Cultured Stone Fireplaces... How They Stack Up To Natural Stone!
Cultured stone fireplaces continue to climb in popularity as very realistic look- ing . . . . . . .
. . . . and much more affordable alternatives to
nat- ural stone
fireplaces -- for both indoors and out.
The term,
"cultured stone,"
-- also the name of one of the leading brands -- is commonly used to describe all manufac- tured stone products
of a similar nature. When referenced herein, the term shall apply to all similar
manufactured stone
products, as well.
Cultured or manufactured stone is cast in flexible molds made from natural stones and colored with iron
oxide pig- ments to closely replicate the look and feel of natural stone. Available in a vast array of colors
and textures to emulate a wide range of natural stone types and styles, the multitude of choices gives you a
great deal of flexibility and an opportunity to create a realistic and uniquely personal fireplace design. The
best examples of cultured stone fireplaces are virtually indistinguishable from their natural stone
counterparts, such as the examples pictured at top right and below.
The following examples show how closely some of today's manufactured stone products replicate natural stone. Each of the four fireplaces directly below is clad with river stone, also commonly re- ferred to as river rock. The fireplaces on the left (top and bottom) are clad with manufactured stone, while those on the right (top and bottom) use natural stone.
Likewise, the fireplaces below are all clad with
fieldstone
of varying colors, textures and finishes for broad geographic appeal. Once again, the three examples on the
left are cultured stone fireplaces, while those on the right use natural stone.
Made of Portland cement and lightweight aggregate materials, manufactured stone is approximately two-thirds
the weight of natural
stone veneer
and about one-quarter the weight of full-block natural stone. Unlike natural stone hearths, the light weight
of cultured stone fireplaces requires no foundation or footings, or other costly structural reinforcement.
As a result of its light weight and "manageable" sizes and shapes, manufactured stone is much easier to handle and install than natural stone. It adheres to any structurally sound wall surface, making it an ideal cladding material for fireplaces.
Manufactured or cultured stone is strong and durable and virtually mainte- nance free, due, in part, to full
color integration during the manufacturing process by many of today's producers. Now, when a cultured stone
is chipped, you no longer see a glaring white or gray spot. Rather, just as with natural stone, the exterior
color is embedded within the manufactured stone product. Non-combustible and safe as a fireplace material, the
quality has improved so much in recent years that many manufacturers now offer a 50 year warranty on their faux
stone products.
Now that it is possible to get the look and feel of natural stone with cultured stone fireplaces, one of
the biggest benefits is the lower cost. In addition to the lower cost of the material, itself, its light
weight makes it easier and faster to handle, thereby lowering the cost of installation, as well. Its light
weight also eliminates the need for special footings or other costly structural reinforcements. And finally,
because it is so much lighter in weight than nat- ural stone, shipping costs are significantly lower.
For more information about any of the fireplace designs pictured here, please
let us know
and we'll be hap- py to provide it for you.
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as we continually add new images of cultured stone fireplaces to our site.
