The modern range of finishes for floors and walls is so wide that it sometimes discourages the consumer and confuses him - what is better to choose? Naturally, there is nothing better than natural material - after all, it not only looks natural and expensive, but in most cases is also quite environmentally friendly. However, when it is impossible to finish the surface with natural material, its imitation is used.
The stone is considered a trend of the previous and new seasons. It looks elegant and beautiful, but at the same time has high functionality and reliability.
Advantages of stone-look tiles for interior decoration
Stone-look tiles have a number of advantages that are unique to them:
- Light weight, especially in comparison with natural materials. This allows you to avoid putting excessive load on the wall, which is especially important when facing plasterboard partitions.
- Resistance to moisture, ultraviolet radiation from the solar spectrum, and chemical reagents. This contributes to long-term preservation of appearance.
- Resistance to mechanical stress allows you not to worry about the appearance of chips or cracks as a result of impacts.
- With proper care, durability can reach the service life of the house or apartment itself. But, this is only if the artificial stone was laid with high quality, taking into account all technological features.
- A wide range of textures, sizes, imitation, relief, and color solutions allows you to decorate the interior space to suit any style.
- A high level of heat capacity allows the room to remain quite cool on hot days, and, on the contrary, to remain warm in winter.
In the interior of a house or apartment, decorative artificial stone is used for decoration.
Price
Almost all manufacturers have developed dealer networks, as well as their own catalogs on their own websites. Here you can select products and place an order and delivery.
Buyers have the opportunity to purchase artificial stone upon individual request. Companies are ready to consult clients free of charge and recommend the best collections and textures in terms of design and price.
The cost of decorative stone in different cities of Russia varies depending on the type, texture, size and thickness of the products. Many companies offer both budget and luxury collections of tiles. Gypsum tiles “like stone” will cost the buyer less. The most inexpensive products are offered by manufacturers from Kemerovo (from 450 rubles per sq. m.) and Cheboksary (from 550 rubles per sq. m.). In Moscow and St. Petersburg, decorative stone is more expensive - from 890 rubles per sq. m. m.
The cost of ceramic stone for interior decoration exceeds gypsum analogues and starts from 990 rubles per sq. m. m.
Types of tiles with imitation stone
Today's wide range of stone-effect tiles allows you to use them to decorate parts of walls, corners, floors, and certain areas of the room to create a decorative effect or increase the functionality of the room. Depending on the desired appearance or achieving certain parameters in the room, you need to pay attention to a variety of options for this material.
Stone-look tiles can look exactly the same as natural material, not only in appearance, but also in feel.
Made from natural stone
The most expensive option, but it is necessary to take into account the physical and chemical characteristics of the material used in each specific case. Some types of natural stone may not be resistant to chemicals and therefore may change their appearance, including their classic color. Such wild material also has a lot of weight, so it is rarely laid out over large areas.
Stone is a heavy raw material, which is why it is not always suitable for interior decoration.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles are an excellent option for finishing large areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and or hallways. It is quite strong, practical, durable and aesthetic. Large surfaces can be finished with a small investment of funds.
Ceramic tiles with this design have a good price-quality ratio.
Today, there are such options for natural stone tile surfaces as:
- Smooth.
- Matte.
- Polished.
- Porous.
- Brilliant.
- Plaster.
Decorative tiles made of gypsum have high plastic properties. This contributes to the most natural imitation of the texture and texture of natural stone. Most often, areas near the fireplace or arched structures are finished with it.
Of all the types of decorative stone-look tiles, gypsum models are the thinnest.
Clinker
Clinker decorative tiles are produced using the same technology as bricks. The only difference is in the thickness of the product. The clinker has a small thickness, thereby not putting excessive load on the wall that is being lined.
A product is produced from clay with high plastic qualities with a high content of shale and intense fat content of the mass.
The color of the finished product will depend on the shade of clay used in production:
- Pale yellow.
- Intense red.
- Brick red
- Dark brown.
Clinker is produced with or without glaze. It is suitable for cladding any type of premises.
When purchasing such tiles, you must pay attention that products, even within the same batch, may differ in tone.
The main advantages of clinker include:
- High level of strength.
- Environmental friendliness achieved through natural materials.
- High level of fire resistance.
- Not afraid of exposure to chemical reagents.
- Not affected by moisture.
- The service life is quite long, and it does not require special care.
- Installation is easy and quick.
- A wide range of textures and colors.
Clinker stone models are ideal for both wall cladding and floor finishing.
