Manufactured Stone Archives

The Thin Alternative to Traditional Masonry

Masonry is a method of construction in which single units are laid and bound together using mortar. Typically, masonry construction employs the use of materials like brick, building stone or concrete blocks. In recent years, however, thin masonry veneer products have taken over the market as they offer a less labour-intensive, more affordable way to achieve some of the same results as traditional masonry products. Thin masonry veneer products include thin brick veneer, natural stone veneer and manufactured stone veneer.

Thin brick veneers are available in a range of textures and colours unmatched by stone veneers. For that reason, many prefer thin bricks to other masonry veneer products as it is easier to find brick masonry veneer products to match your specific design style.

What is Thin Brick Veneer?

A brick veneer is a thin overlay used on the frame of a building. Thin brick veneers are versatile and are designed to mimic the appearance of solid bricks. But unlike solid bricks that may be used to build foundations and walls, thin brick veneer products are mainly used for decorative purposes and not to support the entire building. Solid brick structures are built by laying bricks back to back and cementing them in place. On the other hand, brick veneers are placed on the exterior of a building that has been constructed using steel or wooden framing, then covered with wood sheathing or insulation before being covered by brick veneers. So, if you were to remove brick veneers from a building, the structural integrity would not be compromised.

Brick veneers are a great alternative to plain wooden walls as they can be used to create impressive exteriors and stunning feature walls for the interior of your home or office.

Benefits

One distinct advantage of thin brick veneers is that they can be installed after a building is completed. When compared to solid brick, thin brick veneers offer better insulation due to the methods used in construction. Thin brick veneers are also easy to install and more affordable. During installation, small openings are created to allow for proper drainage. These openings, called weep holes, ensure that moisture does not get trapped between the veneers and the exterior walls.

Drawbacks

As with all products, there are drawbacks to consider when working with thin brick veneers. One considerable disadvantage to thin brick veneers is that weep holes may become clogged over time. Additionally, thin brick veneers may not be able to withstand natural occurrences such as earthquakes or extremely high winds.

Are you searching for a thin brick veneer supplier in Surrey?

The use of masonry veneers in Surrey has seen a spike in recent years because of their versatility and aesthetic value.

If you are searching for a thin brick supplier in Surrey, contact us at Pacific Stone. At Pacific Stone, we have been a leading importer of masonry products for nearly 15 years. We are proud to be a distributor of the Royal Thin Brick, MetroBrick® and Summit Brick collections which include, high-quality, affordable, sustainable and easy-to-install brick veneers.

Call us today or visit our sales and design centre where you will find a quiet and accommodating place to plan your next project with helpful staff that can offer advice and estimate costs.

Choosing Stone for Your Home’s Exterior

Leave a Comment / Manufactured Stone, Natural Stone, Stone Veneer / By pacific

Stone facades add a prestigious look to your home and go a far way in enhancing its value, regardless of the architectural style. Even limited application of stone can make a huge difference, but siding the entire house with stone is even more majestic. However, the issue of the cost usually influences homeowners’ decision-making where stone accents are concerned.

Among the first major decisions, you must make regarding stone siding is whether to use natural quarried stone or manufactured stone veneer. Nevertheless, unless you are a pro, it might be somewhat difficult for you to tell the difference on sight. Let us look at some of the characteristics of the two options:

Natural stone vs. manufactured stone veneer

Natural stones are 100 percent pure, hard, compact rocks quarried directly from the earth and can be carved to the desired shape, such as blocks for building, sheets for walls, or tiles for flooring.

Natural stone is revered globally as a premier building material due not only to the fact that it is durable, stable, and colourfast but also because it reflects unique character and stateliness.

A manufactured stone veneer, on the other hand, is an engineered stone that is manufactured to look like natural stone. In fact, quality manufactured stone veneer can look so genuine that you may mistake it for the real thing.

Manufactured stone veneer is a slurry of cement, aggregates, and other materials that are finished with pigments to get the desired look. It is less costly than natural stone, though, as a result of, among other things, availability and lighter shipping weight.

Individual pieces vs. panels

If you intend to cover large swaths of your home exterior in stone, panels will be especially helpful. Because they have staggered, interlocking side edges, this helps in achieving a natural look. If your preference is dry-stack applications with less visible or obscured grout, panels are still ideal.

On the flip side, if you prefer a rougher and more rustic look with visible grout, laying individual stones would be a better option. With individual stones, you can freely decide what joint width, style, and colours you wish to use.

In addition, the possibilities for the final look are endless as it matters not the type of stone you like since, with this choice, there is everything from flat-faced, modern ledgestone to smooth, rounded rocks extracted from rivers.

Here are several other factors to take into consideration when choosing your stone:

Decide on your style

Choosing your stone comes down to personal preference, even though architecture often plays a huge role. But once you figure out your style, it will be a lot easier to decide. Bear in mind that you should choose a stone facade that matches the style of your home. Doing so will ensure the stone highlights your home’s design rather than compete against it.

That said, you first have to visualize the general look you want, from shapes to profiles, lines and colours. It is also important to decide whether you are going for simplicity, blending in or matching your surroundings or for something that is more intricate.

Select the right colour combination

Before choosing your stone, it is recommended that you select a colour palette, which takes into account the other colours on your home exterior.

At times, it is difficult to find a perfect match for the various types of exterior finishes, so it is better to select complementary colours to achieve a design that is in harmony with the rest of the building.

Ensure the roof complements the stone

Whether you are constructing a new home or updating an existing one, it is wise to take the colour of the roof into account at the outset. You do not want to have a situation where the roof clashes with your new stone facade after spending copious amounts of time poring over colours, patterns, finishes, and textures to create what you deem to be your perfect stone design.

Are you searching for a stone supplier in Surrey?

If you are ready to get started with a natural stone or manufactured stone construction project and you are searching for a stone supplier in Surrey for your exterior, contact us at Pacific Stone.

For nearly 15 years, Pacific Stone has been a trusted importer of masonry stone with an unwavering reputation for high-quality products and outstanding customer service. At our store, you will find a range of natural and manufactured stone veneers to choose from, and if you have questions about what type of stone will work best for your home, our friendly team is there to help you make an informed choice.