Natural Stone vs. Faux Veneers
Veneers are used on the exterior of the building to create the look and feel of structural materials such as stone. When choosing the veneer type to use on the exterior of your building, it's important to take into account a number of different factors, including price, durability, and appearance.
Choosing Natural Stone or Faux Veneers
To ensure you're getting the best option for your buildings, the best option is contacting a professional. The carpentry experts at SunWood Carpentry can help you choose the best masonry option for your building. We can provide both carpentry and masonry options for your structure. To speak to a professional today, call SunWood Carpentry and learn more about how natural stone and faux veneers will work for your project.
Choosing between natural stone and faux veneers can be difficult. Below, we discuss the price, durability, and appearance of both natural stone and faux stone veneers so you can decide on the best option for your structure.
Natural Stone
Natural stone has been used as a veneer for decades and continues to be a favorite for veneers on buildings. Natural stone is real stone that is quarried from the earth. This option showcases the natural stone structure that has formed over thousands of years. This is 100% natural stone that has nothing added or removed.
Price
While the cost of natural stone veneer installation may be higher than that of faux veneers, maintenance costs are much lower. Because natural stone is made of real stone, natural stone can be pressure washed, making clean up on your natural stone much cheaper than cleaning veneers.
Durability
Natural stone is highly durable. It is less porous than faux veneer, which enhances durability. Perhaps the most important aspect of durability when it comes to natural stone is how well it holds up under sunlight. Because the stone is naturally colored, it won't fade over time. If color is one of the driving aspects of your choice between natural stone and faux veneer, especially in outdoor use, natural stone is the perfect choice.
Appearance
Natural stone is quarried, so no two pieces are the same. The color variations are only those found in nature. Because these are natural stones, the color and appearance of your veneer won't fade over time. Natural stone veneers will provide a timeless look that will last decades. However, you want to pay close attention to the quality of the natural stone you are buying. Poor quality natural stone can be susceptible to chipping and cracking.
Faux Veneers
Faux veneers are a relatively new option for the exterior of your buildings. Since coming into production, they are a popular alternative to natural stone. Faux veneers are a manufactured, man-made product made to resemble natural stone. Most often, this option is made with cement, aggregates, and iron oxide.
Price
The installation of faux veneers can be slightly less than the cost of installing natural stone. Manufactured stone is often lighter and easier to handle than natural stone, which may lower the installation cost. However, the cost of high-quality faux veneers is often equal to or close to that of natural stone.
Durability
Faux veneers can degrade over time, especially when exposed to wind, rain, and other environmental factors. If you're looking to add faux veneers to the exterior of a building, it's important to consider the quality of the veneers you are purchasing. Also, because faux veneers often use paint to create the stone appearance, the color and appearance of your faux veneers will degrade in direct sunlight.
Appearance
Faux veneers offer a wider range of visual options than natural stone. Because faux veneers are painted and manufactured, there can be repeated patterns and appearances throughout the exterior of your building. This isn't an option in natural stone because each piece is unique, whereas manufactured stone veneers are created in bulk.
