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Natural stone for facades and interiors

Natural stone is the most durable and recognisable facade material, but each stone has its own character: dense granite and basalt stand up to plinths and paving, soft limestone, shell limestone (coquina) and sandstone are easy to work and give a warm texture, travertine and marble suit feature surfaces, and onyx comes alive with backlighting in interiors.This section has articles on stone properties and comparisons, types of finish and slab thickness, installation methods and plinth cladding, stone protection and dealing with efflorescence, imports from India, Turkey, China and Iran, layout and 3D visualisation before purchase, as well as what makes up the price and how to order stone for a project — from sample to delivery.A separate article is devoted to Dagestan stone: the limestones and dolomites of the North Caucasus that the company works with extensively.Supply and installation are covered on the Natural stone: supply and installation page.

Natural Stone for Facades: Which Types Are Suitable

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Natural Stone for Facades: Which Types Are Suitable

Natural stone for facades means slabs and architectural elements made of rock that can withstand outdoor conditions: temperature swings, freeze-thaw cycles, precipitation, UV and pollution. Not every stone type, and not every quarry of the same stone, is suitable for cladding, so the choice is not "granite" or "limestone" in general but a specific stone with confirmed properties.The main selection criterion is the combination of frost resistance, water absorption and strength with the architectural brief and the climate. Hard stones (granite, basalt) are for plinths, steps and high loads; soft stones (limestone, sandstone, shell limestone, travertine) are for expressive wall surfaces and carved ornament in a suitable climate and with protection.This article is for architects, developers and private homeowners. For an overview, see Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Natural Stone Facade Cladding: Installation Methods

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Natural Stone Facade Cladding: Installation Methods

Natural stone facade cladding is installed in two main ways: wet fixing, where slabs are bonded to the wall with adhesive or mortar, and rainscreen (dry) fixing, where slabs hang on a metal substructure with an air gap and insulation behind them. There are also combined options, where heavy slabs are bedded in mortar but additionally secured with anchors.The main criteria for choosing a method are building height and the size and weight of the slabs. Wet fixing suits plinths, low-rise houses and small slabs; rainscreen fixing suits multi-storey buildings, large formats and cases where the facade needs insulating.This article helps architects, site managers and homeowners understand the technologies and avoid mistakes with slab thickness and joints. For an overview of materials, see Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Travertine: Properties, Types and Uses

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Travertine: Properties, Types and Uses

Travertine is a sedimentary rock, a calcareous tuff formed when calcium carbonate is deposited from mineral springs. It is recognisable by its characteristic porous structure with cavities and its layered pattern, as well as by its warm palette, from almost white and beige to walnut, gold and reddish tones.Travertine is not marble, although the two are often confused: both are carbonate rocks, but marble is metamorphic and dense, while travertine is sedimentary and porous. The main selection criterion is the intended use: a facade needs dense travertine with confirmed frost resistance and, as a rule, filled pores; for interiors the choice is wider.This article is for architects, designers and clients choosing cladding stone. More on stone types in Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Travertine for Facades: Advantages, Risks and Installation

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Travertine for Facades: Advantages, Risks and Installation

Travertine is one of the most sought-after facade cladding stones: its warm natural shades and soft texture give a building a calm, expensive look. But it is a porous sedimentary rock, and outdoors it only performs under three conditions: a dense grade with confirmed frost resistance, filled or protected pores, and correct installation with drainage.The main selection criterion is not colour but the test reports for the specific quarry. For regions with frequent freeze-thaw cycles, the requirements for travertine are higher than in the south.This article is for private homeowners, architects and developers considering travertine for facade cladding. Other stones are covered in Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Iranian vs Turkish Travertine: The Differences

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Iranian vs Turkish Travertine: The Differences

Iranian and Turkish travertine are the two largest segments of this stone on the Russian market. Both are the same rock with a similar porous layered structure, but they differ in palette, pattern and the properties of individual quarries. Iranian travertine is often chosen for its rich warm shades, from beige to red and gold; Turkish for its wide range of light cream and walnut tones and large production volumes.The main selection criterion is not the country but the specific quarry and batch: the variation in properties within one country is greater than between countries. For a facade, test reports decide; for an interior, colour and pattern come first.This article is for architects, designers and clients. Other stones are covered in Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Limestone for Facades: Types and Properties

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Limestone for Facades: Types and Properties

