There is no single facade material that will be the most cost-effective for every home. The final cost depends not only on the price of the cladding per m², but also on the condition of the walls, substrate preparation, additional materials, the installation method and whether extra supporting structures are required.
If the goal is to reduce the total cost of facade finishing, flexible stone is one of the options worth considering. Smart Stone uses an adhesive installation method on a properly prepared substrate, so the cladding layer itself does not require a separate supporting substructure. On renovation projects, complete removal of the existing finish is not always necessary either — whether it can remain in place depends on its condition and on the suitability of the substrate.
For this reason, the cost advantage of flexible stone should be assessed based on the total cost of the finished facade, rather than on the price of the material alone.
To determine which solution is genuinely more cost-effective, the same categories of expenses should be compared.
The potential cost advantage of flexible stone does not necessarily come from having a lower price per m² than every other facade material. The difference may come from the installation method and the amount of additional installation work required to complete the facade.
According to Smart Stone, a two-person crew can install up to 50 m² of material in one working day. Actual productivity depends on the condition of the substrate and the complexity of the facade.
Value for money cannot be assessed from the material price per square metre alone. For a private home, the total system cost should be considered, including the cladding, installation, preparation work and any additional supporting structures.
Flexible stone can offer good value for money when its installation method helps reduce the amount of additional work required. In the case of Smart Stone, the relevant factors include adhesive installation, no separate supporting substructure for the cladding and the possibility of working over a sound existing finish without completely removing it.
If the facade has serious damage, loose render or persistent moisture problems, however, the total cost will increase because the substrate must be repaired before installation.
For a fair comparison, it is not enough to look only at the price of the cladding. All expenses required to complete the facade should be taken into account.
This type of comparison makes it easier to identify the more cost-effective solution for a particular home because it considers not only the price of the material but all expenses required to complete the facade.
The potential for savings is greater when the existing facade is already in good condition. If the substrate is sound and suitable for installation, some removal work may be avoided and the project can move on to surface preparation and cladding.
Smart Stone flexible stone also does not require a separate supporting substructure for the final cladding layer. This can eliminate the cost of materials and labour associated with installing such a frame.
If the walls require substantial repairs, the cost of restoring the substrate must still be included regardless of the finishing material selected.
The price of Smart Stone flexible stone is calculated per square metre and depends on the order quantity, the selected material type and format.
To estimate the total facade finishing cost, the cladding area must first be determined and the material selected. The condition of the substrate, preparation work, additional materials and installation should then be included in the calculation.
For a private home, it is therefore more accurate to calculate the total cost of the finished facade rather than looking only at the price of flexible stone per m².
Flexible stone can be particularly suitable for facade renovation when the substrate is sound and the existing finish does not need to be completely removed. After the necessary preparation, the surface must also be suitable for adhesive installation.
In this situation, part of the project cost may be reduced because no separate supporting substructure is required, less removal work may be needed and the final cladding uses a relatively straightforward installation method.
If the facade has loose render, serious damage, structural cracks or persistent moisture problems, these issues must be addressed before installation. The cost-effectiveness of any facade solution should therefore always be assessed in relation to the actual condition of the building.
