Stone-look panels for interior decoration: how to install

Decorating walls with stone has long been popular for facade work. Although this design looks great indoors too.

Today, when manufacturers offer a wide selection of panels imitating natural or artificial stone, everyone can afford such interior design.

Stone-look wall panels can be made using different technologies:

These can be ordinary PVC panels with a relief pattern imitating sandstone, granite, brick and other materials. The cheapest option, but the quality is low - the plastic is too light and fragile.
Much stronger than fiberglass products. Mineral fibers in the structure of the material prevent the formation of cracks, and do not interfere with the production of products with a wide variety of relief.
However, the problem of the release of toxic substances when heated remains.
There are relief panels made of MDF. The most popular models here are from the American manufacturer DPI, which makes high-quality models based on eucalyptus fibers.
This variety is strong, durable, and pleasant to the touch. At the same time, it is quite affordable in price and easy to install.
Read also: Instructions on how to use glue for polyethylene foam and wallpaper
Panels with thin pieces of stone glued on can hardly be called imitation. This is the most expensive option; heavy panels require solid fastening. But strength and durability are also maximum.

Using MDF or other types of panels to decorate a room, a separate wall, or even just a fragment of a wall creates many advantages. An element of monumentality, solidity, durability, and thoroughness appears in the design.

At the same time, imitation stone has many advantages over real stone. Due to their low weight, the products practically do not create additional load on the load-bearing elements of the building.

There is no need to calculate the strength of the structure, strengthen it, and there is no need to coordinate such a design with regulatory authorities. Light weight simplifies transportation, unloading, storage, and installation.

The finishing speed increases significantly; all work can be completed in a couple of days, even without solid experience in this field. You can combine different types of designs.

For example, buy wood-look wall panels and combine them with stone finishes, while the preparatory work and tools will be the same.

Mounting options

The method of fixing the panels to the wall depends on the type of material chosen. If you have decided to buy the most popular MDF products, then they can be mounted in two ways:

using glue;
using a metal or wooden frame.

The first method is much faster and cheaper, but its implementation requires perfectly smooth, well-prepared walls.

If the surface on which you plan to mount MDF is characterized by an abundance of cracks, bulges, pits, if it is contaminated with remnants of the old finish, then it will most likely be cheaper and easier to use a frame than to bring the wall to the proper condition.

The installation of panels with glue is very simple and literally anyone can do it. You must adhere to the following sequence:

Many types of materials require that they be kept for a couple of days in the room where they will be installed to adapt to the temperature and humidity of the room.
A clean, flat wall surface is primed in accordance with the instructions for the adhesive.
Glue is applied. Some varieties need to be applied to both the wall and the panels, others can only be applied to the panels.
The panel is applied to the wall and pressed well.
The procedure is repeated with the next fragment.
When the entire wall is finished, decorative elements are installed below, above, and at the corners.

Stone imitation often requires very precise matching of patterns on adjacent panels. It's better to spend a little more time than to have to redo everything. When finishing a bathroom or kitchen, it is highly advisable to use moisture-resistant materials.

If you are decorating a place where high temperatures are likely - an apron in the kitchen or the walls of a fireplace, then you should not use fire-hazardous plastic; in this case, it is better to buy MDF.

Installation of panels using a frame is in many ways similar to finishing rooms with plasterboard or plastic. The preparatory work is practically the same.

Watch our video collection on the topic:

Features of the panels of the American company

DPI products are especially popular among our consumers and deservedly so. This company has been in the decorative panels market for more than 50 years, it has large production capacities, a large staff of researchers and engineers, and a wide dealer network.

DPI products are distinguished by their special composition and production method. When creating them, waste from processing eucalyptus wood is used. This material contains a small amount of oils that have bactericidal and insecticidal properties, due to which products rot much more slowly even in damp conditions, and also drive away harmful insects.

At DPI factories, panels are produced by hot pressing, using lignin present in the wood as an adhesive.

Thus, MDF from this manufacturer does not contain formaldehyde-emitting resins at all, and is therefore suitable even for children's rooms and bedrooms.

DPI offers wall panels in wood, tile, stone and other varieties. In terms of ease of processing and durability, this material is not inferior to conventional MDF, and in some respects it even surpasses it.

Having decided to buy DPI panels for finishing a bathroom or bathhouse, you should plan to install the products with glue, because the use of a frame involves the use of self-tapping screws and nails, which will damage the protective melamine film.

This will reduce the service life of products in humid environments. Also, you cannot use screws and nails when installing panels with a thickness of less than 5 mm.

Cost of materials and labor

Costs depend on the area of the surface being decorated, as well as what type of material you decide to buy. Panels from the American company DPI will cost approximately 2000-2500 rubles for one sheet measuring 122x244 cm.

