Are you decorating your home? You are likely wondering if the engineered stone is better than natural stone for your home. It is a new concept, and it is taking over the market. Here we will look at the benefits of natural stone versus engineered stone. If you are looking for superb quality natural travertine stone for your home decor or outdoor areas, click here. If you want to learn more about the difference between natural and engineered stone, keep reading this article.
Engineered stone is an entirely synthetic construction system based on natural. It is easy to use and efficient, with many different applications that allow you to take design to the next level. Individualized details (sinks, countertops, ornaments) can be made of it, including complete projects (bathroom tiles, floors, facades – the whole interior can get done this way).
What Is Engineered Stone?
Made from 90% recycled materials (natural) and obtained as a residual material after processing natural stones (marble steps, countertops, etc.), this stone imitates real natural stone.
In most cases, it is made based on marble or quartz. The remaining 10% are adhesives and resins that solder the raw material and give the newly produced material very high strength (more than that of marble or quartz).
What Does It Look Like Initially?
Its original appearance (after its production) is large homogeneous blocks. They can be used to make all kinds of countertops, steps, various ornaments tiles, and the spectrum is almost inexhaustible. In the most general case they get cut into sheets measuring 70×118 inches. Their thickness is 0.78 inches. Then almost all products are made by cutting these “boards.”
What Are its Advantages?
Great strength (due to the resins used); Huge variety of colors, look, and feel. You can dye it in all kinds of shades and colors. The engineered stone is easy to use (the material is homogeneous, with no pores or cracks). You can secure huge areas without visible defects.
What Types Are There According to Their Composition?
Quartz-Based
Quartz-based engineered stone is suitable for kitchen countertops. They are most often done with this type of engineered quartz stone. They are based on quartz because it is stronger, and there is no problem with dropping hard and sharp objects on it. (knives and other household accessories).
Marble-based
Marble-based engineered stone is softer than quartz and is, therefore, used mainly in the bathroom (bathroom countertops, thresholds for showers, etc.). In this option, it is crucial to avoid contact with sharp and hard objects (e.g., knives, pots, hammers, etc.);
How Is It Processed?
Engineered stone is processed by specialized machines, often with diamonds (diamond is used to cut almost all hard materials with great precision).
Natural Stone
Now, lets talk about natural stone. Nothing could ever beat nature. That’s why, if you want exquisiteness and sophistication in your home, we suggest that you go for the natural stone. Travertine, for example, is the perfect example of beauty and durability. This stone gets formed in the Earth over millions of years. It’s durability has been proven as it has withstood the test of time. The Colosseum is the perfect example of travertine withstanding time. We don’t know if engineered stone will be able to ace that test yet. It is done with a fairly new type of technology. Natural stone however is primarily created naturally and it’s processing is based on that natural production.
What are the advantages of Natural stone?
The great qualities of natural stone cannot be overlooked. It feels and looks real, because that’s exactly what it is. Most of the natural stone is durable enough to be a part of your everyday life and without you having to maintain it too much. Natural stone also changes through time, because, for instance, limestone has a porous texture, that may change a bit as the tiles age. That makes it even more interesting.
What are the most famous stones for home interior decor?
Travertine
Famous for its timeless aesthetics, travertine has mesmerized people for decades. It is considered the stone of emperors. It is a form of limestone, and it is famous for its beautiful porous textures, natural feel, and creamy colors. Many professional architects and designers worldwide prefer working with limestone when they do more contemporary projects, as well. As we said – the stone is timeless.
Marble
Marble is considered a metamorphic rock formed from limestone – exposed to high temperature and pressure. Travertine is actually Marble unsettled. So we can safely say that Marble is the final stage of Travertine. It is also formed naturally on the Earth, and its formation also takes millions of years. It is one of the best materials, highly sought after by designers and architects as it too gives a natural and aristocratic feel to every interior.
In Conclusion…
Whichever type of stone you choose for your home, we are sure it will be marvelous. However, before you decide to go with the engineered stone version, we suggest you consider the natural options. Nothing can beat nature, and we are sure that the same goes for decorative materials. You can check out Saturnia Travertini’s options of high-quality travertine stone tiles that can suit absolutely any interior or exterior decor.
