Outdoor Performance Of Faux Brick And Stone
Many installers and contactors often ask if it is wise to switch from using real brick and stone to faux brick and faux stone.
The first thing we do is understand if they are aware that real stone is not what they are considering. Real stone is really expensive. What most people see on the market is not real stone but cast concreted, molded in the shape of stone blocks.
This alone is usually an eye-opener.
The next important conversation is about the performance of real brick and stone in outdoor conditions.
We explain that most people have come to accept the fact that “real products” can deteriorate, crack, and separate under the stress of humidity, rain, and temperature fluctuations. These are considered “normal” in the construction world.
What may do not know is that some products made in resins, like polyurethane, do not have these issues.
The versatility of real brick is also an issue.
In many installations, the bricks need to be cut at 45 degrees to create a return or a mitered corner and save time in the installation process. When mitering materials like brick, it is very difficult to keep the various parts glued together. Usually, these separate because the level of adhesion is poor with these products.
With faux polyurethane materials, you will have a great bond within the parts and can also use caulking for a successful blending of the parts and texture.
Polyurethane faux sheets are also somewhat flexible and can be easily machined. You can miter-cut a panel on a table saw without chipping the material. These products can be easily shaped and cut with any carpenter’s tools and do not require wet saws.
You Can Create A Beautiful Faux Stone Column.
Even with the great advantages the internet provides, today there are homeowners and business owners who want to create a faux stone column and post wrap accent but do not know the different product options.
We often see some projects that puzzle us.
Why create this:
When you can create this with the same amount of money? :
Some of these post wraps you see on the market are simply made of blocks of concrete. Once you cut them to turn around corners you can’t really make them look life-like. They will always look fake.
They are also extremely time-consuming.
Yes, you may save a few dollars in the beginning, but you end up paying a lot more for the preparation – must first build a box around the metal post – and more for maintenance in the long run.
Also, take a look at the gaps and the many small pieces of concrete stones needed to make the four sides meet:
You can do much better than this.
We have just added two new size post wraps that easily address most size columns needed. 15” wide and 36” wide. You may also choose between 36” or 72” high. If needed, you may stack one on top of the other to reach higher elevations.
With polyurethane column wraps you just snap the four panels together, glue them and use a few nails or screws and you’re done, for many years.
When it comes to covering the top, there are some very nice options for caps.
You may choose between two main sizes and a combination of solid or split caps with two size opening.
Some projects require covering an existing post that is made of a 6x6 or 4x4 wood pole. You may choose a close cap with each of those openings.
You do not have these options with concrete, cast stone.
Brick Wall Construction – The Easy way
Deciding to create a brick or stone wall accent is always a great idea.
These improvements will revitalize your room and will make your store stand out from the rest. Most customers walk into stores not only because they like the product on display but also if the room is inviting.
This is why so many retailers and display makers have moved toward faux brick accents. It is a very popular and appealing look.
Now, when it comes to installing the product, you have a choice of going with the difficult or the easy solution. Both look realistic but one can take a long time and the other just a matter of hours to complete.
With real brick you will need to:
- Prepare the substrate with wall-boards, concrete panels, wire mesh, etc
- Install each single brick or stone one at a time
- You will need to use a thin-set to hold them in place
- Use mortar to close each gap
- Cut many pieces with a wet saw
- Clean up a real mess.
Let’s also not forget that the vast majority of store and home owners do not know how to use real brick nor they feel like learning such a laborious process.
The cost for an average brick layer or mason is out of most people’s reach.
Why would you do that anyway? Have you looked into faux brick products?
These products are installed like a jigsaw puzzle. Anyone can do it with just basic tools.
You can also order very convenient accessories like interlocking corners and ledge trim.
It is as easy as it looks. You just start from one side of the wall and keep adding panels and corners with adhesive tubes and nails or screws.
We have very detailed instructions that can guide you step by step if you have any doubt or question.
The end results will amaze you. Take a look.
In case you have outlets, wall fixtures and lighting you may also use the outlet trim. This accessory will allow you to move your existing fixtures forward, at the same level as the panels, and put your plates back on them.
It’s as easy as it can be.
EditorThe Easy Way To Create A Stacked Stone Wall
Many ask us if the products in our testimonials real stacked stone are. They are always quite surprised to find out that it is in fact faux stone in the form of panels.
They also go on with asking how difficult it must have been to create that stacked stone look with panels of fake stone.
Stacked Stone Wall Made With Panels
In reality, using Antico Element’s panel is a lot easier to make any plain drywall area look like a real stone wall, much easier than the so-called real stone. The reason we are a bit skeptical about using this term is that many do not know that what today is called real is just cast concrete, that comes out of the mods looking like real stone. Many decide to use cast stone with the hope their wall will look more real. Even with the amount of work required to install cast stone they still can’t get the project to look real; all the joints and corners remain visible and often looking fake.
