Stone Veneer
Stone veneer is a modern way to decorate the walls of a building. The stone veneer cladding presents a stylish method adopted by architects to impart a dynamic look to a lifeless framework. This is mostly used for visual purposes and has a long life. The elegance and simplicity of stone veneer provides homeowners, architects, builders and developers with a versatility and flexibility to be more to creative. Stone veneer is also properly used in landscapes and complementing the natural beauty of the open spaces as well.
Stone Veneer acts as a ornamental and protecting covering on outside as well inside walls and surfaces. The veneer is generally one inch thick; it is lighter in weight in weight and weighs about 15 lbs. / sq. ft. It does not need any extra structural support for its installation.
Stone Veneer is mostly made from natural stones. It can also be produced from manufactured stones. The natural stone veneer is manufactured from stone, which is collected from quarries or as field stone. The stone is then sawn employing huge diamond impregnated cutters equally spaced to get the slices of the stone in a consistent thickness and weight. This stone is also known as “thin stone veneer”.
Besides the natural stone veneer, manufacture stone veneer is also a decorative making material. It is produced to imitate the appearance of natural stone. There are a number of names used for this type of veneer. The stacked stone veneer, artificial stone veneer, manufactured stone veneer and flexible stone veneer are various leaders used for stone veneer.
Stone veneer is produced by mixing a lightweight concrete mix to rubber molds of different type. These are painted with a coloring process to make them look like the real stone. one more method to make stone veneer is by casting and molding it from chemically modified lightweight concrete. Stone veneer is actually a replica of natural stone. It takes the finest details of the original stone. At a close look, the artificial stone veneers appear just like original stones.
The stone veneer is mostly used as a siding on the walls. It can be fixed on the walls working with distinctive excellent mortars for highest adhesion and strength. versatile stone veneer is manufactured by slicing a thin part of a stone. It is then backed by some composite material. It can be produced in a variety of designs and colors employing different stones. The manufactured stone veneer is cheaper than natural stone veneer and there is the least amount of wastage in its use.
Manufactured stone veneer costs almost 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of making use of natural stone. due to the fact of the lightweight of the manufactured stone veneer, there is no need for wall ties or any footings. It helps make the construction easier and Therefore reduces the cost. There is a vast variety of designs, patterns and colors available on manufactured options as compared to the natural stone mainly because the natural stone is generally used in the area around where it is extracted due to the huge transportation prices.
Manufactured stone veneer is relatively less strong as compared to natural stone rock walls, but many applications do not call for higher strength as visuals is a more important factor in many cases. Stone veneer is also not reusable like natural stones.
Stone veneer provides the natural look of the stones at inexpensive charges. Stone veneers are preferred these days for most of ornamental facing in buildings and open spaces.
