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Skills Required for a DIY Stone Veneer Project

The skills required for any DIY stone veneer project will depend on the materials and methods used for the job. For instance, if you opt to use natural stone cut for use as a veneer, you will need good building skills even if you don’t cut the stone to size yourself. If, on the other hand, you decide to use man-made stone veneer, it will be a lot easier and quicker to install. And if you choose to use Native Custom Stone’s ingenious Go-Stone Panels, you don’t need any special skills at all.

Generally, natural stone veneer is a job for the professionals. Because of the weight, it will require a foundation, and the cut-stone veneer units will have to be laid in mortar. Depending on the size of the stone used, it might even need steel reinforcing.

Manufactured stone is a lot easier to work with, and it doesn’t usually need any concrete foundation or base. Go-Stone panels are even lighter

Skills Needed for a Faux Stone Veneer Project

Our #21 Aspen Ridge CustomFit Panels

Most faux stone veneer projects require basic building skills including knowledge of how to ensure everything is straight and square, as well as level and plumb. In essence, for any structure to be square it must have right-angled corners, horizontal surfaces must be flat and level and vertical surface must be plumb. All this means is that you need to know how to measure correctly and how to use a torpedo or spirit level since these tools allow you to check both horizontal and vertical surfaces. A builders’ square is useful for testing that corners are at right-angles.

While some faux stone veneer products can be laid dry and stacked without mortar, it is often better to use mortar. You can buy a pre-mixed product that comes in one bag for this.

It might take a bit of practice using a trowel to lay the mortar on the stone veneer, but it isn’t particularly different. If you work systematically, checking your vertical and horizontal levels as you go, there is no reason why you can’t achieve a professional finish.

Go-Stone is a unique product made partially from rubber tires. Because it comes in panels, it is a quicker process than laying a faux stone veneer. Nevertheless, you will need the same basic skills that relate to ensuring the veneer is straight, level, and plumb. Instead of working with mortar, Go-Stone panels are laid using a ceramic tile and stone adhesive.

Whether you opt for a faux stone veneer or Go-Stone panels, Native Custom Stone has products that offer lots of choices of finish and color. You’ll wonder why you ever considered using natural stone!

Using Custom Stone Veneer vs. Natural Stone for Your Project

Natural stone creates an amazing effect in homes and gardens, for walls and for feature structures including fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, water features and planters. But there’s a certain irony about this statement because you can create exactly the same effect using a custom stone veneer, and you’ll find it’s generally easier, cheaper, and much more manageable to maintain.

River Rock

While there is a certain mystique about natural stone, largely based on tradition and the age-old skills of practiced stonemasons, modern technology has enabled us to manufacture faux stone in various forms, including veneer. Custom stone veneer and other faux stone products are perfect for both construction and finishing projects. Stone veneer is also a great tool for revamping and renovating walls and other indoor and outdoor features.

Effects You Can Create Using Custom Stone Veneer

Here’s another irony: unless you have an unlimited budget for natural stone, you have many more choices in terms of the effects created by using faux stone and veneers than you do when using natural stone. The reason is simple. When you use the natural stone from the area where you live, you are limited to what stone occurs naturally. If you opt for faux stone blocks or custom stone veneer you are limited only by the range produced by an accessible manufacturer like Native Custom Stone.

The reality is that manufacturers offering manufactured stone veneer products have dozens of styles and colors. There are also numerous different finishes and sizes that will give you the opportunity to copy any effect from an elegant castle stone finish to a typical rubble effect like the traditional ashlar, commonly used in southern USA.

Alternatively, you might want something that looks as if it was built using genuine fieldstone or perhaps river rocks. No need to go into the field or seek out a river, a good quality custom stone veneer or manufactured stone will provide you with the materials you need.

Working With Stone Veneer Rather Than Natural Stone

Custom Fit Stone

Traditional stonemasons didn’t need university degrees to do their work, but they did need incredible skills that were generally passed down through the generations.

While stone can be used in the form of boulders or random blocks, unless you are building a rockery or irregular dry-stone structure, the stone will need to be cut into blocks or slabs that will slot together or enable them to be laid neatly and effectively. Natural stone is heavy and can be challenging to cut.

Stone veneer, on the other hand, is available in the form of individual units or simple panels. Interlocking panels in particular, are very easy to install without any skills at all, other than the ability to use a spirit level to ensure they are laid level. They are also lightweight and easy to handle. Furthermore, no foundations or additional structural support is required and they can be used to clad a variety of frame types, both metal and wood, or even a masonry structure.

