Frequently Asked Questions

Trying to decide on a color for our fireplace that will be built this spring….I was wondering if you would have any pictures of fireplaces done in Greenwich Gray in either ledge or ashlar or a mix, that you would be able to send me?

You will find pictures of Greenwich Gray in ledge and ashlar here.

Our thin veneer Certification classes are conducted in English.

Use this a tool like the Bon Tools Wet Film Gauge. Watch this instruction video.

A customer writes:

“I’m hearing various answers from masons as to whether this product (Laticrete Hi-Bond) can be applied to a foundation that is painted.”

The answer directly from Laticrete:

The short answer is no it cannot. The paint would be acting as bond breaker. We only recommend installing stone with any of our adhesives to clean, free of paint, sealers and form release agents, sound concrete. In order for the adhesive to reach its intended strength it needs the open pores in the concrete to mechanically “lock” in.

If the wall is painted, the pores are clogged and the adhesive will not be able to bond to wall as it is designed to, and the installation may result in a failure.

Laticrete MVIS Hi-Bond Veneer Mortar Data Sheet

Natural Stone Edge Finishes

In your showroom you have a fireplace (see below), with a lot more tan colors than the Boston blend in the other samples. Is this random based on when you get the stone, up to the mason to pick and choose stones, or something else?

If you would like your Boston Blend to be either more tan or more gray, we suggest adding a control color. The control color could be Greenwich Gray or Colonial Tan, which would be mixed in to “push” the color to your desired design aesthetic. An alternative method is to order extra stone beyond the normal 15% waste and instruct your mason to favor tan or gray stones in the Boston Blend mix.

The “tighter” ashlar stone displayed in our showroom was in fact more carefully crafted for a dry-fit installation by our stonemason resulting in tighter joints. What we try to show in our showroom – beside the differences in stone types and colors – are the differences between installation techniques.

Stoneyard Thin Veneer is a natural product, not man-made from concrete. The stone is at least one million years old, has been through countless freezes and thaws so there will be no problem with expansion and contraction, and will not fade. Unlike man-made faux stone, it is the same color throughout.

The stone is cut and crafted from either natural New England Fieldstone or stone cut from a quarry in the New England area of the U.S.

When installing thin veneer outdoors, it is essential to use proper installation methods such as cement board and a water barrier to prevent water from getting behind the stone.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Who uses LEED?

Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED projects are in progress in 41 different countries, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.

How is LEED Developed?

LEED Rating Systems are developed through an open, consensus-based process led by LEED committees. Each volunteer committee is composed of a diverse group of practitioners and experts representing a cross-section of the building and construction industry. The key elements of USGBC’s consensus process include a balanced and transparent committee structure, technical advisory groups that ensure scientific consistency and rigor, opportunities for stakeholder comment and review, member ballot of new rating systems, and a fair and open appeals process.

SOURCE: US Green Building Council   www.usgbc.org

Industry sales of stacked stone panels have been rising steadily each year for the last five years. While we cut and split individual natural thin stone from New England – all day every day – we see customers from every region of the country choosing stacked stone panels. Here are the pros and cons of these panels.

PRO: Stones are cut, fit, and glued together into an interlocking panel with no mesh backing. This significantly reduces onsite cutting and allows for a much quicker install.
CON: The panels still have to be handled carefully during installation to avoid breakage.

PRO: The panels fit together without modification. The seams are offset and disappear when you stagger the panels by 1/3 of their length.
CON: If you don’t stagger the panels, you will see a stepped stairway seam.

PRO: Panels have matching corners that interlock perfectly with one short, and one long side. This allows for weaving back and forth to stagger the joints.
CON: to shorten a corner, you’ll need to make stepped cuts using a wet saw. The same applies to flat panels.

PRO: Panels install much faster than individual stones. A stonemason can install 100 square feet a day.
CON: For larger vertical walls it is best to install three vertical feet, then let the mortar adhere for 24 hours prior to installing the next section above it.

PRO: You don’t have to worry about selecting individual stones.
CON: You can’t create a custom mix of stones or colors but there are plenty of beautiful colors to choose.

See our selection of stone panels.

All natural stone veneer is “real” stone that has been split and sawn to be approximately one (1) inch thick. It is used as a wall covering for exterior and interior surfaces. Our Thin Veneer is crafted from natural stones that are native to New England. Stoneyard Thin Stone Veneer is perfect for interior or exterior projects because it weighs less than 14 lbs per square foot for ease of shipping and installation but it has the durability and beauty of real stone.

