Stone cladding is worth your money

Stone cladding means a stimulated stone applied on a building as a protective and a decorative covering for an exterior or interior vertical walls and surfaces. Stone cladding in most cases is used to conceal off less appealing finishing such as concrete.
According to Bosco Ddamulira, of Passion Services, an engineer who deals only in making finishing including stone cladding, any finishing style has to be handled by a professional person who knows how to select the right stone colour, size and best positioning in order for it to bring out the beauty of one’s house.
Bosco adds that there are various styles in stone cladding but these styles must be selected by a beautifier who knows how to select styles that will suit a particular house in order to add on its beauty but if not selected well it may turn out to be mess. There are quite many types of stones used during stone cladding .These include marble, slate, granite, sand stone and lime stone.

Granite stones
These are the most resilient stones that one can be used for outdoor decorative purposes; they are not affected by any weather conditions. Granite stones appear in a range of different colours, black galaxy, and absolute black, imperial white and golden leaf depending on one’s taste.

Marble stones
Unlike granite, marble stones are not weather resistant. They are greatly affected by temperature and rain. These are mainly used for interior sceneries in coffee brown, rose wood, white onyx and rain forest green.

Slate stone
These are thin in size, long lasting and weather resistant. The slates are good for both interior and exterior views. These are grey, lime green, black, tera red in colour and are easily scratched.

How stone cladding is done
Stone cladding does not have so many technicalities but it requires buying the right stone type that will not depreciate more especially during the rainy season. Stone claddings are always used for finishing and are usually 600mmx 150mm and a thickness of 15mm. Stone claddings at times are called block slates. According to Engineer Israel Mpiima, a square meter of block slates costs between Shs4,000 to 5,000.
Stone cladding is done by applying mortar on the wall and the block slates are applied in line to bring out the beauty. These should be uniform and of less weight to reduce overloading that may induce it to fall.
This process is comprised of a cladding panel system as well to support the whole cladding procedure. However, there are a number of factors that should be looked at for the whole process to be successful and these include the durability of the stone, one has to know if they are comfortable with it. The placement, size and shape of the stones also matter a lot, not forgetting the height above the ground where the panel is installed. Once these and the rest are put in place the whole process is then on the right truck.

Costs
Slates are sold off in square meters and each is sold at Shs40, 000 for the rustic slate, white quartzite and black quartzite go for Shs60, 000. For granite and marble stones, the size of the heap ranges from Shs4,000 and above.
A heap is normally composed of four to five pieces depending on the size.

Advantages
Stone cladding is an important insulator. It insulates the house from both warm and cold air from entering the house. It also reduces other forms of pollution, more especially noise.
Stone cladding also adds elegance to your house. Stone cladding can also be done on the floors depending on one’s preference and need, it is therefore not only limited to walls.
Water Proof. Stone cladding acts as a water proof so it guards off the water that would rather enter the walls and eventually weaken them since it does not absorb water that easily.

How it is maintained
To clean the walls, use a detergent with clean water using a bristle brush.
Clean edges with a tuck pointer.
Stone cladding can also be maintained by a glazing cream. This is basically a preservative that maintains the colour of the block slates without wearing out.

Advice
According to Engineer Israel Mpiima, Stone claddings cannot be applied everywhere on the house because it may loss it is essence since it’s only for beautifying. So if applied anywhere it may become monotonous. Depending on one’s prefaces there is a stone out there to fit in skillfully with your lifestyle and home.