Typically natural stone walls vary in size from about 2 to 30 ins (or 51 to 762 mm). Manufactured stone veneer, on the other hand, is substantially thinner than natural stone blocks, varying in size from about 1 to 3 ins (or 25 to no more than 76 mm), partly dependent on the texture chosen.

So if you like the effect of natural stone, explore the options offered by the Native Custom Stone range of veneer products.

 

 

 

Why Should You Use Manufactured Stone Veneer In a Bathroom

Manufactured stone veneers are getting used in more and more places around the house. Everyone has seen how good it looks around a fireplace as a center piece for a room. It looks equally good on the outside of a home because it lends a certain rugged charm but have you ever considered using it in your bathroom? The basic qualities of a manufactured stone veneer are its amazing durability and its almost complete resistance to moisture and staining. If you are shopping for the perfect building materials for your bathroom then durability and stain resistance are probably the two things you are specifically searching for.

Manufactured Stone | Custom Stone Veneer | BathroomUp until recently, only the most affluent homes could have natural looking bathrooms covered in marble and other high end stone. The price tag on bathroom projects like these would sometimes rival a small house but with a manufactured stone veneer they became a much more practical design decision. Even middle income homeowners can afford to own:

  • Unique vanity top designs. These are made out of stylish stone that really adds a dash of elegance to a room.
  • Decorative accents made from cultural marble. Marble is always a hit and most people cannot tell natural stone apart from its manufactured counterpart.
  • Cultured Onyx, Granite and Piedrafina. These stones and many more are available in manufactured varieties and they are very easy to work with.

If you have never seen manufactured stone then you may think that it will look cheap or fake. Most manufactured stones are actually made from rock dust instead of plastic or synthetic materials so it is an actual stone, just not a naturally formed one. This process of formation is the main reason that manufactured stones are so easy to work with. Liquid polyester is utilized to make all the rock dust stick together and then it is covered in a non porous coating that resists stains and spotting. The end result is that you are left with a bathroom that doesn’t absorb moisture or hold onto odors and it can be easily cleaned with soap and water for the most part.

There is one thing to be careful of when buying manufactured stone veneers and that is to get them from a reputable company. Some will skimp on the manufacturing process and it can result in you buying inferior manufactured stone.

Using Manufactured Stone for Commercial Projects

Manufactured stone veneer offers many features that real stone can’t, and if taken advantage of it can make a big difference in the success of your next construction job.  If you are familiar with using natural stone in a lot of your projects, maybe reading a little bit about the great benefits of custom stone will changer your mind. You will have many projects done in half the time, at a fraction of the cost.

A few of the ways the manufactured stone surpasses natural stone are:

  1. Manufactured stone costs a small fraction of the current price for regular stone. This can come as a surprise to construction companies because they view natural stone as being cheap and plentiful.
  2. Since a manufactured stone veneer is all part of the same piece, it can be installed much faster than normal stone. This is a benefit to commercial locations that do not want part of their building to be off limits for an extended period of time because if foot traffic is impeded it can result in lost revenue.
  3. Manufactured stone veneers are much safer than a standard stone facing. If a natural stone were to come loose and hit someone it could cause serious injuries. Since the manufactured stone veneer is a single piece, you never have to worry about parts coming loose.
  4. You will stand out from the crowd. Most commercial companies want to look businesslike and stylish so they tend to use a lot of stone in their construction. It looks good but after awhile it all tends to blend together.  If you use a manufactured stone veneer, you can get any look that you want. You can have a veneer that perfectly emulates natural stone or you can have a veneer that perfectly reflects your own sense of style. You have complete control over how it will look in the end.

A great manufactured stone veneer is key when working on a commercial project. Customers are sure to be pleased with the quality, efficiency, and price of this great product.

The Importance of Sealing your Manufactured Stone Veneer

Manufactured stone veneer from Native Custom Stone is a great alternative to natural stone. It cost tons less than natural stone, and is much easier to install. To keep your manufactured stone veneer looking great and lasting you do need to know the importance of sealing your manufactured stone after it’s installed.

Sealing your Manufactured Stone, or Custom Stone, prevents from:

  • Cracking or Chipping of the Stone and Mortar
  • Swelling and Breaking
  • Mortar from absorbing water
  • Color fastness in the Stone

If you are installing Manufactured Stone Veneer on the exterior of your home sealing it is crucial to prevent against weathering. If you don’t seal your Custom Stone Veneer you risk it becoming saturated and could break, crack, or lose color. Also, sealing your stone will help protect the Stone Veneer from mud and dirt stains.

