About Veneer Stone
Natural Stone has been the building stone of choice for centuries.
For places of importance, significant public works, buildings and
homes, natural stone is the material of choice. Today, Natural Stone
remains a popular building veneer and interior finish. Modern
quarrying techniques continue to improve the affordability of
stone while at the same time introducing a wider variety of stone
types to our market.
Veneer Stone forms the visible exterior of walls in homes and
buildings, as well as fireplaces, garden walls and piers. In its earliest
form,the walls for a structure were built by dry fitting or laying one
stone across the joint of two stones, course after course. Once the
stone was properly positioned, it’s there for centuries. Today,
Veneer Stone often covers concrete block wall, and has gaps
between the stones filled with mortar. Properly chosen and
installed, it will be pleasing and permanent.
Types of Veneer Stone
The individual Veneer Stones offered by Lang Stone are organized
within these categories.
Split Veneer: The classic building stone, Split Veneer is stone that has
been sorted from the quarry, and mechanically split or shaped
within a range of size preferred for masonry walls. Depth is typically
3"-6", height is determined by the natural bed seam in the quarry,
and length will vary.This allows a skilled installer many options.
Natural Thin Veneer: Real stone, but the back has been sawn off to
reduce weight and ease installation.Though more expensive than
a split veneer, Natural Thin Veneer is easier to install, and is an
excellent choice for covering an existing structure where adding a
supporting foundation is cost prohibitive.
Split Faced Veneer: Stone is sawn on the beds to specific heights &
lengths, and the face is split on a mechanical splitter or by hand
providing a natural quarry texture.This can result in a more formal look.
Random Veneer Stones: This is more of a catchall category that
includes stone that is sorted but not mechanically split such as
Webb Wall or Top Rock,granite boulders, and split granite boulders.
Stone from this category usually results in a more rustic look.
Why Choose Stone
We at Lang feel passionately about Stone as the preferred building
material. Stone offers a timeless, classic, permanent look and feel to
any structure. Stone is weatherproof, and actually improves with age. It is
insect-proof, highly resistant to wear; nearly maintenance
free, and long lived. It offers a wide range of design choices from
formal to rustic, and signifies good taste. It is quietly elegant, looks
expensive, and is highly valued.
As Charles McRaven, a college professor turned stone mason and
author, says in his book, Stonework Techniques and Projects: "In
this age of throwaways, stone is psychologically appealing; it
represents strength, stability and permanence. It provides a sense
of shelter and security and blessed simplicity when we're tired of
flimsiness and confusion."
Properly installed stone will add value to your home. Here is a
general example.A 2,000 square foot home has about 1,300 square
feet of stone.At $30 per square foot installed, that's $39,000 cost.
Another exterior siding may cost as much as $25,000 less.
However, the home may be worth $100,000 to $150,000 more
since it is stone.
Importance of Proper Installation
We believe masonry is both an art and a craft. A talented
stonemason does superior work. The more you understand the
difference between good and poor stonework, the more you will
appreciate and value a skilled mason.We think good stonework
includes a pleasing laying pattern (even a random pattern should
have a continuity), small joints, and the right stone in the right
place. Stone should not look as though it is floating in a sea of
mortar.Check the pictures of stone homes in the Design Gallery of
our web site www.langstone.com, and drive around the classic
inner suburbs of Bexley, Upper Arlington,Worthington, Grandview,
Marble Cliff and German Village or view stone homes in your area.
Ultimately, the final look of the stonework you have commissioned
will depend on the craftsmanship of the masonry contractor that
does the installation. We would be pleased to recommend the
skilled masons we work with on a regular basis.
Laying Patterns & Joint Treatment
There are a variety of laying patterns and joint treatments.We have
put together a series of pictures that shows the wide range of looks
that can be created.Use these pictures to show your mason the
look that you want.
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VENEER STONE
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