1. On the facade - a stone-effect frontage
This is the most common use. The panels give the look of stone, brick or concrete at a fraction of the weight of natural cladding, and they are non-combustible (reaction to fire A2-s1, d0) and non-fire-spreading (NRO) - which matters on external walls. Water absorption after 24 hours is at most 0.15, and in a facade system the top layer goes through freeze-thaw cycles without damage. You can finish part of the frontage (for example the ground floor, corners, a band around the entrance) or the whole facade.
On a facade it is worth considering the protective varnish - it is water-repellent and guards against soiling, fading and mould, especially on shaded walls and near greenery.
2. On the plinth, fence and posts
The plinth zone and fences are the most exposed to water, mud and splashes - here the panels' resistance to moisture and frost counts. These are good spots for darker, "stone" patterns that hide dirt. On plinths and fences the varnish is especially recommended, since the manufacturer recommends it precisely for places with raised humidity and atmospheric soiling. Remember that panels go onto vertical surfaces free of rising damp - a wet, "wicking" plinth must first be cut off with a damp-proof course.
3. For interiors - TV wall, hallway, living room
Indoors the panels create a stone-wall effect without loading the structure. Most often they go onto the wall behind the TV, into the hallway, onto part of a wall in the living room or by the stairs. Thanks to their low weight (about 3-4 kg/m²) and gluing to a flat substrate, they also suit plasterboard walls. Indoors the varnish is usually not needed - it is used mainly where a wall is exposed to moisture or frequent cleaning. For ideas, see 10 ideas for quartz panels.
4. In the bathroom and wet zones
The panels work in a bathroom or kitchen in areas exposed to splashes - provided they are protected with varnish, which is water-repellent and resistant to mould and fungal growth. This is a good solution for a wall by the basin, a strip above the worktop or a decorative wall.
5. Over insulation (ETICS)
The panels can be used as a decorative-protective finish over insulation. Guardi cladding is part of the certified LAKMA TERM ST DEKOR insulation system (KOT ICiMB-KOT-2021/0134), so on EPS it is installed as part of a complete, tested kit rather than improvised. In this variant the reinforced layer should be at least 4-5 mm thick, and priming starts at least 3 days after it is made. The order of work is detailed in the step-by-step installation guide.
6. What substrates you can glue to
The substrate must be strong, even, dry, dust-free and load-bearing. The panels glue to mineral substrates - below is the declared adhesion from the KOT.
| Substrate | Adhesion (lab) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | ≥ 260 kPa | typical walls and plinths |
| Gypsum substrate | ≥ 145 kPa | interiors |
| Cement-lime render | ≥ 80 kPa | facades, walls |
| EPS (in an ETICS system) | system 2+ | reinforced layer min. 4-5 mm |
Season new cement renders for 3-4 weeks before gluing, and reinforce absorbent or dusty substrates with primer. The choice of adhesive and primer is covered in the installation guide.