However, if your custom stone is on the interior of your home it’s not mandatory, but it is recommended.

  • If you have a Custom Stone Fireplace you will want to make sure to prevent it from soot stains.
  • In bathrooms it’s important because of the excessive moisture in the air.
  • In Kitchens it really is a preference. If you install a counter top you are going to want to seal your stone to prevent against stains. However, if you have Custom Panels accenting areas in your kitchen you may want to protect them from accidents but, it’s not necessary.

The benefits of Manufactured Stone Veneer are abundant and you can use it all over your home. This type of stone is great for do-it-yourself projects or large contracting jobs. It’s light-weight and costs much less than Natural Stone, though it looks natural and beautiful in any setting. Native Custom Stone offers a large selection of Manufactured Stone Veneer. Have a look at their gallery and visit a distributor near you.

Top 5 Places to use Manufactured Stone Veneer in your Home

Your local faux stone supplier talks about these Top 5 most popular places to install Faux Stone in your home. Manufactured stone veneer is a material that’s becoming more used recently. Faux stone veneer can be added to almost any room, including its many outdoor uses. If you haven’t thought about manufactured stone veneer or you wanted to add more to your home take a look at this list below. You might think up another great home renovation idea!

The Top 5 Rooms and Spaces to use Manufactured Stone:

1.)    Finishing an above around basement. You can add manufactured stone directly to concrete to cover up what’s peeking out from under your home. It looks great and adds value to your house.

2.)    Manufactured Stone Panels can be used as siding to your home, window seals, or door frames. A classic, it will look as if you home is made entirely of stone. Not to mention that this type can be a do-it-yourself project!  It has gorgeous results!

3.)    Bathroom and Kitchen counters and cabinets are another wonderful idea! It will give your home a timeless elegance and great functionality.

4.)    Fireplaces look wonderful accented in manufactured stone veneer.

5.)    Outdoors you can use manufactured stone veneer to accent gazebos, archways, and pool side areas. It looks great and has relatively low maintenance.neer. As if the fire wasn’t warm enough the stone makes the room much more inviting and cozy.

So, as you can see there are so many uses for manufactured stone veneer in your home. Hopefully this opened you up to all of the potential your home has. Most manufactured stone veneer has the capability to be a do-it-yourself project. There are so many styles to choose from. Native Custom Stone has dozens of styles and designs to make sure you find the perfect fit for your home. Please, don’t hesitate, give them a call today!

The Elegant Look of Faux Stone Veneer

Home improvement is something that is on every homeowner’s mind. Sometimes a room just seems to be missing something, as far as design goes; as if just a little something would make a world of difference. Often what the room is lacking are accent pieces. Accent pieces are often what can bring a room to life and create just enough balances and counter balances to make the room really glow. One great product to use and that we will be discussing is faux stone veneer.

Faux stone veneer, as the name states, is fake however this does not mean that it looks fake. In fact, to any eye this manufactured stone looks authentic. This is largely due to innovative designs and processes in which the manufactured stone is molded directly off of natural stone to get a look that is precisely like the real stuff. This really ups the ante on appeal, and when you take into consideration the cheaper price, better durability and lower maintenance, there is very little that keeps people from opting for faux stone veneer.

Another thing to consider when working with this product is the actual heft of it. Obviously it is much lighter than natural stone and so requires less structural support and installation than real stone. Faux stone veneer can also be incorporated into small or large products and come in a variety of colors and designs, including stone but also woods, to suit any room or project that needs enhancing or full-scale remodeling. Make that fireplace really stand out with a manufactured stone veneer setting, or finish off the bathroom counters. The possibilities are many, so let your mind wander and explore the delights of having faux stone veneer a part of your interior or even exterior decorating! You can easily work this stone into the exterior of your home and even into your landscape. Give Native Custom Stone a call today to help decide which stone veneer would make your home look great.

Great Project Ideas for Custom Stone

Custom stone can greatly enhance just about any area that is being used. It’s not surprise then that custom stone manufacturing has gone way up, and the demand is from many different sectors, including landscaping construction, residences, and the masonry industry. All enjoy using custom stone in a variety of ways and love that this material is both cheaper, more user friendly, and has many perks that natural stone doesn’t have. Basically, you can find the stone that suits your particular need and style.

