Stone veneers protect and decorate your walls. There are two types of stone veneers in the market that you can go for: Real and cultured stone veneers. Real stone veneers are made from natural stone that is quarried straight from the earth. There is nothing that is added or removed from it. Cultured stone veneer, on the other hand, is veneer made from concrete that has been poured into a mold and then colored to resemble a real stone. When many homeowners are buying veneers most of them don’t know which ones to go for. To help you out, here is a comparison of the two that will help you make the right decision:

Cost of stone veneer

While most of the cultured stone veneers are cheaper than their natural counterparts, most of them don’t resemble real stones and have a cheap look. If you want veneers that resemble real stone you have to go for the high-end cultured stones. As you might have guessed, they don’t come cheap. According to stone veneer professionals, the price difference between the high-end units and the natural ones is almost negligible.

Installation of stone veneer

According to a stone veneer contractor, the cost of installing the two types of veneers is almost the same. When installing the two you need to install them directly on porous stone, concrete or block. If the surface that you are installing it is too smooth you should attach a metal lath and scratch coat in order to provide the stone with a place to “grip.” According to the contractor, the only difference between the two types of veneers is that cultured stone is easier to handle and cut compared to natural stone.

Durability of the veneers

When properly installed, both veneers can last forever. Veneers made from natural stone don’t change their colors but those made from cultured stone do. To retain the original look you should repaint them after a few years.

Finished look after installation

From a distance, you can’t tell the two veneers apart, but on closer examination, you will see that the two are different. Natural store veneer has natural beauty as each stone is unique in texture and appearance. Since cultured stone is made from molds, it’s not uncommon to find two identical pieces. Since you can’t easily cut cultured stone, you are bound to have gaps on your walls.

Conclusion

This is how real and cultured stone veneers compare. Regardless of the type that you choose, ensure that it’s installed by a certified masonry contractor.