Bad looking corner made with cast stone
So, how did Michael M. create his fireplace looking so rich?
A great looking project made with faux stone wall paneling
How did Richard and others make his staircase and fireplace look so real? Was it hard?
- They did a little research and asked us a couple of questions on how to cut faux stone panels and how to treat the edges.
- Ordered the panels online, received them with a paint kit and instructions on how to contact us in case he had some more questions.
- They made no preparation of the existing wall because these faux stacked stone sheets can be installed on virtually any surface; there was no need to go to your hardware store and get those heavy concrete backer-boards.
- They applied construction adhesive in the back of the panels and used a finish nail gun or screws to fasten them to the wall.
- Some of them were cut at 45 degrees to make turns and with the help of a table or circular saw, caulk and touch-up paint the corner transitions were made completely seamless.
Mitered Corners Made With Panels
Even in cases where you must install the stacked stone panels on concrete, you can simply shoot power-nails directly on the surface and just paint the nail head. Our panels are designed to withstand outdoor stresses. You may take a look at some more information here:
https://www.anticoelements.com/content/11-faux-stone-panels
Here is a perfect example:
Corners made with Antico Elements Stacked Stone In Glacier
If we say these products are easy to use and shape it is because we always hear these comments from our clients.
Just give it a try, you will understand!
#fauxstone #fauxStonePanels #FauxStoneWall #DIY #StackedStone
#faux_stone #faux_Stone_Panels #Faux_Stone_Wall #DIY #Stacked_Stone
Real Stone And Brick Or Faux
Very often our great followers, clients, and supporters ask us what the differences are between “real” stone or brick and the faux versions.
Often, they include in the question a phrase like “how does your product compare to real stone and brick prices?”.
The first thing we bring up is the difference between real and cast. Many of them are not aware of the difference between a stone that has been extracted from a quarry and a stone that has been cast with the use of concrete or even gypsum.
This is an essential distinction because the real stone is not affordable but cast stone is priced based on the durability and look.
We have always had one goal in mind, provide a great product at a great price.
Our brick and stone panels always look realistic because we start by creating molds from real products. For example, in the image below you can see how we order real Chicago style reclaimed brick from demolished buildings.
The parts that come out of our molds reproduce every detail of the original material.
Reclaimed-Brick
Many companies only resell products and some simply take some of ours and copy them, creating a second or third-generation product. It shows!
We manufacture our products in-house, so we control the quality.
There are also other products used to compare to ours.
Wall Paper
Vinyl Sheets
Printed Or Press Cardboard
We want to remind our followers of how they look:
Concrete Blocks
Printed-Stone
Once we make our initial educational speech our customers feel a lot more informed and comfortable in making a decision.
It is also true that many of them call us or come to our showroom with a smile on their faces and then say:” do you know how long we’ve been looking for a product like yours?? ”.
For those who need a realistic-looking brick or stone accent, at an affordable price point, we are here to answer any question.
EditorThe Beauty Of Brick Polyurethane Panels For Backsplash
Who says you need to spend a fortune to create a kitchen backsplash that looks like a million-dollar?
The conventional belief is that it is necessary to spend a ton to create a realistic and rich brick wall, for interior or exterior.
Using expensive, real brick for any project can surely add up to a large bill. Most people believe this is the only way you can create a brick wall that looks like the real thing. Needless to say, many things have changed in the past twenty years. A lot of products have been created that make projects such a kitchen backsplash or a store backdrop a breeze.
Kitchen Brick Backsplash
We constantly hear installers say they were hesitant at first. They were quite skeptical in switching from real brick to faux brick but then, after trying the new product, they vouch not to go back to the old brick types.
There are many reasons why this faux product amazes homeowners and installers alike.
For one, the overall cost is a fraction of that of regular brick. Faux brick panels may seem expensive but when you factor in the rest of the costs you will soon see the benefits.
Another Kitchen Brick Backsplash
Any person can embark on this type of project, without the need to hire a bricklayer.
Faux brick sheets are made of a product that repels food stains so it is very easy to clean.
This product is now being used in very many types of projects. You can find them in homes, offices, grocery stores, and many bars. It is also used in many trade show displays. It’s not just the convenience of installation but also the savings in shipping it. Being such a lightweight product, the cost of shipping it is greatly reduced. There is no mess left in the home since this product does not require a wet saw or mortar!
Go ahead, be another installer who will say “no more real brick”.
Don't forget to check out our Testimonials Page.
The Completed Job
When Faux Brick And Stone Panels Are Made With Quality.
It is safe to say that during every project, whether it for residential or commercial, the installer appreciates the quality of the product and the ease of use.
At Antico Elements we never lose track of what is important to the installers and designs.
