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Choosing the wrong material can cost you not just money, but also construction time, reputation, and the client’s trust.
Li Ang, an architect in Nanjing, knows this all too well. He insisted on using natural stone for a homestay project, which ended up costing an extra 120,000 yuan, delaying the construction period by more than a week, and causing problems with the wall surfaces. Half a year later, he switched to a different material for another project — PU stone (polyurethane artificial stone) — which reduced costs without compromising on results.
If you’re struggling to choose wall materials for a project, or wondering if PU stone is a qualified alternative to natural stone, his experience is worth reading.
1.This Project Made Me Regret Using Real Stone
Li Ang has one project that he still remembers vividly. It was a boutique homestay located in the Laomen East Historical Block, where the client requested a rough rubble texture for the walls. Li Ang insisted on using natural blue stone slabs, thinking that simulated stone materials were "not high-end enough."
In the end, natural stone brought him three major troubles:
Excessive weight: Each square meter of blue stone slab weighs 35 kilograms, and the homestay’s brick wall structure couldn’t bear the load. Steel structure reinforcement was necessary, adding an extra 28,000 yuan.
Long construction period: Natural stone requires wet construction and a curing period. Additionally, two replacements were needed due to color differences in the delivered goods, delaying the original 18-day schedule to 26 days. The homestay’s opening was postponed by two weeks, resulting in a loss of approximately 60,000 yuan in rent and labor costs.
Effect issues: White efflorescence (alkali return) appeared on the surface of the stone after installation, which couldn’t be wiped off. The client was very dissatisfied.
Li Ang later summarized: It’s not that natural stone is bad; it’s just not suitable for this project. In renovation projects with light-weight walls, tight construction schedules, and limited budgets, all the shortcomings of natural stone are exposed.
2.Later, I Switched to a Different Material — PU Stone
Half a year later, Li Ang received another homestay project. This time, he decided not to insist on real stone and instead carefully studied a material he had previously distrusted: PU stone (polyurethane artificial stone).
PU stone is a decorative panel made by molding polyurethane from the surface of real stone. The core differences between it and natural stone are as follows:
|
Comparison Item |
Natural Stone |
PU Stone |
|
Weight per Square Meter |
30–40 kg |
4–6 kg |
|
Installation Method |
Wet construction + curing period |
Dry construction (sawing/nailing/adhesive bonding) |
|
Typical Construction Period (30m²) |
10–15 days |
3–5 days |
|
Material Unit Price (Domestic) |
300–1000 yuan/m² |
80–200 yuan/m² |
|
Total Cost |
High |
About 1/3–1/2 of natural stone |
Li Ang contacted Haining Longtime Industry Co., Ltd., and obtained several samples and test reports. After confirming the effect and performance, he switched to PU stone for the entire new project.
3.Case Study — Nanjing "Laomen East · Zhuli" Homestay
Li Ang used Longtime’s PU stone for the entire second homestay project. The following is the complete data of this project.
Project Information
|
Item |
Details |
|
Name |
Nanjing "Zhuli" Boutique Homestay (Laomen East Store) |
|
Application Location |
Courtyard entrance landscape wall + headboard background walls of two guest rooms |
|
Total Area |
26 square meters |
|
Selected Product |
Longtime Simulated Old Slate Series (outdoor weather-resistant coating version, warm gray) |
Procurement and Installation Costs
|
Item |
Amount |
|
Material Cost (178 yuan/m² × 26) |
4,628 yuan |
|
Freight (Haining → Nanjing) |
650 yuan |
|
Labor Cost (2 workers × 3.5 days × 420 yuan/day) |
2,940 yuan |
|
Auxiliary Materials (adhesive, nails, caulking agent) |
400 yuan |
|
Total |
8,618 yuan |
Usage Results (Project completed in November 2025, about 5 months to date)
|
Inspection Item |
Result |
|
Low winter temperature (-5℃) + rain and snow |
No cracking, no freeze-thaw damage, no obvious fading |
|
Indoor lighting effect |
Natural rock shadows, many positive reviews from guests |
|
Fire acceptance |
Passed at one time |
Li Ang said: "If I had known PU stone could achieve this level for the first project, I wouldn’t have spent that extra 120,000 yuan."
4.Test Reports
5.When to Choose PU Stone, and When to Still Use Real Stone?
After this comparison, Li Ang summarized the following material selection principles:
Scenarios Recommended for PU Stone
|
Scenario |
Reason |
|
Light-weight structures (brick walls/light steel keels/old building renovations) |
PU stone weighs only 1/6 of natural stone |
|
Tight construction schedule |
Dry construction, completed in 3–5 days |
|
Limited budget |
Total cost saved by more than 50% |
|
Outdoor walls |
No alkali return, freeze-thaw resistance, aging resistance |
Scenarios Where Natural Stone is Still Recommended
|
Scenario |
Reason |
|
Client clearly specifies, sufficient budget |
Respect the design requirements |
Advice for Purchasers
Li Ang said: "Before choosing PU stone, ask the supplier for three things — samples, test reports, and contact information of a real project. Longtime provided all three, which is why I placed the order."
Haining Longtime Industry Co., Ltd.
Established in 2003 | Four major production bases | Annual output value of 150 million yuan | Exported to 55 countries
Provide PU stone samples, test reports and project technical support
For samples, quotes or technical consultation, please contact:
- Official Website: http://www.ltpvcfactory.com
- WhatsApp: +86 17757302351
- Email: [email protected]
- Sample Policy: Free samples and brochures provided, freight collect
