Shown: Boston Blend Ashlar (left), $20 per square foot. It's more durable and more versatile, but it also costs more to purchase and takes longer to install. Natural stone is simply that-rock that has been cut into a veneer ¾ inch to 1¼ inches thick and has all the shading, color, and flaws that come with eons of geologic pressure. To be safe, keep a few extra pieces of veneer handy in the basement. But one good bump can reveal its weakness and spoil the facade. Artificial stone is less expensive, significantly lighter, and quicker to install. (Hint: Look at the one on the left.) But there are a few key differences between cast stone and its natural-born relative. Man-Made Versus The Real Thing Photo by Courtesy of Eldorado StoneĪt first glance, it's not easy to spot the impostor in the pictures above. To remove crystalline deposits, known as efflorescence, from cast stone, use a mild mixture of 5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. If need be, nicks in cast stone can be retouched with a color repair kit. Installing veneer on the exterior of a house is best left to a reputable expert.Ī light dusting or a rinse with a hose is often enough. If you've laid tile, you can handle most projects.
#Stone veeer pro#
Expect to pay about $10 or more per square foot either way for a pro installation. Real stone can range from $7 to $19 per square foot.
If Mother Nature didn't create it, the stone is a mixture of portland cement, lightweight aggregate (such as pumice), and iron-oxide pigments shaped in a mold. Veneer Looks like full-size stone but weighs much less. Mortar setting bed bonds the stone to the scratch coat. Mortar scratch coat helps support the stone. Self-furring galvanized lath helps support the mortar. To protect your home from water damage-inside and out-a veneer installation requires a few layers of prep work.Īsphalt felt or grade D building paper acts as a moisture barrier against water and snow. Beneath The Stone Illustration by Pete Sucheski Custom-color fieldstone find a local dealer on for pricing. Shown: Given the myriad colors, shapes, and sizes of the fieldstone on this home, even someone with a well-trained eye would be surprised to learn that the facade is clad in cast stone. You're bound to find something that suits your taste. From backyard kitchens to bathroom walls, rustic fireplaces to stylish dining rooms, lightweight veneers are remarkably versatile. You'll find them popping up outdoors, too.
And by vibrating those molds during the manufacturing process, the final product is infused with color that runs throughout.Īs a result, stone veneers are rapidly making their way into virtually every room in the house, in a sweeping range of styles. Today, it's made from a concrete mixture that features a dozen or more pigments seamlessly blended together in molds produced from the contours of real stones. And cast, or faux, stone has received a major infusion of authenticity. Natural stone can now be carved into thin slices that are light enough to transport almost anywhere. And, well, the DIY-friendly faux stone just didn't measure up to the real thing. It once cost a small fortune to truck a few tons of rock to your front door. If you're not an emperor, though, adding such geologic wonders to your home's decor has always been a challenge. And mankind has been experimenting with stone veneers since the Romans built the Coliseum. Mother Nature has been producing granite and river rock for millions of years, of course. Geologic Wonder Photo by Courtesy of Eldorado Stone
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