Real stone has been formed by glacial and volcanic activity over millions of years which means that the colors on the surface are present throughout the entire stone. This allows the mason to “shape” the stone during the installation process creating the perfect fit and style. Because the stone’s color is contained throughout each piece, this stone will last 100’s of years and will continue to increase its natural beauty as a patina (a surface grown beautiful with age) develops from the sun, wind, rain, ice, heat and cold.

Faux Stone vs Real Stone Veneer

What other names are used to describe Natural Thin Stone Veneer?

• Stone Cladding
• Stone Covering
• Stone Dado
• Stone Facade
• Stone Facing
• Stone Fascia
• Stone Layer
• Stone Lining
• Stone Overlay
• Stone Overlayer
• Stone Paneling
• Stone Panels
• Stone Sheathing
• Stone Sheeting
• Stone Siding
• Stone Stratum
• Stone Veneer
• Stone Wainscot
• Stone Wrap
• Stone Wrapping
• Thinstone
• Thin Stone Veneer
• Natural Stone Veneer
• Real Stone Veneer

Why is all natural stone veneer used?

Exterior and Interior Wall Coverings to protect the structure from the elements and to provide beauty and decorative appeal to the surface of the structure for architectural construction projects.

What are some examples of where natural stone veneer is used?

• Archways
• Bridges
• Office Buildings
• Chimneys
• Gateways
• Fireplaces
• Foundations
• Hardscapes
• Houses
• Kitchens
• Landscapes
• Libraries
• Monuments
• Offices
• Patios
• Retaining Walls
• Schools
• Signs
• Steps
• Stone Walls
• Swimming Pools
• Walls

• Any place that wood, brick or stucco or man-made should could be used.

Visit Stoneyard.com’s online searchable natural stone photo gallery for inspiration and ideas for your project using All Natural Real Stone Veneer from New England.

Stoneyard.com’s New England Fieldstone was created by Mother Nature, making it one of the greenest building products available. In addition, all of our stone comes from within a 75-mile radius of our Littleton, MA location, reducing the amount of shipping and thereby leaving a small carbon footprint.

Gathering the stone does not damage the beautiful New England countryside; we only use stone that would have otherwise been plowed over by farmers expanding their plots. Choosing Stoneyard.com’s New England Fieldstone means you are purchasing an eco-friendly product that showcases the beauty of nature right at your own home.

Green products fall under these 5 categories:

1. Products Made with Recycled, Salvaged or Agricultural Waste Content
2. Products That Conserve Natural Resources
3. Products That Avoid Toxic or Other Emissions
4. Products That Save Energy or Water
5. Products That Contribute to a Safe, Healthy Built Environment

1. Products Made with Recycled, Salvaged or Agricultural Waste Content

• Products with pre-consumer recycled content – Pre-consumer (also called “post-industrial”) recycling refers to the use of industrial by-products, as distinguished from material that has been in consumer use. Iron-ore slag used to make mineral wool insulation, fly ash used to make concrete, and PVC scrap from pipe manufacture used to make shingles are examples of post-industrial recycled materials.
• Salvaged products – Products reused. Many salvaged materials used in buildings (bricks, millwork, framing lumber, plumbing fixtures, and period hardware) can be found in local regional salvage yards.

• Products with post-consumer recycled content – Recycled content is an important feature of many green products. From an environmental standpoint, post-consumer is preferable to pre-consumer recycled content, because post-consumer recycled materials are more likely to be diverted from landfills.

• Products made from agricultural waste material – Most of these are made from straw-the stems left after harvesting cereal grains. Citrus oil, a waste product from orange and lemon juice extraction, is also used in some green products, but such products usually include other agricultural oils as well and are also lumped under Rapidly renewable products

2. Products That Conserve Natural Resources

• Products that reduce material use – Products meeting this criteria may not be distinctly green on their own but because of resource efficiency benefits that they make possible are considered green.

• Products with exceptional durability or low maintenance requirements – These products are environmentally attractive because they need to be replaced less frequently, or their maintenance has very low impact. Sometimes, durability is a contributing factor to the green designation but may not be enough to distinguish the product as green on its own. This criterion is highly variable by product type. Included in this category are such products as fiber-cement siding, fiberglass windows, slate shingles, and vitrified-clay waste pipe.

• Certified wood products – Third-party forest certification, based on standards developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is the best way to ensure that wood products come from well-managed forests. Wood products must go through a chain-of-custody certification process to carry an FSC stamp. Manufactured wood products can meet the FSC certification requirements with less than 100% certified wood content through percentage-based claims. A few manufactured wood products, including engineered lumber and particleboard or MDF, can be included if they have other environmental advantages-such as absence of formaldehyde binders.