For the work you will have to pay from 200 rubles per square meter or more, it all depends on the level of complexity of the task and the initial state of the surface.

Watch our video selection on wall decoration:

Today, natural materials are becoming popular, making it possible to create surprisingly warm and homely interiors. Their cost is so high that not every one of us can afford to use them during repairs. Manufacturers, taking into account this drawback, have offered potential buyers a wonderful alternative. It can be used as decorative stone panels for interior decoration. What kind of material is this? What advantages does it have? Is installation difficult? The answers are in this article.

Photo of wall decoration

Below you can see the most successful photos using artificial material in the interior:

Varieties of decorative stone panels

In fact, the building materials market offers a wide range that helps replace natural stone. Its use is increasingly being abandoned not only because of its high cost. It is quite difficult to work with it; additional specialized equipment must be used for processing and installation. In addition, natural stone has a lot of weight. For this reason, it cannot be used for finishing walls in residential apartments located in apartment buildings: too much load is placed on the floors.

Almost all of these shortcomings are free from stone-look panels intended for interior wall decoration. They can be made from different materials, they can be presented in different forms. Manufacturers offer:

Sheet modules for interior decoration. They are more than one meter wide and more than two meters long. Designers use this material when it is necessary to decorate a room with a large area.
Tile materials are presented in the form of square-shaped modules. This material is easiest to use when renovating a city apartment.
Stone slatted panels have the shape of slats of different sizes in length and thickness. They are most often used for finishing bathrooms.

In addition, in appearance, the varieties of the described material can also differ significantly from each other. They are able to reproduce various decorative effects. For example, “ragged limestone” helps imitate natural limestone masonry. This material is often used for interior decoration of individual decorative elements (arches, columns or fireplaces).

“Mountain slate”, “Jurassic stone” - it is impossible to list all the names. The collections present a wide variety of designs, each with its own realistic colorful relief, so the shape of the stones, their color, size - everything can be different.

The main advantages of cladding

Artificial stone hides all the unevenness of the wall.
Artificial material imitating stone has received wide recognition among developers due to its undeniable numerous advantages, which will be discussed further. First of all, I would like to mention the ability to hide all the errors and unevenness of the walls, giving them a complete visual resemblance to natural material.

Also an undoubted advantage is the ability to hide all main communications, consisting of wires, pipes and ventilation ducts.

Plastic or MDF panels increase the thermal insulation and sound insulation performance of a room, which is always important, especially in apartment buildings. They are easy to install even by people who do not have special skills, and this is not all the advantages of using them.

What are they made from?

Modern wall panels intended for finishing interior walls can be made from different materials.

Fiberglass modules are a very durable and lightweight material, which is manufactured using the following technology: first, a pressing mold is made from natural stone, it is filled with liquid plastic and reinforced with fiberglass for strength. The front layer is then painted with dyes. The result is a material that is very similar in appearance to its natural prototype. In this way, panels are made for finishing interior walls with imitation of almost all existing natural stones used for finishing. An important distinguishing feature of this option is durability and low price.

MDF stone panels are a decorative material that is often used to decorate interior walls. Made from wood chips, they are compressed under high pressure. A design is applied to the front layer using printing, which is then protected by lamination. The use of such panels becomes justified when it is necessary to additionally protect the room from heat loss or noise penetration.

Stone panels made from chipboard or fiberboard have similar characteristics to materials made from MDF, but have a lower price.

What is it used for?

If we talk about the features of using decorative material, then it is necessary to competently approach the choice of the simulated stone and its shade. This will allow you to properly veneer the room and not spoil its appearance:

Hallway. If there is a narrow corridor, then it is necessary to use stone-like wall panels in light shades and small sizes. If these conditions are not met, you can create a room that resembles a cave.
Living room. When decorating this room, it is worth combining two shades of stone. This will avoid the cold effect. As a rule, wall panels are used to decorate fireplace arches and niches.
Dark rooms. They need to be visually filled with light. To do this, you will need to use sand and cream-colored wall panels.
If you decide to use a dark-colored panel to decorate the room, then it is best to choose a product with an imitation of natural untreated stone. You can smooth out the effect with light-colored wallpaper. With this decoration, furniture and textiles should also be presented in light colors.
For finishing the facade.

Decorative stone wall panels are a universal material for creating an original interior for little money. You can decorate a room to suit absolutely every taste, the main thing is that everything in it combines favorably.

But what sizes of wall sandwich panels exist is described in this article.
What is the price and size of PVC wall panels and what they look like, the information and photos from this article will help you understand.
It will also be very interesting to learn about how to attach sheet wall panels: https://resforbuild.ru/paneli/dlya-sten/listovye-stenovye-dlya-vnutrennej-otdelki.html

You might also be interested to see what glass wall panels for the kitchen look like in the photo.

