Stone 101

Terminology

Faces:

When a stone is placed on edge and split apart the seam face (or bed face) will be present. Once splitting and getting to the seam face a wide range of colors will usually become visible and can contribute to the overall color range of the project. If, however, the stone is laid flat and split into two pieces the split face (or surface) is now present. These split faces run perpendicular to the bed direction of the stone and display the various stone layers. This style gives off a rough surface that shows the natural cleft and beauty. It also tends to show more of the stones color range compared to the seam face.

When adding the use of a blade to the stone you will then get a smooth sawn face.

Finishes:

Honed Finish — This finish is when the surface imperfections or blemishes are removed to display an even, almost semi-reflective surface.

Natural Finish/Cleft — This is when you have a stone that has no modifications to it. No cutting, sawing, splitting, or any machine work done to show the natural authentic look.

Thermal Finish — This is when a flame is used to the cut or natural face of the stone to help the natural texture reemerge and enhance the appearance of the stone.

Sandblast Finish — This uses a high pressure stream of air/sand to texturize the stone surface.

Rock Face Finish — This technique is used on face of the stone and is pitched with a chisel along a given line to achieve a bolder, more pronounced surface effect than a sawn or cut edge.

Styles:

Thin Stone Veneer — Usually 1” Thick with a 1/4” tolerance and generally used as a protective or decorative covering. Thin Veneer is usually used when the shelving space is smaller or limited. An upside to this type of veneer is that its very easy to handle and cut, and its light weight makes it easier to use in tighter/smaller areas. Also a unique benefit when veneering a wall with thin wall is that it eliminates the need for a foundation and uses the wall itself as support.

Full Bed Veneer — Approximately 3” - 5” thick stone that comes in different designs: Ashlar, Ledgestone, Mosaic, Squares & Rectangles, and Rounds. Full Bed Veneer is the use of full natural stones to veneer a vertical surface. Depending on the design of the stone will depend on the skill needed to lay the stone. The thickness of this style of veneer requires a foundation or footing and usually uses wall ties.

Determining How Much Stone is Needed

Different formulas can be used to approximate the amount of stone that is needed. Whether siding a building, building a wall, or designing a patio our formulas can aid in gathering the quantity needed. Products can be sold in a variety of ways, such as bulk by the ton, palletized by the ton, by the piece/amount, or by the square or linear foot. Some important terms that help decide the amount of stone needed:

Bulk — Stone stored and transported loose.

Palletized — Stone stacked on a wooden pallet and wrapped.

Cubic Foot — (Length x Width x Height) This Measurement is used to accurately determine how much stone is needed build a stone wall.

Linear Foot — Same as an actual foot (Such as capping for a wall)

Square Foot — Length x Width = Area in Square Feet (used for projects such as a patio)

Ton — Total of 2,000 Pounds of product

Dimension Guide