ᐅ Stone wall made of natural stone or stone tiles? Living room / kitchen

Hello,

while searching for wall cladding, I came across this interesting forum.

garfunkel schrieb:
there is also plastic with a stone look

I have seen similar cladding made of polyurethane at a friend’s place. I had to knock on it to make sure it wasn’t natural stone. This wall covering looks very natural and attractive. Even people with little DIY experience should have no trouble installing it.

However, I am concerned about the isocyanates contained in polyurethane. When I asked the manufacturer, they informed me:

Polyurethane is a high-quality plastic found in almost every product. In the automotive industry alone, up to 150 different car parts per vehicle are made from polyurethane. Our panels are also made of this plastic. If toxic gases were released from the polyurethane, this product would not be allowed to be sold within the EU or Germany.

That sounds reasonable, but what is allowed for sale doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe or healthy, just look at glyphosate and other substances.

Is what the retailer said correct, or should I avoid using this wall cladding?

Best regards,
Madivaru

Madivaru schrieb:

But I’m worried about the isocyanates contained in polyurethane.

Seriously? Have you ever really studied chemistry?

Polyurethane does not contain isocyanates. Isocyanate is a raw material used to produce polyurethane and is no longer present as "individual" molecules in the final material. Yes, you shouldn’t eat or drink isocyanates, but you also wouldn’t lick it daily, and they have reacted to form a macromolecule. You shouldn’t eat iron, copper, or silver either, yet we use metal cutlery every day without thinking about it. As soon as something is labeled plastic, it suddenly becomes dangerous. Plastic only becomes hazardous if it decomposes or deteriorates, but even then, you have to be very precise when assessing the risk.

You’re considering using wall blocks made of polyurethane that will be painted afterwards. What could go wrong?
Do you know what kitchen wall coatings are made of?
Do you know what many food-safe seals are made of (it’s not all rubber)?
Do you know what else is made from polyurethane:
- A large part of the interior of high-end vehicles
- Foam mattresses
- All kinds of dishwashing sponges
- Many food storage containers and components for drinking bottles
- All kinds of synthetic leather (synthetic leather IS polyurethane)
- Insulation in refrigerators, freezers, air conditioning units, etc.
- Furniture sealants (veneer or foil)
- Electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, televisions, etc.)
- ...

Personally, I wouldn’t worry at all about having polyurethane on my living room wall. I’d be more cautious about inhaling the glue fumes during application (which is probably a PU-based adhesive as well).

Thank you for the quick and detailed (reassuring) response.

With a history of cytopathological issues, it certainly doesn’t hurt to be cautious.

86bibo schrieb:

Personally, I wouldn’t worry about whether there is PU on my living room wall. I would be more careful when sniffing the adhesive during application (it’s probably a PU adhesive anyway)

Fortunately, the panels are screwed in place.

Ah... there are such beautiful natural stone products for walls that you can easily install yourself. The texture also feels just right. I would avoid using plastic wall coverings that try to imitate something else. They also have a bit of a 1970s vibe.

I risk annoying you again with this repeated question, but just to be sure, I’m asking once more.

86bibo schrieb:

Plastic only becomes dangerous if it decomposes or rots, but even then, you really have to differentiate carefully.

As long as I live, nothing will decompose.

However, this is not—as discussed a few pages back—a replacement of a tiled backsplash, but a total area of about 38 sqm (409 sq ft). Are these dimensions also considered safe?