Finishing the balcony with stone

The main goal of modern design is not only to create the original interior, but also to save usable space. In order to create an additional cozy corner in the house, various options are used, among which special attention should be given to the arrangement of the balcony. A well-designed balcony can be a bedroom, a study or just a great place to read. Recently, for the decoration of this hinged construction prefer to use stone. The result is a unique, durable, beautiful and practical design.

As a basic material for decoration, both natural and decorative stone are used. The huge popularity of this design is due to high moisture resistance, impact resistance and fire safety. In addition, artificial stone allows you to create an unusual atmosphere of warmth and comfort. Finishing the balcony with a stone is considered cost-effective,Due to the high quality of the material, it can be operated for a long time without additional costs for restoring the original look.

Prior to installation, it is recommended to pre-warm and glaze the balcony, and then do the design of the walls. By choosing different types of natural or decorative stone from the balcony you can make a small but beautiful room. It should be noted that each rock has its own special patterns. Therefore, installing marble on the walls, you can visually expand the space, give it a noble shine, but granite is well suited for the classic style of the design, filling the room with a taste of chic and sophistication.

One of the most popular types of balcony is stone trim. If earlier this element of the decor was considered very expensive and not accessible to everyone, then today, thanks to modern production, there are many types of artificial stone that are not inferior to natural material. The main advantages of decorative materials include:

• Beautiful appearance. Often similar to paving slabs, it consists of various reinforcing additives, cement, sand and plasticizers. Its ease of installation and cost directly depend on the components.
• Strength. Performance characteristics are fully consistent with natural material, although at its price it is much cheaper. In addition, the stone is well resistant to external and mechanical stress.
• Easy installation. Decorative stone is easy to finish, does not require additional processing, so installation work can be performed without the help of craftsmen.

• Small weight.
• Huge selection of colors, textures and sizes.
• Perfect heat resistant material. Artificial stone is characterized by high fire resistance, does not respond to temperature changes and does not support the combustion process.
• Corrosion Resistance. On the surface of the walls never appears fungus.
• High thermal insulation. This type of finish serves as an additional balcony insulation.
• Environmental friendliness and safety for health. Does not emit medium substances into the air.

For the decoration of the balcony is used as a natural and artificial stone.At the same time, the last option is not inferior to natural raw materials. Decorative material has a beautiful appearance, weighs a little, is easy to install, much stronger and more practical. This is very important, because when you make a balcony, you must take into account the maximum allowable load on the plates. If overloaded, the hinged structure may sink. Today there are the following types of decorative stone:

• Quartz.
• Based on concrete.
• Porcelain tiles.
• Gypsum.
• Acrylic.
• Conglomerate.

All of the above types of stones in their technical properties are no different among themselves, although they are made in various ways. So, the finishing material based on concrete is made from sand, cement, special reinforcing additives and various plasticizers. Often in its composition also found pumice stone, expanded clay and crumb. This stone can be used to finish any surface.

• Porcelain stoneware considered the strongest option for construction work. It consists of coloring pigments, minerals, clay and feldspar. In the production process, it is subjected to additional pressing, which provides the stone with high strength.Externally, the material resembles a glass tile.

• Conglomerate refers to no less durable types of decorative stones and is a raw material consisting of quartz sand, lime powder, marble and coloring elements. The main characteristic of this material is considered to be high resistance to temperature extremes, durability and long service life.

• Acrylic stone its technical properties exceeds all types of decorative elements. It is not subjected to deformation, is not afraid of moisture, weighs little, never fade in the sun and is easy to lay, therefore it has the best consumer reviews. In addition to all this, at the moment there is a huge selection of stones presented in different colors and sizes.

In practice, there are two main ways of finishing the balcony with stone.

The first is to finish the walls with the jointing, and the second seamlessin which material is laid as tightly as possible, as a result there is no space between the joints. This type of masonry is mainly suitable for more experienced craftsmen.During the installation work, it is impossible to allow the leakage of excess adhesive, which can cause subsequent contamination of the face of the tile, because it is very difficult to clean the porous material from the adhesive.

Technology laying decorative stone in a seamless way shown in the video.

Jointing methodAs a rule, it is recommended for beginners veneers. The gaps between the rows of tiles expose using special horizontal pads, through which the control of the masonry of each row, which, in turn, prevents the appearance of irregularities and flaws on the tile. Construction glue dries completely after 48 hours, after which the master can grout the joints. The grout is used in various colors.

The laying process itself is performed as follows:

• Separate parts of the tiles laid on the floor, given the pattern that will be applied to the wall.
• Stripping of the base of the walls for laying is performed. During installation, it is recommended to use a profile as a support. The first row of the stone can not begin to lay with the floor, bottom, as a rule, make trimming.
• Building glue is being prepared. To do this, according to the instructions carefully stir and leave for 10 minutes.
• Using a comb, glue is applied first to the wall, then on the finishing material.
• Every single fragment The tiles are glued by light pressure.