If you’re looking for a bold but understated way to stand out from the interior design crowd, stone tile cladding could be the wall treatment you are looking for. Suitable for use both inside and outside the home, tile cladding can be eye-catching, stylish, and has a timeless aesthetic appeal that will stay gorgeous for years. In this post we take a look at what stone tile cladding is and how it can be used, so you can make an informed decision as to whether stone wall cladding is right for your home needs.
What Is Stone Tile Cladding?
Stone tile cladding is a wall treatment designed to look like tile, without the profound irregularity of full stone walls, while keeping the natural beauty and lustre of a natural stone finish. Stone cladding involves putting a layer of wall cladding stones onto another surface, to form stone veneers or a decorative wall covering.
Cladding tiles are typically cheaper than a full stone tile, so can give great visual results with little investment, and you aren’t forced into a ‘rustic’ look by default, as there are many modern styles available. Cladding has been traditionally used more for external wall projects and its one of the best natural materials for exterior wall cladding panels.
Stone cladding tiles can be used outside for all sorts of outdoor projects, including garden walls, water features and outdoor fireplaces. For example, cladding tiles for exterior walls are commonly used around patios and decks, or as a backdrop to seating areas, giving the area character and extra shine. It helps create a spa-like vibe, encouraging people to relax and view the area as an outdoor retreat. It also makes an entertainment area feel homely, giving a touch of the French Riviera even in winter. It can also be used effectively to create the illusion of better space in a small or awkwardly shaped courtyard.
Depending how it’s used, stone tile cladding can work in living spaces too, such as a living room or reception room. It makes an interesting and eye-catching kitchen tile treatment for splashbacks, and looks magnificent around fireplaces. It’s also a great way to make a feature wall and can be used in everything from home offices and home yoga studios, to entertainment rooms. Stone tile cladding also makes a great ‘modern spa’ atmosphere that’s soothing and attractive.
As you can see, there are endless possibilities for using natural stone panels in your home and garden projects and it’s an excellent choice for cladding tile designs.
Does Stone Tile Cladding Have Any Benefits?
Outside of aesthetics, does stone tile cladding have any other benefits? The natural look and feel is a big draw for many people, and creating a bold, daring, and stylish space can add value to your property. It’s also a simple way to camouflage boring walls, creating an attractive facade, and can be used to upgrade the look of tired, old homes into a more modern building design.
Due to its natural construction, tile cladding makes for a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors, so can be used for a wide variety of internal and external home projects and renovations. It’s a strong and durable material, is weather and fire-resistant and, if maintained properly, it will have a long lifespan.
Stone tile cladding is also surprisingly versatile, fitting into several designs and homes. What you may not realize is that stone can be a great natural source of insulation, helping to keep the home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, plus your energy bills lower. Provided you invest in quality tiles and install them properly, they are also very low maintenance. It’s difficult to chip, stain, or break, and a pressure washer will restore them to full glory.
When used on exterior walls, stone tile cladding can add an extra degree of security and protection to the structure of your home. It helps add protection from cracks or structural damage occurring and may add an extra layer of strength against bad weather conditions, such as high winds, high temperatures and rain.
If you’re looking for a classy way to ease the transition through an indoor/outdoor area, or to introduce a restful touch of Mother Nature into your home, natural stone cladding could be perfect for you. It’s also a versatile and useful treatment for outdoor entertainment areas, and can dress up dull walls without major renovations or the need for constant maintenance.
What Types Of Stones Are Used For Tile Cladding?
A variety of different types of stones can be used for tile cladding, ensuring that there are plenty of different natural stone wall colours and finishes available.
For example, some of the common type of natural stone products include sandstone, marble, slate, granite, quartzite and limestone tiles. The cost of the stone tiles varies depending on what type of stone you choose (and in general it’s a more expensive option than other types of cladding tiles, such as vinyl, wood, brick, aluminium or stainless steel cladding), so this is something to bear in mind when you’re exploring popular designs and deciding which would look best for your home project. If you’re looking for external stone cladding, then aim to choose tiles that are study and will withstand the test of time.
You also need to take into consideration the installation cost of having tile cladding – for the highest quality and best end result, it’s always better to use the services of a qualified professional with experiences of fitting cladding. Unless you have building experience, it’s not recommended that you install tile cladding yourself.
Summary
Whether you’re looking to improve the exterior look and structure of your home, create an outdoor project or use cladding inside your home, natural stone tile cladding is a versatile and effective material to choose and has heaps of benefits. Depending on what type of stone you use, it won’t necessarily be a cheap material, but for a long-lasting, quality finish, stone tile cladding could be a good investment and may add value to your home in the long-term.
Would you consider installing stone tile cladding in your home? Be sure to let us know your own thoughts or experiences with this novel cladding choice in the comments below.
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With stone cladding, it is best to seek the advice of a licenced stonemason or builder to ensure the structural integrity of the wall it will be installed on. As Stone Cladding can weigh anywhere between 80 to 100kg, you will need to ensure there is enough mechanical fixing to the substate to carry the weight. Great post by the way.