Stone and thin brick veneers allow home and business owners to enjoy the look of stone or brick building accents, without the significant expense of materials and labor.
In addition to providing a beautiful look, the pocket of air created between the veneer layer and the surface of the building provide an extra layer of insulation, increasing your building’s energy efficiency.
In times past, skilled masonry workers would laboriously set each brick or stone in place, and seal them together using perfectly mixed mortar. While this type of construction was beautiful, it also required a lifetime of upkeep and maintenance to remain functional.
In addition to the skill required to install the stones and bricks, the materials themselves were responsible for supporting the entire building. Thus, if you removed them, or they were damaged, the integrity of the entire building was compromised. Stone and brick veneers are applied after the structure is complete, so if they are removed, the building will remain intact.
Here is a little information about how thin stone and thin brick veneer are used.
Thin Stone Veneer Guide: Benefits
While stone was originally used out of necessity, it has become an aesthetic building preference for many. Thin stone veneer can be used to cover the entire building facade, or it can be used as a decorative feature, covering the base or a particular portion of your home or business.
Thin stone veneer is comprised of man-made stones using Portland cement, pumice and other lightweight aggregates and pigments. The result is a facade that looks 100 percent natural, without the weight of natural stones, in colors and textures that meet the clients’ aesthetic preferences.
Thin stone veneer is flexible so it can be used on rounded surfaces in addition to traditional flat-surfaced facades. It requires traditional woodworking tools for installation, so no special installation skills are required. Because it often weighs just a fraction of the weight of natural stones, shipping costs are significantly cheaper.
Thin Brick Veneer Guide: Benefits
Unlike thin stone veneer, which is engineered, most thin brick veneer is made from the same kiln-fired clay brick as traditional building bricks. Similar to stone veneer, it does not require the time-consuming labor of a masonry expert in order to lay the bricks by hand.
Thin brick veneers come in sheets that are cut to size and are applied to the exterior of the house. Traditional brick homes and businesses are dependent on the brick work for structural integrity, however this isn’t possible in many building zones where regulations require strict standards for earthquake, wind and water safety. As such, brick veneers can be applied after your code-compliant building is complete, allowing you the look you want with the safety features you need.
Brick veneer is available in a wide range of colors and sizes and can be incorporated into every type of architectural style.
Thin Stone Veneer or Thin Brick Veneer: Which is Better?
Great question! Which do you prefer? At Braen Supply, we offer a wide range of both stone and brick veneer options. Both products are high-quality options that will provide an elegant exterior for decades to come. They are low-maintenance and come with generous warranties. Give us a call or come in and visit our showroom and view samples of thin stone and thin brick veneer facades to determine which look is best for your use. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can address all of your questions and concerns.
