What kind of material will be best for my fireplace? It’s a question that we get bombarded with a lot. The manufacturers and suppliers come up with lots of options, the most common traditional offerings being limestone, marble, and cast stone. Among modern fireplace ideas, surrounds made of steel, cast iron, and even wood have become quite popular in recent years.
However, being in the fireplace manufacturing business for decades, we can vouch that nothing beats the reliability and durability of stone and cast stone fireplace mantels and surrounds, not to mention the flexibility it offers in sufficing your modern fireplace vision.
Since buyers seem unclear about the attributes and differences between natural stone and cast stone, we will try to bring in some closure. In this blog, we will run a comparison between limestones and cast stones and let you decide what suits your requirements the best.
Limestone and Cast Stone: Know Your Stones Apart
Limestone is a natural sedimentary rock formation, found all over the world. One of the most distinctive and famous creations of limestone is the Egyptian Pyramid. The durability of the rock is derived from the layers of sand, pebbles, and mud that get deposited over decades. Its uniform texture and robustness make it a perfect building material.
Cast Stone, on the other hand, is an industrially engineered material. It is a concoction of cement, aggregates of limestone, granite, or sand, and chemicals that are solidified to give you a durable building material. Cast stone is a great alternative when you cannot source natural stone for any of your fabrications or constructions, even a fireplace mantel.
The Pros and the Cons: Decide for Yourself!
To choose between cast stone and limestone fireplaces, one needs to be clear about what each has to offer. Given under is a comparative analysis of both materials to give you a fair idea.
Limestone Fireplace
| PROS | CONS |
| Naturally sourced Durable and strong. Can be customized into creative designs and structures, even ornate ones.The presence of bony fragments for marine organisms gives it a unique finesse that is hard to replicate. Easy cleaning and maintenance. | Being naturally sourced these are non-renewable and hence can cost more. Limited options in colors and texture. Then again like any natural stone the original texture is the highlighting feature of limestone. |
Cast Stone Fireplace
| PROS | CONS |
| Being engineered and manufactured industrially, you will get ample options in colors and textures. It is quite durable and resistant to heat and water. Since it weighs lighter than stone, cast stone fabrications are easy to install. Costs less than natural stone | Custom designs are usually costly. There is a risk of the color fading with years. However it can be avoided with proper care and regular cleaning. |
Hope we were able to put forward an unbiased analysis of both materials used for making the fireplace, mantels, and surrounds. Weigh your options well and make the right choice for yourself.
If you are looking for a reliable manufacturer and supplier of fireplaces and accessories, then Artisan Kraft Fireplaces can suffice your requirements with their exquisite inventory. From ancient fireplace ideas to elaborate designs in French and Italian fireplaces, whatever you might be looking for, they can cater to the same. Visit their website to know more about their affordable and high-quality offerings.