Stone veneers are used to beautify various hardscape features including retaining walls, pillars, outdoor kitchen walls, and outdoor fireplaces. But choosing the right veneer is an important decision. Ask these 4 questions when looking for stone veneer at a stone supply center in Bergen County, NJ.
The term stone veneer refers to natural stone that is fairly thin and meant to go over an existing sub-structure (in other words, it is not a structural element). For example, you could put stone veneer over a concrete block retaining wall or outdoor fireplace shell.
This attractive, low-maintenance, and extremely durable material comes in a huge range of colors, textures, and finishes.
Here are the top 5 questions to ask your friendly experts at the stone supply.
1. Which stone should I choose?
This is the tough one. The choice comes down to personal preferences, but you also want to consider the location. Natural stone veneer means each stone will be slightly different in its hue, veining, patterning, and textures. It’s important to see the choices in person before making a decision.
Our experts can make the decision process easier by talking to you about complementing your home’s aesthetics and colors and the kinds of texture and color combinations you want in your outdoor space. A stone supply will have a good selection of stones that are suitable for the location - stones that aesthetically match the surrounding natural features.
Be sure to examine the stones you like in both wet and dry conditions. Colors get deeper and more pronounced when a stone is wet: and you may, for example, love the hue of a particular type of stone when the sun is shining, only to find out that it’s too orange for your tastes when it’s raining.
2. What kinds of stone veneer are there?
Stone veneer comes in a multitude of options, and this can get confusing. There are natural thin stone veneers stacked stone, stone cladding, full bed stone veneers, and a variety of manufactured faux veneers. Our experts can help you through this process, to be sure you get the perfect veneer for your project.
3. Is the stone I like relatively easy to work with?
Working with natural stone is inherently a slow process even if the veneer comes in specific sizes. Each type of stone has different characteristics and some veneers are easier to cut and shape than others. This is very important if you’re doing any custom work which will require
4. How much should I order?
Natural stone is a natural material, yes… but as with any material, there will be waste as part of the construction process. Some stones may break; others need to be cut, and the cut pieces may not be suitable for another project.
We recommend a 10-15% waste calculation for most projects. This number will need to be increased for projects that involve a lot of cutting and shaping. You may also wish to have a little extra on hand “just in case.” If you ever need to make repairs to the veneer, you may not have luck securing the same type of stone in the same hue and texture, if you order it in the future.
Keep in mind, if the veneer you want - in the quantity you need - is not available at the stone yard, be sure to order it as soon as possible. Planning and ordering ahead will save you the headaches of a project delayed due to materials being “on the way.”
