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.
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”.
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The Completed Job