Natural Stone

 

Strong, durable and aesthetically pleasing, natural stone has existed in building and construction since antiquity. The durability of natural stone is one its strongest assets. There is also the connection to history. From the Pyramids to Stonehenge to Mt. Rushmore, stone existed before humans ever did. In some cases, people are not just looking for stone, but for a connection to the past that they can incorporate in their home or building.

Recently, an awareness of the environment and a trend toward simpler living has prompted developers and homeowners to choose natural building materials. Natural stone is not manufactured according to strict laboratory standards. Stone is created in the earth as a product of natural forces. Its origin and composition depends on constantly changing factors such as time and place, heat, pressure and chemistry. This is what makes each stone a unique work of art.

 

Stone has been used in construction from pre-history to the present day. Resonating with meaning, it is an exciting material for use in new construction. That the monuments built by masons 5000 years ago have survived to this day suggest just how durable a material stone can be. Although stone is a finite resource, its longevity, coupled with its contribution to our quality of life, mean that stone has outstanding sustainability credentials.

 

Natural stone boasts innumerable qualities in a variety of applications. First, there is the variety of natural stone available: limestone, sandstone, bluestone and granite, to name a few. Then there are many available cuts and shapes: pavers, veneers, cobbles, boulders, stacking, flagging — the list goes on. Moreover, the colors? Every color of the rainbow, and then some. It is safe to say there is a stone for every purpose and a purpose to every stone.

You can use stone anywhere, outdoors or in. When an entry is surrounded in stone and the stone continues inside, the whole house assumes a new character. Our artisans still use the chisel and hammer to cut and shape each stone, hand fitting these to obtain beautiful results.

 

 

 

 

 

Manufactured Stone
(also known as Artificial or Synthetic)

 

Manufactured stone is a revolutionary material that allows greater flexibility when building with stone. The material cost is usually lower. The labor cost is lower. In addition, the special engineering costs required by natural stone are eliminated. Because of its lightweight, artificial stone can be used on any wall. There is no need for special footings or foundations. In addition, manufactured stone may be adhered to a variety of materials, including drywall, concrete, brick, and plywood.

This stone is made using colorful iron oxide pigments, cement, and special small lightweight aggregates that are poured into highly specialized molds. The molds are vibrated so that the face of the concrete stones picks up every detail of the molds. The resulting texture and color of the artificial stones is incredible. They come in all different colors, textures, and sizes. The color is solid throughout and they weather just like traditional stone.

 

Manufactured stone is glued onto the vertical surface of a home as opposed to natural stone, which is set on top of one another. Traditional stone is stacked and gravity pushes down on each stone. Manufactured stone is typically adhered to a wall surface with a cement mixture.

 

 

Why We Recommend Cultured Stone ®

 

“Natural stone is a highly desired construction material, but one that can empty the wallet with high labor and shipping costs. Cultured Stone® has been used for over thirty years and is much improved from its early days. Even with close examination, today’s manufactured stone, made from concrete, can be very difficult to tell apart from natural stone. Except for the lack of weight and sans the hole in your pocket, Cultured Stone® veneer products will fool the most discerning eye and can be used to create many exciting projects in and around your home.” Quote from TIM CARTER, a Nationally Syndicated Newspaper Columnist.

 

 

There are several other manufactured stone alternatives, some of these at significantly less the cost of Cultured Stone®; however, we find that Cultured Stone® stands apart in the quality of its products, innovative technology, and creative solutions. Nevertheless, if you have other preferences, please let us know.