Porcelain tiles
In the production of porcelain stoneware, a specific technology is used. Initially, the raw materials are finely crushed and mixed with additives. When pressing the mass, a tile is formed. The finished elements are then fired in a kiln.
Such stone models have a practically zero level of water absorption.
A certain structure and pattern appears on the tile during the pressing process. Moreover, the more stages a product goes through, the more interesting the final appearance is. It is possible to achieve the effect under onyx, granite, tuff, slate, jasper, basalt, marble, limestone and a wide variety of other types of precious and semi-precious stones.
If a composition of mineral salts is applied to the surface, it acquires a glossy appearance.
Interestingly, if porcelain stoneware is fired immediately after crimping, its surface will be rough and matte.
It has a high wear resistance class and can last up to 100 years.
Applying glaze followed by firing allows you to create a rough, glossy surface with a high coefficient of wear resistance. This makes it possible to use such products in places that are subject to high friction.
Cotto
Cotto tile is a specific product that was first produced in the Middle Ages in Italy. And since then, its production technology has remained virtually unchanged. The essence lies in special molding, extrusion, drying and firing of the clay mass.
Cotto is made from red clay, so it looks very natural and natural.
As a result, depending on the composition of the clay, you can get completely different shades of tiles. The colors can be either light yellow or dark brown. In some cases, they even get tiles with a pink tint.
As a rule, cotto covering is often used for tiling floors in hallways, hallways, and kitchens.
Majolica
Majolica, perhaps, has the highest aesthetic indicators. But at the same time, its appearance does not resemble natural stone. Although it is made from clay, with the application of glaze and design and further firing.
This material has one important feature - a painted bright surface.
Most often, majolica is used to decorate fireplaces and fireplace walls due to the fact that it is not exposed to high temperatures.
This coating is suitable for both classic and modern interiors.
But it is necessary to take into account that finishing such a surface cannot be done cheaply. The price for it remains constantly high.
Conglomerate
Conglomerate is a material that in its structure combines rounded pebbles and a binding mass. In appearance it can be uniform or layered.
This type of tile has the highest percentage of natural stone in its composition.
In terms of hardness, it has average values, although much depends on the binder that holds the pebbles together.
The conglomerate is solid and of high quality, and this tile is easy to process.
If you pay attention to the color, it is striking that the conglomerate is heterogeneous and has a spotted pattern. It is often used as a finishing material for small interior sections of walls.
Types of ceramic tiles
Clinker
Such tiles come in glazed and unglazed tiles; used as a cladding material for the walls and floors of kitchens, bathrooms, swimming pools and other rooms with high humidity levels.
Porcelain tiles
Stone-like floor tiles with zero moisture absorption and a complete absence of microcracks are used for interior decoration of the house, and are also laid on the terrace, porch, and even used to finish paths in the yard.
Cotto tile
It is made of red clay, therefore it has a beautiful natural color, is not covered with glaze, it is used as floor tiles in the corridor and hallway, such tiles are good for the kitchen and other rooms.
Majolica
Material with a bright painted surface. The marbled wall tiles are especially good; It is better to lay it without following the pattern and along the entire wall, choosing large slabs to minimize the number of seams. Such a coating will create an incredible visual effect in the room, a kind of fabulous atmosphere, which can be enhanced with the help of artificial light.
The trend in recent years is stone-look ceramic tiles for interior decoration with a 3D effect.
With its help you can reproduce a fashionable interior in any style, even classic design. In the latter case, a bright contrasting background is created against which traditional things and furniture will look even more canonical.
Wild stone tiles will give your interior a unique look. The natural analogue is not suitable for interior decoration, as it is traumatic for humans and unhygienic. Artificial material completely imitates natural material, but has excellent performance properties. The tiles have a rough surface, which is why they are suitable for laying on the floor in rooms with high traffic and humidity, in particular in the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom.
Dimensions of stone-look finishing tiles
Before purchasing any product for finishing walls or floors, you need to take into account the interior that you want to get as a result. The fact is that the sizes of decorative stone tiles can be very diverse.
For example, majolica is never large. Small square, less often rectangular tiles form an original wall pattern, which, as a rule, does not have a repeat character. The fact is that when laying out majolica, you get a decorative panel with a large pattern.
Stone tiles can have almost any shape from square or rectangular to hexagonal and even round.
Floor products, on the contrary, have recently been characterized by large dimensions. This is quite practical, as it does not require much labor when grouting joints that lose their appearance over time.
