The right masonry choice will have a striking effect on a landscape. Sometimes all it takes is a tasteful veneer on the side of a retaining wall, a larger structure like an outdoor fireplace, or even on your home’s foundation. Veneers are used in many landscape masonry applications to apply beauty to the feature without the higher installation cost of solid stone blocks. Need inspiration? Here is how we can help you find the perfect stone veneer for your project in Bergen County, NJ.
The Benefits of a Veneer
Veneers are a clever way to improve the look of a landscape in many different ways.
A veneer is a thin layer of either natural stone or manufactured stone (concrete) that’s applied to another vertical surface, usually concrete blocks or poured concrete. Veneers are not structural, which means they cannot support the structure or any weight placed on it. They are purely for aesthetics and cost savings. Natural stone veneers are just that: thin “slices” of natural stone. Manufactured stone uses concrete aggregates molded and colored to mimic natural stone; they are often even lighter in weight than natural stone veneers, and are available in a wider range of colors, textures, shapes, and finishes.
The main benefit of a veneer is savings because veneers are faster and easier to install than natural stone blocks. You may want a certain look that can only be provided by the look of a specific natural stone. Building an entire structure out of stone blocks could be expensive since stones need to be cut and shaped to fit. Using a concrete block structure and then facing it with veneer, which is much easier to cut, will save on labor costs and give you the beautiful look you want. Veneers are also lighter in weight than stone blocks, which again speeds up the installation process.
You can also get very creative with the use of veneers. For example, if you want a curved retaining wall that doesn’t look like the concrete block options available today, your choices are natural stone (heavy, cumbersome, and expensive) or a more lightweight yet incredibly sturdy concrete block structure with a gorgeous stone veneer.
Some veneers are applied with mortar, while others are available as snap-on systems that affix each piece securely to a rail, for faster precision installation.
How We Can Help
When you add a veneer to any sort of project around your landscape, we’ll be there from start to finish. First, we'll address your project’s specifics. Marrying function with aesthetics is one of the ways that veneers really shine in landscaping, since you can choose from so many different styles. We’ll help you narrow down your style choices and help you choose veneers that complement the surrounding horizontal masonry such as your patio, as well as the landscape and home: all within your budget.
We’ll guide you in the right direction when adding a specific type of veneer to a specific landscape feature: for example, will it be a high-traffic area such as an outdoor kitchen where you want easy-to-clean materials; or an area that sees less daily use, such as the foundation of your home?
We’ll help you make the decision between natural stone and manufactured stone veneers, so you’ll never be left wondering if you made the right choice.
And of course, we’ll point you in the direction of great masonry who can install your masonry features with a craftsman approach to quality, aesthetics, and longevity.
Related: TYPES, STYLES AND PATTERNS OF STONE VENEER IN ROCKLAND COUNTY NY