Facade limestone is a sedimentary rock based on calcium carbonate and one of the most widely used cladding stones in the history of architecture. It is valued for its calm light tones, soft texture and ease of working: limestone is used for slabs, blocks, cornices, window surrounds, columns and carved ornament.The main selection criterion is density. Limestones range from very dense, close to marble in their properties, to porous shell limestones; for exterior cladding in a cold climate, dense varieties with confirmed frost resistance and low water absorption are suitable, while porous ones need protection and well-designed drainage.This article is for architects, developers and homeowners. Other stones are covered in Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Shell Limestone (Coquina): Properties and Facade Cladding

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Shell Limestone (Coquina): Properties and Facade Cladding

Shell limestone, or coquina, is a sedimentary rock made of the shells and shell fragments of marine organisms cemented together by calcium carbonate. It is a light, porous limestone in warm tones ranging from cream and sand to honey. In construction it is used both as a wall block and as a cladding slab for facades, plinths, fences and interiors.The key criterion when choosing shell limestone is the density and uniformity of the specific batch: strength, water absorption and frost resistance all depend on it. Loose stone works well for walls in a dry climate, while facade cladding in a temperate climate calls for dense grades and mandatory water-repellent treatment.The material is chosen by those who value a warm natural texture and an eco-friendly product: private homeowners, architects of resort and low-rise developments, and restorers. More on other stone types in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Dagestan Stone: Types, Deposits and Applications

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Dagestan Stone: Types, Deposits and Applications

Dagestan stone is a collective name for natural cladding stone quarried in the Republic of Dagestan: above all sedimentary carbonate rocks (limestones, dolomites and shell limestones) as well as sandstones. They are valued for their light, warm palette, good workability and expressive texture.The key selection criterion is not the name “Dagestan” but the specific rock and its density: dense dolomite or limestone suits facades and plinths, while porous shell limestone suits walls and interiors with mandatory moisture protection.The material is chosen by architects and developers for the facades of residential and public buildings, and by private homeowners for cladding, fences and landscaping. An overview of other rocks is in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Dolomite: Properties and Use in Cladding

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Dolomite: Properties and Use in Cladding

Dolomite is a sedimentary carbonate rock whose main mineral is dolomite, a double carbonate of calcium and magnesium. In cladding it is a dense, light stone in white, grey, beige and yellowish tones that is harder and less porous than most limestones.The key selection criterion is the density and water absorption of the specific batch: they determine whether the stone can be used on facades, plinths and paving or only indoors.Dolomite is chosen for cladding facades, plinths, fences, paths and interiors in both private and multi-apartment construction. You can compare it with other rocks in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Sandstone for Facades and Plinths

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Sandstone for Facades and Plinths

Facade sandstone is a natural cladding stone made of cemented sand grains, most often quartz. It copes well with outdoor conditions, has a pleasant matt texture and a warm palette, from grey and greenish to yellow, red and brown.The key criterion when choosing sandstone is the type of cement binding the grains: siliceous sandstone is dense and frost-resistant, while clayey and calcareous types are softer and absorb more water. This determines whether the stone is suitable for a plinth or only for walls above splash level.Sandstone is chosen for cladding private houses, plinths, fences and landscaping, as well as for facades of public buildings where a natural material of moderate weight is needed. Other rocks are described in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Marble on the Facade: Where It Fits and How It Behaves

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Marble on the Facade: Where It Fits and How It Behaves

Marble for facades is a possible but demanding choice. It is a metamorphic rock of recrystallised calcite or dolomite: beautiful, dense and easy to polish, but outdoors it loses its shine, is sensitive to acid rain and can deform when cut thin.The key criterion is the specific type of marble and the operating conditions: dense, fine-grained grades with low water absorption and proven frost resistance suit facades, while decorative grades with many veins and cracks are best kept for interiors.Marble is chosen by architects and clients who want a prestigious look: for portals, columns, cladding of the lower floors of public buildings and mansions. More on other rocks in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

Granite for Facades and Plinths

Natural stone for facades and interiors

Granite for Facades and Plinths

Granite is the most reliable natural cladding stone for facades: an igneous rock of quartz, feldspars and mica with high strength, low water absorption, frost resistance and acid resistance. It lasts for decades without a noticeable loss of appearance, which is why it is traditionally used for plinths, entrances, steps and cladding of lower floors.The key selection criterion is purpose and finish: plinths and steps need a rough surface (flamed, bush-hammered), while polished slabs also suit vertical surfaces. The second criterion is the colour and uniformity of the batch.Granite is chosen by developers of residential complexes and public buildings, architects of business centres and private homeowners who need a durable plinth without regular repairs. More on other rocks in the section Natural stone for facades and interiors.

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