General characteristics

The characteristics of stone-look wall stones easily translate into their performance benefits.

They are durable.
Environmentally friendly.
Easy to clean (stone panels can be washed with water).
They do not fade when exposed to direct sunlight.
Almost all stone panels are made from durable and at the same time lightweight materials, so there is no additional load on the walls and other floors.
It is quite simple to lay panels under stone on the walls, and then dismantle them yourself. What is important is that after dismantling, you can reuse the material for wall decoration.
Mold never settles on the surface of the composite, and fungi do not grow on it.
Stone panels do not rot, they are not afraid of moisture, so the material described can be used in the decoration of kitchens and bathrooms.
The described material does not burn in fire, it does not support combustion, and during a fire, panels under the stone will not emit dangerous toxic substances (like plastic).
Wall sheets are not afraid of sudden temperature changes.
With the help of sheets it is quite easy to hide existing communications and uneven walls. When using frame cladding, you can additionally insulate the walls and provide effective sound insulation.
Anyone can install them, even those who do not have construction experience. No special tools are needed for this.

Decorative stone in the interior - photo

The scope of application of decorative stone in interior design and decoration is almost limitless. Therefore, feel free to fantasize and experiment for your own pleasure. And for your inspiration, we have put together this photo selection!

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Possible installation options

As noted above, installation of wall panels under stone is quite simple. But in order for the final result to meet expectations, it is necessary to follow certain rules and complete all stages of installation in a certain sequence.

There are two methods that can be taken into account by all those who want to independently reproduce the installation of wall panels under the stone.

The first method involves the use of adhesives. This option is considered only in one case - when the walls are initially flat and do not have significant differences in height. Silicone or acrylic adhesives are used as adhesives. There are stone-look panels on sale today that have a self-adhesive back surface.

The second method involves creating a frame. It can be made from wooden beams or from metal profiles intended for installation of plasterboard structures. Whatever material is used, the method of constructing the grille is the same: first, the guide is attached to the floor, then to the ceiling. After this, the sides are attached to the guides. The pitch between the sidewalls should correspond to the dimensions of the stone wall panels.

Creating such a frame helps to form an air gap between the wall and the finishing layer. It can be filled with anything: thermal insulation, sound insulation. It is easy to hide any communications in it. This is very convenient when creating luxury renovations. Attaching stone-like panels to such a sheathing is quite simple. They are applied to the guides and fastened to them with self-tapping screws or metal brackets. In order to decorate the upper section of the joint with the ceiling, it is covered with decorative molding. The lower one is decorated with a plinth. This is what might happen in the end. The installation principle is clearly shown in the video posted at the end of the article.

Note! Some stone-look wall panels have a tongue-and-groove fastening system. It significantly simplifies the installation process and also helps create seamless surfaces.

Description

The presented material is actively used for interior and as facade panels for exterior decoration of houses. A wide range of textures and colors allows everyone to choose the most ideal material option that perfectly harmonizes with the features of your interior.

The wide demand for stone-look wall panels is explained by their many advantages:

Versatility . Installation of wall panels can occur on any surface and in any room. The decorative material is perfect for both residential and non-residential premises.
Excellent thermal insulation and noise insulation characteristics . They are achieved due to the fact that when installing panels it is possible to use an auxiliary layer of insulation. It is installed between the wall and the panel.
Easy to install . To install wall panels under stone, there is no need to seek the help of a specialist. You can do all the work yourself using high-quality materials and tools. In addition, there is no need to carry out preliminary preparation of the wall surface before installing the panels. Stone-look wall panels are a type of decorative material that requires a minimum of time and effort to install. This result is achieved due to the system of fastening the products to each other - tongue and groove. Installation of panels can occur in different directions. Taking into account the fact that the panel has a special technology, on its surface you can get an imitation of any material, especially stone.
Reliability and long service life . Decorative panels are characterized by high strength and reliability. Thus, these decorative products serve for a very long time. Thanks to their external beauty, you won’t want to change them for a long time, and this allows you to save on repairs.
Acceptable price . The cost of stone-look wall panels may seem high at first glance. But if you take into account such material properties as reliability and durability, it becomes clear that you can save on repairs.
Care . Since special materials were used in the manufacture of wall panels, you can confidently perform wet cleaning using a cleaning agent that does not contain chemical components. Cleaning is enough once a month. This advantage is due to the fact that the panel does not attract dust. Of course, minor small elements will be concentrated on models with a grooved surface. But, as a rule, they are used when decorating walls in the restroom.

In the video - stone-look wall panels: