What is “Quality” Stone Veneer?

As someone who loves data I couldn’t even begin to calculate the number of times someone has asked if we make “quality stone veneer”. As the Director of Operations, I can’t help but respond with, “the highest quality”. While I know our stone veneer is one of the best in the building materials industry but it’s up to the end user to decide if it’s “quality stone veneer” or not. Let me explain.

Montauk Blend Mosaic Patio Wall

Quality Control Process

The end result is stone veneer but the process starts long before that. We research, test, and analyze our stone sources to determine if the stone is of the quality we expect. If it doesn’t meet our standards you will never know it existed. Once we decided to work with a source we check the quality every time one of our quarries or sources delivers us stone.

As we work through our process it is inspected at several points so we can check the quality. This allows us to make sure each product is going to meet our specifications. As you research which stone veneer you would like to use it’s important to know the different specifications of each product. We monitor our production to make sure the product is up to the standards we expect of our stone and the quality our customers rely on.

CT Blend Ashlar Fireplace

Understanding Quality Stone Veneer

As you explore your stone veneer options you want to make sure the product you are going to buy is a quality product. It brings us to back to the original question: “What is quality stone veneer”? Here are some questions to consider when asking this:

• What is the waste factor? Our focus is to make sure you have approximately 10-15% waste. This is low for our industry as most companies have 25-30% waste. Sorry, I can’t share how we do it.
• Is the Stone Durable? Natural stone varies based on geographic region but the Northeast United States (where we source from) produces some of the most durable stone available. It’s harder than stone from other regions and has been climate tested.
• Will I Achieve My Desired Look? Ultimately for it to be considered quality, you have to be happy with it. You have a vision in your mind (or on paper). Is this stone going to help your vision become a reality. If not, it doesn’t matter if we consider it quality… you won’t think it is.
• Installation Plays a Role: I can’t stress this enough. Working with an experienced mason or contractor can make all the difference in the world. An experienced mason will make good stone great and our stone breathtaking. Even if the stone is perfect when it arrives, someone with no experience installing can turn quality into a nightmare.

There are many stone veneer options available today. Everything from faux, to panels, imported, and natural stone veneer can be obtained. When you ask yourself if this is quality stone veneer, know what you are looking for in a product and do your research to make sure you’re buying the product you will be happy with.