Cultured Stone vs.
Natural Stone Veneer
Cultured stone is concrete poured into a stone mold, then colored to look like real stone. It is also known as faux stone, man-made stone, or manufactured stone. It is often less expensive than natural stone but lacks the quality and durability found in real stone.
Natural stone veneer is 100% real stone cut to 1” thickness. It has the same quality, appearance, and durability as full-thickness building stone with the added benefits of easier transportation and affordable installation
Material cost
Cultured stone can be less expensive than natural stone. Quality varies among cultured stone products. Cheaper cultured stones can be significantly less expensive than natural stone but also tend to look cheaper. High end cultured stone products generally have very little price difference from natural stone.
Natural stone veneer can be more expensive than cultured stone. Because natural thin veneer is real stone, it often costs more to produce. Natural stone is excavated from stone quarries and the thin veneer is sawn with a diamond blade to 1” thickness. Natural stone also offers unique product availability such as a high-density granite or unadulterated white stone quarried below 80 feet in depth. These specialized stone options often carry a higher price.
Installation
Cultured stone installation costs are roughly the same as natural stone veneer. Masons generally do some field trimming when installing natural stone veneer to fit a desired pattern. Field trimming cannot be done with cultured stone as the outside is painted and cutting the product will expose the inner concrete. Due to the lack of field trimming, cultured stone often has some gaps in the installation.
Natural stone veneer installation costs are relatively similar to cultured stone. The installation costs of both cultured and natural stone are dependent on the style of stone. For example, large castle rock style blocky pieces are quicker and less expensive to install than a low height ledgestone. Masons are able to cut or field trim natural stone veneer for a custom fit during installation.
Finished look
Cultured stone is made from concrete poured into molds and then painted. The stone can look like an imitation product and the colors can look artificial. You can usually find the same exact pieces repeated within the wall several times. Your mason will have to use the pieces as is which leads to gaps within the finished installation.
Natural stone veneer has an authentic beauty that is only found in natural products. The stone shows the natural colors from compression, weathering, and mineral composition/staining over millennia. Each piece of natural thin veneer will have unique characteristics and is truly one-of-a-kind. It is impossible to truly replicate the beauty of natural products including stone.
Durability & Longevity
Cultured stone is made of concrete and is designed to be durable and weather resistant. The colors of cultured stone are painted on the concrete which over time can fade or chip. Cultured stone generally does not have the same longevity as natural stone due to the manufacturing of painted concrete versus centuries old stone.
With proper installation, natural stone veneer has stood the test of time. Quarry Mill stone is approved for all applications due to natural stones’ high compressive strength and low water absorption. Natural stone veneer provides a lifetime of beauty with minimal care. All of our natural stone veneers come with a lifetime warranty.
Shop Natural Stone Veneer
Quarry Mill offers a wide range of natural thin stone veneer products. Shop our natural thin stone veneer selection and find the perfect stone for your project.
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