Wood-Effect Stone Cladding for Facades: How to Choose
Wood-effect stone cladding reproduces the grain and tone of wood in pieces of reconstituted stone, that is, concrete made water-repellent throughout. It suits anyone who wants the visual warmth of timber panelling or boarding on a facade, a porch front or a living room, without having to sand, varnish or treat against woodworm: the grain is wood, but the material is stone. In this guide we compare the three formats in the Vetonek range (strip, slat and plank) and the accessories to finish them off.
What it is and what it is not
It helps to be clear from the start: it is not wood. These are panels 2 to 2.5 cm thick, bonded to the wall with tile adhesive, weighing between 40 and 60 kg/m² depending on the model. In return, the data sheets state a water-repellent treatment throughout the body and use indoors and outdoors. They therefore behave like a stone veneer and not like timber boarding: they go onto a firm, clean and level substrate, and are neither nailed nor screwed.
The three formats in the range
Strip: Marcilla
Revestimiento Marcilla is a 14 × 28 × 2 cm strip with a cherry-wood grain (colour Cerezo), weighing 40 kg/m². It comes in boxes of 0.5 m² (12 pieces) and on 30 m² pallets. It is the smallest and lightest format: easy to handle and suited to headboard walls, porch fronts or walls with windows and corners.
Slat: Peralta
Revestimiento Peralta is made up of 10 × 100 × 2.5 cm slats with an Oregón grain, weighing 60 kg/m². A 0.5 m² box contains 5 slats and the pallet is 10 m². The metre length draws continuous horizontal lines with a more contemporary feel.
Wide plank: Falces
Revestimiento Falces reproduces a wide plank of 17.5 × 61.5 × 2.5 cm, also in Oregón and weighing 60 kg/m², with 5 planks per 0.5 m² box and a 15 m² pallet. Being wider, it has fewer joints and gives calmer boarding than the narrow slat.
How to choose between strip, slat and plank
- The effect you want. Strip for fine panelling and warmth on a wall; slat for long, continuous lines; plank for wide, calm boarding.
- Colour. Marcilla is Cerezo (redder); Peralta and Falces are Oregón (more golden). If you combine two formats on the same facade, use the same colour.
- Weight and substrate. Marcilla weighs 40 kg/m² and Peralta and Falces 60 kg/m². With old or doubtful substrates, consult the project technician first.
- Joints. All three are laid horizontally with staggered (broken) joints. Marcilla allows a fine joint in a brown shade or tight joints for a panelled effect; Peralta and Falces are laid with tight joints.
- Corners and angles. For Marcilla there is a matching corner piece in Cerezo: one box equals 1 linear metre of corner and avoids mitre cuts. Calculate the linear metres of all the edges before ordering.
Combining with stone and with the eaves
The Falces data sheet suggests combining the wood effect on the main body of the facade with a stone plinth, for example Fustiñana or Barillas. You will find other reliefs and thicknesses in the guide to types of reconstituted stone cladding, and the finishes around windows and doors in the one on corners, mouldings and special pieces.
If you also want a wood grain under the roof, the range includes concrete pieces with an Oregón wood texture: the Canecillo Fitero (8.5 × 17.5 cm section, in lengths of 100 and 120 cm) and the Placa Hormilla (3.5 × 40 × 70 cm) for the boarding between corbels. The corbels are set with high-strength mortar or chemical anchor, not tile adhesive; their anchoring and the overhang of the eaves should be checked with the project technician. There is more in the guide to corbels and decorative beams.
Installation in a few lines
Start from a clean, firm and level substrate and spread C2T flexible tile adhesive using the double-bed method. Begin at the corners and work towards the centre; lay the courses horizontally with staggered joints, keeping the grain always running the same way on Marcilla. On Peralta and Falces, check the level every two courses, because on long pieces any deviation builds up, and start the second course with a half piece to stagger the joints. Mix pieces from several boxes, order 10% extra for cuts and buy everything at once to avoid differences in shade. The full steps are in the installation guide. For cleaning, water and a sponge are enough.
You can see the whole range in the Coatings collection and in Facade Stones.
Frequently asked questions
Is wood-effect stone cladding real wood?
No. It is reconstituted stone (concrete made water-repellent throughout) with a wood grain and colour. It is bonded like a veneer and needs neither varnish nor woodworm treatment.
Can it be installed on an exterior facade?
Yes. The data sheets for Marcilla, Peralta and Falces state use indoors and outdoors and a water-repellent treatment throughout the body. As with any veneer, the substrate must be clean, firm and level.
What is the difference between Marcilla, Peralta and Falces?
Format and colour. Marcilla is a 14 × 28 × 2 cm strip in Cerezo; Peralta, a 10 × 100 × 2.5 cm slat in Oregón; and Falces, a 17.5 × 61.5 × 2.5 cm plank, also in Oregón.
How much does it weigh and what substrate does it need?
Marcilla weighs 40 kg/m² and Peralta and Falces 60 kg/m². They need a sound, firm substrate; for a renovation or if in doubt, consult the project technician.
How is it bonded and how much should I order?
With C2T flexible tile adhesive using the double-bed method. The boxes cover 0.5 m² (12 pieces for Marcilla, 5 for Peralta and for Falces); order 10% more than the measured area and buy everything at once.
To see colours and contents per box, open the data sheets for Marcilla, Peralta and Falces.
