What material is soft stone made of?

Soft stone is a new type of composite building material that looks like natural stone but feels slightly elastic to the touch – it's neither pure stone nor plastic! Its main components are "natural stone powder + polymer resin," with stone powder accounting for 60%-80% (such as marble powder or granite powder) and resin accounting for 20%-40% (generally epoxy resin or polyurethane). These are mixed in proportion and then molded under pressure. This process retains the texture and feel of stone while adding flexibility, making it 50% lighter than natural stone and less prone to breakage.

Why is it called "soft"? It's not soft enough to be easily squeezed, but it has strong impact resistance. Natural stone shatters when dropped, but soft stone remains intact even after falling from a meter high. Last year, my friend had soft stone installed on their wall, and the installer accidentally dropped a piece, but it didn't crack at all – thanks to the resin. It can also be slightly bent, making it suitable for walls with curves of up to 5 centimeters. For curved background walls and column cladding, soft stone is much more convenient than natural stone, as it doesn't require cutting into small pieces for assembly; a single piece can be bent to create the desired shape, resulting in fewer seams and a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Based on material composition, soft stone can be divided into three main categories, each with its own characteristics:

Natural Stone Powder Soft Stone: High stone powder content (80%), with a texture most similar to natural stone. For example, the beige jade soft stone looks just like real beige jade, but the price is only 1/3 of natural stone, making it suitable for living room background walls;

Ceramic Soft Stone: Contains added clay components, giving it a slightly matte surface and good breathability. It's suitable for bathrooms and kitchens, as it's resistant to moisture. For example, Yipai's ceramic soft stone has a water absorption rate of only 0.5%, making it even more water-resistant than ceramic tiles;

Resin Soft Stone: High resin content (40%), offering the best flexibility. It can be cut into any shape, making it suitable for wall decorations and entrance hall designs. For example, Tuscany's resin soft stone comes in a wide variety of colors, including metallic options, which are very popular with young people. Many people worry that it's not environmentally friendly, but in fact, legitimate soft stone products have passed testing, meeting domestic E1 environmental standards with formaldehyde emissions ≤0.124mg/m³, even lower than latex paint. I specifically checked Keda's soft stone test report, and the VOC content is only 5g/L. It has no noticeable odor, so it's safe to use even in homes with babies.

In summary: Soft stone is a "combination of stone and resin," making it lightweight, flexible, and aesthetically pleasing. It's suitable for those who want a natural texture but also want a hassle-free renovation. The price is moderate (150-300 RMB/㎡), cheaper than natural stone and more durable than cultured stone. When buying, look for products with a high stone powder content, no pungent odor, and test a sample by dropping it – only those that don't crack are reliable.