How to choose external stone cladding for your house?
Stone is a wonderful cladding material which is being used both internally and externally by many homeowners. If you’re planning on implementing it outside of your building, it is essential to select the right type of stone, which will provide you with the most benefits of this material. But how to choose external stone cladding for your house? Let’s find out which features are the most significant!
Focus on the performance
Most often than not, we tend to focus on the insides of our buildings, but the exterior design is equally important. Every homeowner should carefully choose the type of finish, which will influence the overall look of a house. While selecting an external stone cladding, you should focus on several factors, which will allow you to assess the performance of the material. The first one is the durability of the stone - you should aim for types which are known for their longevity, resistance to extreme weather conditions as well as their tasteful ageing. For this reason, you should avoid delicate types such as limestone, which are not the best at withstanding rapid weather changes. Stone cladding can benefit the insulation of the building, so make sure to choose the type of stone that can be used that way. Next is the installation process - some stones can be much more demanding, and they require help from professionals, who can set them up securely and safely. Of course, we can’t forget about the maintenance of the external stone cladding - ask your supplier and select the type that won’t require much work from you. We should also think about the environmental impact of the stone we choose - it’s best to select a type that is offered by a closeby manufacturer, and doesn’t have to be shipped from the other half of the world.
Find the right aesthetic
One of the main advantages of choosing the external stone cladding is the sheer amount of the available options. On the market, you will find various styles, colours and finishes of the stone, which will allow you to select the perfect version. Of course, you should look closely at the characteristics of each type of stone and see if it is suitable for exterior cladding in your climate. But besides that, you should choose the style that resonates the most with you as well as with the design of your house and garden. What to look for?
- Colour - Natural stone is available in many different colours - from white and sandy tones, through various shades of grey and brown, all the way to black hues. How to choose a stone cladding for a house? You can select a preferred colour and ask manufacturers about the available types of stones in that shade.
- Pattern - Each type of stone can also have a unique pattern such as veining or terrazzo.
- Texture - If you like a modern and minimalistic look, you can select smooth and polished external cladding. But if you want to add some interesting texture, then you can choose from the finish which is finely or coarsely grained.
