Natural Thin Stone Veneer: The Benefits, Where to Buy and How to Choose

Many people to do their projects, whether complete construction or home improvement, using natural thin stone veneer and there is good reason it has proven to be a great, affordable alternative finish that has a natural look. It can be used for all kinds of projects including walls, sidewalks, interiors, terraces and even paving walkways. As a homeowner, you will be choosing one of the best and longest lasting finishes if you choose to use thin veneer stone. Let us look at some of the benefits in detail:

It is long lasting. If you think that brick will last longer you are wrong. Thin veneer lasts just as long and requires little or no maintenance over the years.

It is very light. This means that it is easy to deliver at the construction site, it is easy to work with and best of all, contractors tend to complete their projects faster because the material is easy to install.

It is natural looking. Many people want their homes to look natural both on the outside and the inside and natural thin stone veneer is a good way to achieve this. The other great thing is that it doesnt discolor with age.

It is highly affordable. If you are having a problem affording full size bricks then you should know that natural thin stone veneer costs far less sometimes as much as 3 times less. It also helps you cut overall labor costs because your project is finished faster.

The stone is veneered by the vendor so you dont have to bother with any special equipment.

As it is light, this is the perfect finish when there are load concerns on walls. It can be added without altering much in terms of weight.

It can be used with a variety of other finishes. The beauty of thin stone veneer is that since it is natural it can be made to look great with almost anything. If you want to improve the look of one of the walls in your home, for instance, you dont have to touch the finishing on the rest of the walls just install thin stone veneer and you have a brand new and much improved look.

Where should you buy natural thin stone veneer?

It is important that you find a vendor who will give you a good deal. Since there are many of them around you may have to narrow the list down by talking to them and looking at their products. The important thing to ensure is that your thin stone veneer will be delivered at your construction site without much fuss and that the vendor sends along people to get it off the truck and into your storage area. Depending on the size of your project you may also want to find a vendor who can give you reasonable discounts. You should also look for a vendor who is close to your site as this reduces transportation costs.

What should you look for when buying natural thin stone veneer?

This finish is natural so there isnt much that you should watch out for. That said, the vendor should ensure that his veneers are cleaned up a little without losing their natural look. This allows for direct installation without builders having to chip and shape the veneers.

Using Natural Thin Stone Veneer for a Great Finish for Your Texas Project

Whether you are constructing a commercial or residential building, one of the most important things to do is install a great looking finish that will last. Natural thin stone veneer is a good choice. It is made, as the name suggests, from natural stone. The stone is sliced into veneers using diamond bladed saws. There are many natural thin stone veneer Texas companies that supply this finish. If you are not sure whether it is the right material for your project, consider that it comes with the following advantages:

Most people choose it because it is more affordable than full stone veneers. Construction projects are never cheap and project managers are looking to cut costs where they can. This finish comes at a price that many can afford without compromising quality. Whether installed inside or outside, it can last for decades without losing its good looks.

It weights a lot less than thin stone veneers and this has 3 benefits. The first is that a thin stone veneer Texas company is not a big deal they are not worried as it doesnt take a lot of labor to load on and off the truck and it also costs them less. The second is that it is easier to work with. Although some may imagine that because it is thin it is harder to install, the thinness actually makes it easier to work with. The third benefit of this finish being light is that it is delivered faster you can do two loads in the time it takes to do one of full stone.

You can shave off a big chunk of time on your construction project if you choose thin veneer stone. As it is easier to work with, contractors tend to finish working with it bin half the time that it takes them to finish installing other finishes.

If your construction is comprised of several storeis then weight is an issue. One way of reducing the load on your walls is to contact a natural thin stone veneer Texas company and buy their finish. Because this finish is light it tends to add very little to the overall load of the wall.

It is a great finish for small rooms because it doesnt take up much space. While thicker materials can be up to 6 inches deep, natural thin stone veneer is usually between .75 inches and 2 inches deep.

You get a natural looking finish which is more than can be said for some of the other finishing materials that are available in the market.

How best to work with thin stone veneers

Natural thin veneer is not suitable for all projects, it is up to your contractor to advice on whether it can be used on your particular project. That said, the exclusions are very few and it is suitable for most residential and commercial buildings. Before you call a natural thin stone veneer Texas company to deliver, take the following into account:

Your contractor may be opposed to the idea of having to do the veneers on site. If this is the case you should look for a thin veneer stone Texas company that does the veneers themselves and delivers a ready-to-use product.

Some areas of the construction, such as corners, keystones, lintels and more require heavier masonry. Your contractor can use full stone veneers for these.

The walls where veneers will be installed cannot be repaired later so by the time the veneers are installed all repairs should have been done. They should also be framed properly.

How do you whether natural thin veneer is right for you?

If you are not an expert in finishing you may be wondering whether you should instead choose thick stone veneers for your project. The truth is that only a professional can help you decide. If you have doubts start by talking with your contractor. The experts at the thin stone veneer Texas shop are also in a position to advice. If your worry is the cost then you should ask them to provide you with stone veneer prices in Texas. That said, choosing thin stone veneers is a good idea because they are cheaper than most other finishes and they last just as long as thick stone veneers.

Visit us on Houzz for more home Thin Stone Veneer projects. You can also see our listing on Mantra.

How to Install Thin Stone Veneer on a Retaining Wall

Thin stone veneer is one of the most commonly installed finishes on retaining walls it is beautiful and it is also long lasting. For those who love DIY projects, you will be happy to know that you can install stone veneer walls yourself with just a little guidance. It doesn’t take that long and if you do it as directed the result will be just as good as a professionally done job.

Get started by calculating how much material you will need. You don’t want to run out and have to buy additional supplies in the middle of your project. It is always better to have a little left over than to run short. Calculate the square footage of the wall so that you can know how many thin veneer bricks you will need and also how much mortar will go into it. After that, follow the following steps:

1. Start by cleaning the wall completely. You must get rid of old paint, debris and basically anything else that may get in the way of the bricks adhering to the wall. Depending on the condition of the surface you may need to use a sandblaster over it a little.

2. The next step is to mix the mortar. The best kind is called Type S because it is per-blended. You can buy it at the same place where you bought the thin stone veneers. There are manufacturer instructions on the packaging that tell you how much water you should use.

3. Make sure that the bricks are also clean of debris. If you want to shape them this is the time to do it. Arrange all your stones and see if they form that pattern that you want.

4. Now it is time to install the bricks starting at the corners. Dampen the back of each stone and then apply a layer of mortar on it. Between one and two inches of mortar is enough depending on the thickness of the veneers. Press the stone into the retaining wall and make sure that it is in the desired position. After you do this on the whole wall you then have to fill the gaps with grout. Clean away any bits that may stick to the bricks so that you have a clean looking wall in the end.

Installing thin stone veneers is one of the easiest DIY projects you can do in your home. If you are not very sure of yourself start with a small portion of retaining wall and see if you like the results.