This is a frequently asked question when choosing materials for a project, not only residential, but also offices, hotels, restaurants, public spaces, etc. The important thing is to know in advance when should put natural stone or when it is better to opt for one sintered or synthetic stone. Each material has its space and its conditions and, although the aesthetic and visual result is very similar, the decision is influenced by reasons of use, placement and budget.

The following examples show the different Zones where natural and synthetic stone are often placed interchangeably. What is rare is for both stones to coexist in the same space.

This beautiful blue calcite is strategically placed on the front and countertop of an office cabinet, where the beauty of the veins can be best appreciated.

The most used natural stones

The most traditional natural stone for cladding and furniture design is marble. It is a rock formed mainly by calcium carbonate that has been subjected to a natural process of recrystallizationThe result of this process generates new minerals, textures and structures that give rise to a large number of types of marble.

Many of them bear their name of origin (quarry location), and are usually subdivided by color.

There is a wide range of typologies of White marbleThe chromatic uniformity of its base, the type of grain it presents and the thickness and the drawing of its veins It is characteristic and unique to each variety.

Among the whites, the most notable are Calacatta, Carrara, and Macael, the latter being the most famous Spanish white marble, sourced from the Almería quarry.

Dining tables with Black Mirage black marble top.

El cream marble is luminosity of light colors, but incorporates warmness chromatic thanks to its tan tones. It can contain veins that are lighter than its base or darker, radically changing the appearance of each variety.

The most famous of the cream marbles is the travertine, a porous, light-yellowish limestone. Formed by calcium carbonate deposits, travertine has been used since ancient Rome as an ornamental stone in construction, architecture and decoration thanks to its compact and crystalline texture.

And between cinereous vultures, the best known are the Negro Marquina, widely used in the portals of buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In addition to marble, other types of stone are also used for kitchen cladding and countertops.

El onyx It is considered a semi-precious gem. It is an exclusive stone perfect for large-format backlit coverings thanks to its translucent quality.

Another variety widely used for its great beauty is the quartzite (Taj Mahal, Macaubas, Mont Blanc, etc.), also with an interesting degree of translucency for backlighting.

Limestone Campaspero and pigeon are frequently used for flooring, as are slates and other sandstones.

La sintered stone It is an ultra-compact, high-tech material created through a process of sintering, which mimics the natural formation of stone but at an accelerated rate. It is made from crushed natural minerals (such as marble dust, quartz, feldspar, silica, and clays) that are subjected to high pressures and temperatures up to 1200 °C.

Ultimately, the sintering mimics the natural formation of igneous rocks, accelerating a process that would normally take thousands of years in nature. After this process, a print on the surface that reproduces different finishes. The most common is marble, although they can also reproduce slate, rust, wood, etc.

El porcelain stoneware It also reproduces all types of surfaces, but it differs in the composition of materials (clay is the basis of its composition) and in the manufacturing process which, although similar, is closer to the ceramic firing traditional than sintering.

FORMAT AND THICKNESS

One of the characteristics of sintered materials is its format, since they are manufactured in large sheets of 3200 x 1600 mm or 3200 x 1500 mm, with thicknesses which vary between 6 mm and 20 mm. This makes them especially suitable for both facades and large exterior surfaces, as well as for floors and walls in bathrooms, swimming pools, or kitchens.

For its part, the sheets of natural stone They cannot be cut to such narrow thicknesses, as they would break. Although we also find large-format stone slabs, handling such large and heavy pieces carries a risk of breakage.

An office kitchen area features a dining island clad in sintered stone imitating Calacatta marble.

RESISTANCE

The sintering process allows the creation of materials ultracompact Non-porous, stain- and abrasion-resistant. Therefore, their use in kitchen countertops and bathroom furniture is highly recommended.

For its part, the stoneBeing a natural material, it can show irregularities and alterations over time. Some types of marble are especially delicate and porous when faced with abrasive substances (for example, lemon) and practically all of them require a treatment protector.

MAINTENANCE

The stones sintered They are non-porous materials, very easy to clean, unalterable and require almost no maintenance. They are also very durable materials hygienic, recommended for medicalized spaces, such as hospitals and laboratories.

The natural stones They are more delicate, so a sealing treatment is usually applied to kitchen or bathroom areas, and they require more maintenance in general.

INSTALLATION

Depending on the placement and the cut-out, the sintered stone It is easier to work with than natural wood. In both cases, expert installers are needed, but for the natural stone It is vital to hire a good marble worker who knows how to work stone masterfully.

NATURAL BEAUTY

Although technology is advancing by leaps and bounds in terms of coatings, for the moment the sintered stone has not reached the level of visual and tactile beauty of natural stone. Let's not forget that, after all, the surface of sintered stones is photocopies from a real model.

Precisely the obsession of sintered manufacturers is to achieve products that reproduce the beauty of the stone as faithfully as possible.

The reception desk in this office is covered with a sintered material that imitates Calacatta Vaglie marble, with a flowing vein.

One of the great advances is 4D technology, which allows creating a “through vein”; This means that when cutting a sintered part, the surface grain remains visible throughout the entire thickness of the part. Unlike conventional designs, where the grain is only found in the surface layer, with through grain, the grain extends through the entire plate, creating a more natural and realistic feel.

In this office project in Dubai, the entire floor area was clad in Calacatta Gold marble.

VARIETIES

There are hundreds of natural stones, An incredible range of colors, vein shapes, textures... It is impossible to compare the stony richness of nature with what can come out of a factory, where a limited series of models are reproduced.

DURATION

An stone is a mineral which has no expiration date, since synthetic materials have been subjected to an unnatural chemical process, so, although highly durable, they are not eternal like stone.

These two images of boardrooms (above, black marble table, and below, sintered stone table) show that both options are absolutely valid depending on the needs, use, and budget.

COST

The price of both types of stone may vary depending on the design, size, thickness, origin (domestic or imported) and the complexity of the installation.
Materials like granite and marble, especially if they are locally sourced, they are usually cheaper than sintered ones.

But if they are chosen semiprecious stones, such as onyx or exuberant marbles, budgets skyrocket and it is preferable to use sintered material.

While there is no doubt that the natural stone It is a more material beautiful and noble, Depending on the space, placement and budget, the materials sintered They are a great invention of this century and greatly facilitate interior design projects thanks to their versatility, durability and easy maintenance.

Photos: OfficeSnapShot