Gun Metal Marble Dimensional Cut Thin Stone Veneer, with most rust tones removed.

How Much Thin Stone Veneer Do I Need for My Project?

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What would you say is the single most crucial factor in a successful thin stone veneer building or design project? At Kafka Granite, we’d have to say that high-quality stone products are the most important ingredient in a job well done. Which begs the question: how do you figure out how much thin stone veneer you actually need for your project? This query can be daunting, particularly for homeowners—which is why we’ve put together some helpful information to help you assess the approximate square footage of thin stone veneer you’ll need.

Before we get started, we do want to stress that a formal takeoff should always be performed by a professional mason. But before you get one on the line, this simplified method can give you a preliminary estimate of the material you’ll need to purchase to complete a project.

Calculating Your Thin Stone Veneer Needs

To figure out how much thin stone veneer you need for your project, multiply the length by the width of the areas to be covered. Instead of trying to take tricky, piecemeal measurements, you can simply calculate the total surface area of the wall or feature and then subtract the square footage of openings like windows and doors. This is the total square foot of your project.

Thin stone veneer flats are sold by the square foot, while corners are sold by the linear foot. Corners cover the exterior of a feature to its edge, rather than the interior. Make sure to measure the linear feet of corners, pillars, fireplaces, doorways and any other features that will require 90-degree corners.

How Much Thin Stone Veneer Do I Really Need?

The rugged beauty of natural thin stone veneer makes it the perfect material for almost any decorative project, but it also means that each unit of stone is different. Whether you’re going for a streamlined look or more of a mosaic pattern, your thin stone veneer will likely need to be cut, snapped, or otherwise modified to ensure that it fits in the desired space.

Essentially, you’re bound to wind up with some amount of stone trimmings that aren’t usable—meaning that you’ll actually need to order more than just the bare minimum square footage that you estimated. The last thing you want is to have to place your project on hold while you await another shipment! Again, a professional stone mason is the best person to accurately determine how much thin stone veneer you’ll need to cover the whole project.

Thin Stone Veneer vs. Full Veneer

Thin stone veneer offers a number of advantages when compared to full veneer—it’s lighter per square foot, doesn’t require footings or wall ties, and is comparatively more affordable to ship and install. Kafka Granite’s natural thin stone veneer has a nominal thickness of ¾” to 1½” and meets industry standards for weighing less than 15 pounds per square foot. When installed correctly, thin stone veneer looks nearly identical to full veneer, which is several inches thicker and therefore, heavier!

The difference in weight translates to lower shipping and installation costs, making natural thin stone veneer an excellent choice for both interior and exterior non-structural projects. In fact, you can get about 3.75 times the coverage per shipment of thin stone veneer.

Installing Thin Stone Veneer

As with calculating how much thin stone veneer you’ll need for a specific project, we recommend letting a professional stonemason handle the installation. While thin stone veneer can be installed over a number of different surfaces, they first need to be prepared. At the very least, outdoor surfaces will need to be waterproofed to industry standards. Certain surfaces may also require a non-corrosive wire lath and a setting mix.

Natural Thin Stone Veneer for Every Project

If you’re on the hunt for a cost-effective method of incorporating natural stone into your project, thin stone veneer will fit the bill beautifully. Kafka Granite is proud to offer an extensive selection of natural thin stone veneer in a variety of colors and cuts. Feel free to reach out with any questions—we don’t perform formal takeoffs, but our knowledgeable sales team is always happy to chat about your project and provide an estimate!

Galaxy Glitter Castle Cut Thin Stone Veneer.

New Home Building Spotlight: 2021 Color Trends and the Natural Stone that Accentuates Them

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There was a time when bright, vibrant colors dominated neighborhoods, and when interior spaces were just as extravagant with hues like burnt orange and barn red. While more adventurous property owners are adamant about taking the risk into now-niche territories like these, the majority of property owners select modern colors for new home builds that are less likely to stand out with flashy impressions and more likely to take on tones of elegance, sophistication, and simplicity.