Decorative tiles imitating wild or natural stone: what is it?
The interior design of a living space or office sets the overall tone for the atmosphere that reigns in this space. Decorative stone has become an excellent alternative to wallpaper, paint, and panels. Using this finishing material you can create a unique interior. Unlike natural stone, decorative products are lightweight and easy to install.
Application for walls and interior decoration
The scope of application of decorative tiles imitating wild stone is quite wide:
- formation of wall ornament;
- arch design;
- fireplace lining;
- finishing of window openings;
- decorative finishing of walls and floors.
Tiles imitating stone are especially relevant for the restoration of ancient estates and castles. Leroy Merlin brick wallpaper is the most affordable and easy-to-install imitation of brickwork.
Artificial stone differs from its natural counterpart in its more attractive cost, as well as the presence of a smooth back surface, which greatly facilitates installation work.
Stone tile design
Stone-effect tiles for interior decoration can have a wide variety of appearances. It can simulate:
- A natural stone that can be found everywhere under your feet.
- Semi-precious stones, such as mica.
- Surfaces made of precious stones. This effect is achieved through various technological processing.
- The surface of the stone can be either smooth or extremely embossed, which imitates the so popular “negligence” in design.
Many models have an interesting relief with a heterogeneous texture.
Decorative stone-look tiles: sizes, composition, options
Photo from the site: kirpichbeton.ru
It is worth understanding that the modern market for finishing and facing materials is so vast that only professionals and specialists of the highest class have a thorough understanding of this issue. However, the basic provisions and rules of choice should be taken into account immediately; for example, you must definitely understand the types and types of imitation stone that are now offered in any construction supermarket.
Photo from the site: tabula-group.ru
- Artificial stone on a concrete base is made from cement, ordinary quartz squeak, reinforcing elements, as well as a variety of fluxes, dyes, additives and plasticizers. This stone is the cheapest, most reliable and in demand.
- The second most popular option is porcelain stoneware, which has recently become widespread. It is made on the basis of clay, therefore it is quite light and easy to process. Such a stone is not afraid of either temperature or aggressive chemicals, with rare exceptions.
- Conglomerates, or, in other words, agglomerates, are imitation stones based on marble or any other natural rock chips. This finishing option can be quartz or acrylic, both of them are very durable, beautiful and can imitate a very large amount of natural stone, for example, onyx, marble, malachite, granite, jasper and so on. Stone-effect wall tiles for interior decoration of this kind are very stable, are not affected by household chemicals, are very hard, but at the same time they can be easily processed with woodworking tools, for example, a carpenter's plane.
Useful tips for choosing stone-look tiles
Before purchasing stone-look tiles, you need to carefully look at their appearance. The service life and quality of the resulting surface depend on this:
- The surface should not be porous - this is a sign of poor quality of the product.
- Models should be quite textured and imitate natural stone as naturally as possible. Only this characteristic indicates that the finished surface will look natural.
Imitation stone can transform any interior. She can become his highlight.
It is advisable to tile a certain area of the floor to understand what the final result will look like. This way you can navigate the color saturation and texture.
Stone patterns and textures are believable and unique. The stone looks luxurious and elegant.
Gypsum stone tiles in the interior of the house
A high-quality imitation of natural stone is gypsum tiles. The material is made from gypsum-polymer mass and has low frost resistance, therefore such stone-like finishing tiles can only be used for interior work.
Properties of gypsum tiles:
- Light weight.
- Hygroscopic - able to regulate the level of humidity in the room, that is, absorb excess moisture and release it if the air is too dry.
- Thin-layer material, thanks to which gypsum stone tiles can be installed even in small apartments, saving precious centimeters of space.
- Gypsum is a natural material, which makes it environmentally friendly.
- Has no smell.
- Does not fade under ultraviolet rays.
- It has heat and sound insulation properties.
- Fire resistant.
Gypsum wall tiles under stone are laid easily and quickly, easy to process, which eliminates the cost of craftsmen and time losses. But you need to remember that the material is flexible, soft and fragile, so you need to work with it carefully.
The disadvantages of gypsum tiles include the need for a special moisture-repellent coating, since if there is excessive moisture, the material can become deformed. In view of this, stone-look wall tiles are not recommended for use in the bathroom and kitchen, but are quite suitable for the corridor and hall. In addition, the textured surface accumulates dust, so to make cleaning easier, it must be varnished.
