Thin Stone Veneer vs.
Full Thickness Building Stone
Natural stone as a construction material is a premium high-quality classic choice that can truly take any home to the next level. Both full-thickness stone and natural thin stone veneer are excellent options. Thin stone veneer is a relative newcomer in the masonry marketplace and has many benefits. Although we produce and sell full stone of all our products (via special order), our natural thin stone outsells full stone 10 to 1. Thin stone veneer is the identical stone of its full-thickness counterpart but cut to 1” thick. It has the same quality, appearance, and durability as full-thickness stone with the added benefits of easier transportation and affordable installation
Quality
Quality full-thickness stone has been used in building construction for centuries. It is a natural premium choice for siding, landscape, and construction materials.
Natural thin stone veneer is the same premium high-quality natural stone as full-thickness stone. The full-thickness natural stone is cut to approximately 1” thick to create the thin stone.
Appearance
Natural full-thickness stone has an undeniable classic beauty that has stood the test of time. As a natural product, each stone slab is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Natural thin stone veneer looks identical to its full-thickness counterpart once installed. It has the same classic time-tested beauty and unique variation of natural building products.
Durability
Natural building stone has varying durability based on the stone type and composition. Quality building stone is one of the oldest construction material mediums and is still standing on millennia-old iconic commercial buildings and residential homes worldwide.
Quality natural thin veneer has the same durability as full-thickness building stone. Quarry Mill natural thin stone veneers are approved for all applications due to the high compressive strength and low water absorption of the stone. Quarry Mill offers a limited lifetime warranty on all its natural thin stone veneer.
Depth and Weight
Full-thickness stone is typically 3 to 5 inches in depth. It is sometimes referred to as a 4-inch veneer or building stone veneer. Full-thickness stone averages 35 to 40 square feet per ton. The weight of a full stone can vary per square foot depending on the type of rock it comes from; different stones have different densities. For example, granite has a higher density and is, therefore, heavier than a sandstone.
Real thin stone veneer is roughly one inch in depth and weighs approximately 13 pounds per square foot. The lighter weight is particularly advantageous because it means that the materials can be applied to just about any structurally sound wall. When using thin-cut stone, building plans don’t have to be calculated or reworked to accommodate heavy full-thickness stone.
Installation
Full-thickness stone A major consideration for full-thickness stone is that the weight and size of the stone can make it challenging to install. It can only be used in applications where its thickness, weight, and size have been carefully addressed and calculated by an architect. Full-thickness stone requires a foundation footing, shelf, or reinforced strengthening of the floor. It also requires time and effort to lift, field trim, and sort the stone to fit the wall correctly.
Real thin stone veneer Lightweight natural thin veneers are much easier to handle and install than the full-thickness stone. The stone is supported by the wall rather than the footing and therefore requires no foundation footing. This makes natural thin veneer a great choice for remodeling projects as well as new construction. Thin stone veneer is easy to lift and there’s a reduced risk of injury during the installation process. Any cutting, trimming, or setting that is necessary during the project can be completed quickly. The light weight and size of thin stone veneers can reduce installation expenses so you can expect to pay less in terms of labor.
Transportation
Full-thickness stone is cost-prohibitive to ship due to the weight of the stone. These shipping costs affect the availability and selection of full-thickness building stone in many regions across the world.
Real thin stone veneer The lighter weight of the natural thin stone veneer allows Quarry Mill to ship our natural stone nationwide. This unique feature of thin veneer provides increased stone selection allowing Quarry Mill to offer over 400 natural thin stone veneer products from our varying quarries across the US and overseas.
Price
Full-thickness stone The cost of the raw natural stone is cheaper than thin stone due to lower production requirements. However, freight and installation will significantly increase the cost per square foot which often comes out more expensive than thin stone.
Real thin stone veneer Natural thin stone is slightly more expensive per square foot than its full bed depth counterpart. This is due to the additional production process of cutting or splitting the stone to 1” thickness. Thin stone has reduced transportation and installation costs with homeowners coming out financially ahead over full-thickness stone.
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.
Shop Natural Stone Veneer