Masonry Magazine January 2008 Page. 32
Thin Is In
Take a look around at new construction in your community, and you'll likely see buildings clad in stone. Take a closer look, and you might find that, rather than full-bed stone or cast concrete stone veneers, thin stone is taking center stage. For many reasons, mason contractors are opting for thin stone. When compared to a full stone veneer or a manufactured concrete product, it just makes sense.
By Jennifer Morrell
Thin stone veneer is no longer a slick industry buzz term used by stone quarry spokespeople in scattered areas of the world. It is, instead, a viable and increasingly popular building material seen on everything from banks and restaurants to outdoor fireplaces, entranceways and residential homes. While some companies focus solely on thin stone, others have made it an offering of their companies or are considering doing so. But across the board, everyone accepts thin stone veneer as an exterior treatment that is pleasing all parties involved, including contractors, masons, bricklayers and customers.
Thin stone has the ability to offer the beauty of natural stone at an affordable price. And, this material has time—four to six million years—on its side. Unlike manufactured stone, this is a natural product through and through. Chip it, and you'll only see more colorful beauty that won't fade or wash away. With all of these plusses, one has to ask, "What's not to love?"
The Hubbell Lighting building in Greenville, S.C., uses Pine Creek thin stone veneer from Natural Stone Veneers International's Dimensional Collection.