Natural Thin Stone Veneer v. Full Bed Veneer - What's the Difference?

A common question we receive is “what is the difference between Full Bed Veneer and Thin Stone Veneer”? We’re fortunate enough to create both Full Bed and Thin Stone here and while thin stone is more popular, there are those who prefer the full bed veneer for their project.

Full Bed Veneer v. Thin Stone Veneer

I’ll start with the most obvious differences, size and weight. In order to be considered natural thin stone veneer the final product must range between .75” - 1.25” thickness and must weigh no more than 15 lbs per square foot. Other dimensions such as length, height, and shape can vary (which is why we can offer several different patterns). Thin stone veneer is often sold by the square foot. Thin stone is usually sawn on one side to make for easier application.

Our Full Bed Veneer ranges from 3”-6” thickness and is ordered by the ton, not the square foot. With that said, we calculate our full bed veneer to be approximately 35sf per ton. Like thin stone, the shape can vary and is available in all patterns we offer our thin stone in. When purchasing “rounds” in full bed you will be purchasing “whole rounds” which are not cut at all. Unless a special request is made, all sides of a full bed stone are “textured” (no flat surface), and rounds can be ordered “split”, for an additional cost.

What Else You Need To Know

Ordering thin stone or full bed veneer often depends on the scope of the project. The architect, project manager, or mason may have a preference on which they prefer to work with or what will work best. In either case it’s natural stone which is durable, abundant, and will maintain color quality for the lifetime of its use.
If trying to decide between natural thin stone and full bed veneer consult your contractor, mason, or project manager. You can also talk with your local natural stone supplier who you are ordering the stone from. They might be able to show you samples or offer insight as to what is better for you project.