Differences Between Cultured & Natural Stone Veneer

Posted on March 8, 2012 Written by Yves Eggleston

You’re about to update and beautify the exterior of your home.  Or you want to add a stone accent wall with a fireplace in your living room.  Which will you choose?  Cultured or natural stone veneer?
Natural stone veneer has all the properties of full bed stone, including its hardness, colour and natural appearance. The normal specification for veneer is approximately 1″ – 1 3/8″ thickness and a maximum weight of 15 lbs per square foot.  With this protective and decorative covering, there is no need to worry about discoloration, environmental concerns, fading or replacement.  Many masons feel that natural stone has a rich and timeless beauty that no other product can provide. With natural stone, you enjoy unique individual shapes and stone sizes, textures, and colours that only nature can create.  ”Thin stone veneer” has gained in popularity because it is so much easier to install, is less expensive and is largely indistinguishable from the thicker, full bed stone.
Cultured stone has come a long way in recent years and has become very versatile and durable.  Because it weighs much less than natural stone, it can be installed on a wider range of surfaces.  Of course, it depends on the particular project, but cultured stone projects generally cost about 2/3 of what natural stone projects cost. Some cultured stone products contain upwards of 50% recycled content so they are increasingly environmentally friendly.
Both cultured and natural stone products can be used on most interior and exterior applications.  To help get a better idea of which product is right for your project, have a look at the comparison chart below.

	Cultured Stone Veneer	Natural Thin Stone Veneer
Thickness	Typically 1″	Averages between 3/4″ and 1 1/4″
Weight	Lightest (less than 15 lb/sq. ft.)	Lightweight (less than 15 lb/sq. ft.)
Price	Typically, it is the lower-priced veneer option	Reasonably priced and affordable, especially when compared to full-stone veneer and full-dimension stone.
Material	Mostly manufactured using lava rock, portland cement, other lightweight material and colour pigments containing iron oxide.	Genuine stone products, gathered or quarried directly from the earth.
Durability	It is less durable than natural stone and is prone to wear and chipping over time. Some products are warrantied for 40 or 50 years.	The durability of natural stone has been proven throughout the centuries.  It is resistant to chemicals, chipping and scratching and is more durable in freeze/thaw conditions than manufactured stone veneer.
Heat Resistant	It can safely be used to surround a fireplace or stove.	It can safely be used to surround a fireplace or stove.
Weather Resistant	It is weather-resistant to a point, but absorbs significantly more water than thin stone veneer.  It shrinks over time due to drying and carbonation.	Natural thin stone veneer is, by nature, weather resistant. It is considerably less water absorbent than manufactured stone veneer.  It provides added protection to your home’s structure in addition to partial thermal, sound and fire-resistance qualities. It has a tendency to expand over time due to water intake.
Fade Resistant	The colour is prone to slight fading over time.	The colour is maintained throughout the life of the product.
Aesthetic	It resembles natural stone, but sometimes the coloring is only on the surface layer.	It offers the same colour throughout. Natural colour variation adds an extra aesthetic depth to your project. There are no repeated colour patterns as each stone is unique. With L shaped cuts, it greatly resembles full dimension stone.
Other Considerations	Maintenance for manufactured stone veneer is generally easy. Since it is pre fabricated, it is more difficult to cut and tailor to specific projects as the aggregate base is likely to show.	Natural thin stone veneer is generally maintenance-free. You should never use wire brushes or acid-based cleaners on it. With natural thin stone, you get the durability and beauty of full natural stone without the cost or need to make structural changes to your home.