Reconstructed stone: what it is and why it is convenient to use it

An environment covered with natural stone has an unrivaled charm. Unfortunately, however, materials such as marble and granite they have quite high costs.
But if you want to give an elegant and refined charm to a corner of your living room or cover an entire wall, there is a cheaper solution.
There reconstructed stone it is in fact an excellent alternative to natural stone. Beautiful, resistant and inexpensive, it is almost identical to the original material.
It is a material that is having great success and is being used more and more often in the construction sector.

Let’s find out more.

Contents of this Page

• 1 Reconstructed stone: what it is
• 2 Reconstructed stone: production process
• 3 Reconstructed stone: types
• 4 Reconstructed stone for outdoors
• 5 Reconstructed stone for interiors
• 6 Reconstructed stone: laying
• 7 Reconstructed stone: advantages
• 8 Reconstructed stone: areas of use
• 9 Reconstructed stone: price

• 10 Reconstructed stone: our selection

  • 10.1 Pietraelite
  • 10.2 Leroy Merlin
  • 10.3 Paolo Barzotti

Reconstructed stone: what it is

Reconstructed stone is a material that simulates the natural look of rocks such as marble and granite.
Panels are made to be glued on walls or floors to simulate a construction made with natural stones, rounded or broken boulders, with a final cost certainly lower than what would be necessary to carry out the same work using natural material.

Reconstructed stone can be used both indoors and outdoors, on large surfaces (entire walls or facades) and smaller areas (such as a fireplace).

It is obtained by mixing selected natural aggregates (such as sand and gravel) with a binder (usually cement or gypsum). Finally, if necessary, the surface is colored with suitable pigments.

To reduce the final weight, the aggregates can also be partially replaced with light materials (such as ground polystyrene or expanded clay). In this case we speak of lightened reconstructed stone.

Reconstructed stone: production process

The reconstructed stone, for the very purpose it is called upon to perform, is made after a careful analysis of the composition of the original material to be simulated, in order to obtain a practically perfect similarity.

Once the stone to be imitated has been identified, a sample is taken, to be kept as a model for the creation of the artificial mixture.

At this point it is also necessary to study the shape and size of the individual stones to prepare the molds for pouring the liquid mixture that is cooked or dried.

The stones obtained will have an external appearance similar to the original, but will be lighter, more eco-sustainable and cheaper.

Reconstructed stone: types

Basically there are two types of reconstructed stone that differ according to the type of binder used to make the mixture:

• Gypsum-based stones: light type and to be used exclusively indoors as it is porous

• Cement-based stones: ideal for both outdoors and indoors as they withstand loads well and are not afraid of frost

Reconstructed stone for exteriors

Reconstructed stone coverings for exteriors must be sturdy, solid and easy to handle. These are types specially developed to be durable over time without undergoing any alteration. They must be able to resist external agents such as bad weather and frost, and temperature variations.

From an aesthetic point of view, the reconstructed stone for exteriors must resemble natural stone as much as possible, so that the final work, which can be a load-bearing stone wall, is as truthful and realistic as possible.

Precisely for this reason, particular attention is paid to the coloring which, as in the case of real stone, must not be homogeneous and uniform, but moved and uneven. This effect is achieved by using the best quality permanent mineral oxides.

Reconstructed stone for interiors

Even the reconstructed stone for interiors faithfully reproduces nature. However, compared to stone used outdoors, indoor stone can also be less resistant.

It is a material that adapts to any room:

• living room
• bathroom
• bedroom
• kitchen
• study

For indoor use, reconstructed stone has a high decorative power more than anything else. Its advantage is to harmonize well with any style and type of design, either classic that contemporary.

Reconstructed stone: laying

The installation can take place on various types of underlying coatings. It is not particularly difficult and those with good dexterity can avoid resorting to specialized labor.

