Choosing Faux Panels for Decoration

There’s nothing better than real stone when it comes to decor, right? But, what happens when you don’t want to spend a fortune? You opt for faux panels, of course. This is a much cheaper alternative, so if you want to learn more about faux panels, then keep on reading.

What Are Faux Stone Panels, Anyway?

As the name suggests, faux stones are fake versions of real stone that can be used in your home’s exterior. At first glance, they look real, but if you touch or hold them, they’re lightweight and cheaper than real stone. Faux stone panels are easy to apply. They require no mortar or grout whatsoever – just glue. They come in different patterns and colors that make them look natural, so they have an aesthetically-pleasing look.

Natural stone on the other hand, is quarried from the earth. It’s much heavier at more than 170 pounds per cubic foot. Not a lot of people have the skills to work with stone, even if they have prior experience with ceramic tile.

Faux Stone Panel: Pros and Cons

Faux stone panels have many advantages. However, before buying them for your house, there are some pros and cons to be considered. The guide below will be helpful if you’re new to the world of faux stone panels.

Pro: Appearance

The first and most important advantage of faux stone panels is the appearance and how well they mimic real stone. From a distance, they look exactly the same. The same thing goes for manufactured veneer stone, which is also a type of faux stone. We recommend getting a sample and checking whether it matches your home or interior, so you don’t waste money.

Con: Durability

The first feature added to list of cons is faux stone panels’ durability. Since they’re not real stone, they’re usually lacking in this aspect. Faux stone manufacturers don’t claim that these can withstand anything because obviously they can’t. However, they can hold up pretty well if you know how to keep them away from sharp things or children.

Pro: Installation

Since faux stone is lightweight, it can be installed by any contractor, making your job much easier. Another thing is that your building is safe because it doesn’t collect mold on the inside, even if the contractor does a poor job at installing it.

Con: Fire Rating

Another con is that, although faux stone panel is made of foam, the majority of them are fire-rated. They also endure a smoke density test for more than five minutes. Depending on the manufacturer, some non-fire rated panel have a 600-degree rate, which is still hotter for a fireplace, so it’s not really recommended to install them on a fireplace.

Pro: No Environmental Damage

Since real stone comes from the earth, it makes sense that the environment is damaged when mining for them. Faux stones are a better alternative not only for the price, but also for the environment. Apart from this, you might even end up inspiring other people when they look at your home’s exterior because of how good it looks.

Brands that Manufacture High-Quality Faux Stone

Before making your final decision, it’s also important to take a closer look at brands and what they represent. Do they make high-quality faux stone that resembles real stone or are they just a scam? Our top brands include:

• Cultured Stone
• Coronado Stone
• El Dorado

Conclusion

There are so many benefits of installing faux stone, starting from the aesthetics all the way to stone mining. They look amazing and they’re easy to install. So, if you’re ever in the mood to boost your curb appeal, redo your siding, or fix the gutters, faux stone should be your first option.