing stone is the design of its front part. Depending on the tasks that need to be solved when creating an interior, decorative stone is usually divided into:

• brick (reproduction of different types of brickwork);
• crushed - to imitate untreated or roughly processed stone quartz, marble, granite, limestone;
• sawn - with clear edges and an unpolished surface of a sawn block of sandstone or limestone;
• rubble (imitation of natural boulders and pebbles); decorative tiles (imitation of polished marble and granite);
• fantasy (non-standard) type - stones that do not exist in nature with a complex texture and color scheme;
• mosaic elements for creating mosaic compositions of varying complexity.

The building materials market today offers an incredible number of offers from different manufacturers.

The technology for producing artificial facing stone guarantees its high performance qualities and external similarity to natural analogues - sometimes it is difficult to detect a “fake” even for a specialist, not to mention the ordinary eye.

Flexible stone: disadvantages

The only significant drawback that flexible stone has is its high cost. If the consumer prefers high-quality products from a trusted manufacturer, then purchasing the material will cost him an amount starting from 1,300 rubles per 1 m². This price is comparable to the cost of natural stone. But these disadvantages of flexible stone are more than compensated by its advantages.

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Sometimes the deciding factor is the weight of the structure. Here, flexible stone has no equal - the material is light. And so a natural product is a natural one.

Rules for laying decorative stone

Recommendations for laying decorative stone apply both to the appearance and to the attachment of facing tiles to surfaces. The first type of recommendations is more the responsibility of the interior designer, his diligence and competence.

When renovating your home yourself, you will have to rely on your own taste, views on comfort and creativity.

We can only advise you not to get carried away with mixing different types of stone within one room, being satisfied with a maximum of two “breeds” of stones; it is better to use different (naturally, compatible) shades of the same material.

For direct laying of decorative stone tiles, it is extremely important that the surface is smooth, strong and clean, with good adhesion for durable bonding of the stone. All remnants of mortar, putty, as well as greasy stains, weak plaster and even dust must be removed.

We advise you to take this recommendation very carefully!

Preliminary laying of decorative stone on a flat surface will allow you to identify in advance possible differences in tiles from different batches, optimally select the relative position of individual stones and see the future masonry with your own eyes. Only a few specialists risk doing stone cladding without preliminary laying.

Good advice: a few days before tiling, it would be good to check the effect of the purchased adhesive solution and its compatibility with the stone used and the surface to be covered. Lay several tiles and then carefully dismantle them after 2-3 days, while assessing the reliability of their attachment to the wall.

If the stone is held firmly, you can begin facing.

Depending on the presence of joint joints in the future masonry, there are upper and lower methods of laying stone. So, if the presence of jointing is not expected, laying facing stone tiles begins from the bottom edge, with jointing (for example, to style a wall as brickwork) - from the top.

This is a general and basic rule: there is also a certain dependence on the type of stone, but it is better to consult a specialist on this issue.

Decorative stone for the ceiling

In an effort to decorate our home and make it special, we are ready to go to great lengths. We choose interesting and rare materials, use the services of designers, or spend long hours working on the future appearance of the rooms. Many people have begun to turn their attention to decorative stone when it comes to interior decoration. Why him?

There are several reasons for this. Artificial stone is a relatively inexpensive material that is easy to process, install and care for. And at the same time, in terms of its aesthetic properties, it is not inferior to natural stone, and therefore is not inferior to anything else. Only stone can bring unique comfort and warmth into your home, combined with naturalness and naturalness.

Another important advantage of artificial stone over natural stone is weight (as well as the favorable price of artificial stone). The weight of decorative stone is on average a couple of times less than that of natural stone. In addition, the thickness of artificial stone tiles usually does not exceed a centimeter. All this provides an opportunity to glue decorative stone to the ceiling, thereby creating an original decoration for the entire room. But let’s make a reservation right away: although the weight of an imitation stone is less than that of a natural one, it is nevertheless not small. Therefore, the idea of ​​​​placing decorative artificial stone on the entire ceiling is pretentious, but making individual elements or a corner with an intimate, warm atmosphere is not only possible, but even necessary.

To put artificial stone on the ceiling, it is not even necessary to completely level the surface - without strong differences in level, the tiles will sit perfectly on the ceiling surface. By choosing the colors and textures of decorative stone, you will ideally fit it into the style of the entire room or be able to connect several rooms into a single ensemble. Stone elements on the ceiling will look especially beautiful in combination with the same wall decoration - the whole image of the room will look complete and very cozy.

Properly placed light will help avoid visual weighting and narrowing of space, so pay considerable attention to it.

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