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Difference Between Natural Stone And Man Made Stone  

By Tileswale

When it is about Natural Stone Vs Man Made Stone, the natural stone is the winner. When it comes to home renovation or new construction, you will come across several options. But there is no other better option than the natural stone. Many people prefer using man-made stone for backsplashes, countertops & flooring. But the renowned interior designers prefer using granite, real quartzite, marble, and limestone for home renovation. 

Here is the comparison between Natural Stone Vs Engineered Stone. It will help you to differentiate between the two and as renovate your home or construct a new home, you can choose the stone accordingly. Let’s take a look at the Difference Between natural stone and man made stone. 

stone home renovation or new construction

About Natural Stone 

For businesses & homes, brilliant natural stone has been an epitome of opulence for many years. Natural stone flooring can be found in contemporary homes. Various types of natural stones are widely used in modern homes. It includes onyx, marble, granite, soapstone, limestone, quartzite, sandstone, travertine, basalt, and slate.

The common natural stones that are used for making countertops include granite, marble, and quartzite. For the floors and fireplace, marble is a popular choice. It is widely used for making Kitchen Island.

Backsplashes are made using a mixture of a variety of natural stones including limestone & slate.

It is the expert artisan who crafts the natural stone & to make the house aesthetically appealing the designers make use of these stones. Tiles made from natural stones are safe, hygienic & durable. Floors made of natural stones are easy to clean. Natural stone is not only considered a better-quality product but it gives an elegant touch to the property. 

Natural Stone 

 

A brief overview of man-made stone

Man-made stone is manufactured in such a way that it looks completely like a real one but the quality hardly matches the natural stone. Countertops, as well as floor tiles made of man-made stone, are less durable as well as much more difficult to clean.

For outdoor purposes, man-made stone is not recommended as it leads to decay soon. A patio flooring or garden pathway does not hold up the regular wear & tear and you need to invest frequently in changing it. Outdoor space decorated with man-made stone is subject to decay and moisture retention. 

Man-made stones make use of repeatable grading but the natural stone is never copied. The manufactured material also fades with time but with natural stone, there is no such hassle.
Natural stone is artistic & authentic but for the long-term need, it is a practical option.

man-made stone

 

Comparison

Natural stone is considered to be a more durable option & offers greater longevity as the natural stone can last for several years whereas the man-made stone has a lifespan of 10-12 years. 

 

Style & color

Broad spectrums of color options are available with faux stone but in natural stone, you will not find any similarity between the two stones. Though natural stones are also available in a wide variety of colors like pink, yellow, green, black, white, blue, gray, and red. 

 

Eco-friendly & sustainable

It is very difficult to answer. This depends on where the materials are being sourced from and produced. Sustainability also depends on the extraction process. 

 

Pricing

The price of the stone depends on the quality of the stone. Premium quality man-made stone will have the same price as that of limestone or granite. Natural stones last for decades and there is no need for replacement for decades. Thus, the cost with time is quite low.

 

Making of manufactured stone

This has been a debatable topic pertinent to Natural vs Man Made Stone. What type of stone one should use completely depends on the choice of an individual. The man-made stone is molded concrete that has been colored artificially using a color that looks like real stone. The manufactured stone was introduced in the mid-century. It was introduced as the lighter version of the single alternative available at that time. 

Man-made stone is a light thin veneer composed of concrete that is comparatively easy to install. The maintenance & durability of the manufactured stone will have shortcomings always when compared with the natural stone. If the manufactured stone is of the highest quality but it will surely deteriorate with time. On the contrary, natural stone has proved its durability over time and it’s long been used by people across the globe for construction purposes.

Natural vs Man Made Stone

Pros & cons

Here are the benefits of Natural Stone Vs Veneer stone. Let’s take a look:
• Both the natural stone & manufactured stone veneer price is comparable.
• The installation charge for man-made is quite lower because of the repetitive installation method.
• Both the stones are readily available in the market.
• There are many color options available with manufactured stones. The color can be dyed on the mold as per the requirement of the individual.
• Experienced masonry is what the real stone requires & looks a lot superior when trimmed. Man-made stone has a thin layer of paint applied over the concrete. It can get exposed while working with material during installation.

Natural stone- a better option

Natural stone- a better option

Man-made stones are made using concrete that has more porosity than natural rock. The thin stone can be used on the wall. If manufactured stones are installed properly, they also it will deteriorate with time. Contemporary natural rock veneer is can be installed easily as man-made veneer. Natural stone is original & authentic & available in wide variety of color & consistency. Installation is easy and does not absorb water & retain water because of the dense composition. Due to its high durability, superior nature & presentation, natural rock veneer is considered the best option for landscaping, and outdoor and indoor projects.  