• Rapidly renewable products – Rapidly renewable materials are distinguished from wood by the shorter harvest rotation- typically 10 years or less. They are biodegradable, often (but not always) low in VOC emissions, and generally produced from agricultural crops. Because sunlight is generally the primary energy input (via photosynthesis), these products may be less energy-intensive to produce-though transportation and processing energy use must be considered. Examples include linoleum, form-release agents made from plant oils, natural paints, geotextile fabrics from coir and jute, cork, and such textiles as organic cotton, wool, and sisal. Note that not all rapidly renewable materials are included -non-organic cotton, for example, is highly pesticide-intensive. In some cases, even though a product qualifies for by virtue of its natural raw materials, it may have negatives that render it inappropriate for certain uses-such as high VOC levels that cause problems for people with chemical sensitivities.

3. Products That Avoid Toxic or Other Emissions

• Natural or minimally processed products – Products that are natural or minimally processed can be green because of low energy use and low risk of chemical releases during manufacture. These can include wood products, agricultural or nonagricultural plant products, and mineral products such as natural stone and slate shingles.

• Alternatives to ozone-depleting substances – Included are categories where the majority of products still contain or use HCFCs.

• Alternatives to hazardous products – Some materials provide a better alternative in an application dominated by products for which there are concerns about toxic constituents, intermediaries, or by-products. Fluorescent lamps with low mercury levels are included here, along with form release agents that won’t contaminate water or soils with toxicants. Also included here are alternatives to products made with chlorinated hydrocarbons such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated fire retardants.

• Products that reduce or eliminate pesticide treatments – Periodic pesticide treatment around buildings can be a significant health and environmental hazard. The use of certain products can obviate the need for pesticide treatments, and such products are therefore considered green. Examples include physical termite barriers, borate-treated building products, and bait systems that eliminate the need for broad-based pesticide application.

• Products that reduce storm water pollution – Porous paving products and green (vegetated) roofing systems result in less storm-water runoff and thereby reduce surface water pollution. Storm water treatment systems reduce pollutant levels in any water that is released.

• Products that reduce impacts from construction or demolition activities – Included here are various erosion-control products, foundation products that eliminate the need for excavation, and exterior stains that result in lower VOC emissions into the atmosphere. Fluorescent lamp and ballast recyclers and low-mercury fluorescent lamps reduce environmental impacts during demolition (as well as renovation).

• Products that reduce pollution or waste from operations – Alternative wastewater disposal systems reduce groundwater pollution by decomposing organic wastes or removing nutrients more effectively. Masonry fireplaces burn fuel-wood more completely with fewer emissions than conventional fireplaces and wood stoves. Recycling bins and compost systems enable occupants to reduce their solid waste generation.

4. Products That Save Energy or Water

• Building components that reduce heating and cooling loads – Examples include structural insulated panels (SIPs), insulated concrete forms (ICFs), autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, and high-performance windows and glazings. In the case of windows, the base standard for energy performance of windows is an NFRC-rated unit U-factor. If the windows are made from an environmentally attractive material (e.g., high recycled content or superb durability), the energy standard can be less stringent. If the frame material is nongreen, such as PVC (vinyl), the energy standard should be more stringent.

• Equipment that conserves energy and manages loads – With energy-consuming equipment, such as water heaters andrefrigerators, dishwashers, and clothes washers,etc you can use standards set by Energy Star to judge the water or energysavings.

• Renewable energy and fuel cell equipment – Equipment and products that enable us to use renewable energy instead offossil fuels and conventional electricity are highly beneficial from an environmental standpoint. Examples include solarwater heaters, photovoltaic systems, and wind turbines. Fuel cells are also included here, even though fuel cells today nearly always use natural gas or another fossil fuel as the hydrogen source-they are considered green because emissions are lower than combustion-based equipment and because the use of fuel cells will help us eventually move beyond fossil fuel dependence.

• Fixtures and equipment that conserve water – All toilets and most showerheads today meet the federal water efficiency standards, some are more efficient than others but not all of these products perform the same.

5. Products That Contribute to a Safe, Healthy Built Environment

•  Products that do not release significant pollutants into the building – Included here are zero- and low-VOC paints, caulks, and adhesives, as well as products with very low emissions, such as nonformaldehyde manufactured wood products.

• Products that block the introduction, development, or spread of indoor contaminants – Certain materials and products are green because they prevent the generation or introduction of pollutants-especially biological contaminants-into occupied space.

