EDITORIAL GUIDES
Natural Stone Articles
Practical introductions to natural stone styles, building products and project planning.
GUIDE
Natural Stone vs. Manufactured Stone Veneer: How to Compare
Compare natural stone and manufactured stone veneer by material, appearance, installation planning, maintenance and long-term project goals.
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Full-Bed Stone vs. Thin Stone Veneer: What Changes?
Compare full-bed building stone and thin natural stone veneer by depth, weight, support, detailing, installation context and finished appearance.
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Fieldstone, Ashlar, Ledge and Strip Stone Patterns Compared
Compare fieldstone, ashlar, ledge and strip natural stone masonry patterns by shape, scale, layout, mortar joints and architectural character.
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How to Estimate Stone Veneer Quantity for a Project
Learn how to measure walls, subtract openings, account for corners and prepare a preliminary natural stone veneer quantity estimate.
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How Mortar Joints Change Natural-Stone Masonry
See how joint width, depth, color and finish change the pattern, shadow and overall character of natural-stone masonry.
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How to Blend Natural Stone Color and Texture
Learn how to sample, sort, mock up and blend natural stone veneer so color, texture and piece sizes feel balanced across the finished work.
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Can Reclaimed Barn Stone Be Used for Veneer?
Learn how to evaluate reclaimed barn or foundation stone for veneer, including condition, contamination, consistency, cutting and project planning.
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How to Choose and Measure a Hearthstone
Learn how to choose a natural stone hearth and record the width, depth, thickness, openings and surrounding details needed for project planning.
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Natural Stone Accents: Sills, Lintels, Caps and Steps
Learn how natural stone sills, lintels, wall caps, steps, trim and keystones differ, and what to coordinate before selecting accent pieces.
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How to Plan a Natural Stone Veneer Project
Plan a natural stone veneer project in the right sequence, from defining the wall assembly and stone format to samples, quantities, accents and ordering.
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Stone Veneer Corners and Returns: A Planning Guide
Plan natural stone veneer corners, window and door returns, termination lines and transitions before finalizing an elevation or material order.
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How to Choose and Measure a Natural Stone Wall Cap
Plan the look and preliminary dimensions of a natural stone wall cap, then organize the details for a productive project discussion.
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How to Plan and Measure Natural Stone Window Sills
Plan the appearance and preliminary measurements of natural stone window sills, then organize the details for a productive project discussion.
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How to Plan and Measure Natural Stone Steps
Plan the appearance and preliminary measurements of natural stone steps, then organize useful details for a project discussion.
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How to Plan and Measure Natural Stone Lintels
Plan the look and preliminary field notes for natural stone lintels, then organize useful information for a project discussion.
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