Features of caring for tiles imitating stone
Most often, caring for such surfaces is extremely simple. It consists of wiping the tiles with a damp cloth without adding any detergents or cleaners.
From time to time you will have to brush over textured tiles, which create a fairly intense relief. This is due to the fact that dust can accumulate in the cracks, which will spoil the appearance of the surface.
This tile is quite easy to lay; during the cutting process it practically does not split, maintaining its presentable appearance.
Also, in some cases, it may be necessary to grind the seams - but such a need arises no earlier than after several years of use of the surface.
Popular manufacturers of stone tiles
When purchasing artificial stone, you need to pay attention to the following manufacturers who produce high-quality wall and floor products:
- Kerama Marazzi.
- Uralceramics.
- Atlas Concorde.
- ColiseumGres.
- Gracia Ceramics.
- Ceramics.
- The perfect stone.
Kerama Marazzi tiles are in demand due to their excellent quality, stylish design, variety of collections, colors, sizes and shapes.
Interesting interiors with stone-look tiles
When choosing a tile and decoration method, you can use the following recommendations for creating an interesting design:
- For the bathroom, mosaic tiles with the stylization of pebbles or small stones look impressive. This is how an interior in a marine style is created.
- If there is a need to decorate structures with complex shapes, including radius curves, as stone, then it is advisable to choose flexible tiles.
- Porcelain tiles look impressive in modern styles that tend towards minimalism. It is produced in large blocks of square or rectangular shape. And it is most often used as a stone floor covering.
The creation of ceramics is based on dry pressing technology, which allows you to very accurately convey the texture of natural materials.
In any case, no matter what option of tiles with imitation of natural stone is chosen, the room acquires originality and uniqueness with it. It is worth remembering that the more texture and texture resembles natural materials, the more liveliness it gives to the interior.
Decorating the bathroom with artificial stone
More and more buyers are choosing artificial stone for the bathroom. Why is this material so good?
First of all, it is a visual effect - beautiful, noble and unusual. Many types of stone create a presentable, chic effect.
- The material perfectly protects walls from various types of damage: bacterial fungi and mold. And this is important for a room such as a bathroom.
- Absolutely not afraid of water or splashes. You can safely build a fountain from artificial stones in your bathroom - and it will flow forever.
- Durability - this stone does not wear away and will last for decades.
- Stone walls are durable: you can install various wall and built-in cabinets, suspended ceilings and any structures.
- The color range is very wide, unlike natural materials. The use of dyes and pigments makes it possible to achieve colors unusual for natural stone.
Artificial stone in the bathroom
Stone walls
A beautiful and very practical stone looks great on the walls of the bathroom. For this purpose, a thin decorative stone is used, which is not at all afraid of moisture and does not weigh down the walls.
The stores have a huge selection. You will have to study for a long time and select a finishing stone based on texture and color. Each manufacturer releases collections annually, fashion trends are studied: and, thanks to this, your bath will become the most fashionable room.
For the walls, a thin stone is taken, with a fine texture and without large inclusions. You can also design a screen under the bathroom: a place to cover the pipes.
Stone walls
The stone floor is laid according to the principle of floor tiles. The seams are visible - and this gives a special zest to the interior.
Ceilings are rarely decorated with stone, even artificial stone: the material is heavy enough to hang over.
Bathtub in the bathroom made of artificial stone
Don't be surprised - you can build plumbing fixtures out of stone. A bathtub made of artificial stone is a chic option for replacing acrylic and cast iron. But, most often, they use a sink made of cast marble. Most often, all options are made to individual order: the designer and the homeowner.
Bathtub in the bathroom made of artificial stone
The bathtub looks massive and elegant at the same time.
Sometimes the finishing of a bathtub can imitate a bathtub made from a single piece of stone - it looks very chic and rich.
The sink is cast and can be of any shape: round, square, oval. If the countertop is made of the same material, then everything will be one piece, without gaps or cracks.
Artificial stone countertop for the bathroom
An artificial stone countertop in the bathroom will make the interior individual. Stone is a material that is easy to work with and create desired shapes. Personalized sizes and graceful shapes, perfectly matched color and texture of the stone - all this creates a designer bath.
Artificial stone countertop for the bathroom
The tabletop can be wall-mounted or mounted on a cabinet. Originally curved or flower-shaped tabletops are made only upon individual order.
The use of stone in the decoration of the bathroom will give your apartment respectability. The owner's good taste and individuality will be felt in everything - even in stone.
