Masonry Magazine November 2003 Page. 22
STONE VENEER
Through
Thick
and
Thin
By Jennie Farnsworth
What are the advantages and disadvantages of thin stone veneer and how does it "stack" up to full-dimension stone?
Photo courtesy of Buche Stone Co
ACCORDING TO MOST SOURCES, THIN STONE VENEER is lighter in weight, faster to install, and in many cases - more economical to use than traditional, full-dimension stone veneer. If that's the case, wouldn't thin stone veneer be specified every time the owner wants that old world stone look? Not necessarily. Although the two veneers are very similar, each type has distinct advantages over the other.
"One item is not the right item for all types of work," says Jamey DeMaria, owner of Jamey DeMaria Masonry in Carmel, Calif. "So, thin stone veneer is a nice option, just like manufactured stone is a nice option for some jobs. There's not one thing that's the right option for every job."
Cost
PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST debated advantages to thin stone veneer is the overall cost savings that mason contractors will reap in using it.
Jeff Leonard, President of Leonard Masonry, Inc., in St. Louis, Mo., won one out of his three 2003 MCAA International Excellence in Masonry awards for his stonework on a private residence, which included thin and full-dimension stonework.