The best natural stone for outdoor cladding

Natural stone is a popular material for cladding exterior and interior walls. It looks unique, is attractive and robust. It enhances rooms and surroundings and brings the freshness of nature with it. Which natural stone is best for outdoor cladding?

These natural stones are suitable for outdoor use

Granite – One of the hardest natural stones, ideal for use in the open air. Thanks to its robustness, natural charisma and versatility, it is one of the most popular natural stones. Every granite slab is one of a kind and adds extra value to your house. On the facade , granite makes a strong statement.

Sandstone – Resistant, long-lasting, easy to work and available in many patterns: sandstone is in no way inferior to other stones. Because it can cope with any weather, it is particularly well suited to outdoor use. It brings warmth to its surroundings and completes the look of a building. We mainly stock rough-finished sandstone in several colours, mostly in shades of grey, beige, red and brown.

Travertine – It is suitable for wall cladding indoors and outdoors. Travertine is a decorative sedimentary stone available in light and dark shades. Typical are its small air pores, created by the long deposition of minerals. The fewer the pores, the higher the quality of the travertine. On request we fill the pores with a filler. The surface looks antique and underlines the warmth of the house. Travertine copes with large temperature differences and therefore any weather. For facades we recommend brushed or honed travertine: this shows off its special texture and makes the facade look rustic and modern at the same time.

Limestone – A readily available stone, very robust and resistant to damp climates, but sensitive to acids. Outdoors, acid rain and erosion can wear away fine details. Limestone is not only a building material but also a popular Decorative stone in architecture: it complements and emphasises the design of buildings and looks elegant and timeless.

Quartzite – It has similar properties to granite but looks different. Quartzite is extremely hard and, thanks to its robustness, fine texture and special beauty, has become an essential part of modern building solutions. It comes in grey, brown, beige and green. It is mainly used outdoors, for the Facade cladding and other walls. Natural stone can be combined endlessly and suits many styles. Its beautiful appearance and the trend towards natural, environmentally friendly and long-lasting materials make it ever more popular.

Where can you use natural stone outdoors?

You can use outdoor natural stone for cladding the facade or part of the facade, as flooring on the balcony or terrace, as slabs around the pool, for stone paths across the lawn, for designing fences, retaining walls and columns, for cladding a summer kitchen and much more.

Dark Natural stone is less suitable for very sunny areas: it stores heat and gets very hot in summer. Bear in mind too that some stones are slippery, especially when wet. Do not lay such stones by the pool or other water features, otherwise there is a risk of falls and injuries.

Before buying, find out about the different types of stone and what is available, because the choice is huge. Choose a stone that suits the intended location and harmonises with the other elements. If it is meant to stand out, it can also be a bolder stone.

At Marnit you will find a wide choice of natural stones in stock. Write to us at office@marnit.at or call us on +43 699 16028713. We are happy to help you choose.