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DelgadoStone 11/13/17 6:28 AM 5 min read

Understanding Natural Stone Veneer

Before you place your order for natural stone veneer it's important for you to understand what you are buying. Natural stone, or real stone veneer, is beautiful because it's not perfect. It's from the Earth and shaped into rough patterns so the owner of the project can make it look the way they want it to. Unlike stone veneer panels or faux stone, our stone veneer arrives on a pallet in layers of individual pieces. Each pieces is unique and distinct.

Stone Veneer Packaging The top layer of a CT Blend Ashlar Pallet

A common misconception when buying real stone veneer is that it comes perfectly shaped, ready to install. It's important to understand each piece will not be slightly different and you, as the project owner, have the opportunity to make it as "perfect" or as "natural" looking as you want. No two projects will ever be identical because it's natural stone and each pieces is just a little different. It's your vision and your project, we simply provide the stone.

Interior Ledgestone Fireplace CT Blend Ledgestone Fireplace

Many people see pictures on our website, online, or in catalogs and think the stone arrives this way. The reality is the stone is close to what you see but it requires work to be done to the stone to make it look like the image you see above. In this image the mason worked the sides of the ledgestone pieces to make straight lines. You can still tell it's natural stone veneer by the look and feel but was worked by the mason to achieve this look.

We suggest using a 10% waste factor when installing our stone. This assumes a 1/4" mortar joint and a more natural look. The more "perfect" you want the stone to look the more waste you will have. For example, our "Roughly Square & Rec" pattern is exact;y as advertised, rough. If your project calls for all 4-sides to be saw cut, the waste factor will increase and may require more stone than initially expected.

There is a time for real stone and there is a time for faux. No matter what stone you decide to work with it's important you know what you will be receiving so you can plan your project accordingly. If you're not sure you can ask your contractor or call the company directly to get the answers you need to make sure you are moving in the right direction.

 

 

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