To get the best of both worlds, architects designed a wall system where the load bearing structure was wood , steel or concrete block and the face of the wall, instead of being shingles or clapboards was stone.

Typically these "veneer stones" fall into two thickness ranges; a 4" maximum or a 6" maximum thickness and could be set on a standard poured concrete foundation.

The 4" veneer is designed to take up the same space that a standard brick would require. Because not all natural stone can be easily cut to a 4" thickness, the 6" veneer is a common standard thickness.

To further confuse things, a recent development in natural stone is "thin veneer" or "thin adhered stone". Technological advances in stone fabrication have allowed many natural stone products to be fabricated to only 3/4" to 1 1/2" thick that can be adhered to a conventionally framed structure with standard masonry cement. This eliminates the need for any additional foundations.

Now natural stone can be used to cover a concrete foundation, a false chimney, a section of the front of your house or the face of a factory-built fireplace.

Check out our Stone Veneer Photo Gallery!