Natural stone and artificial stone compared: durability, look and price

For centuries stone has stood for beauty, elegance and durability. Today we come across it more and more often in and around the house.

Whether you prefer the warm tones of natural limestone or the perfect uniformity of artificial surfaces depends on the effect you want.

Are you renovating or building and want to include stone, but are not sure whether you should choose natural or artificial stone? Here we introduce both with their advantages.

Natural stone

Natural stone tells the story of nature, because it is extracted directly from the quarry. Every piece is unique in colour, pattern and texture.

There are many natural stones, such as Granite, Marble, Travertine, Sandstone, Slate, Limestone and many more. Each has its own character and its own warmth.

Artificial stone

Artificial stone is manufactured in a factory from several components. It consists of 90% fine natural stone particles and 10% colourants and binders, which allows a huge variety of colours and finishes.

In feel, artificial stone is very similar to natural stone.

Natural stone and artificial stone compared

• Looks – natural stone is a natural material. Its unique beauty exists only in nature, and that is what makes it so valuable. With artificial stone, colour and texture can be set precisely, for example an exact snow white through additives. Its big advantage is uniformity: smooth, evenly coloured surfaces without irregularities.

• Durability and resilience – natural stone is very hard-wearing and copes with large temperature differences. With the right care, it lasts for decades without losing its beauty. That is why it proves itself on heavily used floors, in damp outdoor areas and as a fireplace surround, as it withstands high temperatures well. Natural stone is also very resistant to knocks and scratches, which makes it excellent as a kitchen worktop. Artificial stone, on the other hand, is somewhat more sensitive to heat and scratches. Its advantage: it is less porous and so less prone to staining, needs hardly any care and is much easier to clean than natural stone.

• Price – natural stone, whatever the type, is considerably more expensive than artificial stone. Artificial stone is cheaper and its price is easier to plan.

• Environment – natural stone contains no harmful chemicals and is safe and completely environmentally friendly. The production of artificial stone uses chemicals that harm the environment.

• Installation – natural stone is much heavier than artificial stone, so installation is somewhat more complex.

Natural or artificial, stone is a timeless classic that gives your home elegance, warmth and cosiness.

Which one you choose is a question of personal taste, interior style and, not least, budget.

If uniqueness and authenticity matter to you, natural stone will delight you. If you prefer even lines, artificial stone is the right choice.