Of course, no residential build is complete without the complementary beauty of natural stone and its various applications. In this post, we’ll dive into current new home color trends and how natural stone products can bring out the best in them.

The New Home Colors You’re Most Likely to See

These days, homeowners are gravitating toward neutral hues. If it’s peaceful, classy, and provides an opportunity for brilliant accents, it’s likely that new homes will be dressed in it. However, “neutral” does not always have to mean sheer grays and whites. Certain tones can still carry that neutral essence without losing the zest of a cool or warm base. Noteworthy color choices include:

  • Blue-gray
  • Beige
  • Warm taupe
  • Green-gray
  • Wood stain themes
  • Alabaster white
  • Deep gray
  • Navy blue
  • Caramel brown
  • Olive green

Architecturally, the modern farmhouse style and other contemporary takes on traditional styles have gained a lot of traction over the last few years, and it would seem these colors couple wonderfully with such designs. What’s more, homes with these and other neutral colors lend well to a variety of material accents (wood or stone, for example) and earthy or bright white trim hues. In fact, you’ll find that many of these color selections and exterior aesthetics derive from colors seen in nature, which explains why they do so well with akin visual elements. 

Pair Your Color Palette with Elegant Natural Stone

So, let’s talk about stone. When it comes to residential architecture and design, few products couple as well with a neutral color palette like thin stone veneer and natural stone hardscapes. Unlike manufactured stone, natural stone is unique. They aren’t like carbon copies – while made of the same stone, each piece will boast its own character. Sourced from the earth itself, they are the original model. And, when installed, each unique stone comes together like a stunning mosaic art piece that speaks to the beauty of using natural stone.

Thin Stone Veneer

Natural thin stone veneer comes with several color and cut options which provide opportunities for dynamic, creative applications. Popular color options for thin stone veneer include those in our black and gray varieties like Imperial Gray Granite or Starlight Black Granite – both hues bring out the classiness of a neutral, modern tone.

Furthermore, thin stone veneer has a ton of great perks. This product may be used in many of the same applications as regular stone veneer, but with some added benefits. It can be installed without support ledges or footings, therefore appropriate for an array of exterior and interior applications. The product is cut to a nominal thickness of ¾” – 1 ½” thick, significantly reducing the products weight relative to full bed veneer. This drastically reduces shipping and installation costs.

Natural Stone Hardscapes

Kafka’s natural stone hardscape collection includes sawn cut drywall, thermal-top steps, thermal flagstone, sawn edging, treads, caps, and coping – all of which come in four classic Kafka colors and a variety of finishes. Whether you’re building a retaining wall or adding a much-needed walkway and steps navigating the property, you’re going to want a stone that complements a new home in both color and functionality.

Natural stone hardscapes do just that. Thermal finished for traction, thermal flagstone and thermal-top steps bring more than an aesthetical boost to the property. They’re built to withstand seasonal exposure and their durable nature will retain their elegance for decades to come. 

Elevate the Beauty of a New Home with Kafka Granite

Kafka Granite is proud to partner with designers and contractors to provide homeowners with the right natural stone solution for their residential construction or renovation needs. Our stone products are harvested from our network of quarries throughout North America, and are all custom produced in Central Wisconsin. Connect with our office today to learn how our products will meet the demands of your project.

 

Pathway Wax Erin Hills

4 Pathway Problems and How to Deal With Them

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Decomposed granite (DG) and crushed stone are excellent options for creating natural-looking nature trails, golf course pathways, garden paths, and other landscaped routes. But like any pathway material, poor maintenance, harsh weather, and other issues can compromise the integrity of a DG installation. Let’s take a look at some of the problems that affect pathways—and how to handle them.

Watch Out for These Decomposed Granite Pathway Issues

1. Muddiness

The inherent promise of a pathway is that it will provide a clear route from point A to point B. That promise is quickly broken when visitors or guests have to tramp over a muddy expanse to get where they’re going.