With innovative materials, coloring pigments and polyurethane, this material is molded and manufactured in ways that make it look real! Only someone with an intimate knowledge of stone work and a keen eye would be able to tell the difference between what is real and not, which ups the appeal all the more. It also allows us to do more with technology, incorporating things like further durability, stain resistance and so much more into the actual material itself. The actual molding process is inspired by nature itself, which is what makes custom stone look so real. In many ways, these are state of the art representations and replications of natural stone, whether you’re looking for a brick, soapstone, flagstone, slate, or any number of naturally inspired custom stone designing.

While it used to be that many people were deterred by the fact that the stone was not real, now that the technique has been perfected and people have seen the results for themselves, it is being welcomed in all different kinds of projects, both commercial and residential. This type of material is lighter, more durable, cheaper and gives the same affects as real stone, including beauty and integrity that will last for years.

For more information on how you can liven up your place by using custom stone, give Native Custom Stone a call. They will be able to show you the vast array of design and finishes available as well as give fun, creative and useful ideas on how to incorporate custom stone into your household or business, both indoors and out.

Custom Stone for Kitchens & Bathrooms

Custom stone is a wonderful way to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal in any room in your home, but two places where stone can greatly revive with style and finesse is in the bathroom and in the kitchen. Simply remodeling your counter tops or floors with custom stone can make a huge difference, but the appeal isn’t just aesthetic.

Stones such as granite and other natural stone options are also incredibly durable and will stand the tests of wear and tear, weather and abuse, that many other materials will eventually begin to deteriorate under. Granite is not only beautiful but a lasting custom option for many outdoor areas, whether that be an outdoor kitchen, pool deck or hot tub. The reason granite does so well is that it is

Custom Kitchen

Custom Kitchen

naturally harder and scratch resistant than other materials. Stone such as granite is also heat resistant and only under the most extreme, unearthly conditions will this type of stone crack.

Granite is also a natural stone that comes in a variety of colors and designs. Finishes can increase or revitalize granite as well, making your stone uniquely yours. And just to give you an idea of what I mean by variety, there are well beyond 3,000 color and finishes on the market. When it comes to custom stone granite, limited options is definitely not an issue.

This brings us to issues of cost, and you will be pleased to hear that granite custom stone is not nearly as expensive as one might think. In fact, when you take into account how long it will last and all the activity it will endure while still looking brand new, you’re making a far better investment than installing a cheaper material that will need to be redone, refinished or completely torn up relatively soon in comparison to granite custom stone. For more information on design availability and costs of remodeling with custom for any project you have in mind, give Native Custom Stone a call today!

Interior Manufactured Stone Benefits

Interior manufactured stone is not only for fireplaces any more.  Though that is a popular choice for the use of interior manufactured stone, interior decorators are using them in other ways that look fantastic.  The kitchen has become the second favorite location to use this lightweight material that is available in any style or color found in nature at a fraction of the cost.  When thinking about remodeling the living room or kitchen area, seriously consider interior manufactured stone to stay within the budget.

Interior manufactured stone for fireplaces:

1)      Comes with a great warranty.

2)      Able to be installed after the home is built.

3)      Lightweight

4)      Can be installed on practically any surface.

5)      Available in any style/color found in nature.

6)      If chipped this product is the same color inside as the exterior so there’s no contrast in color.

7)      Requires very little maintenance to keep it looking new.

Interior manufactured stone for backsplashes:

1)      Much more stylish than the common ceramic tile.

2)      More durable than any laminate material.

3)      Numerous colors/styles to match any existing countertop.

4)      Doesn’t need a great deal of upkeep.

5)      So lightweight that on smaller jobs a homeowner may very well be able to install the new backsplash themselves.

Interior manufactured stone for walls:

1)      Lightweight materials allow this to be used as an attractive accent against another wall of any color.

2)      Can be used to create a column in either a rustic, traditional or contemporary style.

3)      Able to be removed and changed to suit the changing theme of a home.

4)      Bookshelves can be installed between two faux columns and durable enough to hold objects to accentuate the room.

5)      Takes up very little floor space to prevent a room from appearing cramped after installation.

There’s simply no way to go wrong in design or function of manufactured stone when either building a new home or simply in the mood to change the theme of an existing residence.  Though the job can often be done by the homeowner, there’s a company close by with years of experience ready to make the job quick and easy.  No matter what color is desired, there’s a perfect match for the job.  Interior manufactured stone is a durable, lightweight, affordable alternative to the real thing that stands the test of time and fits practically any budget.