• Products that remove indoor pollutants – Certain ventilation products, filters, radon mitigation equipment, and other equipment and devices that help to remove pollutants or introduce fresh air. Because ventilation equipment is now fairly standard, only products that are particularly efficient or quiet, or that have other environmental benefits are considered green.

• Products that warn occupants of health hazards in the building – Included here are carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, lead paint test kits, and other IAQ test kits.

• Products that improve light quality – There is a growing body of evidence that natural daylight is beneficial to our health and productivity. Products that enable us to bring daylight into a building, including tubular skylights, specialized commercial skylights, and fiber-optic daylighting systems, are all green by nature.

• Products that help control noise – Noise, both from indoor and outside sources, adds to stress and discomfort. A wide range of products are available to help absorb noise, prevent it from spreading, masking it, and even reducing it with sound-cancellation technologies.

• Products that enhance community well-being – Looking beyond the walls of a building, many products can contribute to safer neighborhoods, increasing walkability and making high-density communities appealing.

Source: US Green Building Council, Green Building Inc., NAHB, ENERGY STAR

David Croteau, owner and mason at Stoneyard™, explains the steps needed to create a full-scale mockup for customer approval prior to installing thin veneer in this 4-part video series on how to create a Thin Veneer Mockup:

The temperature needs to remain at 40 degrees or higher for 72 hours to cure. We can recommend Laticrete Hi Bond Rapid which will speed up the cure time, but 72 hours is still advised.

There is a simple rule to follow when the temperature is low during installation: The 18º (8 ºC) Rule – for every 18ºF below 70ºF (8ºC below 21ºC), portland cement and epoxy based materials take twice as long to cure.

No masonry shelf is needed. Stoneyard™ Thin Veneer can be installed directly on cement board or brick.

Yes with LATICRETE MVIS Premium Veneer Mortar.

With the LATICRETE system you do not need to point.

We recommend Laticrete MVIS Hi Bond Watch this video for instructions and tips.

A diamond blade on a right angle grinder or wet saw. We recommend installation by a Certified Thin Veneer Installer.

See: How to Calculate the Amount of Material Needed for Thin Stone Installations and How to Calculate the Expected Waste Factor for Thin Stone Installations

For each linear foot of corners installed you will get approximately 0.75 SF of coverage. Use our thin veneer material calculator for estimating.

If you are covering a corner with stone then…yes. Our natural stone thin veneer corners give your project the appearance of full thickness stone.

In this video David Croteau, a stone mason and founder of Stoneyard.com shows the step-by-step process and considerations as you gather, choose and place stones for a fieldstone retaining wall.

Use our online stone footage and square foot calculators to determine coverage or send us project details and plans using our contact form.

Watch as David Croteau of STONEYARD® demonstrates the use of some amazing new Thin Stone Veneer installation tools: Thin Stone Veneer Hammer and Steel Base Splitter.

Please read Installing Thin Stone Veneer for more information. In this video,  David Croteau explains how to install New England Fieldstone Thin Veneer.

We craft our stone for the builders, architects, masons, and project owners that want the finest Historic Fieldstone from New England. Check out the testimonials for text and videos from folks who have experienced our craftsmanship and service.

Our natural thin veneer stones are individual stones. We also have stone panels.

Building Veneer is 4 times heavier than Thin Veneer weighing in at 60 lbs/sf. Use our thin veneer material calculator for estimating.

Stoneyard® Thin Veneer 14 lbs/sf or less (average of 13 lbs). Use our thin veneer material calculator for estimating.

Thickness. Thin veneer is between .75″ and 1.25″ thick. Building veneer is 3″ – 5″ thick.

We would be happy to mail some pieces out to you. Order samples on the individual product page for the stone you are interested in. Seeing the actual stone will help you compare color and texture.

Our most popular thin veneer stone is crafted from natural stone from farms/quarries throughout New England within 100 miles of Littleton, MA.

For architects, designers and builders, please review our technical specifications for complete information.

Yes by purchasing in increments of 5 sf or 168 sf. If you are ordering crates of Stoneyard® Boston Blend™ Thin Veneer, for example, you can order an additional crate (168 sf) of Greenwich Grey or Colonial Tan to add more grey or tan to the mix to achieve the desired color blend.

It is a generalized mix of dense quartzite conglomerate and granite natural stone found in New England. It is by far our most popular natural stone thin veneer. By using a blend of colors, it goes visually with many adjacent colors and is the perfect stone blend to choose if at some point in the future the adjacent colors may change with a new home or business owner, or a new generation of your family.