What causes decomposed granite pathways to get muddy? For the most part, the culprit is inadequate drainage, poor design, or subpar installation. Improper compaction and excess water can make a mess—particularly as ground thaws and snow melts in the spring. To avoid this issue, decomposed granite pathways should be installed with drainage flow in mind. A stabilized pathway will remain permeable, but has an additive that absorbs water. Alternatively, you can opt for a wax polymer pathway, which is impermeable and will never get muddy.

2. Erosion

Decomposed granite pathways are made of aggregate screened to a specific size and compacted to create a firm pathway. However, the surface is still designed to have a natural look and feel, with a loose layer of material on top. Forces like rainfall and heavy traffic can exacerbate this movement further.

Again, it’s important to be aware of drainage flow near your pathway. If water is the primary source of erosion, you might want to install drains or diverters to control the flow and reduce the damage to the pathway. For new pathways that need to withstand significant erosion, consider opting for a stabilized or wax polymer pathway mix. 

3. Debris

Thanks to nature, decomposed granite or crushed stone pathways will inevitably end up covered in things that don’t belong in a pathway mix—namely debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt. Depending on the location of the pathway, you may find that it remains relatively clear for long periods. Other areas, like those under trees or downwind, may end up covered in debris. Whatever the case, you’ll need to routinely remove these materials by raking the area. 

4. Poor Maintenance

No pathway is entirely maintenance-free. A lack of routine care can actually end up costing more in the long run.

So how can you keep a pathway looking good? What do you do if you’re hired on for a maintenance project and find a deteriorated wreck once you arrive? 

Ideally, there will be a solid maintenance plan already in place. Regular upkeep, including raking and occasional hydrating and recompacting, will be enough to refresh a decomposed granite pathway already in good condition—keeping it functional for years to come. Severe damage, on the other hand, will likely require excavating the area, rototilling, and possibly top dressing or tilling in new mix. Ultimately, the type of pathway mix you’re dealing with will determine the specific maintenance and replacement needs of the pathway system.

Selecting the Right Pathway Material

Even the most robust maintenance plan won’t do much good if you’re starting with a low-quality pathway. Selecting the best material for your project and installing it correctly will create a beautiful, natural-looking pathway that stands the test of time. 

At Kafka Granite, we understand how important both color and performance are to choosing a mix. We’re pleased to offer over 40 colors of decomposed granite and crushed stone, ensuring that you find the perfect match for your landscape. Here’s some insight into the benefits of our various pathway mixes.

Standard Pathway Mix

A decomposed granite pathway makes an attractive alternative to hardscape materials like concrete and asphalt. Our Standard Pathway Mix consists of aggregate screened to ¼” with fines. This is an excellent choice for low-traffic walkways, bike trails, garden trails, and other flat areas.

Stabilized Pathway Mix

Our Stabilized Pathway Mix blends our standard aggregate with a stabilizing binder. The addition of the binder creates a more durable pathway that stands up under traffic, extreme weather, and other erosive forces. Stabilized pathways are appropriate for a wide range of projects, from nature trails, corporate walking paths, courtyards, and more.

Wax Polymer Pathway Mix

Working with hilly terrain? Our Wax Polymer Pathway Mix is the perfect solution for steep grades. An innovative combination of engineered polymers creates a dustless, waterless, non-permeable pathway that stays dry and performs beautifully under stress. We’ve seen this mix used in projects ranging from nature preserves to private residences. Erin Hills even replaced a number of their highly erosive paths with wax polymer pathways ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open. Our Wax Polymer Pathways have been most popular for golf courses, horse trails, driveways, and other demanding projects.

Create Lasting Pathways with Kafka Granite

Whether you’re looking to install wax polymer pathways that will reduce golf course maintenance needs or you’re on the hunt for the perfect color of aggregate for a new pathway system, Kafka Granite has you covered with a wide range of choices. Not quite sure what you’re looking for yet? We can help you there, too. Our sales team is eager to work with you and identify the correct solution for your project, so don’t hesitate to reach out.