Masonry Magazine January 2008 Page. 34
THIN STONE
Stats
THIN STONE VENEER is a facing product that does not need a ledger, footings or wall ties required by full-bed stone veneer. With a weight restriction of 15 pounds per square foot, thin stone is light enough to be supported by the wall to which it's applied. The builder can construct a wood frame or block backup and apply thin stone over the surface. It is cut to a 3/4- to 1 1/4-inch depth, so it offers the dimensional beauty of full-bed stone. Thin and full natural stone used on the same product would mix in a way that one couldn't tell which was thin and which was four to six inches thick.
Natural Stone Veneers
Intemational's Pine
Creek thin stone
veneer from the
Dimensional
Collection is used on
the exterior of the
Hubbell Lighting
building in
Greenville, SC.
Photo courtesy of
Brian Dresse
"Full stone veneer has to be hammered or chipped into place," says Jim Hambleton, sales manager for Denver-based Robinson Brick, a division of General Shale Brick. "Thin stone veneer is more like a jigsaw puzzle. Our product goes out of the box and into place. Both full and thin use the same Type S mortar, but full veneer needs ties, etc., to adhere to the wall, and the mason has to wait on it to dry before continuing."
SIMPLE MATH
Consider a builder begins construction on a building requiring 2,00 square feet of stone veneer. If he has two masons laying full-bed stone veneer, each can lay about 35 square feet per day, for a total of 70 square feet per day. To lay all 2,000 square feet would take the two masons about one month.
For two masons to lay 2,000 square feet of thin stone veneer would take about 10 days, in comparison, due to lighter weights and ease of installment.
The builder completes the project more quickly, saves on labor, and saves on potential workman's comp claims in the long term, since the veneers are so much lighter and easier on the back and body.
Super-Matic Masonry Saw
The Super-Matic is MK Diamond's latest Masonry Saw. Designed without compromise to be the best saw for cutting thin veneer stone. It is loaded with countless safety and performance innovations not found on any other saw in its class. All for the sole purpose of making your job easier. Built strong and tough, with handmade craftsmanship, in America.
Heavy-duty blade shaft and bearings for trouble free performance
Heavy-duty conveyor cart to support additional weight with operator safety handle
OPTIONAL:
Advanced blade guard system for added operator safety
OPTIONAL:
Variable speed motor controller available on 460 volt saws
MK Diamond Products, Inc.
WWW.MKDIAMOND.COM
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA
1.800.421.5830
CIRCLE 117 ON READER SERVICE CARD
30 Masonry
January 2008 www.masoncontractors.org
The Voice of the Masonry Industry