Why Use Natural Thin Veneer Stone?

There are many home renovations you can do with natural thin veneer stone to improve the appearance of your exterior walls, decks, swimming pools, indoor and outdoor fireplaces and kitchens. Thin stone Veneer is fabricated by sawing natural stone into thickness less than 1½ inches with the most pleasing face on the outside and then packaged in bundles with consistent appearance suitable for installation, thus allowing the homeowner or architect to easily choose a certain design look. The veneer thin stone is used on residential homes and commercial buildings. Since it is lighter in weight, it becomes faster to install, and in many cases more economical to use than traditional, full-dimension stone veneer. Its light weight allows for easier handling, requires no elaborate support structure and reduces the shipping costs.

When shopping for veneer stone, make sure it is real stone and not colored concrete. Real building stone should be used and to get the natural thin stone look it is sawn down, the color will not fade like man-made stone. The natural thin stone can be applied to almost any surface and can be used on zero tolerance fireplaces, cut to fit specific angles and corners, used in both interior and exterior designs and does not absorb water and thus freezing and cracking does not become an issue in colder climates. Since it is natural stone it resists warping, cracking, fading, and chipping. Veneer stone has limited insulation value and can not be used in a weight bearing situation.

Installation of natural thin veneer stone can be a do-it-yourself job or done by a professional installer. If you are not sure of installing yourself please seek a qualified professional installer. When installing stone veneer over a non stone surface such as paneling, wall sheeting, plywood or wall board first cover the wall with a moisture barrier that is weather resistant for the location and protects the underlying wood and stone veneer from moisture damage. Second, attach according to your local building code, a metal mesh, sheeting, or lath with galvanized nails or staples. This supplies rigid support for the mortar and provides a firm backbone for your stones to grip. Third, add the mortar and apply the stone veneer with mortar between the joints. Finally use a stiff brush and some water to remove the excess mortar from between the stones.

For concrete, masonry or stucco building as long as the masonry contains no oils, surfactants, or other chemicals on its surface and is clean and dry it is safe to apply the stone veneers without any prep. Just make sure that the backside of the masonry will not be exposed to a water source such has those used for retaining walls, ponds, or garden beds.

Natural thin veneer stone is also environmentally friendly, durable and long lasting, no harmful dyes are used and there is very little waste after the stone is cut. Thin stone is available in a wide variety of colors and styles because it is made from natural stone. Therefore you can choose from more colors and cuts than fabricated stone.

Quarry Cut is the premier supplier of thin stone veneer along the east coast and offers stone cut from quarries in Pennsylvania, and the north east.