Natural Stone vs Stone Veneer

[Chad_E]

Wife and I are embarking on building a shop with a small, apartment type, living quarters. The plan is then to move into this while we build our house. Furthermore, the plan has been to use natural stone on the house and a wainscot of stone on the living quarters of the shop. We were considering doing all this at once when the house is being built. Therefore, we would simply pour the shop slab with a rock ledge for later use.

Then my wife ran across (faux) stone veneer. I don't know much about it, don't know how it looks or anything else. Does anyone have any experience with it? What does the final product look like? Pros/Cons?

[RPB]

Natural. Meh! Just an opinion

[sling shot]

Natural stone like an Austin Limestone will probably be cheaper if she is looking at a Coranado or El darado type thin set stone.

[AlaskaFlyerFan]

Use real stone veneer. It costs about the same and looks way better. You can get it at a landscaping supply place.

I used real stone veneer in my house around archways and one flat wall. I diid a dry stack. It looks incredible and it was easy to do. Time consuming, but easy. I'll see if I can find some pictures.

[bphillips]

Use real stone veneer. It costs about the same and looks way better. You can get it at a landscaping supply place.

I used real stone veneer in my house around archways and one flat wall. I diid a dry stack. It looks incredible and it was easy to do. Time consuming, but easy. I'll see if I can find some pictures.

Agreed

[erikm1981]

I’ve sold both for 14 years shoot me a pm and ill give you my number. I can sell you on either one and the negatives .


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[tigerscowboy]

Been using the veneer since '98. Every style made. No issues.

Make sure to calculate the cost of the rock ledge when comparing costs.

[Dale Moser]

The main advantage to "faux" stone is the almost infinite color variations they have now, the weight, and that you don't need a brick ledge. We havn't had much trouble with color fading, but I have heard of some. It's not quite as tough as natural stone, but all in all is pretty durable.

Natural stone thin veneer saves a lot of weight over full dimensional, and looks just as good. It lends itself more to smaller areas where space is limited, and weight is an issue, but it's perfectly suitable for what you are talking about.


For no more than a wainscot, I would pour the brick ledge and use full dimensional stone. I would lean away from Austin stone if you have any areas that are full shade, or damp. Wainscots don't "breathe" terribly well between the stone and the metal because of the typical wall cap, and Austin can retain moisture and mold.

[erikm1981]

The main advantage to "faux" stone is the almost infinite color variations they have now, the weight, and that you don't need a brick ledge. We havn't had much trouble with color fading, but I have heard of some. It's not quite as tough as natural stone, but all in all is pretty durable.

Natural stone thin veneer saves a lot of weight over full dimensional, and looks just as good. It lends itself more to smaller areas where space is limited, and weight is an issue, but it's perfectly suitable for what you are talking about.


For no more than a wainscot, I would pour the brick ledge and use full dimensional stone. I would lean away from Austin stone if you have any areas that are full shade, or damp. Wainscots don't "breathe" terribly well between the stone and the metal because of the typical wall cap, and Austin can retain moisture and mold.

I would mirror all this. Exactly what I would tell you.

If you do go with a manufactured stone veneer. Use a quality one like Eldorado, Boral/cultured stone or Coronado.


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[Chad_E]

Thanks for the info folks. Gives me some things to chew on.