It might be tempting to hear the word “stone” and assume that manufactured stone veneer lends itself only to more traditional, rustic-style projects. But while stone certainly offers a natural feel, the vast array of manufactured stone profiles allows for use of the material in nearly any home or building style across a range of interior and exterior applications.
In fact, the versatility of manufactured stone veneer provides even more design freedom than the real thing.
Common Profile Types
Each manufacturer has its own names for the stones it makes and sells, but in general they fall into similar categories that reflect what is found in nature and that can span traditional, transitional, and modern styles. These include but are not limited to:
Ledgestone
Ledgestone profiles feature sharper edges and a stacked presentation, along with a lot of variation in stone size, projection, and color. They often are presented in a dry-stack format without visible grout. Depending on the style you choose, Ledgestone is an ideal transitional style—able to feel a bit more rustic in brown and taupe hues, or a bit more contemporary in smoother textures and gray or black colorways.
Chiseled Stone, Fieldstone, Cobblestone
As they sound, these stone profiles mimic historic stone looks seen on walls and pathways throughout history, with the look of naturally cut, chiseled, or honed stone and prominent grout lines. The often have a rougher face for simple beauty ideal for traditional designs.
River Rock and Limestone
Profiles replicating river rock, pebble stone, and limestone resemble material straight from nature, with highly randomized individual stones that feel untouched from their origin. These profiles lend a truly rustic, natural feel.
Large-Faced Stone, Masonry Stone
Manufactured stone profiles resembling concrete masonry units or other highly linear shapes feature clean, crisp lines that are perfect for creating a truly modern aesthetic, especially for commercial facades. Some profiles may be smooth for an ultra-modern look while others may have a chiseled face for a traditional touch.
Brick
Just as the name suggests, manufactured stone profiles can deliver the look of brick without the limitations in geography and supply. As with regular brick, this style can lean traditional or modern, depending on the color and size chosen.
Profiles Keep Up With Trends
One of the many advantages of manufactured stone veneer from a design standpoint is the ability to create new profiles and colors as tastes and trends change, rather than rely solely on what a quarry can provide.
Recently, cleaner looks have been in higher demand, resulting in long, linear, and monolithic stone styles. Manufactured stone shines here because it’s much easier to achieve; cutting natural stone in this way would be much more expensive.
Monochrome color schemes of whites, blacks, and grays also are currently popular, driven in part by the Modern Farmhouse trend, though earth tones always come back around.
Still, even as trends ebb and flow, the majority of buyers are seeking the natural stone look, which remains timeless, year after year. Manufactured stone veneer allows both commercial and residential designers to achieve this differentiating look in a way that is more affordable and provides the peace of mind that they can specify and receive the looks they expect, whether a one-off residential fireplace or 20 restaurant facades.