Transform Your Business Exterior with Faux Stone

People tend to associate “faux” materials with “bad.” Sure, fake pleather furniture may not feel and age as good as natural leather, faux wood can look cheap and doesn’t have that nice natural wood shine. But that doesn’t mean faux everything is bad. In the case of faux stone, it’s so close to the real thing in both appearance and texture that it can trick all but the really sharpest eyes. Faux stone is no joke, and it can really brighten up your business’ exterior and turn heads—to give your business a second consideration, not to snark at the faux stone exterior.

So, What Is It?

Faux, or artificial stone, is composed of cement, pigments, and other materials like silica in varying ratios to achieve the desired look and texture. The mixture is placed into a mold to set and cut into pieces so it can be installed piecemeal onto the surface. Almost like artificial diamonds, it’s convincingly like the real thing. You’d have to have a trained mason or look at its finer molecular structure to tell it apart from natural stone.

Natural stone may be beautiful and durable, which is the reason why builders have used it throughout all of history, but it can be very expensive. Manufactured stone is just as sturdy while delivering good looks at a fraction of the cost because it doesn’t need to be cut and quarried from the earth. Faux stone can be mixed and made into nearly every color and texture as its natural counterparts, and then some. One thing to note is that faux stone might fade gradually over time, as the pigments are not as robust as those made by Mother Nature.

And Here’s Why You Should Use It to Transform Your Business Exterior

Your exterior is your business’ calling card to the public passing by. It can send a strong message to potential customers before they even get to know your business. That’s why big tech companies like Apple and Google pride themselves on their headquarters’ striking designs.

You can use faux stone to make your business striking, too. No matter how big or small,  whether you’re in the restaurant business, the consulting industry, or something else, there is a faux stone solution for your building. Since the faux stone can be installed piece by piece, almost like a jigsaw puzzle, and cut into nearly any shape necessary, adding them to most buildings isn’t a problem. They can come in a dizzying array of colors, patterns, and textures, so you’re spoilt for choice, too.

If you’re considering having faux stone installed on your building, reach out to potential companies you might be interested in contracting. Ask for galleries and pictures of their previous projects and handiwork. See if they can send you samples—depending on your particular project, you, your staff, and your customers get very close to the material (for example, if it’s by a doorway or on columns near the front of your building). If this is the case, having samples you can touch and see closely is important.

Talk to your stone contractor about potential deals—some of them might be happy to help you figure out a color palette or even give you a good deal with a certain number of stones ordered. No matter which color or texture you ultimately decide on, there’s no denying that having a stone exterior adds an element of sophistication. A nice exterior on a business can stand out better than a billboard when people drive by. You might even consider launching a special deal or sale so that when people get lured over by your stunning new faux stone siding, they’ll get hooked as a customers and keep coming back.

You’ll Save on More than Just the Cost With Faux Stone

Adding natural or faux stone can impact the building’s value. Natural stone will add the most value because of its inherent worth, but faux stone is also a smart investment. It is a sturdier material than vinyl or wooden siding and can help save on insurance, as well as deliver greater returns on the property’s value, should you ever decide to move your business elsewhere.

We hope that this article inspired you to jazz up your business exterior or at least explain to you what faux stone is. In the worlds of construction and interior/exterior design, there are so many different materials and options—it can get a little overwhelming! Just know that if you’re after the beautiful and grand look of natural stone, but are a little nervous about the price tag, you should consider faux stone. It offers you a bespoke option with the looks of natural stone at a much more friendly price. Happy hunting!

About the author

Conor Prendergast is a freelance writer, author, and copywriter. He’s worked on projects ranging from interior design, finance technology, to peer-reviewed medical journals. He has a BA from Muhlenberg College, and is in his 3rd year of medical school at New York Medical College.