ManMade vs. Natural Stone
Man-Made vs Natural Stone
Man-Made Stone is concrete poured into molds and dyed to look like stone. The coloring is only on the exterior of the stone therefore it will fade over time especially in direct sun light. Man-Made Stone comes in the form of thin veneer only at roughly 13 pounds per square foot.
Natural Stone is stone that is organically found and created by nature. It can come in full veneer and thin veneer. Natural Stone thin veneer is roughly 15 pounds per square foot.
Full vs Thin Veneer
Stone Full bed veneers are stones that range from 4-6 inches thick and are used in any vertical application. They can weigh up to fifty-five pounds per square foot; which is a lot of weight to support and a brick ledge is required. Full veneer is typically sold per ton.
Thin Veneer is a thin layer of any stone used as decorative facing material that is not meant to be load bearing. It tends to be between 1.25-2” thick. Thin Veneer comes in flat and corner pieces and is typically sold per the square foot.
The Natural Faces of Stone
1. Splitface : This is stone that has been broken by a hydraulic splitter to a specific size.
2. Seamface : This is stone where a vertical crack in the quarry is exposed to the elements, often showing coloration. This coloration is the edge of the stone.
3. Weatheredge : This is a natural alteration by chemical processes due to the action of at atmospheric conditions, surface waters, soil and other ground water, along with temperature changes. The stone features more of a grooved or textured face.
4. Bedface : This is the natural top or bottom of a layered stone. This is also called a natural cleft, or a face you would find on flagstone.
5. Rockface : This is a process that is done by hand with a chipping tool. Rockface stone is chipped around the perimeter to produce a bold, convex projection along it’s face.
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