The last thing an installer needs is an issue with the quality of brick panels or how hard they are to install. Back when real brick and stone were the only options, the mason would just be used to the time it took to create a wall. Today, after testing and appreciating the value of faux brick paneling, most installers will not go back and use real brick.
Let's say you need to design and create a TV show's set and background. Let's also imagine that you need a light-weight set that can be moved to make room for the next show. You really can't use real stone (or cast stone) or real brick. In the video below from our great supporters within the Dude Perfect team, you can see how real materials would never work in that set.
(you can see our product at 0:25 minutes)
You could also use some pressed board or vinyl panels but, the quality is clearly not up to par with polyurethane molded panels.
We do all the work for you.
The molds are created from a real brick panel. This original panel is made of real reclaimed bricks from a demolished building so the molds that result from it will reproduce an exact replica of the original.
If you add the way we paint each brick one by one, by hand, you really can't compare the quality to any other faux product.
The white brick panel used in the set above
Let's not forget about maintenance and removal.
Real brick is porous and it will absorb any stain. With acrylic-painted imitation panels, the wall will be waterproof and super easy to clean.
In many cases, these sets or trade show booths are taken down and reused somewhere else. If you install the panels with screws, you can easily take them down and reuse them many times.
We have perfected the custom products manufacturing so, if you have a specific color and texture in mind, we can easily create a new product. You may click HERE to use our contact page.
Thank you!
EditorWall Brick And Stone Panels Help TV Set Designs And Retail Stores Designs.
We are often approached by designers who have spent countless time trying to create a backdrop for a retail store or TV talk show set that incorporates a brick or stone accent. They confess to us that it would have been much easier to install brick or stone panels instead of trying to use real brick and stone, or even worse, trying to faux paint that look.
One of the challenges in our market is to let store outfitters, display booth designers, and many others know that faux stone and brick panels exist. Once they find out they usually incorporate them in the design and drastically reduce the time it takes to design and build a project.
Stages look incredibly better with stage lighting pointing directly to the stone panels from above. You can't create the same feel by using wallpaper or faux painted bricks.
TV-Show set using faux brick panels
Selling the panels is for us just part of our focus. We focus on helping broadcast professionals and trade show booth designers in creating outstanding designs that meet the needed time frame and budgets.
We can create custom products, panels with different sizes and textures as well as custom colors.
If you are in the trade show business you have probably seen how long it takes to install reals stone and real brick and how long it takes to take the booth down. All that work is also employed for just one show.
A lot of work needed for real stone
When using panels you can install the booth in hours but most of all, your clients can reuse the panels. All you need to install them is either use screws or even velcro. All of the materials can be reused many times, with a considerable saving.
No-Mess Installation With Faux Stone Paneling
Stores and booths should be designed to get the customer's attention, not just create a place to hang your products. Spending a few extra dollars per square foot provides an incredible ROI for the designers and the final client.
Holidays Discounts With Clearance Items And Items In Stock At A Reduced Price.
We want to thank our great customers by offering some end-of-year discounts.
Until Dec 31, 2017, you will see THIS page showing our clearance items. We are also offering products in stock at a reduced price, even being on sale already.
Please don't hesitate to call us with any question - 305-602-0300
Happy Holidays!!
2017 Holidays Sale
Versatility Of Imitation Sheets Of Stone, Rock And Brick
Without any doubt our society is moving from an environment where construction and building things, in general, were done is a meticulous way. People used to take a lot of time to do things right and that used to be the norm in the construction business as well.
Today every commercial and most residential project is based on how quickly they can be turned around. When it comes to builders and, store outfitters and display makers the speed of getting things done can mean the difference between being profitable, break-even or lose money.
Sign with the rounded faux stone that curved with the sign.
Brick and stone have been around forever and the way they are applied hasn’t changed much. They still need a lot of preparation of the substrate and areas where they will be applied. In the presence of projects that require covering complicated wall shapes or signs real brick and stone will require a lot of custom cuts and the joints will be very visible.
Brick panels for store outfit - White
The majority of builders and contractors have now shifted to the paneling of fake stones and fake bricks to complete their projects and to make difficult applications possible. It can be challenging to entertain the possibility than a new fake panel of stone can be better than the real thing, particularly when one has used the real product for decades. We learned that, once the installer has been educated on the benefits and has had the chance to try the product, they will use the faux version for all future projects.
These rock panels can wrap around curved surfaces without leaving gaps at the joints.
They also can be miter-cut to create corners and a very simple touch-up kit can be used to paint over any caulked area, to create e real seamless look.
Corners made with caulking and touch-up paint
The other advantage is that there is no need to use mortar. These “mortarless” rock and brick panels have been already treated in the factory so they are sealed and painted with exterior acrylic coloring that requires no additional work.
We realized that today most people involved in remodeling or construction, in general, can find a real benefit in using faux products and complete their projects within the necessary time-frame.
Editor