There are 2 types of laying:

• gluing: very easy system, you can use a normal universal glue and, according to the aesthetic result you want to obtain, you can proceed with a grouting
• interlocking system, which does not require the use of a binder

However, in both cases, there are however some precautions to take into account:

• the underlying base must be free of imperfections and paints, homogeneous and well cleaned. Otherwise, the material will not adhere well to the surface and therefore will not be completely stable
• better to start laying from the bottom, exerting a slight pressure on each panel
• naturalness is an important criterion to be respected: the final effect must be regular but not too much
• at the end of the work, remove traces of dust and processing residues by simply wiping with a dry cloth

Reconstructed stone: advantages

Now let’s see what are the advantages of using veneered stone:

• Ecological
• Lightweight
• Economic
• Easy to assemble
• Applicable on any type of surface
• Hyper-realistic
• Frost resistant
• UV resistant
• There is a version for both outdoor and indoor
• It fits well in both classic and more modern and design contexts

Reconstructed stone: areas of use

Artificial stone is used instead of natural stone, not so much for the construction of buildings, as for the cladding of external facades and internal walls.

Its use covers different areas. Here are the main ones:

• indoor and outdoor flooring
• cladding of internal walls and external facades
• interior finishes (e.g. porches, fireplaces…)
• create decorative effects with a high visual impact
• restoration

Reconstructed stone: price

Cheaper than natural stone, it is still more expensive than other building materials. This depends on the processing required to reconstruct an artificial stone element.
On average, the price per square meter ranges from 40.00 to 60.00 euros. The larger the surface to be covered, the more the price increases.
On average, for a small portion to be coated, such as the one around a fireplace, the final price can be around 150.00 / 200.00 euros.

Reconstructed stone: our selection

Here are some examples of what can be found on the market.

Pietraelite

Established in 2006, Pietraelite was formed as a manufacturing company of reconstructed stone coverings and, from the very beginning, it has distinguished itself for its attention to innovation, raw materials and the quality of the finishes.

The collection of its products is divided into categories:

• traditional: very classic line whose reference to tradition is evoked by the names of the types of cladding proposed (Adamello, Botticino, Camelot, Cervino)
• Contemporary: with modern textures or that skilfully combine rustic and modern style
• exclusive: a line that includes refined tones and finishes
• shine: its special formulation allows the material to absorb the radiation of sunlight to release a luminescent radiation when the environment is darkened
• diamond: a unique and precious element thanks to the skilful combination and application of stone and Swarovski crystals
• unique: made exclusively by hand, customizable with any RAL color on specific request and applicable to any model of the collections to embellish shapes and reliefs

And finally, the section Color stone: any type of reconstructed stone in the catalog, in addition to the numerous colors already available, can be ordered in the preferred RAL color.

Leroy Merlin

At Leroy Merlin it is possible to find more basic and less sought after but more affordable coverings.

• Helsinky natural stone decorative coating.
  Recommended for covering the shower and the back of the kitchen, it is also suitable for outdoor environments. 64.90 euros / sqm
• Decorative coating Gray / beige stone. Very simple, only 12.90 euros / sqm

• Natural stone 60 × 60 cm, 30 mm thick.
  Square in systetized stone with a yield of 45 kg / m2, ideal for outdoor flooring, swimming pools, cladding. 402.60 euro / pc

• Natural stone 120 × 60 cm, Th 20 mm.
  Rectangular in systetized stone with a yield of 45 kg / m2, ideal for outdoor flooring, swimming pools, cladding. 270.84 euro / pc
• Natural stone 60 × 60 cm, Th 20 mm.
  Square in systetized stone with a yield of 45 kg / m2, ideal for outdoor flooring, swimming pools, cladding. 421.63 euro / pc

Paolo Barzotti

Paolo Barzotti offers many types of cheap reconstructed stone cladding that can be easily purchased online. Here are some examples.

• Capuchin Castor 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 m2 13.00 euros
• Arcada amber 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 sqm 14.00 euros
• Arcada gray 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 sqm 14.00 euros
• Arena graphite 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 sqm 14.00 euros
• Espania cappuccino 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 sqm 14.00 euros
• Corona gray 37.5 × 10 Pack 0.41 m2 13.00 euros
• Espania cinnamon 37.5 × 10. Pack 0.41 sqm 14.00 euros
• Link stone gray 37.5 × 10 Pack 0.41 m2 14.00 euros