How to Select the Right Stone Veneer
Selecting the right stone veneer can be intimidating. There are many great options on the market, and choosing wisely will help ensure an attractive and durable design for years to come. Enhancing a home’s exterior or interior spaces with stone veneer allows you to tailor its design to your own style and preferences. When investing in a stone veneer, there are a few key factors to consider so you find the right fit for your application.
Don't Rely on a Website
Product photography can give you an idea of what a stone veneer product looks like, but photos can also be deceiving. Lighting and photo editing can alter how a product shows up on your screen, making it important to see that product in person. Whether it’s a showroom or seeing the product installed in an existing home, being able to get an in-person look at a potential stone veneer to use in your project is vital.
Don't Wait to Order
Materials for the stone veneer manufacturing process are increasingly difficult to get with global supply chain issues. If you’re planning to use stone veneer in an upcoming project, make sure to do your research, choose the option you want and order it well in advance. If you wait until right before your project starts to place your order, your materials may not be available in time, forcing unwanted delays.
Understand There Will Be Waste
On the jobsite, stone veneers are cut and fitted to a space and inevitably, there will be unused ends and pieces. Ordering the exact square footage needed for your application without allowing for waste will leave you without enough stone veneer to complete your project. While the amount of waste varies from project to project, 10 percent or more is a good starting point when estimating how much product you’ll need.
Work With a Knowledgeable Distributor
The best stone veneer distributors will help you sift through all your options to choose the product that you’ll be happy with for years ahead. While it’s good to gather data from various sources and hear the thoughts of those who have done similar projects at their homes, ultimately you need to find the stone veneer that’s right for your project. Knowledgeable stone veneer distributors can be valuable partners in helping you process all of the information available to you and make that final decision.
Research & Cost
Budget is a factor for any home building or improvement project. Before starting a new project, be sure to create a budget so you can shop for a stone veneer that fits your bottom line. With so many options available, communicating this established budget will help your stone veneer distributor narrow down your product choices. Beware of “too good to be true” deals offering stone veneers well below similar products on the market. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Interior & Exterior Use
Stone veneer is a versatile project material that can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications. Choosing the right product for your home means understanding the space in which you’ll use it and the challenges and features of that space. Outdoor stone veneer applications are often larger spaces such as the front of a house or an outdoor patio or recreation space. Interior stone veneer walls are often specific areas of a room, such as a fireplace surround or accent wall. When considering which type of stone veneer works best for your project, be sure to consider the setting of the surface you need to cover. Many options on the market are fit for both exterior and interior applications, but make sure to check before making a purchase if your stone veneer choice is the best fit for your project.
What Kind of Stone Design Do You Prefer?
The stone design you choose should be based on your style, the vibe you want to create and the setting in which your design will be created. Brick, natural stone and stone veneer are all options for your project and each brings with it a different look and varied benefits. Brick tends to create a more standard, traditional feel. Natural stone creates a more lively look, but its irregular shapes can complicate projects when it comes to fitting each stone into the bigger design. Stone veneer creates the look and feel of natural stone, but with the benefit of being lightweight, easy to install and cut to fit.
How Much Stone Veneer Do You Need?
Determining the amount of stone veneer needed from your project is an important first step. If you order too much and you waste money – and if you order too little and you’re scrambling to purchase more to keep the project moving forward. Have an experienced professional measure the height and width of your walls to ensure accurate measurements. Be sure to account for windows, doors and other structural elements within the project area.
Planning Your Purchase
Depending on where you live, you could have a limited window in which to complete a project due to changing seasons and inclement weather. So it’s important to plan ahead to create your project’s budget and timeline to lay the foundation for a successful installation. Planning in advance will also help identify any potential problems early and ensure you have ample time to order supplies so they are on hand when installation begins.
Helpful Stone Veneer Tips
Staying on top of industry trends in stone veneer, manufacturing updates and distribution changes is not only helpful, at times it can be critical for you and your customers. Check out news and insightful tips from Casa di Sassi on our blog!