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Is there more than one company that manufactures cultured stone? The only one I know of is called “Stone Products Corporation” out of Napa CA.
Is it easier to work with these cultured stones vs working with natural rock?
What about cost comparison; in particular when designing for and building a large chimney using each material. I realize that the foundation must be able to support heavy stone chimneys but does this dramatically increase the cost when building a new home?
I appreciate any comments. Thanks.
Jeff
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Jeff,
Culture Stone is indeed lighter and in most cases less money for material and labor for install. The preparation for masonry fireplace would be virtually the same with the exception of block stack not needing brick ties spaced in the joints if using culture stone.
Culture Stone has been bought and sold several times in the past few years while the brand name has changed with it. It is now back to being called Culture Stone again.
Yes there are other products manufactured by at least 4 or 5 manufacturers throughout the country. My brother-in-law is starting manufacturing his own line of stone that has its beginnings in the Pacific NW. Foundation for a masonry fireplace would not need to be significantly bigger for real stone veneer on fireplace unless a very large chimney (height and width) were used. Typical codes call for foundation to be at least 6" wider that exterior dimensions of chimney base and usually 12" deep reinforced concrete. Stone veneer on exterior or interior frame wall would not need a foundation for stone to support it. The scratch coat with lath would transfer loads to wall and down to existing footings.
With the proper techniques used manufactored stone will look almost identical to real stone. Hopes this answers some of your questions.
MRL
*we have used it on several retail interior projects. looks good. i myself have never set the stuff.one important item:pay very close attention to the patterns. on a large flat wallm maybe 14 foot across, if you're not careful, a repeat in the pattern becomes very obvious. may have just been the laborers, but we ran into this a couple times.
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The term "cultured stone" can mean a lot of things, including plastic vanity tops made of polyester resin with a marbled effect(that can eventually crack).
The term "cultured" is used as in cultured pearls. Same as genuine "faux" pearls. Immitation.
"Stucco Stone" is the trade name of imitation stone I'm familiar with. Has been around for years, and they have quite a few different styles and colors now. Basically a white portland cement with lightweight aggregate (vermiculite or perlite), sand, color, and some sprayed on touch up colors. Probably made in rubber moulds, they have a company name and copyright notice on the back. Corner pieces are available also.
My sister had some on a fireplace. After a few years the dark brown and black color was scratched off in many places and the whitish color of the underlying material was visible. Tacky.
I wouldn't recommend it for places subject to a lot of handeling or abuse. Much more practical in earthquake areas than natural stone however. They don't require the same level of craftsmanship or devotion to craft as real stone.
After high school I had a job as a draftsman working for a local homebuilder durring the summer. On one of my drawings of a front elevation, I hid an image of a naked woman in the stucco stones I drew!
*Sick Gary, just sick. Can you fax me a copy? I usually hid my name, or Pontiac & Chevy logo's.I have often wondered (with no data to date) if cultured stone wouldn't hold up better in exterior applications. The reasons would be uniform mecahnical properties (expansion due to moisture, temperature, etc.) in the stones, and with the cement used to "stick" them to the wall.-Rob
*Ok,Gary now I know I'm not crazy.Long time ago I was working for a company that was redoing a older home and we had to remove the second floor and while looking thur the joist's at the tile floor we discovered that it was a perfit picture of a woman on the floor. We called the boss to the job and we all laughed as the new owner was a very nice older woman who wanted the window in her 3rd floor bathroom removed as no one could see in.
*I've used the Cultured Stone product numerous times. I find it easier and cheaper than real rock. The cost is about 2/3rds to 1/2 that of real stone.I havn't done chimneys, except the metal flu/wood frame variety, so all my substrate is ply, with a lathe and mortar base. I think it is a type "N" mortar to set the rock, but I would have to check.The stuff is brainless to install, pour footings, frame the wood frame and deck it with CDX, pour a mortar base, and set your stone.The repeat pattern is something I have seen too, and I usually order 15-25% more of the product, and in some areas, add smaller rock to break up the pattern.Good Luck!
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Is there more than one company that manufactures cultured stone? The only one I know of is called "Stone Products Corporation" out of Napa CA.
Is it easier to work with these cultured stones vs working with natural rock?
What about cost comparison; in particular when designing for and building a large chimney using each material. I realize that the foundation must be able to support heavy stone chimneys but does this dramatically increase the cost when building a new home?
I appreciate any comments. Thanks.
Jeff