Manufactured Stone Vs. Natural Stone Veneer: A Comparison

You’ve probably seen beautiful manufactured or natural stone veneer displays that serve as masonry covering for home exterior cladding and architectural features of interior elements such as fireplaces and walls. Both products come in an array of shapes, sizes and color gradations that it can be hard to determine the difference between the two.

How can you tell them apart? Timberland Exteriors, your local provider of exterior home remodeling services, compares manufactured and natural stone veneers.

Manufactured Stone Veneer

Also known as faux stone, architectural stone, or Cultured Stone®, manufactured stone veneer is a man-made material engineered and designed to mimic the look of natural stone. It is composed of Portland cement, lightweight natural aggregates, and iron oxide pigment for coloration. The blend is then baked in textured molds taken from carefully selected natural stone through a process that results in a product that replicates the rough and fine details of the original stone.

Any home remodeling contractor would recommend manufactured stone veneer as an architectural element for both home exteriors and interiors. Versatile, lightweight, easy to cut, and available in uniform sizes, it can be used as cladding for chimneys and foundations. It can also be installed over both metal and wood-framed walls as well as other masonry substrates.

Natural Stone Venee

Natural stone veneer, meanwhile, is 100% stone quarried from the earth. The veneer is created by slicing large pieces of quarried stone into various profiles. These can be of any shape depending on the need, including blocks for building, tiles for flooring and sheets for walls. The product features textures that highlight the tonal variations and imperfections of the quarried stone.

Natural stone veneer is recommended for structural purposes, but it is becoming a rare choice in modern building projects. Certain types of natural stone can be used for flooring, walls, and pathways. It tends to be heavier, but it has a unique look that gives it a pleasing appearance.

As your local area’s go-to general construction company, Timberland Exteriors is proud to offer the complete line of Cultured Stone products to our customers who desire the perfect “finishing touch” to their home improvement project. Among our most recommended products is the Boral Versetta Stone® mortarless stone veneer panels, which provide all the beauty of authentic stone masonry without the excess cost and installation time.

Call us today at 651-439-1760 or (218) 849-6675 to get started. You may also fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve residents of Minneapolis, MN, and the surrounding communities.