Stone effect or the real deal?

The true mark of any style, design or brand that can be given the much sought after accolade of being said to have survived the fickle finger of fashion is to be imitated.

It is often part of a desire in businesses to achieve quick success by emulating part of what makes the original unique, including a long-standing reputation.

Stone is certainly a case in point – probably the most imitated of all surface finishes.

Natural stone has been used for architecture and interior design for thousands of years. It has a reputation of being both a material of aspiration and utility, from streets paved in granite and sandstone taking the footfall of all walks of life to the exquisite marbles found in the palaces of kings and the bathrooms of the rich and famous.

One of the trends we are witnessing in the world of design at the moment is that of ‘stone-effect’ products, particularly ceramic or porcelain tiles.

It is, of course, (as the aphorism goes) the sincerest form of flattery to be imitated. But there is a danger of misinformation getting mixed up in that imitation.

The CE Marking legislation enshrined in construction law requires suppliers to provide their customers with the true name of stones they are selling, not just a marketing name.

It’s this same concept of transparency, of knowing what the product is and what it isn’t, that drives our desire to ensure that customers know that ‘stone-effect’ products are just that – an imitation; not the real thing.

Many of the leading ‘stone-effect’ products take advantage of the aesthetics of popular marbles, granites and slates, printing photographs of the originals on to the surfaces of porcelain and ceramics and creating textures that give the appearance of the natural materials. The products are even given the names of the stones they copy – Carrara, Calacatta, Marquina and so many more.

What does natural stone offer the customer that imitations do not?

Texture. From the fossils found in limestones to the natural, subtle layers of slate, texture is a strong selling point for using natural stone in interior spaces.

The three-dimensional dynamic that a feature wall of unpolished, naturally textured stone can provide is stunning. It is no wonder it is on the increase.

Unlike man-made materials, the same piece of natural stone can be finished in a number of ways,  providing the texture best suited to the application – polished, honed, brushed, riven, bush-hammered… and many more.

Impact. The geological striations and subtle colour variations found in marbles create a striking aesthetic desired for interiors worldwide, from hotels and the internal walls of commercial projects through to floors and countertops.

In a market where individuality is key, natural stone truly delivers, with every individual piece unique. Consequently, the visuals natural stone can deliver are striking. And will not be repeated anywhere else. Ever. That is the strongest of all identities to impart on designed spaces of all description.

Durability. As a result of the geological processes that result in stone, often involving heat and pressure over millions of years, natural stone is an incredibly hard-wearing material.

You need only look at the centuries old limestone buildings of London (such as St Paul’s Cathedral), granite-paved streets of Aberdeen or the Clipsham-rich architecture of Oxford to see evidence of the longevity of natural stone.

This longevity is also where natural stone holds its own in terms of value. While some ‘stone-effect’ materials might cost less to buy, the advantage disappears when the costing is based on price per year and on-going maintenance. Here natural stone again scores highly.

In the end it comes down to one simple question: why settle for an imitation when the real deal has so much to offer in both design and value terms?