Covering homes with elegant-looking ‘stones’

Today’s homeowners are spending significantly more time and money on making their home much more appealing. And one way of increasing aesthetics is either using actual stones or better, manufactured stone wall cladding.

Manufactured stone wall cladding is the most economical way of enjoying the understated elegance that actual stones offer. Deeply evocative of the natural environment, such cladding can be used to create a wide range of effects from the sublime to the strikingly bold.

“Stone is such a strong design element that the applications are limitless and with manufactured stone cladding, one could create any design statement, from gracefully formal to relaxed and casual,” said architect Kirdwin Cu, marketing manager of GT Stoneworks.

According to Cu, GT Stoneworks products have been in the US market for the past 30 years but only introduced in the Philippines in the late 1990s.

Manufactured stone wall cladding replicates the texture and color of natural stone at a fraction of the price. With its precut sizes, installation is  much more convenient since one doesn’t have to cut the stone pieces, especially when doing corners.

A manufactured stone wall cladding is made using a ceramic binder, natural-blended colorants and lightweight aggregates.

Most extensive design choices

Among the local companies providing wall cladding in the market, GT Stoneworks (gtstoneworks.com.ph) offers one of the most extensive design choices: over 50 different profiles in a variety of designs, texture and colors.

“Just choose the profile and texture you want and you can have it any color combination you desire. For residential dwellings’ exterior profiles, the Classic line offers finishes that resemble ledgestone, sandstone, riverstone and more, while the Modern line has a contemporary theme that complements any finishes inside the modern home,” Cu shared.

Cu explained that many Filipinos find manufactured stone wall cladding a better alternative to a natural stone finish. The wall generally serves as the focal point of any structure, which explains why wall cladding’s versatility makes it usable both inside and outside the home.

“In fact, a modern design profile used indoors could cut down on painting expense while for contemporary homes it would go well for those looking for a minimalist look,” he said.

Cu added that manufactured stone wall cladding offers a competitive option to natural stone, which are quarried (marble, travertine, onyx, quartzite, limestone and sandstone) and mostly are imported, hence their more expensive price.

“And unlike natural stones, products like GT Stoneworks are lightweight. A piece of wall cladding weighs about 12 pounds per square foot. While the much heavier natural stones will need additional reinforcements to anchor onto walls, GT Stoneworks stone wall claddings will adhere directly to the walls by using stone adhesives,” Cu assured.

Weather conditions

To protect the stones from changing weather conditions, GT Stoneworks also offers sealers to keep away dirt and grime that may accumulate through the years.

As one of the country’s leading makers of manufactured stone wall claddings, GT Stoneworks is a major innovator with regard to indoor and outdoor wall finishing, according to Cu.

“Our manufactured stone wall cladding has already captured the attention of architects, property developers and homeowners because of its durability and also for being lightweight and easy installation. Availability is also not a problem since all designs and colors are readily available for shipment anywhere in the country,” he explained.

Aside from manufactured stone wall claddings, GT Stoneworks also offers the Concrete Stamping System that use decorative concrete for floorings of large areas in resorts, hotels, town halls, among others; paving blocks (under its Paving Blocks System) and outdoor furniture (under the GT Designworks brand).

GT Stoneworks products are available at all Wilcon Depot and Supply outlets nationwide. “Wilcon displays all of the selection of profiles and colors for our wall claddings and floor stamping. We have technical representatives at each store who can answer any questions one might have about our stones as well as give you pointers on area measurement and installation guidelines,” Cu informed.