 

Benefits of using natural stone

There are several comparisons between Natural Stone Vs Cultured Stone but natural stone is of superior quality. Here are the advantages of using natural stone for construction purposes:
• It is much more durable than man-made stone as it is less porous.
• Maintenance cost is low because it can be pressure clean.
• The color of the stone never fades with time but becomes attractive with time.
• No efflorescence
• Matchless color vivacity that will certainly look better with time.
• The natural stones do not contain any harmful chemicals & are safe to use at home.
• Natural stone adds value to the property. 

Benefits of using natural stone

Natural stone is the perfect option for home construction & renovation. It comes from nature and is free from any chemicals. 
On the contrary, man-made stones are concrete that are dyed & look like natural stones but the weight is less. Premium quality man-made stones are designed to look real. Here are the three differences which you consider between Natural Stone Vs architectural stone: 

• Man-made stone cost is less
If you have budget constrain for the stone remodeling work, then it is best to consider manufactured stone than natural stone. Moreover, the transportation cost of manufactured stone is quite less as the material is light in weight. The manufactured stone also creates less waste. All pieces are pre-designed so that it fits easily. Thus, you have to dispose of fewer stones when you do not have to use them in the project.

• Natural stone is more durable
If you want a durable material for flooring that does not have to replace often and lasts longer, then natural stone is the ultimate option for you. If the purchased natural stone for home renovation or construction is authentic, then stay assured that it will go to last for several years, and can even last up to 100 years. On the contrary, man-made products might not even last for 50 years. Thus, any cracks on the surface will certainly expose the synthetic material below.

• Man-made stone has several options
The interior designer can customize the design of material by making use of man-made stone and the design can be made that harmonizes with the aesthetic look of the backyard or home. You will certainly have many options to select from other than the natural counterpart.

man-made stone and the design

Which one is most suitable?

As you know the basic difference between Natural Stone Vs Manufactured Stone, now it is up to you to decide which one will be suitable for your project. Here it goes: 
• If you have a budget crunch, then man-made stone is the best option for you.
• If you are looking for a product that must be durable &looks better even if it gets damaged, then natural stone is the ultimate option for you.

Based on the project you are doing, both natural stone & man-made stone provide many customization offers. Though the option with man-made stone is more the natural stone does not have one size that fits all.  

Which stone is most suitable

Source of the stones

The key difference between man-made & natural stone lies in the source of the stone. Countertops made of natural stone like marble, granite, travertine & limestone are created from rock slabs that are excavated from deep inside the earth. 
The formation of natural stone is a combination of different materials and molten rock which have accumulated over time giving unique color, textures & patterns. The natural stone color depends on the place from where the stone is quarried.
In contrast, a man-made stone countertop made from quartz is produced by making use of natural & man-made materials. Engineered or man-made stone mostly contain natural stone but it is made by mixing the ground stone crystal with pigment & resin during the production process for achieving the look of natural slabs.

Source of the stones

Appearance 
Technological advancement has made it possible to render a realistic look to the manufactured stone veneer. It will certainly look real from a distance. You will have several options in choosing the colors, style, and pattern that will match the real thing. But when you take a closer look, the cultured veneer just cannot stand against the genuineness of natural stone.
The natural stone is an excavating product, so you will not find two same pieces of stone. In the natural stone category, you will find a wide variety of colors & the texture of the stone will make you rub your handover the surface. This particular characteristic makes the natural stone product unique. 

Versatile & durable
When it is about the durability of the stone, the natural stone wins the race. Both the manufactured & natural stone are versatile. When you invest in the natural stone product, you just do not have to invest frequently for the replacement as it can even last for hundred years. 
If you have a color preference for cladding, then natural stone veneer must be the first preference. 

The verdict
There are both advantages and disadvantages of natural stone and manufactured stone based on the requirements & priorities. Manufactured stone is lightweight, and easy to install, and it can be installed on a wide range of non-structural substrates. With manufactured stone, lot of color options, patterns & styles to select from that will certainly look real from a distance. Though, the manufactured stone is prone to fading & wearing with time. 

The genuine nature of natural stone shells is uncompromised & you will not find the same anywhere. Regardless of advanced technology, manufactured stone cannot compete with natural stone when comes to genuineness. If the natural stone products are well installed & maintained as per the recommendation of the supplier, you just do not have to replace or repair natural stone walls ever in your lifetime.

 

Thus, it is up to you which material you will choose for your newly constructed home. But if you want to give your home a statement look, then it is recommended that you must go for the natural stone material for the walls & flooring. Let your home look fresh and alive with the use of natural stone across your home. It will surely become something to talk about. 
 


Article Updated:- July 07, 2022


Read More Articles:

  1. Best Natural Stone Countertops
  2. Stoneware: Every Thing You Need To Know
  3. Best Flooring Options

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