We’re sure you must have come across the sturdy veneer stone and timeless natural stones while exploring a material palette for your next dream project. It’s not a surprise how easily their charm can steal your heart and make you add them to the curated mood board. But in case you’re not ready to bring both to the home decor, which one to pick? That’s a tough call to make but let us help you with the process. While the textures of stone veneer offer a fanciful space, the gilt veining in natural stone makes a space look admirably simple. The architectural detailing and lustily intricate designs demand a fine stone to be added as a material for cladding and installation. There are seas of options in natural stone and the same is the case with veneers. With both the materials exuding a unique essence with their veins and patterns, each one activates the space differently. Let’s understand the difference between the two to help you make a smart decision on the material palette. Let’s see difference between veneer stone vs natural stone.
All About Veneer Stone
The impressive veneer stone mimics natural stone but with varying compositions. These stone slabs are composed of aggregates with iron oxides in the Portland cement slurry. The engineered product gains strength and stability from cement and the lovely tints are attained by oxide pigments added to it. What makes veneer stone a great option for decor is the lightweight look and its actual weight. The material is extremely easy to work with and wide accessibility makes it a popular choice. While hunting for the apt veneer, make sure not to get confused with faux veneer. A faux veneer slab is a high-density polymer that although gives the appearance of a stone is closer to the composition of Styrofoam.
One drawback of adding veneer stone is the homogenous appearance in almost every type. This makes it suitable only for contexts that are aimed at monotonous decor. Although oxides ignite the tints in the material, these are prone to fading away over a long period. Another disadvantage of using veneer over natural stone is its brittle nature. The material is well-suited if it has to take the load of its weight but this doesn’t apply if an additional load is added. There are several pros and cons to the material but this re imagination of natural stone and its essence is sure to add life to a space when applied properly.
An Introduction to Natural Stone
We’re all well-acquainted with the magic of natural stone in our homes, right? This stone is directly quarried from its natural source and there’s no addition or subtraction of any additional chemicals or pigments. The stone slabs can be transformed into desired shapes and sizes based on the requirement. The matchless appearance and variety in its colours and patterns make natural stone a tasteful choice when it comes to deciding on the mood board of a project. The material is extremely sturdy as can be seen in grand monuments like the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, and ancient Greek sculptures that have stood the test of time. One major disadvantage when it comes to natural stone is its tightly packed density which makes it extremely heavy. This also leads to an issue while cutting the stone in a desired form or size. Different localities nestle a unique kind of natural stone due to which sourcing becomes a challenge. Although modern transportation knits the entire world together, however, it extends the delivery time on-site. With its set of good and bad, there’s no denying fact that a natural stone offers a prolific edge to the entire design.
A Basic Difference between the Veneer Stone and Natural Stone
Are you not clear on the difference between a veneer stone and a natural stone? Don’t worry! Because we’re here to make you a pro at identifying each type. Let’s look into the basic differences between the two to keep you clear on which goes well with your set of demands.
Even though both materials find their application in the use of envelopes and enclosures of the building, a few conditions might make either one more favourable than the other. A veneer stone is an affordable alternative with the same visual appeal as to that of a natural stone, however, the unrivalled beauty of natural stone can’t be undermined.
Veneers being a man-made product features comely textures that can be added even with sleek profiles, however, natural stone has a certain thickness to it that also imparts strength. While veneer stone can be replicated in its pattern or design, natural stone is extracted raw from the earth. This is the reason that no two slabs of this stone will completely resemble each other. While identification of the type of stone from a distance can be a challenge, a closer look at the defining characteristic can aid in proper analysis and answer the query.
Tick your Pick: Veneer Stone VS Natural Stone
As you’re familiar with both types and have a clue about the advantages and disadvantages of these materials, let’s dive into a detailed comparison and let that serve as a guiding light to keep you on the right path while selecting material for your dream home.
When it comes to adding stone as one of the structural members in a building, be clear on the fact that veneer stone can prove to be brittle. Due to its weakness in taking up additional weight, this stone can’t be added as a flooring material or else you’ll notice cracks. However, natural stone is a robust material that makes a great fit in a building’s structural aspects as well. One of the commonly applied natural stones in high-traffic areas is travertine. This natural stone can be seen in pathways and even walls.
Customization in the veneer as per size and thickness is easier as compared to natural stone. A full slab of veneer is about 2 inches thick that can go upto 8 inches. Modern technology has even invented a thinner veneer with a thickness of 1 inch only. However, when it comes to natural stone, the size of a full block is equivalent to that of a block used in retaining walls. When it comes to the weight of the material, the stone is heavier than veneer which makes the latter a common pick for those who desire a subtle and lightweight in their structure.
The elegant charm of natural stone enables the coexistence of modern and traditional in one single design. There’s a uniqueness in each block of natural stone extracted from the earth that lacks veneer stone. The mass manufacturing of veneer stones as per specifications can offer a monochromatic look and repetition in design. When it comes to discolouration, veneer slabs can lose their tone over time and make the structure look old. Fading away of colours happens in natural stones as well but at a slow rate. The process is so slow that it’s nearly impossible to witness it within one’s life.
When it comes to the installation of the two, owing to the easy-to-handle nature and light density of the material, veneer stone can be even taken up as a DIY project which is not the case with natural stone. Slabs cut in natural stone are thick and heavy and to achieve a clean appearance, one needs to bring a professional into the picture for the installation process. Natural stone can be put up on porous concrete or stone blocks. A smooth surface can even accommodate metal lath for an additional grip of the material. Both the materials offer options for grouting and a seamless look without grouts.
Whether the idea is to add a feature wall in the living room or ornate the exteriors with a fanciful material, both natural stone and veneer stone find a spot with their versatile nature. Veneers can be placed on surfaces that have no structural role to play. While the lightweight nature of the material is one advantage over natural stone, however, these can’t withstand harsh chemicals or extreme weather conditions. Thus don’t consider adding them to sensitive areas like swimming pools or external cladding, etc.
One of the major aspects taken into account while choosing a material is its durability. You wouldn’t want to spend a fortune on the project and end up with cracks or crevices. The less porous nature of natural stone adds to the strength and this, in turn, promises longevity. While in the case of veneer stone slabs, these can lose the fresh look due to discolouration and harsh weather conditions might even lead to their deterioration. Due to this reason, it’s always preferred to put veneer stone in indoor decor than use it as a cladding material.
The difference between the costs of the two is not a lot. A veneer is formed by the application of advanced technology which makes its cost almost the same as natural stones. In the case of adding natural stone to a project, the commute of the material leads to added cost. And when it comes to the maintenance of the two, natural stone’s inbuilt strength makes it easier to clean with pressure wash which doesn’t go well with the sleek veneer stones.
The Winning Option…
No verdict can state one to be better than the other. The selection is entirely dependent on the area you’re going to introduce the material in and the look you’re aiming at. While a plethora of options in the robust natural stone makes it a perfect fit for most spaces, a veneer can prove to be more flexible. Explore the sophistication of natural stone and invigorating options in veneer stones to pick one amongst many. Keep into consideration the key pros and cons of both veneer stone and natural stone.
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.