Natural stone fireplaces are extremely popular among many home owners. There is also a particular type of rock also referred to as "thinstone". This is a type of veneer that is cut to ensure quality, yet is extremely lightweight. Many fireplaces have been created using this particular type of material. This is mainly due to the fact that the stone is highly versatile when it comes to color and texture and that it can hold up to a large amount of various conditions as it is so durable.

 

With natural stone, a fireplace is masonry block built and the natural stone is then attached to it. Building a masonry block fireplace structure is necessary to support the weight of the natural stone. This may translate into somewhat higher construction costs for a stone fireplace.
 
With cultured stone veneers, the mortar and cultured stone can also be attached directly to the masonry block walls of a fireplace, but in many cases a masonry block wall fireplace is not required. Cultured stone veneers can also be attached directly to lower cost, zero-clearance fireplace surfaces.

On the downside, cultured stone veneers are more moisture absorbent and when chipped leave a surface that is non-similar to the outside surface. Consequently they can require slightly more care and maintenance. Also, care has to be given to avoid repeating patterns when installing the product.

 

More Natural Stone Fireplaces by Marblex